Not Easily Discouraged: A Scene From A Very Long Car Ride

We had to drive to Royan today so that I could take the "obligatoire" French test that the immigration folks require.  Let me count the ways that this exam was scheduled for maximum inconvenience.

• First, it is Wednesday, a day when the kids are not in school.  
• Second, although we are pretty close to both Angouleme and Bordeaux, I was nonetheless required to report to Royan -- two hours away -- because it is in the same department as we are, and the closer cities are not.  Are you with me?  So far we are talking about four hours in the car, with four small children.  
• Third, although the test only takes an hour and a half, it is broken up into four parts.  The first three parts of the test are from 9 to 10:30 in the morning.  The fourth part is at 3:00 p.m.  So to review, we are getting four small kids into the car at seven in the morning, to drive to a city two hours away, so I can be tested for an hour and a half (and actually, because they for some reason are making me taking the way-too-easy beginner "A1" test, it only took me 45 minutes) and then sit around for more than four hours, at which time I take the 17-minute fourth section of the test.  And then drive home two hours.  With four small kids in the car.  

Good times.

And after all that, I had this conversation with Quarta:

Quarta:  "mom"
Me:  "Yes?"
Quarta:  "HEE HEE HEE."

Quarta:  "Mom."
Me:  "Yes?"
Quarta:  "HEE HEE HEE."

Quarta:  "Mom!"
Me:  "Yes?"
Quarta:  "HEE HEE HEE."

Quarta:  "MOM!"

Me:  "Yes?"

Quarta:  "HEE HEE HEE."

Quarta:  "MOM!!!"

Me:  "Okay, I'm done with this."

Quarta:  "Da da?"