Road trip! I decided to join the Caulfield family on their vacation to Bend, Oregon because it sounded WAY better than staying home and pouting about being a Dreamforce widow on my birthday. So the boys and I headed up to Bend, and then continued our road trip to La Grande, Oregon to visit Auntie Sarah. After a wonderful visit with Dakota Ralston we were going to head back to Bend to stay with Cailin and family. The morning of our departure Sarah had to go to work and we weren't quite ready to leave; because packing up the arsenal of supplies and "stuff" is forever time consuming, not to mention getting the boys dressed, fed, and cooperating is a feat next to herding cats - which I've never done but sounds challenging. As Sarah was leaving she said, "Just turn the lock on the front door and close it behind you. If you accidentally get locked out, just call me and I'll come let you back in." I thought, how silly, I wouldn't lock the door before everything was in the car. Well, as I began to pack the car with our cache of belongings I walked out with my arms jam-packed and Parker and Reid followed. As I put everything down next to the car I see Parker (with his shirt tucked neatly into his jeans and belted, with his backpack and Yankee hat on) close the door behind them. My head immediately started to pulsate. I said, "Parker, did you lock the door?!" He looked at me proudly and said, "I did!" I fell to my knees and screamed, "Shiiiiiiiiiittttttt!" Both boys looked at me with such fear and confusion in their faces. Their mom was losing it, and I did. I started crying and yelling to no one in particular, "Oh my God, what the hell am I going to do, and my phone and wallet are inside!!!! Fuck, fuck, fuck!!!" I'm pretty sure the neighbors were about to call CPS as they watched this strange lady rolling around on the grass crying while two adorable, scared, little boys stared in disbelief at their crumbling mother. I realized I was making a scene so I put the boys in the car, sat in the driver seat and continued to sob. At this point Parker was crying saying, "Mommy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lock us out.” I had to pull it together. Would I wander around the EOU campus calling Sarah’s name? Would I try and borrow a cell phone and call Mark, who could then call Sarah? I knew she hadn’t left any doors or windows open, but then again, what if? I got the boys out of the car and walked to the side yard. Above my head was a window that led into the kitchen. I remembered it had been open the previous night; maybe Sarah hadn’t locked it. I pulled a chair up to the window and removed the screen. I then tried to push it up, and low and behold, it opened. A wave of relief washed over me – we were saved. I was just about to heave my body through the small window opening when I looked down and saw my boys staring at me with concern and wonder. I said, “Ok, we found a way in!” I then realized after Parker locked us out, one way for him to find redemption would be to climb in the window and open the front door. I said, “Parker, hop on up here, you’re going through the window.” His face lit up. He jumped on the chair and I hoisted his 40 lbs through the window - much more graceful than hoisting myself through. Once through the window, he stood on the counter not knowing how to get down. He eased his way to the stool, climbed down, and was off toward the front door. I looked at Reid and said, “Parker’s saving us!” Reid said, “Kaker!” Seconds later Parker was running around the corner where Reid and I stood, and was yelling, “Mommy, I saved the day!!” I picked him up, squeezed him hard and said, “Yes, Parker, you did save the day!” He’s still so proud of saving the day, and I continue to remind him. Every time I mention it he gets a wry little smile and says, “Yep, I saved the day, just like Fireman Sam!”
