Where is Your Spirit?

It's the holidays, I say that like you don't already know that because I feel like maybe you are like me and have been ignoring the fact that Christmas is coming whether or not you're prepared, and sometimes it just takes a moment for me to find my spirit.

Thursday was that day.

We had a slow morning at our house. We were "resting" because of the grandiose holiday pictures that I so desperately scheduled for 1:00pm and if you didn't know, in this house, 1:00pm is nap time. But, you know, I like to wait until the last minute and scheduling photos for the holidays should be done by Thanksgiving but being someone who excels under pressure (read: avid procrastinator) I like to wait and see how long I will wait to actually make the call to schedule. Last year our photos were taken on the 22nd...of DECEMBER. So, really, I am ahead of the game seeing as how yesterday was the 11th but that's only because I discovered the joy that is online scheduling.

Back to my real story.

I get the kids ready and shove some snacks in baggies in an effort to stave off the hunger until after our pictures. On my approach to our destination I am quickly trying to finish up a conversation with my boss, "Dude, " I say, "We have an appointment...we are late...i'll have to talk to you soon." He ignores my warning and starts in on his plans to refinance his home. Now parked, Kyan decides he is going to ride in the stroller, an accessory I hadn't planned on including in our adventure but in an effort to not just hang up on my boss I let it go. So, I should have just cut him off but I am too nice so instead I hung up the phone and turned it off in an effort to pretend we were disconnected.

That is where I went wrong.

The second after pushing the power button on my phone and throwing it on my seat I slammed my door. The same door that I had locked while devising my last second evil plan to pretend to have lost cell signal. The same door that I locked while devising my last second evil plan to pretend to have lost cell signal whose keys were sitting on the console.

So, I locked both my keys and my phone in my car.

(Two words. Jack. Ass.)

We were still running a bit late and during the scheduling (online I might add) they specifically state that if you miss your check-in time you can and will lose your spot. Last year, we lucked out and were on the receiving end of a missed check-in time. Those people take their check-ins very seriously. And we were late!

Luckily, the place was dead. After all it was nap time. So, the kids smiled and pretended to love each other while I smiled and pretended that the whole debacle in the parking lot was just a figment of my imagination and that one of the four doors of my vehicle would magically just be unlocked when I returned.

No such luck.

There wasn't a payphone in sight. I mean, honestly, I haven't seen one in a while, have you? So, back to the store. I called Bob on the phone and demanded the number for AAA, he reminded me that somehow we never renewed. I reminded him this was an emergency because it was now 1:30, I have two kids, no one's eaten anything substantial since breakfast and I didn't have time for a lecture about what sort of Jack Ass I was for doing such a thing in the first place.

AAA, they rock! Also, the Babies R Us staff, they sat the kids at a table and let them color while I was on the phone. Fifteen minutes after I hung up, we were on our way.

My membership...worth every penny.

The kids decided they would like McDonald's, Micky Donald's it was.

Upon leaving Micky Donald's I notice an older lady who seemed to be struggling at her back window. I approach her to see if she needs help. I offer to let her use my cell phone or call a locksmith. She informs me tearfully that she has no money but asks to see if I have anything in my trunk to help her jimmy in. We look but only find a crow bar thing that she used in an attempt to break the back wing window. No luck. Or lots of luck considering those windows cost a fortune.

I scurry back to my car for a conference with the kids. Kyan has to go potty again and Aspen is whining happy as clam with her new pony. I decide, what the hell, what are the chances I would see someone locked out of their car on the very day I purchased my AAA membership? I had to help.


I called AAA, I took Kyan potty and chatted with a nice lady for about fifteen minutes, signed the paper work and left feeling like I did the right thing. Hoping if that were me someone would do the same.


It was in that moment I found my Holiday Spirit...when I remembered that it is better to give than to receive and as much as the advertisers want you to believe that the holidays are all about that toy or those shoes, the Holidays are really about connecting with people.


However, the malls should be forewarned, I've found my Spirit and she is in desperate need of some retail therapy and also, gifts.


I present the original reason I left my house and quite possibly the most amazing capture of my children to date because hi they are actually showing everyone how much they love each other.

If you want to join in or just browse other entries in Friday's Foto Finish Fiesta head on over to Candid Carrie...you will not be disappointed!