Too much excitement!!

Okay moms, ready for a story that will make your heart race???

This starts out with something very positive: We bought a minivan!! We traded in our 2002 Camry (which was a pretty fantastic car, actually, just getting too small with 2 big carseats in a couple of months. Plus, space for gear, luggage, etc? Forget it.) We found a GREAT deal with low payments and reasonable financing on a 2005 Toyota Sienna and we're so excited about it!!

Almost.

This afternoon changed my mind for a few minutes.

Did you know that the newer Toyotas automatically lock all the doors when they are closed? REGARDLESS OF IF YOU'RE KEYS ARE IN THE CAR.

Here's what happened:

I had just finished up taking the kids to the park. I unlocked the car and opened both rear sliding doors. I parked the stroller behind the trunk, put Jakiah in on 'his' side, threw my keys on the front seat (as I've done hundreds of times in the Camry so that I don't leave them in the trunk or drop them) and shut Jakiah's slider. I walked around to Kalaya's side, strapped her in her carset and shut the automatic sliding door on her side. I then turned to walk back to open the trunk to put the stroller and gear away and HEARD ALL OF THE LOCKS LOCK. I had not pushed or done anything.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOTH KIDS were strapped in their carseats, my keys were on the front seat and the CAR LOCKED ME OUT!!!

At this point, I almost sh** a brick.

By the grace of God, I had my phone. (though, I could have run into the rec center to use the phone)

VERY LUCKILY, it was not very hot today and Jakiah fell asleep and Kalaya was fine.

I tried to get her to unfasten her carseat so that she could unlock the car, but (I guess it's a good thing in the long run!) she couldn't do the buckle.

I called a locksmith and as soon as they heard that there were kids in the car, they immediately told me to call the police.

So, I called 911, stayed calm and the fire truck arrived and got into the van without damaging it even.

The whole process took less than 1/2 an hour.

And, the kids were FINE. A little sweaty, but fine.

I am thankful for cell phones, a sleeping baby and fast firemen. (who happened to be quite good looking and let Kalaya get up in the truck and gave her stickers) This could have been a horrible, dangerous, life threatening situation to my children, so I'm grateful it wasn't.

But still.

And, Toyota already got a (polite but firm) ear full about this. And, they were pretty understanding and nice about it.

Too much excitement on a Sunday afternoon folks!!

But, Dairy Queen made everyone feel much better.

I would have taken FULL responsibility for it being my fault, but I had no idea the car would do that!!! So, I will now be hanging onto my keys and ALWAYS OPENING A WINDOW AS SOON AS WE UNLOCK THE CAR.

What a day.