As I heave a big giant sigh of relief now that Tucker has gone back to preschool (after having been off for nearly 2 weeks with conferences and Mid-Winter Break), I'm asking myself -- am I candidate material for Mother of the Year?! 

We hit nearly every attraction in Seattle (the Aquarium, the Zoo, the Pacific Science Center), plus a few things on the eastside.  Lief had to take 2 days off work to accompany me with the kids on some of these outings.  And I'm wondering - does it get any easier?  Will there be a time when I can take our 3 little kids on a major outing by myself?  Even taking them to Alderwood Mall to play in the little kids' enclosure - and Alex was with me, mind you - I STILL had an escapee!  Cleo somehow bypassed both Alex and myself in her quest to blaze down the mall.  She was just turning into the Disney Store when I caught sight of her.  Thank goodness I hadn't paid her allowance yet......  ;oD