What a day!

We found out late in the afternoon on Wednesday that Patrick was being sent out of town to Pittsburg, PA for work for a minimum of a two week assignment. Since his Birthday is this Saturday and he was scheduled to depart early this morning, we decided to celebrate his special day last night...along with Valentine's Day. We all went out to Plaineville Turkey Farm (or should I say "Turkey Town!") and had an enjoyable meal with the Birthday Boy. I decided to leave with Brody and Ella just a little bit early so I could go pick up Patrick's Birthday Cake we ordered and a few last minute things Patrick would need for his trip. Patrick and Cassidy stayed behind at the restaurant with his parents and Grandparents. Once outside, I climbed in the back of our mini-van to buckle the kids in, but decided to start the car in the process since it was so chilly. When I was putting the key into the ignition, I must have accidently pushed the "lock" button on the key faub (without realizing it of course) because after I finished strapping Brody and Ella in, I climbed out, shut the side door and couldn't get back in! What a nightmare! We tried very diligently to talk to Ella through the glass window to get her to unbuckle herself and unlock the doors, but the car seats are designed these days to prevent kids from being able to unbuckle themselves while the vehicle is in motion...so of course...Ella was stuck. Thankfully Patrick's parents were there to take Cassidy and me back home to get the spare key (while Patrick waited outside the running van with our two other kids trapped inside!), but needless to say...that was one adventure we wished we could have avoided.