Summer Vacation Day 1: Rainy & 54 degrees

Not that I'm a huge fan of sticky 90 degree days, but I was miffed to wake up to thunderstorms and 50s on Jo's first day of summer vacation. Still, we managed to have a pretty good day.

The girls got on their rain boots and grabbed their umbrellas. I loaded them in Debbie Dodge (our minivan) and verbalized my mental list of errands:

Ok, girls we need to stop at the hardware store, make a deposit at the bank, and then I have a coupon for Kohl's.

I'm not one to drag my kids around on all-day intensive errand running. That would be torturous for all parties involved. When I've got one or both of my girls with me, I do my best to keep it short (under an hour) and let them know what we'll be tackling (not more than 3 chore-like stops).

Let me back up.

On Saturday, during one of our sticky 90 degree days, we were roasting in our non-air conditioned house. It was nearing dusk and a breeze was starting to pick up. I turned the latch on our kitchen window to unlock it. Instantaneously the top window panel comes crashing down, shattering the glass.

Sunday morning, Matt and I work together to remove all the broken glass and take out the frame for the top panel. I bring the empty window frame to our local hardware store and explain what happened. The kitchen window, along with nearly all the windows in our house are original - from 1964. Apparently the spring mechanism in the window track (which is supposed to keep the window from falling) is failing.

Since installing brand new (insanely expensive) windows is not at the top of our To-Do List, I propose plexiglass as our cost-effective replacement. The hardware store guy assures me that the plexiglass will be just as clear as regular glass and will not break if the window falls. I leave the frame with him and he tells me it will be ready to pick up in 2 hours.

I send Matt and CoCo to pick up the window from the hardware store so I can take a shower before we head to a family graduation party. Matt comes home with a new window pane that is smudged all over and with glazing that needs to dry for a day. He pops the window back in place and we head out to the party.

The next day Matt wipes off the smudges on the new pane only to discover scratches all across it. You could say I'm feeling a tad discouraged. We have a string of severely hot tropical days, end up ignoring the scratches on the top window pane and put in a window air conditioning unit in our kitchen window.

Today it drops 40 degrees, so I gingerly ask Matt if he can help me pull out the bulky air conditioner in the kitchen window so I can take the top window panel back to the hardware store. He does.


So now we're back - Stop #1 on our first day of summer vacation morning errands. Juggling the 20x36 window and both girls' hands, we cross the parking lot and into the hardware store. I ask to speak to the manager, with my 5-day-old receipt at the ready. I explain the whole situation to the manager and he says he'll be happy to re-do the job himself at no cost. I give him my cell number and he promises to call as soon as our window is ready for pick up.  On the way out the clerk at the counter indiscreetly asks if the girls can have suckers. I say ok (how could I say no) and the girls shriek with joy. They pick out yellow and purple freebie suckers and are utterly elated.

Just up the road is Matt's bank. We use the drive-thru to deposit a few checks into his business account. THANK GOD for drive-thru. Just as we finish our second errand of the day the girls chomp down their suckers. Its 10am.

Stop #3 - Kohls Dept Store. Usually I avoid shopping in a large store with my children. Because, I have this fear that once inside they are suddenly bombarded by the zillion and one flashy brand new things that we don't have and I'm certain my girls will think they absolutely NEED IT RIGHT NOW. But, since we are more or less beyond the realm of tantrums and terrible two's and not being able to reason with a toddler, I decide to give it a try.

I pull into a parking space, turn off the car and turn around to face my girls. I clearly and concisely say:

We are going in to buy X item. We are only buying X item.

I ask my girls, What are we buying at the store today?

In unison they dutifully echo, X item.

Then I propose, What happens if you see something else that you want?

Jo replies, We are not buying anything else today. Only X item. 

And CoCo repeats her sister like a little parrot.

We walk into the department store and go directly to the section with X item. I find the right size, take the girls with me to the dressing room, make sure it fits and then make a bee-line to the checkout. As we get in line I see CoCo clenching a bright teal satiny push-up bra.

I want this for me, CoCo chirps.

Jo jumps in and reminds CoCo, We are not shopping for that today.

Jo takes CoCo's hand and together they navigate through the racks of clothes and find the right place to hang up the bra.

Without whining or tears we make it thru the checkout and back in Debbie. We are homebound, all three errands accomplished, virtually pain-free.

Although the rain has stopped, its cloudy and cool and everything outside is sopping wet and muddy. Jo and CoCo pull out their trike and scooter and make laps around the basement. After lunch Jo asks if we can set up our family room like The Rosebud (a movie theater with plush chairs and sofas) to watch a movie, everyone all together. We move the couch in front of Matt's widescreen computer monitor, snuggle with blankets, watch a couple episodes of Dinosaur Train and munch on popcorn. Then we read four library books and without me even asking, the girls head to their bedroom for a late afternoon rest.

Conveniently while they are napping, the Garage Door Guy comes and I am able to have an un-interrupted, fully-adult conversation with him for 45 minutes, discussing and taking detailed notes on ALL our options. Because having a functioning garage door is at the top of our To-Do List.

Now, all I need is to ask Matt to pick up a gallon of milk on his way home (that was one critical errand I forgot about).