Recently DH and I went to the Bahamas. N made his sales number for the year so his company has a trip at a tropical location.
The week leading up to us leaving was not going well. It was school vacation week in Massachusetts. The girls were off schedule, and we all had colds. E also decided this was the week she started acting like a teenager with hormones and attitude.
The worst part of the week was when I brought my car to get it's yearly inspection and it FAILED! It failed for two reasons
1. Exhaust pipes rusting out= Lot's of $$$
2. Front license plate needed to be replaced= Need to stand in line at the RMV...are you kidding me?
I took the car to be inspected on Saturday. Which meant they couldn't fix it until Monday. I would also have to wait until then to go to the RMV. This is exactly what I want to do the day before I'm leaving on vacation.
A friend suggested going to a more remote RMV location. So Monday morning I packed some snacks and toys. I loaded the girls in our questionable loaner of a car, and headed to get the replacement plates.
I told the girls if they were good, we could go out to lunch. I was sure it wouldn't take that long. I should have know the way my week was going the way this story would end.
I pulled into the parking lot and saw nothing but cars. I got the girls out the the car and the line was out the door. I overheard someone saying I have never seen this place so busy. GREAT! Luckily I had filled the paperwork out so I got a number right away. 20 minutes later our number was called. We get to the counter and the lady goes to get my new license plates and asks for $20. I pull out my Master Card and she says "Cash only." I immediately start to panic. I'm not getting back into line, and E needs to be at preschool at 12pm. The tears start to come but I'm trying not to let the girls see I'm upset. I beg the lady to make an exception she grunts and says there is an ATM machine at a hotel across the street and one down the road. Okay I can do this. I walk the girls across the street and we get to the ATM. I look at it and it says OUT OF SERVICE. @#@!!$$!! Of course all these obscenities were in my head because I never swear in front of my children:) We then have to walk back across the street get in my car and drive down the road. Finally we get the $20 we need, and I get my new plates.
I look at the time and realize that leisurely lunch I had planned wasn't going to happen. E needed to be at school in less than 30 minutes. So I did what any Mom would do in a desperate situation. I stopped at McDonald's! E and C wolfed down their lunch in the backseat as I drove to Preschool drop off.
Through all of this the girls were surprisingly good. I know there were a couple of times I was about to go postal.
The next morning N and I were off to the Bahamas for some R&R. It's hard as a SAHM to remember what my life is like without kids. It was a nice change to travel lighter. No sippy cups, juice boxes, or diapers. Just my Ipod and Book.
The trip forced me to relax. I read a book, ate/drank way to much, and the biggie SLEPT LATE! I didn't even need coffee on the trip, but there is nothing better then sipping a big cup on the beach with only the sound the waves.
