Bachelor Father Weekend

Rhonda is going to SoCal to help host a baby shower for our sister-in-law, Stephanie this weekend.  Stephanie is expecting her first child after living in fear of labor and delivery for a decade or so.  Pretty exciting stuff.  It is a baby girl and they have chosen the name Holland in honor of Stephanie's Dutch heritage.

All that to say, that I am a bachelor father for the next couple of days.  Rhonda in her infinite grace has made the trip as short as possible and will return in time for our epic worship gathering on Sunday.  But guess what has transpired since Rhonda's plans were put in place.

A friend of my family passed away this week after a full and good life at the age of 80.  The memorial service will be held this Friday while I am Molly's primary care-giver and during the time that both Merritt and Mason will get out of school on the last day of school.  Then on Saturday morning, we have closing day ceremonies for both of the boys' baseball teams, followed in the afternoon by a little BBQ for 22 people at our house - to host our super cool missionaries from Uganda... And oh yeah, I'm baking dessert on Saturday for 30 people at Merritt's baseball team party to be held on Sunday afternoon.

Now, I am not one of those guys who looks to avoid time with the kids alone, or who won't allow mom to leave town without the young one, or who can't get anything done while I have a kid or kids in tow.  But I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed in preparation for this weekend.  So, I have assembled for myself a Bachelor Father Survival Kit.

Bachelor Father Survival Kit Contents:
1. an extensive supply of starburst for a burst of sugar energy whenever needed;
2. a voice recorder prerecorded with the message, "I'm not mom and I don't have to do things her way."
3. either a GPS homing devise with transponders for each child OR 15 inch neon yellow cone hats glued to their heads so that they cannot get lost an the large crowds of closing day ceremonies;
4. a bag full of marbles for all of my marbles that I will undoubtably lose during the weekend;
5. McDonalds gift cards for each child, so that they can be dropped off at playland when I need some alone time and I won't have to feel guilty for not getting them some food first.

Well, I figure that will get me through Friday...  Maybe you have some suggestions for my Saturday.