Simplifying life. Or at least April.

Last April was insane.

It started with Sam’s birthday, which we spent in St. Louis.

The next weekend, we drove back to St. Louis for Andy’s grandfather’s funeral (and a quick trip to the pediatric emergency room thrown in for fun). Then I had the bright idea to drive myself insane try to make Lightsabers out of pretzels for Sam’s class.

Then we had a joint birthday party for both kids with our entire families, which was quickly followed by Kate’s birthday celebration at school, her actual birthday, and her skating party.

It was nuts and I about drove myself insane. (Shocker, right?)

But this April, I am determined to keep things simple. Determined.

So here’s my plan.

Sam’s birthday is on Monday April 2. Andy and Kate happen to be on spring break that week, which is good because Sam is convinced he is not going to school on his birthday. So either the three of them will spend the day together, or I’ll take the day off and we’ll all do something. Something simple, like going to the park. That evening we’ll have dinner of his choosing, cake, ice cream and presents.

Then, we’ll take a break in the madness until Kate’s birthday, which is Sunday, April 22. We’ll take a treat to school the Friday before and then on her birthday she’ll have her party at the skating rink, and she’s already decided that she wants to go to Frisch’s for dinner (and that I have to let her have all the chili spaghetti that she wants). Cake, ice cream and presents at our house.

The end.

Oh, it’s the end except that the week after that is Kate’s First Communion, which I am also determined to keep simple. I’m thinking church followed by brunch at a new cafe in our town.

Note that none of this involves getting our house clean. I am no dummy.

So, as I stare April down, that is my plan. My only fear is that I will be so focused on keeping everything simple that I will drive myself crazy with that. I may or may not already have a Google doc entitled “How to keep April simple.” There’s something counterproductive about that, I think.

What do you think? Can I do it? Can I survive April without letting things spin out of control?

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Sprint via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sprint.