Sunday Funnies: All Aboard The Bipolar Express!

There I was, one day left to go and still 144 tissue paper flowers to whip out, with so little time remaining.  I suppose I could have forgone all sleep in order to meet my dead line, but I chose another route.  I put my kids and husband to work, that's why I have them right?  I know sweat shops are frowned upon, but I needed help!
My fingers ached with the pain of twisting petal after petal, and I thought to myself 'how do I get myself into this crap craft?'   And so when the morning came my sweet husband was sent to work with a pile of pretty pink tissue paper and a bundle of wire with instructions on how to create a delicate carnation.  He worked tirelessly and in the process whipped out 24 flowers and gained the nickname of princess. 
By the time school was out I was starting to sweat bullets because I was only half way to my goal.  So an assembly line was formed.  And my kids were bribed with a trip out for dinner (mostly because I had no where to put diner because the counter and table were covered in crap craft supplies).

Emma was put to the task of threading buttons onto wire.  She picked up the task with vigor and finished 15 of them before she got any help. 

Kira's assignment, making pretty petals.  She really wants to find a job this year (her new year's resolution) so if anyone out there needs a seven year old to fold tissue paper flowers, she's your girl.

And Izzy, well, Izzy somehow got out of doing anything except the puzzle on the floor.
So the race began.  With encouragement and whining set to full speed we made it through most of the remaining flowers before we went to bed.  And boy were my kids tired.  They did a whole twenty minutes of work. 

The next morning Kevin again made flowers at work, this time they were dainty little tulips, this did nothing for his reputation.  (you have to understand that the guys that he work with wrestle with alligators for sport)  I sat at home and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks (my ears hurt by the time it was over but don't tell my kids that).  But all of the flowers were finished.  And so the bouquets were started. 
The goal, 12 bouquets in 40 minutes.  I enlisted the help of my mom who glued black satin ribbons and bows to each square vase, while my husband completed the remaining tulips needed to complete each bouquet.  And so I taped and taped and taped and reached number 9 before I realized that we were 6 carnations short.  And I only had 4 minutes left.
Oh well to hell with it.  We'll only set up 10 tables.
Up to the church I flew like a banshee and made it just in time to get the tables covered and centerpieces set before the girls began to come. 

And so my manic episode came to an end, and as I climbed off The Bipolar Express and fell into bed that night I realized how wonderful my family is.  Thanks for all your help and patience.  And the next time you hear a jingle bell ring, just remember, someone, somewhere is having a manic episode and dragging their family with them too. :)  Your not alone.