So bummed.....

Today was Winterfest. Our squadron rented the ski lodge on base from 12-8pm for us to come and go skiing, snowboarding, sleding, tubing, socializing, chili cookoff, and relay races, plus any other thing you wanted to do. So I have been preparing for today since about 9:30 this morning by getting 9 layers of clothes ready per kid, plus my own, so we could actually enjoy ourselves in the -1 temp that was today's high. About 1:30pm I start the process. I get the kids dressed head to toe, took about 45 min. This is always so much fun cause Caleb cries most of the time since I am pulling and tugging his little arms and legs to be sure every single area of skin is protected from the snow and cold. Noah is pretty good about it, but once he gets his snow bibs on he is rendered useless cause if he bends in any direction he topples over since he is now sufficiently puffed out like a marshmallow from all the layering. I go to take some bags to the car and thought I'll warm it up for 5 minutes while I get shoes on. Put the key in, turn it over, nothing. The car is d-e-a-d, dead. It then hits me that I left the interior light on the previous day, because I was checking to be sure the car seats are airline approved and have the sticker saying this. Seriously kicking myself hard at this point. I call up my girlfriend, who is going to be dropping of one of her kids at a babysitter close to me, about this time 2:20-30ish. She is close and turns around to give me a jump. So, I get out the jumper cables. This is just a minor hiccup, right?! That is at least what I keep telling myself. The car is parked in the garage which means the battery is on the opposite end of the garage opening. There is no pushing the car out of the garage cause Toyota makes this thing called a locking transmission. This means the car will not budge out of P, park, unless the ignition is ON and the brake is pressed. Yeah Toyota Engineers, thank you! I look at the pkg of jumper cables, 16ft long, Lord let this be long enough. I clip one end to the engine block, and begin to stategically place the cable in such a way to maximize the length. Well, guess what, yep, about 6 inches too short. Ok, no problem, I will just take the battery out of the car. DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB. I rake my knuckles about 4 times, so it looks like I have been in a really good fight. Finally, battery is out. I hook it up to her car. Now wait. It is now almost 3pm. Daylight and the high temp is going to be going down very soon. I take the battery put it back in the car. C'mon, c'mon. Sigh. Great, now what. She needs to go and maximize the time she has while her kid is at the sitter and I am sitting here with a still d-e-a-d, dead car. So, this person is a very good person. She goes to the squadron where her husband's car is and gets the portable battery charger. She returns and it is now 3:30-40ish. I hook up the battery charger and send my friend on her way. Hopefully I will see her at Hillberg (the ski lodge) in about 30min. I go in and take the coats off the boys cause they are still sitting like marshmallows in their 9 layers, except somehow Caleb was able to turn over and look like a wiggling marshmallow, since he could not pull his knees under himself to do a marshmallow crawl. Noah is giving me the I really really want to go sledding speech. I know, I know you do, but Mommy broke the car. So he asks, "was it an accident?" Awww, you sweet thang. Yes, mommy goofed and is trying to fix the car. He then replies, "Well, I will help you so we can go". So I distract them for a little bit with a ride in the wagon around the block. (Yes we put on the coats again!) We stop and look at some snow covered playgrounds, and decide to give one some play time. So, we shimmy our marshmallow selves through some tunnels and the boys take a turn on a bouncy seat that we managed to kick off the snow and ice. Maybe the car is ready it is now 5pm. We walk back to the house, I put the key in and the car tries and tries, I know it wanted to start, however, it did not. Ok, that's it. Kids lets start de-layering. The sun is starting to go down and there is no way I am dealing with really negative temps and small children. Noah then starts in the "BUT I REALLY WANTED TO GO!!!!!" Well, me too. Finally at 5:36pm the car starts. It is now dark and the kids need supper. So, we salute you Pizza Hut and the DVD "Cars" you are our heroes tonight.