(Almost) Perfect

You know that feeling you get when you finalize a date for a specific event and then you write it in pen on your calender because you know that nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to get in the way said event?  And from the time you write it on the calender you are so excited that you have kind of a running countdown ticking in your brain.  And you know how you visualize all the details and how perfectly the day is going to go and you just can’t wait to dive into the day because you know that it’s going to be even better than you imagine? 

Saturday our countdown ended. 

Several weeks ago my dear friend Lisa and I scheduled a date for our families to go to the zoo together.  This may not seem like a big deal, but with seven kids between us, sports, crazy-busy jobs, and full calenders–finding a Saturday that worked for everyone was nothing short of a miracle.  I woke early in the morning and went for a run and by the time I returned everyone was up and the house was a buzz with excitement.  Between Charlie and Chanelle I think I heard “is it 8:15 yet?” about 49 times.  The wait was torture. . . just one more minute, right Mommy?

Finally, our friends pulled into our driveway and the five boys piled in one car while the six girls loaded up in the other.  We were set to go until Chad turned the key to turn on our car. . . Ummm, silence?

Okay, not exactly the beginning I was expecting, but we can handle this. . .

After a few minutes seven kids and four adults were loaded into two cars and prepared for the hour and a half trip to the zoo.  The day was sunny and warm and the excitement from little ones was contagious.  After only a few when are we going to be there’s, we pulled up to our destination.

Strollers were loaded, kids were lathered with sunscreen, and our crew, resembling a preschool made our way into to zoo.  Have you ever gone to the zoo with seven young kids?  Relaxing, it is not.  I think I counted to seven 3,000 times.  One, two, three, four, five, six, . . . who are we missing, oh there, seven! Let’s move on. . .

The kids were happy though and smiles were abundant. . .

Together they marched from one exhibit to the another happily oohing and ahhing at each other and sometimes, noticing the animals.

Meadow even had a kinda-sorta good day.  I think only half the zoo heard her screams and she was happiest when taxied around by her Daddy. . .

. . . and when meeting these new little creatures face to face. . .

I mean. . . face to face. . .

In all reality the kids just enjoyed being together.  Making memories, talking during the car ride, eating lunch together, and making memories.  This Mama’s heart is so warmed by the connections my kids are making with others.  That even now at ages six and four they are understanding that friendships are important and even sometimes the line between friends and family is blurred. . . and that is a very good thing.

The temperatures were nearing the 90 degree mark and after walking for the entire day we noticed that smiles began to fade, voices were getting higher pitched, and the pace was slowing to a crawl. . . or a squat.

While all the other kids were fading, Meadow was just beginning to enjoy herself.

If this picture doesn’t make you smile I’ll give you a million dollars. . . okay not really, but seriously. . . how can you not smile?

At the end of the day she seemed to wake up and see. . .hey, I’m at the zoo!

It didn’t matter, though.  Majority rules and it was time to hit the road to head back home.  The day had been full and good and we had two cars full of content kids.  With only one slight mishap at the beginning of the trip, my heart was happy.   Even though my heart was happy, I noticed my head was feeling something different.  Specifically, a harsh pounding that spread from one temple to the other and seemed particularly violent behind my eyes. 

We proceeded on the ride home and I thought about the day and remembered the anticipation of the last few weeks.  Lisa and I chatted and with each mile traveled the pounding in my head seemed to get worse.  It was a good day, it was a good day, I silently repeated to myself. . . don’t ruin it now. .
No such luck.  I glanced over at Lisa with a terrified look. . . pull over, I managed to get out.  My friend whipped her car over so fast you would have thought she had been hanging with Danica Patrick.  I burst out of the passenger side door and right on the Interstate, for all to see, I spilled my guts. . . literally. 

Oh yes I did.  Can you say, Classy? 

Let’s just say Lisa and I took our friendship to a new level. . .

All in a day, right?  So what’s the moral of the story?  If you make plans with our family and you anticipate a “perfect” day. . . we’ll make sure to put a kink in those plans, but we’ll still make memories.  Right Chad?

Sent to me from Chad while at the zoo. . .