February is almost over and I will be really very thankful when it is. This month hasn't exactly been what I would call relaxing or stress free. To start the month out, Gage accidentally spilled a can of pop on our computer and we had to have it sent into their dreaded service center. Eek. Well several weeks later and a couple of frustrating conversations with the Geek Squad Manager we have our computer back in less than perfect condition. The main thing is that it is home and working most of the time as I am rolling my eyes over the entire ordeal.
With that said we have been keeping ourselves busy here in the Sanden house trying to combat the Cabin Fever that hits us every February with many trips to different play areas in Rochester and some play dates here and there.
Me and the kids took a cursed trip to South Dakota to visit my sister and the events that transpired led to our decision to buy a Min-Van. Eek! I really should have known that the trip wasn't supposed to happen when the night before we left Gage came up to me and said "Mom, my ear hurts" These are dreaded words that no parent wants to hear the night before leaving the state. So after being up all night with a little boy who was crying and writhing in pain I had decided that we were not going to go. The next morning I woke up to Gage being fully dressed, even wearing his coat and boots, preparing a bowl of cereal. As soon as he saw me he said, I'm ready to go to Amy's house. After seeing this I thought that I couldn't break the little boys heart and tell him that we weren't going so we packed up, stopped at the Express Care, and got some antibiotics and we were on our way. The kids were traveling very well in the car and all was going well until we were almost to the border and the low oil light came on in the car. This isn't completely uncommon with our piece of crap, but it was unexpected because we had just had the oil changed 2 days before. So I call Aaron at home, pull over, add some oil and hit the road again. Not even a half an hour goes by and the low oil light comes on again. So I proceed to call Aaron and tell him my concern of being in the middle of nowhere with a sick little boy and a broken car using choice words of course. I pull over again, buy some more oil and check the oil level and it was okay so we hit the road again and this time we make it to Amy's house.
The next day we try to make the best of things with, now, 2 sick and grumpy kids. Everyone was on edge and HAVING SO MUCH FUN as we went to the Butterfly House and Chuck E Cheese. I'm pretty sure we infected the entire state of South Dakota that night at Chuck E Cheese with the nasty little virus my kids had because I think that the entire state of South Dakota was at Chuck E Cheese that night. We drive home on glare ice that night, everyone in just peachy moods. Also Gage was refusing to take any antibiotic at this point and he was completely miserable. I don't blame him for not wanting the medicine. He is allergic to Penicillin so he gets a Z-Pack which tastes terrible!
We get on the road bright and early the next morning to find terrible road conditions. We drive for about 30 minutes and suddenly the check engine light comes on in the car. I have a breakdown at this point and call Aaron crying. We talk it over and decide that I will just keep driving. So I did and 6 hours later we make it home! I was so happy to see my house. That was when we made the decision to eat the difference on the loan and buy a (gulp) mini-van. Dylann apparently had an ear infection the entire time, but waited until we got home to crash. She never once acted like anything was hurting her, but when we got home she fell asleep and didn't wake up for about 20 hours. She barely woke up to go to the doctor.
Everyone is well now and we have traded our car for a brand new, used, Mini-Van. I am having a hard time dealing with the loss of my awesome, but I will admit that it has been nice having room to spread out a little in our new vehicle. Gage loves the fact that he can open and close the doors by himself and Dylann love to look at the stars "up up sky."
After all of the stress that February has put us through, Aaron and I are very much ready for our trip to Mexico in exactly 7 days! Not like we are counting or anything :)
Some pictures of a few of the things we did this past month.
Dylann telling the driver where to go.
Gage playing Air Hockey at Chuck E Cheese
Dylann being silly in Amy's boots
One of our play dates with Asha and Eli.
Playing at Pipsqueaks
