Pulled Over by the Po Po!

So Dan is THE WORST backseat driver. Unfortunately I get car sick real easy...so on longer car rides Dan rides shotgun more than I do. With me out of view Dacie does MUCH better and is not doing so much screaming!

Well, yesterday Tuesday 4/8 was a dentist day for our family down in Phoenix (more details in my weeks synopsis). Dan had a church basketball game for our ward in Camp Verde in the evening, we pretty much would not make it b/c we got out of Phoenix later than we thought. Well, half way down the hill entering the Verde Valley, Dan's team calls begging Dan to come. It is half time, they are only down by six to a super trash talking team, and they are playing with only five players...they need reprieve.

I have been really trying to be more supportive of Dan's only form of exercise and his love (I KNOW what it feels like to have to give that up!)--so I kept telling him I would be fine and that he could not use helping the family factor weigh-in on this decision. He finally consented to go and we turned right at the exit into Camp Verde, rather than left to Cottonwood. All the kids had fallen asleep on the ride home and it was peaceful.

I dropped Dan off and ran in for a few seconds to see if he had a ride home, etc. When I returned to the car, 2 kids were screaming mercilessly. Dacie, because we were not driving, and I was not in the car. Ryland, because Dacie's scream is intolerable. Ryland kept telling me that she was making his stomach hurt. He was not sure if he would throw up... so on the road back to the highway I reached over to hand him a bag, in case he threw up...when I turned back around...guess what is in my rear view mirror?-Flashing lights...GREAT!!!

Some of you may know I got my first ticket in 10 years, this past fall (in Sedona) and had to go to traffic school. The thoughts are still too fresh! Besides the fact, that Dan and I have always had a little friendly squabble over who has the better driving record (ME), and who drives better (ME)--this was just more fuel for his fire.

You have got to be kidding me! It is after 9pm at this point. The police officer walks over and asks for my license. I explain to him what happened with the throwing up Ryland bit, and handing him a bag.. hoping for mercy. The officer asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I told him that I was going 35 before I had to turn around (I really had looked at my speedometer), but did not doubt that I had hit the gas in that whole affair. He said he had clocked me at 45.

The police officer saw all the kids and asked if I had them all seat belted in. I offered to open the window to let him see, and he said he could tell that they were. The officer told me that he just wanted to call in my lisc. and see if it is valid. Mercy?!!! I am thinking I may be getting off of the hook! BUT when he does not come back and does not come back I begin to wonder. He reappears to tell me that my lisc. is not showing up with the DMV. I ask him if he was for real and started chuckling. He said he had tried my last name, first name and birthdate...and

if it was not valid he would have to tow the car, and I guess take me and the kids to jail.

Ryland was already asking the whole time if the police man is going to take him to jail, and Colton is asking if we are stuck in the desert. Pretty quick after that I hear the radio cackle that it is valid. I guess I should have told him that it had been suspended for drunk driving huh? HA HA.

He said because I had my kids strapped in seat belts he would give me a verbal warning. Thanks, I think?!!!--by this time I had kids crying all the way home, and I had to unpack them out of the car and try to lay them down with only 5 serious meltdowns!!! I really was supporting basketball at this point.

Colton kept saying, "this is the first time I have been pulled over by a cop!" and this morning he said, "remember when we got pulled over last night by the police officer?" I asked him to not tell people about it, because it is embarrassing!

The moral of the story is: Here is another reason to buckle up your kids, one less ticket and thing for your hubby to make fun of! (OK he still made fun of me)