this mothering thing

I really outdid myself this time, my friends.

After putting off a big ol' mega-shopping trip to Sam's for way too long,

I finally talked myself into going this morning.

Being that I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, I figured perhaps

I should have a few things on-hand for the people to eat.

(I'm the most gracious hostess you'll ever meet.)

(Just ask me.)

Anyway, part of my angst of going shopping (apart from the fact that I hate leaving my compound),

is hauling my little kids with me, knowing that a certain Mr. Someone is quite volatile.

I have a yet-to-be-figured-out amount of time before he loses all patience and

melts into a puddle on the floor.

And that's when I fall to the floor flailing.

It's a whole big mess and quite frankly, Lucy is sick and tired of it.

So anyway.

I had a grand idea.

From my master-list of things to buy,

I broke it down into two smaller lists:

Lucy's Shopping List

Isaiah's Shopping List

And gave it to them as we entered the store.

They were ECSTATIC!

Honesty, you would have thought I had just given them each a puppy & a pony.

Not even kidding.

They were large and seemingly in-charge!!

They carefully followed their lists 

(and btw, I strategically  put their lists together, making sure to put words that would teach them something),

crossing off their items as we went along.

And Lucy quickly turned it into a contest, saying that whoever got their items

crossed off first, would win.

She is her mother's daughter, I tell ya.

It worked so brilliantly, I amaze myself.

They begggged me to do it again sometime.

Yesssssssss!

After six children, I'm starting to figure this mothering thing out.

oh, it's fine. it's fine.

I'm working on my post to answer all your
fascinating questions.
Some of you are crazy, btw.


But for now,
I wanted to tell you that Macy and I had a rare
opportunity to go shopping all
by ourselves last night.
Woo!

We hit Arepostale pretty hard 'cause the sale was amazing.

So as we were walking out the door I said,
"Macy...I'm a little worried that I'm too old to be wearing
Arepostale t-shirts...what do you think?"

Macy,
"Oh, it's fine. It's fine."

However, that's exactly what she said the other
night at a basketball game when she dropped one of her
nacho chips on the floor, picked it up...starred at it a second,

And said,

"Oh, it's fine. It's fine."

Then ate it.


Soooo, I'm still uncertain about the t-shirts.
But for $3.99 each, I think I'll just live on the edge.

A 3-year old "shoplifter" and other fun things

I really don't have anything to say today....I just want to move that last post down! Enough of that nonsense!

Yesterday Brenden and Nick had a golf tournament so Lucy and I did some shopping. *sigh* This little toot has some things to learn about how a girl is supposed to go about her retail therapy. We went to the fabric store because I wanted to get some things for my super secret project AND some fabric for a little summer top I am making Lucy (actually, I got it done last night!).

Anyway, unlike when the fellas are with us and all rules seem to fly out the window because none of them can resist Lucy's lure to get her out of the shopping cart....and they buy her sappy story each time saying that "I want to hold you," and then she wants down two minutes after she is in their arms.

Huh! When it's just Lucy and me, the rules stick. She stays in the cart. I'm tough and her batting baby brown's don't sway me one bit (usually).

I could sense that a storm was brewing and so I tried to appease her without giving in. At first she had my phone and was taking pictures. My heart melted when she said, "I'll take your picture Mama because you are so pretty!" Aahh, shucks.

But her mood quickly shifted to restlessness so I gave her things to hold, which worked great for a while until I found multiple items I was buying IN MY PURSE! I guess she figured everything else is in there, why not some unpaid for items. I am SO GLAD I discovered them before we left the store. Lucy and I wouldn't cope well in jail. But boy, what a great blog post that would make.

Then she started throwing the items. This is a for sure sign that she has had enough and that my day is about to turn ugly. I knew we had to wrap it up quickly. As the nice older lady was cutting my fabric I felt the urge to explain away Lucy's poor behavior with, "Oh we just adopted her and she's still adjusting..." But ummm, she's been with us almost a year so I think I have to retire that one. So I blamed it on her hunger. Even though I'm a firm believer in having self-control no matter what. But perhaps a little mercy can be given to a 3 year old.

Anyway, I'm sure I left an impression on the people at the store as being a new, inexperienced mother. Especially if they watched through the window as we were walking to the car. Lucy did not want to hold my hand and made it quite clear. So I picked her up and she kicked off her flip-flops (I knew it was coming....it is her classic I'm-so-mad-at-you protest). I didn't say a word, put her in the car seat then put her shoes on the floor (knowing that was punishment for her). Well, THAT makes her really mad! She wanted her shoes on. Well Cookie, you shouldn't have kicked them off. There.

We made what should have been a really quick stop at the UP* store to mail back my coffee maker that caught on fire (I forgot to tell you about that.....flames were shooting out of the bottom, which made for great entertainment for K-man and the boys). But this stop was more of the same, only I was holding a huge box.

FINALLY, we got to McD's. Food always makes a girl feel better and back on track. I gave Lucy half a hamburger....she looked at it like I was crazy (even though it's exactly what she asked for). She pulled the the meat out, ate it and left the bun in her cup holder. Then ate some french fries. Wow, super nutritious.

Well, we got home and she was back to her sweet self. Sometimes it's really hard to decipher between just naughty toddler behavior and over-stimulation that this poor little former-orphan may be experiencing. It often makes discipline tough. But we muddle through and hope that we are making wise choices!

Well, sorry for the boring post. I should have just gone to jail so you all would be glued to the computer. Rats! Maybe next time. Maybe not.

God's got big plans for this strong-willed, lovable, adorable, sweet little gal!!
I just know it.