(Cue Mission Impossible theme song)

Just when I thought we got all of our logistics and schedule ironed out, we arrived at the hotel last night to have discovered a rather big boo boo. Tobey asks, "Where's Rainbow?", his beloved blue chameleon Beanie baby. Rainbow is Tobey's constant companion at naps and sometimes in the car. He's so constant a companion that once in a while, Tobey smells him and says, "Ew! He stinks!" He's so valuable that Tom and I don't let Tobey bring him out to restaurants or public places out of fear that he will get lost never to be found again. We're adamant about Rainbow staying in the car or at home.

Panic rushed in as soon as he asked -- Tobey said Rainbow was in the car, but having just loaded the kids' entertainment for our big trip into the minivan, I knew he wasn't there. Thinking again, "I think he's at home," said Tobey, which is bad news on a day where the packers sealed every belonging in a box with layers of clear packing tape.

I already went through an episode with the packers earlier that day where they packed our camcorder (which was in a shoe box unpadded) without knowing it. We didn't need the camcorder now that we have a Flip, but we still need it so we can view possibly 30+ mini DV tapes of our kids' childhood, that's all. :-) So they graciously opened boxes until they found it -- it took 4 boxes -- and wrapped/packed it properly.

My first reaction was to scold Tobey for not bringing Rainbow. But then I realized it wasn't his fault. He didn't know that packers coming that day meant that anything left behind would be sealed in a box. And I was so worried about lots of other minutiae that I forgot to tell him to take care of Rainbow. Luckily, I thought Rainbow would be in the one box that was in Tobey's room marked "TOYS" so I was able to nip the disappointment in the bud and say that Daddy would get it in the morning before the movers took the box. Tobey was a trooper and didn't whine and cry...like he usually would.

This morning was unusual -- we woke up in the hotel, had to get showered and dressed but also had to get breakfast in the lobby (love Staybridge's free full breakfast!) before getting Tobey to school. Tom left early to meet the movers and complete Mission Rainbow.

Then I got a text message from him at 9AM:

"Rainbow extraction successful."

It took 3 boxes before he found him and in Eli's room. And while Tom didn't have to be an Ethan Hunt this morning, he was a big hero in Tobey's eyes (and a bit like Tom Cruise in mine!).