Commentary on family events

As a family, we have been going at a breakneck speed for the last few weeks.  The dance recital was an absolute blast.  I can cross an item off my bucket list... dancing to Michael Jackson music on stage with lights, choreography and, get this... my very own sparkle glove!!

We also had state standardized testing, preschool graduation, a Birthday party, field trips, and overnight family guests. When I saw this clog of activity coming toward us in the pipeline of our family calendar, I braced for a stressful time.  It was a wild ride, but the intensity came to a conclusion on Sunday evening with the closing curtain of the dance recital. 

Whose bright idea was it to put this huge event in the same time frame with state testing (you know, get lots of sleep and eat a good breakfast!) on a Sunday evening during any normal family's dinner time??  I am blaming this inconsiderate timing for the all-time best sibling smackdown grudge match in the parking lot that was so loud and obnoxious, we will be embarassed to be seen in these parts for a while.  Fortunately, this was after the recital so no costumes were harmed in the action.

Here's the funny thing.  Last night was the first night in over 3 weeks we weren't running a rat race.  Dear Hubby and I did not know what to do with ourselves.  After speedily cleaning up from dinner at the pace to which we've become accustomed, we looked at each other, bedraggled, befuddled and wild-eyed and said simultaneously, "OK, what's next?"  We crept over to the family calendar and peeked sheepishly.  Could it be?  Was this possible?  There was nothing there!  With confusion, we wondered, "What do we do now?"  Eventually, we came up with some normal evening things to do like relax, read a book, bathe the children.  You know, luxuries.