Take kids to natural history museum. Gawk at animals and dino-skeletons. Notice that Zach is tugging at his right ear. Come home. Notice that Z's cough is way worse. Take him to urgent care 30 minutes before dinner time. Get turned away by closed sign. Do mental head-slap because we are at the wrong location. Drive 30 minutes to correct one. Wait an hour to be seen...with a tired, hungry baby. Entertain kid with Cheerios and favorite book. Have PA tell me that he has a virus or allergies, neither of which requires antibiotics. Begin the journey home. Spy the new warning "FUEL LEVEL LOW" on the dash. Curse under my breath. Ask Siri to find me a (damn) gas station. Listen to baby wail from the backseat as Siri is totally unhelpful. Text husband for location of nearby gas station. Acquire location immediately. Arrive at gas station. Cheer jubilantly at the low prices...only to have my card declined. Wonder about the status of my bank account after it was full this morning. Hear people sharing the news that the station is OUT OF GAS. WTH?! Curse again, not-so-silently, before getting into the car. Text hubby again with mounting frustration. Find a new gas station with low prices, only to have card troubles again. Rehash what I did to make karma hate me. Understand that it's the keypad on the pump, not a hostile bank takeover. Calmly re-enter my pin and wait. Fill up my tank. Sigh with relief. Play peek-a-boo with the surly kid in the backseat. Allow his laugh to soothe my weary soul. Head home. Get surprised by husband, who has fed our daughter and cleaned up the whole house--including the garage! Score! Survive bedtime routine. Savor Nana's homemade chili (made by moi!) and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc (not made by moi!).
Breathe.
 Natalie absconded with my phone to take pictures. We'll encourage her to keep practicing.  |
| This is the interior of a boat that might have sailed in California's waters long ago. Natalie didn't much care about that. She just cared that the guy who was eating at that table was dressed EXACTLY like Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid. |
 |
| In the too-full waiting room...with Cheerios, natch. |
