Lazy Groceries

One of the big box stores with a grocery started a program here where they will shop for you.  You load up your virtual cart, pick a time, and you drive up to get your groceries brought to your car.  It has been available for a few months, but in the epitome of summer time laziness, the kids and I decided to try it this week.  Instead of spending our morning at the store, we went to the pool.

It was quite easy, and the ladies who came out were the two friendlies employees I've met in my five years shopping at this particular store.  While it will certainly keep one from impulse buying, it also means that those things you don't generally put on your list, just pick up as a matter of rote, might be forgotten...like bread for the children's sandwiches...  I did find that our salad in a bag was a bit wilty and went out of date sooner than I wished.  I also wished there was a place to specify what I wanted my produce to be like.  I did expect that might be an issue, so I wasn't really surprised there.

There was one unexpected hitch.  As we pulled away with the three oldest so happy not to have to walk those aisles this week, the little one began to wail, "Wanna go IN da grocery!"

All Mine

If you talk to any mother with more than two children (and probably those with one and two hear things too), she can probably tell you that some people have a need to comment on the number of children you have.  I often hear, "Oh my, you have your hands full."  This is nearly always said when the children are all behaving, as most people steer clear of us if someone is having difficulty.  Honestly they are, generally, quite good when we're out.  They have to be, or we could never leave the house!  I also hear, "Look at all your helpers today!"  That one I don't mind.

We get comments on how Nate, being the only boy, must have it tough.  And in some ways he does, but his wife...she'll be set!  And he is an awesome little fellow--all boy, but he gets to hang out with the girls and their friends too.

I've even had the, "Are they all yours?" a handful of times.  Last week though, after being asked, "Are they all yours?"  The dumbfounded clerk, whose line we've been through quite a few times, actually asked incredulously, "Really?"

Yes, they are all my wonderful, loud, messy, sweet, joyous, difficult, amazing gifts.  I am so glad that they are mine.  All of them.

Lessons from the Grocery Store

You learn something new every day I suppose. As we were walking through the store yesterday there were a lot of signs on things marked DNI. Kate was trying to sound it out and asked what it meant. I told her about abbreviations and guessed, as I saw inventory stickers about, that it meant Do Not Inventory.

Then we learned about another abbreviation. One you don't expect to see at the store. I rounded he corner and saw a crowd of people who worked there. I assumed it was a bit of a meeting about a display, but then a movement caught my eye. Someone was performing CPR. We stepped away from the aisle quickly and said a quick quiet prayer.

I had no idea what to do at that point... Do you leave? Do you shop out of the way? It seemed so odd to do something so mundane while this heroic effort is being attempted. I didn't stand by to watch, but we heard the siren of the approaching ambulance. I heard the defibrillator beeping. I caught a glimpse of the gurney go by, CPR still going. The kids didn't seem to notice much, thankfully.

Some unknown person and their family will be in my thoughts and prayers for the next few days though. And I'll guess that I will always remember, when we are in that spot, how fleeting life is. And how God provides us helpers even in the most unlikely of places.

I suppose we can all learn something at the grocery store.

A Shopping We Will Go

Back to the store we went, after yesterday's fun filled trip.

The kids did well--great behavior all around. I'm standing in a slightly longer than normal line, but we're okay. Then one of the managers asked me to move to the express checkout. My cart clearly has more than 20 items, but those lanes are empty, so she evidently wanted to make better use of their cashiers.

I got out of my line and headed that way. Someone popped in front of me, so we're back in line. The cashier was chatty and not moving quickly. Then there is the complication that there's not enough space to put all my groceries, while she tries to bag things. The line is building behind me. Then she has to call over a manager.

I can feel that people are asking themselves if I can count. I want to tell them I was sent there, but I don't. At least I've got cute kids to keep them entertained while they waited on me. Maybe the next time I get caught behind the person with 52 items in the 20 or less lane, I'll consider that they were sent there. Next time I'm sent there though, I think I'll stay put!

Shop 'Til She Drops

I've not had a normal grocery shopping trip since mid-December with our comings and goings and left over turkey and all, but today I needed to restock. We made a trip to the library this morning, so we waited until this afternoon to run our little errand.

The baby had his nice long nap, everyone had a snack before we left, no one needed to use the facilities, and I had my detailed list in order from the back of the store to the front.

There was just one problem with my nice, neat little plan. Gabriella. As I was getting Nate out of his car seat, she was supposed to be sitting with her cute little legs dangling out of the side of the van. Unfortunately she decided this 30 second break was the perfect time to take a nap. We slowly made our way to the store. Here she decided she didn't want to walk. Not again.

