Role Reversal

I'm usually the one traveling for work and leaving Mandy with the kids for a few days.  Well, I guess it's payback time. Mandy's in Dallas for a blogger get-together with Michael's.

So while she's living it up and getting airport friendly swag, ogling some hot cake man, and finally deciding that she needs a smart phone for Instagram, I'm flying solo with the kids. Fortunately, there's not much going on today, except:

• Back to school night for three kids, including one kindergartner. I was that dad who shows up with blank forms in hand and blank look on face. I guess I was supposed to know obscure details like their bus number, physician name, and birthdates. At least this time I didn't make last year's mistake of signing up Mandy to run a holiday party in each kid's class and happen to pick the SAME holiday for both kids. Turns out the 1st grade and 3rd grade Valentine's parties are on the same day at the same time. Who knew?
• Big grocery shopping run. I love grocery shopping without Mandy. I pick out way cooler things, like chipolte sauce and salsa verde, even if they're not on the list. And I only had 6 LKM (Lost Kid Minutes, 2 kids x 3 min = 6 LKM). I told them no walking in front of the cart because I'd run them over and to walk behind me and keep up. Not sure why the 3 and 5 year olds could keep pace while the 7 and 9 year olds managed to turn up MIA. I didn't know quite how to find them, so I turned on my phone and opened Angry Birds and they both mysteriously appeared and asked if it was their turn.
• My parents showing up tomorrow for a couple of days. Good thing we're not the type of people that frantically clean right before guests arrive...