When we got to the parking lot, I threw my wallet and phone into the diaper bag so I would only have to carry one giant bag up and down the four flights of stairs. (**cue the premonition music so that you know I didn't just throw in this random useless information for no reason**)  We had a fun, long day at the museum, with the exception of a twenty minute fit thrown by Buster in the lobby where he managed to only scare away three other children, and where I spilled beef jerky all over the inside of the diaper bag while trying to sneak it to my children without the museum police seeing me.

Then when it was time to go, and way past lunch time.  I went to pull out my keys so I could spread them in between my fingers and stab murderers and kidnappers who could attack in the underground parking lot when I had the awful realization.  Uh oh (not the actual words I thought, but the tamed down version), they were in my purse.  I called Dan who logically advised me that I should call Triple A, which made me mad at him for no particular reason.  I got a call from the car unlocker guy within fifteen minutes but was not ready when he asked me the address.  I was so flustered that I dragged the kids out the door and onto the street so that I could see what street I was on.  Then he told me to stay out there and wave when I saw the big yellow truck.  Then I led him the wrong way to the parking lot entrance.  Then he had us get into the truck so we could ride down with him.  Then Buster screamed for his life like we were being kidnapped (and me without my keys).  Then Little H fell asleep on his shoulder.  Then I couldn't remember where I'd parked.  Then I glanced at him and could tell that he wanted to kill me for real.  Then we finally found my car and got in and left.  Then Trin called to make sure I got to my car alright and make sure the car unlocker didn't kill me.  (I didn't tell her how close he really was.)  Then we met Trin and her sister and kids for a late lunch.  And we didn't get home until after six.

And that was the longest I've ever been away from home with my kids without Dan.  I don't know how other people do it.  I feel like I need to recharge at home base after several hours.  That was a long day and made me realize I would suck as a pioneer or an army wife.