It Was A Truly Crazy Day! Loooong Post!!

Yesterday was one of those days that it is o.k. to have once in a while

but a constant diet of that kind of stress would put a healthy person

in the hospital.

The first treehouse!

 

Let me back up to Thursday evening when Chelsea arrived home

from work with the news that all was not right with her working papers.

We thought, back in November, that it was all figured out and 

her employer (which for the sake of this post I will not identify)

told us was a certain way.  

They truly thought it was.

Well, on Thursday, a new person in Human Resources informed them

that what they thought was true was not.

This meant that Chelsea was not able to return to work until this issue

was straightened out.

I respect their commitment to doing things the right way.

The whole issue just came out of the blue for us.

It meant that Chelsea needed to get her working papers....pronto!

She is on a very busy register and we were headed into the weekend.

Treehouse number two.

Treehouse number three.

Now, in advance of all of this I had made arrangements to 

take our young Rabe friends to Longwood Gardens.

Don't worry, I can't get bored there by going too often.

It is constantly changing and I knew I would go to different

spots in the gardens if I had young ones with me.

 I had a problem.

Plans with the kids that I didn't want to change.

And a days worth of appointments and scheduling to work with 

for Chelsea.  She was scheduled to be at work at 2:45pm.

 Well, here's what happened.

First thing I called the school that issues the work permits

and asked them if our existing form, from last Fall,  would still be o.k. to use 

or if we needed to run there and get another one.

I was told since she had not yet had the physical she was good to use those 

papers.  Whew!  One stop eliminated.

Next I called the doctor's office to plead for a speedy appointment

for the physical.  Well, that wasn't going to happen because they were 

full and the employer had to fill out their part first.

They recommended that I take Chelsea to an Emergency clinic and 

mentioned one that I never would have thought of.....

wouldn't you know it was on the way to Longwood Gardens?

Well, it was on our way because we would be going a different

way than I usually do since we were picking up the kiddos first.

* I know!!*  Crazy!!

The Children's Garden

So....I called Chelsea's HR person, told them I needed their part 

filled out and asked for a return call.  Chelsea and I then hopped in the

car and headed toward her place of work.

I figured SOMEONE could do what we needed when we got there

if they really wanted her at work that day.

I was just hoping that the one who had discovered all of this would be there

and then we wouldn't have to do so much explanation.

Halfway there, he called.

Huge sigh of relief....I told him we were nearly there

so he met us there and that part was done.

This section of the Children's Garden is magical.

Next off to pick up Rachel, Kyle and Sarah for our big adventure.

They were wide awake and ready for fun.

I told them that my goal was to totally tire Kyle out by

going as far as we possibly could at the gardens.

He met that challenge square on.

At the end of the day I was defeated.

There is no wearing that boy out.

At least that is his story.

He's sticking to it.

On our way to the gardens we made the little 

detour to the Emergency Clinic at a WalMart of all 

places.  There a very nice Nurse Practitioner saw us after about 

a half an hour.  The kids were very good during all of this time.

Chelsea got her paperwork signed after a very thorough physical.

We learned much about the anatomy of the abdomen...

"in case Chelsea ever gets hit while playing Ultimate Frisbee 

with her friends"....

all the while the Rabe Children are sitting in the tiniest of waiting 

rooms just outside the exam room. 

We can hear Kyle talking and counting so we knew all was good.

 I just had to relax and go with it.

We were getting what we needed.

There was a Subway at the WalMart so our original plan of Wendy's was

scrapped in exchange for a picnic lunch at Longwood's Picnic area.

A great choice!

It was so much fun and not crowded, at all.

Probably because it was a bit chilly yesterday.

Finally..........

we made it into the Gardens proper.

Kyle's mouth is full of water.  No one make him laugh!

I stayed true to my word and we went the LONG

way around the gardens. 
We walked the brick walk, visited all of the tree houses, 

went across the meadow, enjoyed the Children's Garden,

played in the secret spot we had found the last time,

and ended our visit in the topiary garden where the kiddos 

played hide and seek among the topiary.

Still, Kyle was going strong!

Sarah was drooping, though.

Bless her heart.

In attempting to wear out Kyle I ran the rest of us 

ragged. Poor us.  Poor Sarah.

Well, that called for a slushy on the way home.

So, we stopped and got them for all of the kids.

For some reason

That made me even more eager for Grandchildren.

I told Chelsea that and she had to laugh at me.

I guess its because I was always reluctant to give my kids

that much sugar...especially in the car.

So...as God would have it the school which was the last 

stop we needed to make in getting Chelsea's papers was on 

our way home.  We stopped in and the secretary was 

awesome!  She got the paperwork done right away

and we were off once more.  

A few minutes later Chelsea was walking out the door 

and headed to work.

She was one hour late.

Really not bad, 

considering!

I had my doubts about whether we would be able to 

get it done in time for her to work at all this weekend.

Praise God for the way He just moved obstacles and 

put all of our stops in one big circle.

Even the Rabe kids were at their Grandparents house 

which is not far from Chelsea's employer. 

Seriously.

If you could see our path yesterday you would marvel

as much as I am.

It is good!

Hope you enjoyed the photos we took.

The kids had much fun

and were so sweet to be verbally grateful.

More than once.

They've been raised right!

As for today's stress...

Mikey and his friend, Chris, are

taking a Skydiving Course and plan to do 

their first solo jump late this afternoon.

Really???

Because I needed just a little more faith building 

in my agenda.

Well, here goes nothing....

going on with the day as if it were perfectly normal.

LOL