Tomorrow is the day I get to start my mommy detox and get my game on for summer. Thanks to my incredibly supportive hubby, I’m getting 7 days off in a row. I know, it’s crazy insane, but it’s true! In just 27 short hours, I will be a free woman!
I have been a busy bee trying to get everything just right for when I’m gone. Key to my organization is my brand spankin’ new Purple Martin Handbook by Lori Martin (see photos). You may remember her from our Mother’s Day giveaway. This handbook couldn’t have entered my life at a better time. Lori has this thing for details and data entry and developed this fabulous family handbook system that is perfect for when you go out of town. Or if you have a nanny, or a mother-in-law, or even hubby in my case – basically for anyone who will step in your shoes at a moment’s notice. This customized family handbook, or actually group of handbooks, includes all of your contacts, emergency contacts, your activity calendar with directions from your house to each activity, your carpool schedule (trust me, this is the most impressive part of my book since I’m always juggling at least 3 different carpools on any given day – see for yourself in photo above!), take-out options, shopping recommendations, preferred service providers – you name it, Lori has thought of it and wrapped it all up in a cute monogram and bow! I tested it out last week for a trial run when my sister-in-law was in town and needed ideas for activities with the kids. She just whipped out my family activity section, pulled out the plastic sleeve with directions from my house to the Nature Museum and off she went. It was such a delight not to have to write out directions to that place for the zillionth time! I’m pretty sure Randy will find this handy while I’m away.
To be honest, I think Randy will do great next week. He may even have an unfair advantage so to speak because he’s such a hands-on dad. As soon as he walks in the door every evening, he puts down his briefcase, rolls up his sleeves and digs in with whatever needs to be done. So I apologize in advance to any other dude out there secretly hoping he’ll mess up! Randy will probably do this better than I do! Although, I interviewed my girls in the video below to see what they are expecting – it’s very cute! They think daddy is going to be a mess. I think not.
Stay tuned next Monday, Memorial Day, and I ask you please, please support Randy via the comments section. I can remember my first few blogs where I really put myself out there and I was just waiting for someone to write something! I truly believe he will find blogging a very special form of therapy like I do. It’s the best thing ever, thanks to all of you☺
P.S. I want to give a shout out to American Idol Kris Allen – proud to say I picked him in the early rounds just like David Cook, whew-hoo!!!
Here is the girls’ interview:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQbgXB_A99U&hl=en&fs=1]
11 comments
So jealous! Enjoy your responsibility free week!
Go Randy! You’ll be great!Jen, enjoy your week! You deserve it!
Just curious, what do you do when you have already printed out your calendar for the month, but then you have to add on another obligation? I add things almost daily to my calendar for the month. Have fun.
i use a lot of white out!!!
That’s a good question and to be honest, when I first looked at this book, I thought the same thing. This calendar is meant to be used as a general reference for the family and should include all of your regular activities for the season: ballet, gymnastics, soccer, Wed night dinners, carpools to each school/activity, vacations, etc. It obviously cannot include everything, just the core stuff. For me, it’s great so that Randy can just look at the day and not really have to think. If it’s Monday, he knows that the Farleys drive to school, the Shrivers pick up. Jen drives to preschool, the Harpers pick up, etc. It’s a nice general reference to be used on any day of the week. Also, you purchase updates throughout the year. A great time of year for updates will be the fall when you have all of your new directories for schools and sports teams, and also for Christmas cards. This thing seriously is incredible. It would take me probably 50 hours to do it myself!
OK, Jen, that was a great interview! I was lovin’ Ansley’s answers. She’s a junior smartie for sure! I just about cried when she said she’d miss you putting her to bed! I wonder how YOU are going to do with being away for the whole week. I bet you will start to get those sweet tugs on your heart before too long! Can’t wait to hear all about it and check in on Randy. Kirk is out shopping at BJ’s right now…TP aisle. Jessica
I love the interview with Ansley and Isabel!! So cute!! We will miss seeing you next week Jen. Have lot’s of fun and enjoy some down time! Looking forward to reading Randy’s blog-great humor. I think he will do great with the kids like he does everyday-hands on Dads-we are both very fortunate!!
Jen- you are one lucky gal! Enjoy your week and know Randy will have it ALL under control….atleast – he will make it look that way when you step back in the door! Bon Voyage! Can’t wait to read his updates!
Your girls are so sweet, Jen. Hope you have a wonderful trip! Just met with Lori the other day and am looking forward to working with her soon to get organized.
Love and hugs to you Jennifer. We'll be thinking of you. What a giving husband! Despite the Florida rain we are having, enjoy!Randy, to you we send accolades. We trust your business event goes well this week.Prayers for the astronauts safe return. :>)
Wow!!!! What a wonderful Mother's Day gift. And your blogging was absolutely great especially the presentation to 4 children lined up looking at the board and one of the twins raising their hand with a question???? You are great Randy and Dad and I are so proud of you as a husband and father. Love, John & Jeanine Kinney