She did better than some trips. We got our first two items, but then true disaster struck, I let her sister choose a box of crackers. Wailing ensued. I persisted, calmly making my way through the store, well at least to the next aisle. One woman had to tell the person on the other end of her phone conversation that nothing was horribly wrong. I had another woman stop me and say that she hoped she would be as calm as I was when her little boy (now in an infant carrier) acted like that in the store. I smiled as I debated what to do. I grabbed the milk and a couple of cans of soup that we really needed to make it through the morning (so Justin could take lunch), and I called it quits. So I suppose I'll be back at the store again tomorrow. If you hear a great wailing from the direction of central Tennessee tomorrow, no worries, I just made Gabby walk through the store.

Life Lessons for a Three Year Old

A very wise woman (on my Facebook friend's list) once said, "Whoever said the twos were terrible obviously didn't make it to the threes."

Even in their rebellion our girls are different. Kate destroyed things. And honestly Gabby has broken a couple of slats on the mini blind, but that is far from our biggest issue with her.

See, the thing that most motivated Kate to be good was getting to go out, and she loved to shop. That is on Gabby's list of undesirable activities. So last week as we went Christmas shopping, I had to carry her into the store, and then carry her back out again (while carrying the baby boy). He could walk, but I haven't let him in on this fact yet. I learned when the girls found that they could walk in the store that I had a very hard time getting them to be held or ride in a cart, ever, even when we needed to make a long trip.

Then Monday I had to take her out again. We were nearly out of milk, we had to have more before dinner. We didn't even make it past the greeter. She was laying in the floor screaming. Joy.

I half drug, half carried her out of the store.

Later when she asked for a snack I told her that we didn't have enough food for a snack today. She was ready to go back then! I'm a big fan of logical consequences, when I can find them.

We went back and had a relatively uneventful trip...until we were all ready to leave. Except for our resident three year old. She refused to put on her coat. I reminded her it was cold. She balked. She balks a lot these days.

Finally I handed her coat and told her she had to carry it to the car. It was cold enough that I knew she would be uncomfortable, but not dangerously so and she was wearing a sweater. I figured I looked like less of a monster if it was clear she had a coat and just wasn't wearing it. This plan worked perfectly...until half way through the crosswalk. When she started begging for her coat, instead of stopping the cart full of groceries, managing her brother and sister while bending to her new whim, I had the audacity to cheerfully tell her that, "I will be happy to help you with your coat when we get to the van."

Oh, she was mad. How dare I not do exactly what she wanted at the inconvenience to everyone else in the busy parking lot, despite her obvious disobedience earlier?! It resulted in a lot of screaming, more half dragging, a 'putting into' the van (as she would not go willingly), and a rather difficult car seat strapping, as she kept trying to get out as I was fastening the straps.

In short it was unpleasant. But you know what? Yesterday she wore her coat. She learned a lesson that all the lecturing in the world wouldn't have taught and she won't likely forget soon.

We are being very intentional with disciplining Gabby. We have heard stories of many middle children who got into a lot of trouble because their parents weren't paying attention. It was easiest to move through life without making waves and these children are often more quiet than their out going older siblings and the babies of the family. We love her and want what is best, even if it means a hissy fit or two along the way.

Fetch

The other day I made a trip to the craft store. I really shouldn't be allowed there alone, by the way, too many wonderful projects are calling my name. I was pretty good, got some good sales on things I was actually intending to buy, and I'll have some fun Thanksgiving projects to post about soon.

Anyway, I did think far enough ahead to remember to use the stroller this time. That eliminates keeping Kate and Gabby close in to a cart while I'm navigating the aisles, since Gabriella can sit in the double with Nate. I was helping Gabby out of the stroller in the parking lot. One of her shoes popped off as it got caught under the tray. No big deal. I load the kiddos up and fetch it from the bottom of the stroller. Only it wasn't in the bottom of the stroller. It wasn't next to the van. I couldn't find it anywhere. Where could it be? Oh yes, under the van, in the very center.

Maybe I at least made someone laugh as they saw me laying on the ground to fetch a shoe, all in the name of turkey's made of paper and ribbon.

For the Love...

This, my dear friends, is love.

This bracelet, sitting in a bowl, what does it have to do with love? Why is it in there? You don't want to know. Seriously, you don't.

Okay, but you can't say I didn't warn you...

