Birthday Blues

It's been awhile since I've posted! I intended to post the saga that was my birthday weekend some time ago, but just never got around to it, hence, I shall post it now.

Last Saturday (4/4) was my 22nd birthday. It was a much anticipated day, because my parents and two of my sisters would be here. I was excited to see them and to have babysitters on hand so I could enjoy a relaxing evening with Johnny. The weekend promised to be fun, laid-back, and free.

Alas, 'twas not to be.

Johnny's grandfather (Wilbur Thurow) died on Wednesday, 4/1. Although not sudden or unexpected it was very sad for us because we were planning a trip out this coming Summer so that Grandpa Thurow could meet the boys for the first time. I am very sad that he never got to meet his great-grandsons.
It was a mad dash to figure out travel plans and funeral arrangements and such. It turned out that the Thurow family decided to have the funeral two days later (4/3) in Wisconsin. This made it very difficult for the Wyoming Thurows to make it out. The decision for Johnny, his mom, and his brother to make it out was very last minute. They decided on Wednesday night and headed out at 6 am Thursday morning. Obviously I couldn't go because my family was here all the way from Tennessee. So, strike one against my birthday: no husband.

Saturday April 4th dawned, but didn't see it, because the sun was blocked out by a huge snowstorm. It snowed all day and all night; I believe the final tally was 15 inches. I hate snow. Strike 2 against my birthday: mounds of evil snow.

Strike 3 against my birthday: female troubles. I'll leave it at that for the sake of male readers.

It wasn't all bad. We opened presents, I gave Hannah a dance lesson, we ate at a really good Mexican restaurant with a gluten-free menu, and we played a really fun game of Apples to Apples. It was really, really nice to have my family there.

The next morning the family packed up in a bustling hurry and made it out the door by 9 am. There was a flurry of packing and lots of quick gathering, and in the hustle my sister forgot her crocheting. And a valuable possession was picked up...

The boys and I relaxed the rest of the morning and after naps I decided to take advantage of my time alone and completely free. We only have one car so I usually don't get it. It would be fun to spend the next couple days with freedom of transportation and not having to tell anyone where I was going and for how long. So, I packed up the diaper bag, loaded up the children, and reached for my keys.

Unfortunately, my keys were in North Dakota with my parents. Somehow they got scooped up in the hustle.

Now the story gets good. Y'see, my car trip wasn't all about freedom to explore; I had run out of items necessary for the aforementioned female troubles and I had to go to the bathroom pretty badly. I frantically searched for my keys; I tore apart drawers, dug through garbage, crawled through the car, emptied my purse and diaper bag, and then finally thought to call my parents to see if they had seen my keys.
Yes, they had. They discovered them in a random bag.

So, I quickly loaded the boys into the stroller and made a beeline for Wal Mart. Fortunately, it's only about 1/2 mile away. I got the product I needed and scurried toward the bathroom.

It was closed for cleaning.

I dialed Heather to tell her of my woes. She sympathized with appropriate best-friend empathy.

Then my phone started to die.

Then Zachary manufactured a stinky diaper.

I had forgotten the diaper bag.

So, I wandered around Wal Mart with a dieing phone, a stinky toddler, a full bladder, no keys, muddy shoes from melted snow, no husband, and soul full of tears.

Best birthday weekend ever!

The story has a happy ending; I went to the bathroom. I got home and changed the diaper and watched "Guys and Dolls" while eating an atrocious amount of gluten-free birthday cake. Johnny arrived home on Monday evening and all was right with the world again.

The End.