Today is a school holiday. It’s 2:08 in the afternoon and I’m still in my robe. Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not being lazy. Not exactly. I’ve already made my bed, done the breakfast dishes, started a load of laundry, cuddled on the couch with a few kids, tidied up Aria’s room, and helped Audriana wash and style her hair for her afternoon out with friends. So, I wouldn’t exactly call the first half of my day as being a waste. But it’s definitely more kick-back than our usual days. I have no where to be and nothing that I really have to do until 3:30pm. Yay!
This is what I look like in the mornings. I know you were all wondering.
So Rich is home today, which adds to my kick-back mode because he can do all that I normally would have to do, like making lunches and dinner, and just keeping the kids in check around here. I love when my husband is home! It’s so much easier to run this house when I have his help. Plus, tonight after we put the kids to bed, we will watch the Netflix movie that just arrived in the mail yesterday. Yep, Date Night for us! Popcorn, maybe a little red wine. I’m looking forward to it.
Rain is in the forecast for this weekend, and that just doubly adds to my kick-back mentality. Because with the rain comes all the soccer and baseball game cancelations. Do you realize how much easier my weekends are when we have no sporting games on the schedule? I hardly know what to do with the sudden freed-up time! I must admit, I really love rainy days. Every now and then I need the downtime.
So this week we went on a tour of our local police station with our homeschooling group. It was a very cool experience and the kids really enjoyed it. I brought my wonderful camera with me, planning on capturing some amazing photos — only to realize when I got there that the battery was completely DEAD. My fault for not planning ahead. So, I had to use my iPhone as a camera. Blah. Oh well, it’s better than nothing, I suppose.
meeting our tour guide, Mrs. Fender
In the above photo, Andrew, A.J., Aislynn and Aria are standing with our homeschooling group- they are the first four in front, starting with Andrew in the green shirt and ending with Aria, who is holding her little pink purse. She insisted on bringing that thing and also wearing her pretty silver high-heel Cinderella shoes. She had a hard time keeping up with the group in those things. I should have insisted she wear her tennis shoes, but you know… she’s only 3 once!
Before the tour begins, Aria helps Andrew put on his Police badge (sticker)
An officer met with us and answered some of the kids’ questions. They mostly asked about the police dogs. They all wanted to know about the dogs! Too bad we didn’t get to meet any of the police dogs on the tour.
Next they took us to the “booking” room, where the prisoners go when they first arrive. They will still be wearing handcuffs, and they have to sit in the “holding chair” while being checked in. The chair is made so that the prisoner cannot suddenly stand up. In fact, it’s almost impossible to get out of it unless you have someone helping you up. There is a cut-out in the back of the chair so that their arms are comfortable while their hands are behind their back, and the seat is flipped up a bit so that it keeps you sitting back. Each kid sat in it to see if they could get out on their own.
A.J. just slouched down really quick and got out of it right away. There’s no holding him, I guess. It figures. The kid is good at just about everything he tries. Now he’s an escape artist. Great. I’m sure the skill will come in handy one day.
Even with her hands behind her back, Aria didn’t seem to have too much trouble getting out of the holding chair. Must be her small size? Or are all of my kids genetically designed to escape the police holding chairs? Hmmmm. Do you see her pretty Cinderella shoes? and the purse? The perfect attire for a visit to the police station, don’t you think? Would you believe that before we were allowed in the place they searched her purse for a weapon? Okay, okay…I’m just kidding. They didn’t. But maybe they should have. With kids these days, you just never know. Don’t let those pretty little shoes and pink purses fool you!
Because there were no prisoners at the time of our tour, we were allowed to visit the holding cells. Don’t worry, there was plenty of hand sanitizer being used on this tour! I know some of you are wondering about that, thinking to yourselves, Ewwwww! I can’t believe she let her children in there! Oh come on, don’t you know me better by now? Of course I sanitized their hands like an OCD mama.
As a special treat, we were allowed in the padded cell. There isn’t a toilet in this room, just this hole in the ground that has a flushable water system operated from the outside. Aislynn is demonstrating how she would use the bathroom if she were in here. Thank you Aislynn, for that visual. You’re always such the lady.
I know what you are all wondering: what’s up with those kids without faces?
I know – a bit freaky, huh? I tried not to stare.
I will say it was a bit unnerving to see my kids in the back of a police car, complete with their hands behind their backs. A glimpse into the future? I think not!
You, too, Aria? Noooo, not my baby!
She was always such a “good girl” ….
And now we are leaving that place. It was fun, but I can’t say we are too eager to go back. At least not as a prisoner!
cool field trip!! i love aria’s shoes and purse. too cute!
Wow, I’ve never noticed before but that picture of you, I can definitely see where Afton gets her looks from! She looks JUST like you!
You’re such a good mommy, you even came out with the same number of kids you walked in with! Impressive!! HA!
You kids are beautiful and I love your blog. I’m so glad y’all had a good time.
PS: You look better than I do in the morning but in my defense I’m 29 weeks pregnant.
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