Yes, we had like two days like that last week and it was great to go out back. Normally I might think “there will be better days soon” but I jumped at the chance to change the scenery. I think I’m gonna break out the hammock and take the cover off the trampoline this weekend, though my wife is worried about them…

It is definitely a struggle parenting right now. For the most part the kids have been cooperative. They are still bickering and fighting, but at a lower rate. For me the worst part is that even though we are home all day I feel like I have less time with them and more to do. By the time we finish with my job, the…

Sadly we didn’t have as much free time as I hoped so I didn’t get to check out the Grand Floridian or Fort Wilderness resorts. It’s a shame because we went in December and those two probably have the best Christmas setups. 

Only dozens of hours planning? What was she in week one? Just kidding. We should compare Excel spreadsheets one day. Though in Disney planning talk that could be considered foreplay.

I have all this knowledge just sitting here now. If you need it I’ll share it with you. Everything from the corny newsletters for the family leading up to the trip, to the sites that helped me the most, to what I learned while there.

I was planning a trip for 11 so FastPass was a lifesaver. Even if it were just my family of 5 I don’t know how we could have done it without them. Disney is a busy place and I see no joy in standing in a line for everything. If the alternative is having a schedule I’m fine with that.

I think you are underestimating the fun of planning FastPass options. Half the fun of the trip was the planning. I miss the deep dives I took into reading and listening to podcasts to prepare for the trip. The rides themselves didn’t compare to the rush of waking up at 5 or 6 in the morning to get the reservations you…

How am I coping? Let’s just say barely. I am trying to work on a system that is overloaded and down half of the time. My kids are either fighting or begging for more snacks every waking hour. The weather has been dreary and uncooperative. My wife is a nurse on the Corona unit at a hospital and is an anxious mess. I…

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Does my daughters’ Barbie mess that has taken over three levels of our house count?

With rates dropping and this I wish I held off refinancing my loans in February. No big deal, I still would owe the same amount no matter what. I’m lucky that I still have a job and able to make my payments so I’ll take that.

I have a playset and trampoline in my yard. You can swing by and use it. You can turn the hose on the slide for the waterpark feel. I’ll keep the kids in doors and won’t charge you much .

Yeah I hear you. We have a 5 year old too and she would not take it well. Most of that is because she is a terror and doesn’t take many things well. Also, our daughter might have missed out but we did go to Disney in December (during the 5 year old’s birthday) so that bought us a little goodwill.

Our daughter’s birthday was early in early March before all the madness. Unfortunately our daughter was sick with a different virus to the point we had to cancel and she spent her birthday in a hospital bed. We didn’t have a huge party planned but it was still sad no less. We ended up just postponing it a week. We…

It probably is since we're talking federal taxes. 

I don’t know if it differs with each state, but in my state unemployment is taxable on a federal level. Is this $600 taxable? I’m guessing no since it comes from the federal government. Even if it is maybe you can defer paying taxes like with unemployment in my state.

My day also starts with a daily scrum. It's less organized than Ted's. 

I think the math in the first quote needs to be checked.

Our son usually goes with his father every other weekend and one day during the week. This has all been put on hold for now. There are other kids at both homes and one of them seems to always be sick. The hardest part is we have a family friend’s son who comes over every other weekend and he misses that. He doesn't…

This sounds good in theory, but I bet it doesn’t work for most people with kids. I find myself with less time now. I no longer have free time while they are out with their mother, or free time while they are at school (used to work 4 days a week), or no free time while they are with the grandparents. I am spending all…