Wait!

Saturday morning had gotten away from me.

Just the day before, we were vacationing with good friends in Vermont, soaking in some of the fresh air which had already become cool and crisp in the morning.  Ten people filled the house with laughter and activity from early morning until the last Olympic medals were won.  Days were filled with lazing around a pond, s’mores by the campfire, evening Jacuzzi soaks, hikes up a small mountain, ice cream cones at the farm and slow runs to the white church at the end of our road which followed a babbling creek.  Life was sweet and simple in the Green Mountains.  

But we had to go.  Saturday was William’s 10AM 6th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese’s, a party he had been talking about for the last 363 days.  We had to squeeze it in because Sunday at 4:45AM we were leaving for a two week trip to Mexico and San Diego.  Until then, there was much to be done.

Driving back home, I made a mental note of my tasks.  It wasn’t really a note, but rather a dissertation length list – passports…check…asthma medication…check…old shoes, clothing, work gloves, craft supplies for our community service trip…check, dressy clothes for dinners out, notarized travel documents for my daughter’s friend, snacks, first aid supplies, plane entertainment, phone and computer chargers, splitter for the DVD player, cupcakes, party favors…. My head was spinning by the time we unloaded bags into the house.

The rest of the day was spent unpacking, doing laundry and re-packing while also taking care of the needs of the kids.  And did I mention we were also hosting a friend who had come to town for an important job interview?

On birthday party morning, I again went into high gear and when the dust settled, it was 9AM.  The kids were hungry and William was clamoring to open family presents during breakfast.  In my imagination, the present opening would happen over steaming plates of eggs, bacon, pancakes with hot cocoa and coffee on the side.  We’d reminisce about William’s six years while he squealed with delight at each gift.  Instead I pulled out cereal, bowls, milk and spoons and threw a t-shirt at William since he was still just in his boxers.  Leaving them to start their own breakfast, I took the stairs two at a time to hunt down wrapping paper and tape.  I knew the paper would be ripped off immediately, but it didn’t seem appropriate to hand him his presents in a large Toys R Us bag.  After a fast wrap job, we laid his gifts before him and he went to town.  I caught a few photos of the birthday boy, cereal was eaten in quick bites and we scrambled into the car.  

Deciding at the last second to take two cars, we changed out passengers, asked Anai to drive the other car and pick up last second party favors and tucked the birthday cupcakes safely in the trunk.  Camera…check, wallet…check, cupcakes…safe and sound.  

Besides being winded, we were actually going to get to our party just as the first guest arrived at Chuck’s doorstep.  It wasn’t pretty, but I breathed a sigh of relief as we shut the van door and buckled in.  

As we pulled out, William looked up at me and said,

“Wait!  I have no pants.”

Have any of you had any similar moments when you’ve juggled a bit too much?