Once a year, I splurge on a fancy day-planner. I adore how it arrives all crisp and clean, vacant of any responsibility; it seems full of promise of a new year - a new ME, even - that is organized and well-thought out. Color-coded and efficiently tabbed. Perfect.

Then life happens and currently? It's being held together by paper clips, tape, and prayers.

This is my life. And while it is indeed chaotic and insanely busy, we still manage to color-code some organized family fun. 

(And I truly LOVE my threadbare planner, because it means we've enjoyed each page turn.)

So here's the part where I introduce myself. Seems easy enough, right? My name is Sarah Lena. I've written under The Anvil Tree since before blogging was cool. (Just ask my HR department!) Since we called them weblogs, even. Because I am ANCIENT.

I feel ancient - I am not, in fact, ancient - because I am TIRED. A lot. I work in the space industry as wrangler of rocket scientists (that is not my official title, for those curious readers) in the Rocket City of Huntsville, Alabama. (Yes, really! Alabama! Indoor plumbing AND rocket science technology!) Since I work in an industry that's as dynamic as space exploration, I work more than the 40 hour week standard. I also freelance in proposal coordination, which is a great industry that is GRUELING work. Oh! And I freelance as a voiceover artist. Wait, one more! I also am in school full-time.

And that's just ME and MY responsibilities. I've been blessed with a four year old son (Tony), and I'm a stepmom to an amazing twelve year old boy (Jack), and I'm married to Bryan, my forty year old boy.  We've been together about eight years now.. hey, that's almost as long as I've been writing on my blog!

Juggling all of these things is not easy. Or perfect. Or easily color-coded. My husband also works, so we often play the late afternoon Can you pick up the kids today? phone tag. Meal planning is vital, because we often all get home at 6:00 p.m.. and even with meal planning, there are nights that we just drive-thru the fastest joint on the way. To say it is not how I pictured things? Is putting it mildly. But we manage.

And occasionally, we find little ways to have fun along the way. Which let's face it: is why we do it in the first place.

Finding family time is something I'm not necessarily gifted with naturally, but I've found a lot of hidden troves of ideas that help me enforce some quality time. And, as you can imagine, with kids ranging from 4 to 12, ideas that are successful are even more treasured. So I'm excited to share what I know here, and hope that you guys will give me some great ideas too!

Because, let's just be honest: sometimes? Momma's just TIRED.

Do you have to schedule your family fun time? Or are you an advocate of impulsive family fun?