A Toddler, A Van, An Adventure, No Plan!

As you might have guessed from my hoarding post, my family occasionally misplaces things.   Last week we misplaced our final set of minivan keys.  You'd think I would have made a copy when we were down to one set.  Nope!

I knew some set of keys had to show up soon, except I couldn't go anywhere until then.

This Monday, while I was getting frustrated with my immobility, my one-year-old, Dax, was happy to be home.  This gave him the opportunity to follow his latest obsession--our minivan.

He was watching and waiting.  Any sign that the door leading to our garage was cracked open and he was ready to bolt (lightning fast) straight for the van.

I usually grab my giggling, then crying, baby out of the van after only a minute or two.  This time, however, I was cleaning up the kitchen and sent my seven-year-old, Dani, to extricate him.

But!  Instead of coming back with my crying little guy she yells, "Maw-um, Dax locked himself in the van!"

I ran out to the garage.

"Who shut the doors!?!"

"Mase."  I see my smiling three-year-old, Mase, peek his head around the outside back corner of the van.

Thankfully, it wasn't too hot, but I was still a bit concerned.

Dax was NOT concerned.  He was the happiest I'd seen him as he giggled, jumped, and squirmed around in that van.  He couldn't believe I was letting him play!

 When my five-year-old daughter, Evie, saw the predicament, she started jumping around, giddy to have some entertainment. 

Dani took charge.  "What are we going to do!?!  I'll call 911 right now Mom.  Or we could break a window!"  We held off on window breaking and 911.   I knew I could call a locksmith, but those keys had to be somewhere!

I had my kids try to lure Dax to the door lock, while I searched.  I was having no luck and started to get irked.  Dani came back inside, "Mom, you just need to say a prayer to find your keys."

"In a minute Dani."

"Mom, that's what you would tell us.  You really need to say a prayer."

"In a minute!"  Enter sudden guilt.

"OK!"

I half-heartedly prayed, requesting key location assistance.

After my prayer, I immediately went to check on my toddler.  Dax was still as jovial as could be.  When he saw me, he bolted over to the door furthest away from me.  My partying dude didn't want me to get him out yet!

Dax started pushing buttons.  Then, a beautiful sound.  The door unlocked.  Then quickly locked.  Ahhh!  Then unlocked.  "Open the door!" 

I had the kids open every van door, just on the off chance this would happen again.

We all headed inside, except for Mase.  He straggled behind and guess what he brought me just a few minutes later?  My keys.

I'm adding this a couple of hours after posting:  Mase found the keys in the van.  I'm so glad Dax unlocked the doors!

This photo was NOT taken on the day of the lockup.

Grumpy Grateful Mom Goal of the Day:  Making multiple copies of our van key.