Felonies and Fun!

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This has been a strange summer for us. I like to spend a month back in Utah with family. It is great for me because it helps to re-energize me and the kids love getting out of the AZ heat. We are usually gone in July as it is so very hot here and then I can be in Utah for Joseph's birthday and my birthday.

However, this year it just was not going to happen because Joseph was graduating and I knew I did not want to miss that. So we planned the trip for June. My sister in law, Amy, offered to come and help me get home. Road trips are not something that I can do myself yet. So she came a week before we left and offered a tremendous amount of help. It is hard for me to ask for help so I tend to not to that. What was so great about having her around was I never had to ask her to do anything. She saw what needed to be done and just jumped in and did it. The kids loved having her here. We went to the park, the pool, and the movie. The kids thought they were in heaven.

As for the road trip home, well this is where the felonies come in. I love to leave very early so we can drive all the way. 15 hours of fun. This time was no different. We pulled out at 4:03 am. Only three minutes late. I was very proud. After three hours driving, I see a cop behind me. I make sure I am not speeding and just keep on going. I had just complained to Amy that he was pacing traffic and it was going to slow us down. Next thing I know he has his lights on.

Hmmmmmm. He slowly approached the van on the passenger side, peering into the windows. Of course, the kids think this is great because it has never happened before and they are jumping out of their car seats to see the police officer. He wants to know if I am running a day school. I explain , no they are all my children. So then he starts comparing me to Jon and Kate plus 8. Are you serious?!?!?!? You pulled me over at 7:00 in the morning for this? So he then proceeds to ask me if I know why he pulled me over. No....... (seriously, if I knew that it could have saved us all some time )

Well I am driving on an expired registration. No way....... We are always on top of this, how did this happen to me? It had been expired for three days. So he then wants proof of insurance. I hand that to him too. Uh-oh.... Yes, expired too. (four days on that one) Finally he wants my drivers license. I carry a Utah drivers license so I do not have to change it each time we move. Well, according to him if I have lived in AZ for two years I have to change it to the state I am actually residing in.

Well there you have it 3 felonies. He asks Amy what he should do with me. The insurance fee alone is $1,810.00 and he can impound the van. At this point, I am thinking..... do it then. (I am seriously getting irritated at this point) It would be a nice vacation........ and I don't have to hear, "how much farther until we see Grandma Neice". I swear it has not changed that much in the last 30 seconds!!!

So the police officer heads back to his car. I would love to be mad at Jay for allowing this to happen to me, but with the job stress and trying to figure out what is best for us he has not been thinking anymore clearly than I was. So we wait, for what seemed like hours. I am sure it was only minutes. He comes back to the window with a very snide look on his face. His back up is just arriving (are you kidding me?!?!!?). He lets me know he is just warning me but I should get to the nearest library and have my insurance company fax me up to date proof (luckily I had more than one expired one in the van so he knew I usually kept it up to date), he also warned me that I should not get pulled over again because the next cop would probably not be nearly as kind and understanding as he was.( I also have five days to get it all taken care of and send them proof for there will be a warrant out for my immediate arrest!!!)

Okay, so no stress, 12 hours to go with six kids, three felonies, not enough sleep and I cannot even speed. I swear it was the longest drive EVER!!!! But I will also say my kids are the best. How many kids will sit in car seats in a van for 15 hours and still be laughing when we arrive at our destination? They are the best!!! So this is the beginning fun of our summer. I will update again later, with yet another chapter to our endless adventures. Sleep well, my friends!!