See, I took the kiddos to the grocery today. No, I didn't buy the bracelet because someone asked me for it. We took it with us. I'm pretty strict about not taking toys out of the house, as I'm afraid someone will loose said toy and be sad ever after, but this was a bracelet, and it was on her arm.

We get about three-quarters of the way through the store when Gabby announces that she needs to go potty. Of course, I was worried about school this morning, and shoes, and socks, and convincing the girls not to wear sleeveless shirts when it's only 40 degrees, and I somehow let us leave the house without sending Gabriella to the bathroom first. So we marched back to the restroom, dutifully parked the cart in the hallway outside, and made use of the facilities. As we were preparing to make our get away, the cute little bracelet slipped off of Gabby's arm and...into the toilet. Blech.

Ever the mother, I retrieved said bracelet, wrapped it up and brought it home, and I'm soaking it in bleach, right along with my hands. And that, my dear friends, is love. And germs. But mostly love.

Deal!

I'm not a very good deal seeker. I suppose part of it is the time involved and having to shop at different stores with little ones. But I hit on a major score, so I had to share.

Amazon has a deal that if you subscribe to them for diapers (You tell them how often you want them delivered, and you'll be automatically billed.) they will give you 15% all the time and a total of 30% off your first order, so that was $10.76 off of my $35.88 order (of 204 diapers). I had a coupon (from one of my parenting magazines--I wish I could remember which one it came out of) for 20% off of diapers so that was another $7.18 off. So a box of 204 diapers only cost me $17.94, plus no shipping!

It's definitely worth looking into if you have something that you buy regularly. The extra 15% is on diapers, but you can get the standard 15% off your regular purchases and free shipping on all sorts of things--paper goods, razor blades, OTC meds, even laundry detergent, not that I need laundry detergent anymore because the homemade stuff is working amazingly! I think it is a great deal--and I don't even have to leave my house or carry the big box out to the car while juggling the three kiddos, while I leave the cart inside so no one has to bother with it. I guess maybe I should just get over that silliness, but I hate taking a nearly empty cart in the parking lot for someone else to have to drag back in later...

Oh, if you decide to buy something that way, let me know--'cause I'm nosy like that. Or don't--'cause I'm nosy like that.

*Not a paid plug at all, I just thought it was a great deal!*

Manic Monday

Well, have you ever had one of those days?  I took the kiddos to the store, which is routine.  We grocery shop together every week, just the four of us.  There was nothing special about the time we went or anything, but today, oh today...

It started off simply enough with the regular, "Don'tClimbThat's" and "Com'ereRightNow's".  We were hunting for the number five--she'd had some trouble with it last week and I thought it would be good to practice it.  We we having fun finding 5's, 15's and 50's.  Then about a third of the way through, Gabriella decided that walking was just too much.  I had put Nate in the cart, so there were no other options, as I couldn't push the cart, pull down groceries, and carry her.  Along with two other important facts--my back couldn't do it anyway and she was just being difficult, her new favorite pastime.

I walked ahead and she would come catch up.  Then the screaming began.  Somewhere around the bread aisle I had to pick her up and carry her a few feet, screaming the entire way.  I didn't put her on my hip, but carried her in front of me.  She didn't like it, which was the point.  I had to carry her like that a few more times.  She cried when I carried her, she cried when she stood still, and she cried when she had to walk.  She cried all the way through the checkout.  She cried in the car until she fell asleep, and then she cried at home when she realized that she had lost the reward for being good at the store.

I hope I got everything we needed at the store today because I don't want to make another trip to the store if I can help it!

A friend of mine is out of town, some ridiculousness about visiting her parents and looking for a new house, how dare she? There's a sale on chicken at a local store and she is having to miss it with her escapade, so I took the munchkins to procure some chicken for her munchkin's first birthday party.

It's not a store that we frequent, actually, I'm not sure that Gabby has ever been in it at all, since she was born anyway. When we got there, the girls were thrilled to see a "two seats cart." If you've never noticed these, they are carts with large plastic seats built in between the shopper and the basket. They are large, they are heavy, they are unwieldy, and the girls claim they love them. I say it that way because it inevitably ends with someone trying to get out, complaining that the other one hurt her, or the like. I was only going in for chicken, so I acquiesced. I needed to get a new buyers card at the service desk--like I said, not a place I go often and they are updating their system. While at the desk, Gabby screams and cries she doesn't want to be strapped in and Kate is yelling that the straps are too tight. Gabby gets the straps off of her arms. Nate sits in his car seat in the basket oblivious and happy. We finally get our new cards.

