Courthouse Drama

While I was in the hospital with Matthew, I received a summons for jury duty. By the time I sorted through my two weeks worth of mail and discovered said summons, it was too late for me to postpone or ask to be excused. On the day I was expected to begin my service, I decided to go to the courthouse in person with my brand new baby (proof!) and throw myself at the mercy of the court--how could they put me in the pokey if they took one look at cute Baby Matthew?

I expressed my idea of going to the courthouse out loud in front of Isabella, which was my first mistake. My second mistake was the one where my mom and I loaded everyone up in her car to head downtown to the courthouse before making the more rational decision to call the number listed on the summons and ask. When the operator informed me that they didn't even need me, and therefore I didn't have to go to the courthouse, Isabella was distraught. No visit to the courthouse? Where was the justice?! I tried to convince her that a trip to Target was far superior to seeing the courthouse. No! She begged to see the courthouse, to go inside and look around. (Secretly my pride oozed at the idea that my 3 year old had such sophisticated interests--even though she had no idea what a courthouse was). My mom and I looked at each other and decided to indulge her curiosity. Mom dropped us off outside the building and drove Baby Matthew around the block while we walked up the stairs and inside the foyer. Before us stood the metal detector and various staircases that led to places where "people worked". And there is was: The Courthouse.

The tour took all of 20 seconds. Isabella immediately squirmed her way out of my arms. It was time to go outside--and look for sticks. That's my girl.