As we are making our way to Mams and Pops' house tonight, we had to make a couple stops along the way. Wal-Mart (shocker), Tractor Supply (cows), and Lowe's (of course). Wal-Mart was the highlight since we spent Christmas money and the boys bought two new light-sabers that apparently have a light saber on EACH end, two for the price of two :P We then make it to TSC and I hear in the back, "When is Dad coming? Is it time to go eat at Mams and Pops yet?" "We're almost done and then we'll be at Mams and Pops'". At this point Abigail is starting to protest as well since she is ready for supper.
Next stop, Lowes. John goes in to my somewhat lecture: Go as fast as you can. Abigail is fussing and is ready to eat. (Of course she isn't as I'm pointing this out to John). John goes in and the complaining starts, "Mom, how long is Dad going to be in there? Is he coming? I've been praying to Jesus that he will come out but he STILL isn't coming. Are we going to live here?" My response: "He is coming, I told him to hurry because of Abigail. Sometimes it just takes a little while to get things." Ethan, "I don't think he heard you." Please note: John is finishing out our shower now so I will gladly wait at Lowe's while he buys supplies. Well, as gladly as you can with four kids in the car, two questioning, one screaming about the dvd of choice, and the baby crying for supper. I give Abigail her bottle, John comes out during this so I load up and sit (very uncomfortably) in between two captains chairs and start on the rest of our journey to Mams and Pops' house. Until, John turns the key in the ignition and the van will not start. And chaos sets in... Apparently, watching a dvd with two players, doors opening and closing, charging a cell-phone and/or a kindle-fire at one time will drain a battery. Just in case you didn't know.
After John and I exchange a few looks and what are we going to do now we reassure the kids (mainly Ethan) that we are not stuck here forever. John gets out and starts questioning people in the parking lot for jumper cables, which are ALWAYS in the other vehicle. Or, for the guy wearing nothing but Tennessee gear and John wearing nothing but UK gear (yes we were going to watch the game) he wasn't all about some neighborly help. As John runs into Lowe's to find either the battery charger or jumper cables this is the discussion in the van:
Ethan: Mom, what are we going to do?
Me: Wait on Dad, we will get it fixed.
Ethan: Mom, what are we going to do?
Ethan: What are we going to do Mom?
Ethan: Mom, what are we going to do?
Ethan: Mom, what are we going to do?
Ethan: Mom, what are we going to do?
Ethan: What are we going to do Mom?
Ethan: What are we going to do Mom?
Ethan: Mom, did you call Mams and Pops? Are they coming to get us?
Me: No, I text them. We will get someone here to jump us off.
I stopped counting that question after 6 times repeatedly. Then, the natives get restless and get out of their seats.
Caleb: OWWWWWW!!!! He just hit me!!!!!!
Ethan: Mom, are we going to live here?
Linley: I want out!!!!!!
Abigail: WAAAAA!!!
Ethan: Do you know how long people can live without food?
Me: 40 days.
Ethan: We are not Jesus. Only 1-2 days.
Me: apparently you didn't see Unbroken.
Caleb: We're all going to die. Mom, are we going to die?
Me: We're not going to die. It's the battery. Just wait on Dad.
Caleb: We're going to die and go to hell.
Ethan: We're not going to hell we're going to Heaven.
Me: What are we talking about?
Linley: I want out!!!!!
Abigail: WAAAA!!!!!
Caleb: OWWW! He just hit me!!!
Okay, so that new purchase from Wal-Mart is seriously fixing to be in the dumpster if they cannot figure out that a double light-saber does NOT need to be practiced in the van.
John comes back out of Lowe's with jumper cables and he flags down a good Samaritan worker coming in off their lunch break who brings his car over. During this time, I have tried to start this van at least one hundred times.
Ethan: Mom, this is the end. This is it for the Cole Family.
Me: Ethan, McDonalds is right behind us. We can walk there.
Ethan: Yeah, and we can drive to the hotel.
Me: Hellloooo, no van working.
Ethan: Oh yeah.
Caleb is now in the back singing to Abigail trying to get her to be quiet.
And then it happens.... it starts!!! Cheers erupt in the van!!
Ethan: YAAAYYYY!!! We're saved!!!! Can we go eat now? Have Mams and Pops eaten yet?
We finally make it to Mams and Pops' house, watch the game, watch Ethan and Caleb practice their Star Wars moves with their double light-sabers and hit themselves on the back of their head repeatedly (definitely going to have to be working on that hand-eye coordination thing with this toy), get through swimming in their pool (aka Mams' tub), and come back home.
Holy cow. What an interesting evening.