I proceed back to the front of the store where the carts are located. I'm calling their bluff and they didn't appreciate it. I remove both girls from their seats and place Nate's carrier into a regular cart. There was much screaming and crying. I finally pick up Gabby and head to the back of the store, Kate trailing behind me crying and wailing. I look in the bins with the frozen chicken. I didn't find what she asked me to pick up. I circled around, walked to the deli, checked by the lunch meat, no chicken breasts for 99 cents/pound. I had a diaper coupon, so I went down that aisle. As I was picking up the case, Kate started pushing the cart (with Nate) away. She told me, "He's my brother and I'm taking him with me. We're going to a new home where no one will tell me what to do." Joy.

We're down by the frozen foods now, so we go to look there. Still no chicken. I picked up a frozen pizza for lunch, as this 10 minute trip was over half an hour at this point and still not over. We circle back by that case with the frozen chicken tenders again. Nope. Finally I walk to the place where they have the whole chickens. There it was--I'd been looking for it to be in a bag, but it was in a tray. Success.

The munchkins and I made our way to the cash register to pay for our purchases, the tears were gone and they chattered happily. No one would have known that they spent over half the trip fussing.

There are those days. And I'm sure the pizza didn't hurt anyone's outlook, including Justin's, who found left over pizza waiting for him in the fridge when he got home from work.

Life is busy! I'm finding it difficult to get two hands free to type. I get plenty of time to look online while nursing, but to put together more than a sentence or two in type is a tad more difficult at the moment. For some reason our children are on opposite sleep schedules. Nate gets up early, sleeps most of the morning, wakes up around lunch time, naps when the girls get up from their afternoon naps, and then is up from about the time I start dinner until I go to bed--later than I'd like. He's only two weeks old though, so his sleep patterns will change drastically in a few weeks--like the size of his foot has this week. One of Justin's co-workers gave us some socks last week. They were really too big for his little feet when he brought them home on Tuesday. Today I put a pair on him--and they fit!! What?!

I'm trying to get going on my Christmas shopping and having a hard way to go. My little sister asked for the very descript--blue ray movies. Yikes! I have not a clue which one or ones to get her. Then there are our parents. Both sets of them are quite able to purchase pretty well whatever they want, so I've found myself trying to find things that they never knew they needed or wanted. The in-laws aren't privy to my blog, so I can tell what I have planned for them...we're getting them a web cam so they can chat with the girls. My parents have one and the girls think it's great to see them instead of just using the phone. Plus we can show off the baby (who while he can occasionally roll--yes he's only two weeks old and has rolled twice[!!!]--can't yet converse).

I took the three children out shopping today. It's not the first time we've been out solo. Actually, I've been out with them several times, but today was the first day that one of the girls had a melt down while we were out. We were leaving a store (the first of our two stops) when Gabby decided not to hold my hand. She is very stubbourn about her independance, so I told her she could hold my hand or I would carry her (remember I'm already carrying the baby--in my Moby thank goodness). We get halfway across the main drive when she falls to her knees screaming. This is not good. Kate's carrying a heavy bag, I'm holding Nate and Gabby is screaming and flailing tucked under my arm. Enjoy laughing at me. I'm sure it was commical. I eventually wrested her into her car seat and got her strapped in. Poor Kate was so good through it all. She lugged that huge bag for me and waited patiently as I struggled with Gabby's straps as she tried to get loose. Lesson for me--Gabby rides in the cart--it's much easier to push her out screaming than to carry her away from the baby!

I have our parents taken care of (no hints for my mom though!), our two grandmothers are done, I've started on Justin and the girls, and I've got a list started for Nate. Not done, but we'll get there!

The girls and I went to a consignment sale Wednesday. I didn't pick up much, but it was fun to get out. I did pick up a pair of shoes for Kate, just some brown play shoes for fall. She's been in the same size for awhile, so I expect to have to buy her new ones soon, so I thought this $2 pair would get us through until that next jump in size. I also picked up two books. We have absolutely worn out our copy of the book Prayer for a Child, which I dearly love. I picked up a jumbo sized hard back for $1! Then there was a book called Tails. It's really cute, with lots of textures and moving parts. I was able to get it for $3. The girls love it.

These sales can be great savers, so long as you don't buy stuff you normally wouldn't and you check prices--I don't buy designer clothes for my kids, so $40 for the princess dress Kate wanted, wasn't a good deal for me. It's tight quarters trying to get through with a stroller, let alone a double stroller and a rather pregnant belly.