How much does it take to find 2 lost children?

Monster #1 and #2




1 calm mother 1 frantic mother (guess which one was me) 1 random jogger 1 family of three 3 garbage men 3 police officers in 3 separate cars (although they assured us there were MANY more on the way) 1 neighbor that assured us she would tell the police officers that we were "good moms" 2 laps around the neighborhood (thankfully the jogging mom is in great shape) 2 calls to 911 (one to call for help, the other to cancel help)

Mind you it took less than 5 minutes for those little buggers to slink like snakes under the fence, run down the alley, hide in a house currently under construction and completely ignore the fact that someone was frantically calling their names.

In Summary:

Total people involved in the escapade: 15 (including the rascals, but not including a worried husband at work)

Total time lost: approximately 10 minutes

Total number of times the little darlings have played in the backyard unsupervised without a problem: At least 100 times

Total number of years I lost: About 75.. at least.

Total time for the adults to recover: 5 days and counting

I know, I joke, but really it wasn't all that funny. Thankfully, at least my little conspirator, knows he scared me. He repeatedly has said over the past couple of days..."crying", ''scared" , "big truck" with at least a slight look of concern.

**post edit** I should clarify that the police didn't actually help us look for the kids. We found them before they got to the house. But when we called the 911 operator back to say we found them, she said they were already enroute so she couldn't call them off. She said they would have to see the kids to verify they were okay. However, the garbage men were in fact the ones that found the monsters.

ROCK THE VOTE

What a great day.

I went to the gym. While I was working out I read Enjoy It by Courtney Kendrick. It was slightly embarrassing, because I was laughing so hard I almost fell off the elliptical machine. I have to say, the girl can write.



I VOTED. I was a little ambitious and I walked to my precinct. It isn't that far from my house, but I did go to the gym and I was walking with a 4 year old which made for a sssslow walk. I finally couldn't take it anymore and let her ride on the back. I'm sure I just destroyed my stroller.


At the polling station we met one of Lulu's classmates. They patiently waited while the moms voted.


Teddy was sporting his very appropriately themed "Teddy for President" shirt. He received it from my friend Carrie for his 1st birthday. I've been saving it for today. I should have written him in. Don't worry little guy.. just 34 more years until you can start campaigning (because we all know it is a 2 year process).

Everyone was quite entertained that I wanted to document the volunteer feeding my ballot into the machine.

Really does it need any explanation?

I enjoyed all of these activities, but by far my favorite activity was having this conversation with my 4 year old.

Lulu: "Where are we going?"
Me: "To vote"
Lulu: "Who are you voting for?"
Me: "Barack Obama"
Lulu: "I'm going to vote for John McCain."
Me: "Where did you learn that?" (Like I really needed to ask.)
Lulu: "I don't know, but I'm voting for him."
Me: "Well you aren't old enough to vote and you won't be able to vote for him when you are."
Lulu: "Why?"
Me: "Because he will be dead." (Now c'mon.. if Lulu can vote in 14 years he would be 86.)
Lulu: "He'll be dead?"
Me: "Okay.. maybe not dead, but I don't think he will be running for any offices. Then again, he is the comeback kid, so you never know." I freaking crack myself up.


Does anyone else find it a bit offensive that all these places are offering free items if you can prove you voted? A couple of the ones I heard were Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and some place in a mid-western state was offering a free beer. Why do we need to get "paid" to do vote? Shouldn't we want to do this, regardless of the incentive?