Sometime last week someone told me The Discovery Place would be free to the public Sunday afternoon. However I forgot about it until my mother sent me an email and reminded me about it. I spread the word to a few other families and they were going to meet me there. Katie also had a friend stay the night Saturday night and we were meeting her parents there.
Not to mention, at the VBS closing prayer service the kids were invited to church Sunday and asked to wear their VBS t-shirts.
So Phil leaves for Indiana at 6am, and I get up at get in the shower. I have 4 kids to get ready for church and need to feed them breakfast. Out the door we left and made it to church on time. I personally was stunned. It wasn't too bad because we met my parents there, so they were able to see the kids.
After church it was utter chaos at my parents house and I felt bad we invaded their house. I didn't want to drive all the way home and then back to Discovery Place. We were already more than half way there. So I just pack the kids up and headed to the line. What a line it was.
So the parking in Uptown Charlotte for this event was free. The admission was free. The rest of the day was just unreal. I get one of the last parking spaces at the very top of the parking garage. I get all the necessities in the stroller count the four kids heads (my three and Katie's little friend.)
I should have known I was in for trouble when we tried to get to the elevator in the parking garage. I either had to walk a mile down to the next floor or carry the stroller up about 15 steps. So I carried the stroller with Maddie in it up the 15 steps and waited our turn at the elevator. We get in the elevator and it is stifling all I could think of was, "Please Lord don't let it break down." We get out of the elevator only to discover I have to carry the stroller down 15 more steps to get to the street level. Since I was the only adult I didn't have anyone to hold one end while I held the other I just picked up the whole thing.
We get to the street level and get in line. There are about 1500 to 2000 people in front of us and we had about 15 minutes until it opened. So we waited. As the kids started to get antsy suddenly the line was moving. By about 10 minutes after 12 we were in the door. Which isn't bad you say but it was almost 100 degrees outside.
Too cool everyone off I take them to the cafe and get some fresh fruit and juice so they will be ready to go. I discover when I took some stuff out of my purse so it would not be so heavy I accidentally took out all my cash and left it in the car. Mostly I went to the cafe because all I could think of was what in the hell have I just done. My friend who was coming with her son and husband changed their plans. Katie's little friend's mom I could not get a hold of by phone. So here I am in a very public place with 10,000 other people and I have four kids to watch over. So I take a deep breathe and off we went.
The kids laid on the bed of nails, rode on the air chair, pet a turtle, looked through microscopes, saw tons of frogs in the exhibit. The afternoon although exhausting and I was a little worried about meeting up with the other parents the kids really had a good time. Finally as we were doing the last exhibit I get a call from the other parent. They had left and we were getting ready to leave so we met up about a half hour later. What happened in the the next 30-45 mins I wish to never experience again.
As we were leaving the exhibit, Jack was gone. I saw him run to the front door with Katie and her friend and then it was like he vanished. I tried to talk to a police officer but he looked at me like I had two heads and never uttered a word to me, so much for CMPD. I finally got some help from the Discovery Place Staff and they found him sobbing and he would not let go of me. He went back to look at another display after I told him we were leaving.
So Jack glues himself to me and we walk out into a mass of people I had not seen this many people in a long time. The line was longer then when we arrived three and a half hours earlier. It was hotter then earlier and I was glad to be going home. The streets were so crowded we had to walk down the street. The cars were getting mad and honking at us that finally I just became woman with a stroller get run over or get the heck out my way and just pushed my way through the crowd and made them move.
So here I am back in the dreaded parking garage. The kids run up the 15 steps to the elevator and the door opens. I pick up the stroller and sprint back up those 15 stairs. I rush in to the stifling elevator and the door closes but we don't move and I can't get the elevator door back open.
Suddenly I am thinking how much water and patience do I really have left. I can't panic because I have four kids with me. Finally I get the elevator door back open and get everybody off. I look around and the parking garage has no other elevator. So here we go we have to walk from the bottom of the parking garage to the very top where we parked as if we were a car. There is no other way up. The only thing was that we were in the shade and there was a small breeze.
About 50 yards from the car the kids are getting frustrated and wanted to know when were we going to be at the car. All I could think of was not soon enough I am pushing a stroller up hill. I get to the van and start it up with the AC on Arctic mode. I get everyone in, all of our stuff and sit down in the van. I could have passed out at that point. I still had to meet up with Katie's little friend's parents and make the 45 minute drive home.
I look back to make sure everyone is belted and ready to go and Maddie is already asleep. The kids are chugging their water trying to get cool. This is not something I believe I will ever try again but the kids had a blast and never knew I panicked not even when I thought Jack was gone.
Enjoy the pictures.
TTFN~
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