2 DMVs, 2 PPs and a BLT

The Department of Motor Vehicles . . . just the name strikes fear and dread in the hearts of many. However, my experiences at the DMV have always been relatively quick and painless, which is perhaps why I thought it was a good idea to take the kids into the DMV to transfer our plates and register the van. Let's just break down our DMV day into bite-sized chunks, shall we?? The following is a list of our (me, Flora & Scout) activities on Tuesday in chronological order:

• Go to Walmart to do our big weekly shopping trip without Chris
• Drive to DMV to register van
• Realize that the DMV has changed locations
• Get lost and drive around Gladstone looking for the DMV's new location
• Ask Flora if she needs to potty at least 20 times while driving around Gladstone
• Find the DMV!!! Ask Flora one last time if she needs to potty (the answer is always no)
• Unload the double stroller, load the kids into the stroller, and wheel all of us inside
• Take a number -- only 6 in front of me!!! Whip out the Skittles to keep kids happy
• With only 3 people in front of me, Flora decides she needs to go potty
• Rush next door to Ace Hardware and squeeze the double stroller into their pint-sized bathroom
• Flora goes potty!
• Rush back to the DMV to find that I have not lost my place in line! Joy!
• Talk to DMV employee and realize that I can save $400 but I have to drive to Independence and go home to get additional paperwork......
• Decide that saving $400 is worth the extra hassle
• Go home
• Feed kids and unload groceries
• Put kids down for naps
• Paint kitchen
• Wake up kids at 3pm so we can get everything done
• Drive to Independence to get a new check from the credit union
• Drive quickly to the DMV and arrive at 4:30pm -- whew!!
• Rush inside without the stroller and go right up to the counter -- no line!!
• Lay out all my paperwork for the nice DMV lady
• Flora says she needs to go potty......
• Leave paperwork at counter with nice lady and rush back over to Ace Hardware
• No double stroller this time so I am holding Flora over the potty while using a knee to keep Scout cornered so he won't touch anything
• Think to myself, "This stall ain't big enough for the four of us" in a Western drawl
• Rush back over to DMV and thank the nice lady for being so understanding
• Write a $3 check to register the van (I never have cash.....)
• Go home, make macaroni, go to birthday party, forget about meeting at church, remember meeting at church, go to meeting at church while Chris and the kids play in the nursery, go home, put kids to bed, make BLTs, CRASH on the couch for the remainder of the evening.

All in all, not a bad day. I saved $400, got the kitchen painted, and Flora didn't have any accidents despite all of our running around!!