Where have you been?

SORRY! I disappeared for 2 weeks. I've gotten several "Where have you been?" e-mails.

I didn't mean to desert you at this most hectic and crazed time of the year, it's just that...

...I've been Pesach cleaning
...I gave a Pesach preparations class which required some preparation
...I've been cooking for Pesach
...I've given some "private tutorials" over the phone helping with Pesach preps
...I've been Pesach cleaning
...I went to Cancun
...I've been cooking for Pesach

(I tried to slip the Cancun trip in without much notice, but YES, hubby and I went to Cancun!!! It was a work trip, but not much work done. At lot of rest and relaxation.)

My freezers are filling up. My lists are coming along.

How are you all doing? Tired? Overwhelmed?

Hang in there! 2 days until Shabbos, and then you can catch up on some sleep. 12 days to the Seder...we're almost there!!!

SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY.

Serve cereal for dinner tonight if you have nothing else planned.

After this Shabbos, don't use dishes. Just throw aways. Not so great for the environment, but very good for our sanity.

Use nice paper for this Shabbos so clean-up is a breeze.

Clean your dining room before Shabbos and eat in the kitchen this week (if that's at all humanly possible). Motzai Shabbos clean-up is so quick with no dining room to clean up, and its one less thing to do next week.

Bagels and eggs make an easy dinner as well.

Daven for good weather so you can feed the family outside next week.

Try to get no less that 6 hours of sleep each night. If you do get less than that, take a catch up nap the next day if possible.

SMILE. Your kids are taking sub-conscious notes on how you prepare for Pesach. Even if you are not so happy, fake it till you make it.

You are doing great! Keep it up.