A busy day

Kerry: "Ok Finn, let's get going. We have a reeeally busy day today!"
Finn: "I'm bored, Mommy... I want to be busy."

And so began the whirlwind of suburbanite domesticity that was today.

The night before, Finn had cried as he saw his brother and sister drive off with Daddy. Not only were they they not here to play with but they were going CAMPING without him!!

Let me break in here a little... I know camping is not for everyone... "why would I want to purposely sleep out in the woods" etc. and all that but let me tell you, camping is a kid dream. Or let me preface.... camping with DADDY is a kid's dream. You can get as dirty as you want, climb trees, root beers and snacks in the cooler, nothing to keep tidy, s'mores, no napkins, stay up late, skip brushing teeth, pee in the woods, etc., etc.

Ok so this morning, having committed to getting the food together for two events, one a breakfast at a church event, the other at a Cub Scout event involving about 100 people, Kerry sets out in the minivan complete with the Finnster and our grill precariously lodged in the back. She soon realizes assistance is required so when a few considerate individuals offer up the "let me know if you need any help" Kerry quickly takes them up on it and forces are marshalled at Costco.

Thanks to everyone, things end up working out pretty well. Badminton was played, feet were attacked by fire ants, decorated eggs were pneumatically hurled into the air, and toddlers wandered off in the woods.... the usual.

Where are the Keys, Part 17

About 9 weeks ago, I had left my keys in the car out front of my in-law's place while I was organizing their recyclables. Finn messed around in the car a little and when I got him out, I couldn't find my keys. I was in a rush so I grabbed Kerry's set and headed to the recycling center. There was a good chance Finn had dropped them in the bin of plastics so I was planning on looking in it as I picked everything out one by one. Of course, by the time I actually ended up doing this I had forgotten all about it and dumped the whole bin in at one time.

After searching everywhere we figured that yes, Finn had dropped them in the bin and they were indeed in the bottom of the plastics dumpster at the recycling center which was now closed and would be until Monday. I called then and was told the plastics had been hauled off to the main center. I called there and left a message knowing I would never see my keys again.

I actually called a few more times and talked to a guy who said he'd let me know if they found them but, of course, nothing happened. So after a few times locked out of my office (I had my office key AND the security tag on my set) I got a replacement set. I had keys to our Thule carrier and the bike rack too on the lost set but had extras. But for my bike lock, wrapped around my handlebars, I had nothing so bought a new lock.

Three days ago I planned to cut off the old one with my Father in-law's boltcutters but didn't, figuring I'd look around a little more for any extra keys.

Then today, I lost my replacement set. First off, let me say that I shouldn't say "lost". Until now, I had never actually "lost" my keys. No matter what craziness had befallen them they always managed to turn up. So today I misplaced my keys once again at my in-law's and gave up looking for them and decided that the kids and I would walk up to the pool instead of driving.

As I'm pushing the jogging stroller up the driveway, I ask Erin to go check in the middle console to see if my keys were in there. She jumps in the car for about three seconds before emerging with a triumphant look. But in her hand is not the very small set that was my new set of keys but the clunky big set with the duct-taped Odyssy key that I had "misplaced" over two months ago!

She had found them in the sunglass cubby over the windshield.