Just your normal, everyday shopping trip...

Names withheld to protect the sure-to-be-traumatized-by-this-when-they-read-it-in-15-years children.

I went to the grocery store yesterday for my weekly shopping trip. I was feeding the missionaries that night and couldn't put off shopping any longer. I had a long list of things to buy and a short window of opportunity to do so. Annie was home in her crate and would need to be let out as soon as I got home. We would get home just in time for lunch. We got loaded up in the cart and started shopping.

Bananas. Check. Strawberries. Check. As we were on our way to the kiwis, E started saying in her typical fashion, "I need to go pee! I need to go pee!"

It wasn't the normal time for her to go; she's usually very reliable about her calls of nature. Whatever, though, I'm a roll-with-the-punches kind of mom. I parked the cart at the front entrance, unbuckled T, and guided my two kids into the women's bathroom. E got into the stall, closed it behind her, and promptly peed in her pants.

Now, I don't have a spare change of clothes for her or any of my other kids waiting in the van in case such an event does occur. Some people would, but I don't. I wasn't going home, either, because I really, really needed to get the grocery shopping done and this was the only chance I would get. Here's what I did:

I took off her wet clothes and shoes. Luckily, I had a plastic bag in my pocket from a walk with Annie, so I threw her wet things in the bag. I washed E off in the sink, put a T diaper on her (it barely fit), and put her in the shopping cart. She was clothed in a long sleeved shirt, vest, and a diaper. That was it.

Then I headed back inside the store. I bought new underwear, pants (well, technically I bought her a new outfit. There weren't any pants I liked and I liked the outfit a lot), and the cheapest shoes I could find: flip flops. Good thing it wasn't freezing outside!

I checked out my purchases (including the bananas and strawberries), then turned right around and headed into the dressing rooms. E took off her diaper and got dressed in her new (Tinkerbell!) underwear, pants, and shoes.

Then I finished my grocery shopping.

Temporary insanity

We got a dog.

Yes, that's right. A dog. Actually, a puppy. Puppies are worse than dogs.

Don't ask me why. I was the one who actually made the final decision. I think that somehow I got this idea that it would be easy. Ha! It's like a bomb went off in our house.

I would give her back, but I can't for four reasons:

1. We've spent too much money on her.
2. Matt won't let me.
3. This would be the first thing to come up in my childrens' therapy sessions in 20 years.
4. Actual quote from Eleanor: "Mommy, yesterday was the best day I've ever had, because we got a dog, and I love her, and I love you for getting us a dog. Thank you, mommy."

She's a great dog when the kids aren't around her to rile her up. We got her from the shelter and she's a collie/Boxer mix but looks all Boxer to me. She's 8 weeks old and her name is Annie (name courtesy of Eleanor).

Constant attention.

This is the face of a happy girl.

She's a very beautiful dog. Eric, are you jealous yet? You can have her!

How to make your niece and nephew love you and your sister hate you: Pop Rocks!

Aunt Diedra rolled into town for Christmas and we had a blast. We ate our weight in sugar and Diedra took the kids to Chuck E Cheese. At one point we let the kids eat the gingerbread house they had decorated, and instead of picking the candy off and eating it the polite way, my two boys decided to just gnaw off the roof.

One of my Christmas presents was a little digital camcorder, perfect for uploading videos to YouTube. So I present to you the first of many videos of my kids. Enjoy watching my baby eat Pop Rocks.

My daughter cut her own hair yesterday...

...but it's actually not that bad. She was cutting paper during her quiet time (cutting paper is one of her favorite activities) and decided her hair was in her face. I didn't even notice until Matt found the hair on her floor last night.

She basically cut bangs for herself. I fixed them a little this morning, and it looks pretty good. It could have been a lot worse. Still, this was something I hoped I would never have to deal with.

Ready to learn, to get some knowledge...

This morning was Peter's first day of school. I tried to tell him yesterday that it was his last day of freedom EVER but I don't think he understood.

He picked out his clothes yesterday and laid them out. He told me what to pack for his lunch. He put all his things in his backpack and set his shoes by the door.

He didn't sleep well last night; he woke up twice and came in my bed both times. Once I put him back, the other I just snuggled him. I remember how excited I used to be for school and I knew it was no different for him. When Matt's alarm went off, he jumped out of bed and ran to his room to get dressed. During breakfast Peter marveled that it was still dark outside. Eleanor woke up just in time for him to catch the bus, so she came outside with us. We waited for a few minutes, with Peter thinking that he saw the bus around every corner and every sound must be the bus coming. When it came, his face lit up and he stood at the very edge of the curb. He climbed on the bus and sat in the front row next to the other kindergartner, as ordered by his bus driver. He waved to me, and the bus pulled away.





I feel like someone reached down my throat and pulled my stomach out. I'm not an emotional person by any means, but the thought of my first baby having a life that I don't know about, a life not overseen by me at all times, a life where I don't know what he's saying or doing or seeing is something I'm not ready for. This is the end of Peter being mine, all mine. And I'm not ready for that.

Minnesota and Wisconsin

In early May my little sister got married in Minnesota, and then a month later my family all got back together to go to my parent's cabin in Wisconsin. I decided that in order to cement my status as Favorite and Most Devoted Daughter and Mother of Your Grandchildren, I would spend the interim at my parent's house. We had a fantastic time playing with neighbors and going to parks and the zoo and just being lazy (that last one was my favorite activity). I even got to take NAPS. Yes, that's plural.

Peter and Eleanor are old enough that they could run around outside without supervision. I made sure to have Grandma Spencer practice cello with Peter almost every day, and I read a lot of books. I love, love, love vacation. The best part was that my mom and I got along the whole time! It's amazing what ten years can do.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of pictures we took.

Here is my little guy at the zoo. Of course he didn't want to ride in the wagon; nope, he wanted to pull it. And of course Eleanor wanted him to pull her.

Aunt Diedra brought presents for the kids: water balloons!


This picture looks like the water balloon is about to hit Peter in the head. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. It would have been funny, though.


Swinging on the rope swing.


The inevitable nose bleed of having too much fun.

Curls

These curls are amazing. I don't think my hair was like this at this age; it must come from Matt.





This one is my favorite. Seriously, her hair is incredible. I didn't do anything to it other than curl up her wet hair with my fingers. I don't have to put any product in it at all. I hope it stays like this. And thank goodness it's finally growing! I've never cut her hair--it's just naturally slow-growing.