Shopping, Shopping, Santa and MORE Shopping

Our weekend was filled with Christmas Shopping. Brett's check came and it was time to get this party started. My feet still hurt from all the walking. I do have to say I am about done. A couple more people to buy for and that's it. Brett was great and kept the boys and just said "see ya, when I see ya". The crowds were crazy! I did the mall Saturday with the kids as we were going to see Santa. Wouldn't you know the minute we got there it was time for Santa to go feed the reindeer. So we had to wait an hour. Now going out in the north means winter coats. Well in the mall it is about a 100 degrees and so no coats...but who gets to carry them. ME! So we did some shopping for Brett and then enjoyed a pretzel and all of a sudden I see the line swelling for Santa. So we quickly make it over to it and OMG - we had to wait a good 35-40 minutes. CRAZY! Thankfully my mom was at the mall shopping and she came to take the boys for a walk and a potty break so I could stay in line. My crew LOVED Santa and I think Santa loved them as the 3 people in front of us all had crying kids. The picture was worth the wait to me:

Today, my Dad came out for his yearly Christmas shopping visit with the kids. He knows they have basically everything and finds it easier to just take them shopping. This year he add Cody and Dylan to the mix. He said "all of these toys make sounds and I think we have pushed every button". Tanya and I just laughed and said "I'm sure you did". The kids made out well. Then we went to Friendly's for lunch and ice cream and came back to my house so the kids could open the presents up. I made a mental note for Christmas morning - I need to have scissors, a screw driver and a little plastic bag for all the little junk stuff they use to wrap these toys into boxes. OMG! We of course had a photo op session with Papa too.....

We had a great visit with my Dad. So many emotions for me though but that is for another post. Now I have to concentrate on wrapping!

Merry Christmas!

Costume Shopping

The boys and I went to the party store today and got their Halloween costumes. I wasn't going to do it this soon but got a $10 off coupon and I couldn't pass that up. Plus the last time we were there they had told us that they aren't getting multiple shipments in and the costumes my gang has chosen are popular and I really didn't want to have to pay shipping from the internet if I didn't have to. So.....we shopped and they got them.

Cody is the Blue Ranger
Dylan is the Red Ranger
Tyler is Spiderman

What I didn't realize is all of these costumes come with accessories. So after Cody said "but mom, we have to look like the real Power Rangers" I couldn't just walk out with a costume. Although I did talk them out of the swords and gloves. We got the boot covers and the "triggers" that transform you into the Power Rangers by saying "Operation Overdrive".

So we are set......Halloween can come! Or I should say my nephew can now come. My SIL is due 10/22 but we all think she'll go earlier - or hoping she will as we can't wait to meet Jack - but we plan to go to OC for the birth and I don't want to have "costume shopping" in the back of my head.

Doing the right thing

So tonight as I got home and started to pick up I was putting the boys shoes away and noticed how worn out they were. The ironic part is the sneakers are only about a month old and have only been worn a couple of times. So I was slightly irritated. I don't spend the money on sneakers for them to wear out after a few wears. So we ate dinner and went back to Penney's. Thankfully they did the right thing and exchanged them for me. We didn't get the same kind because I have a feeling it would just keep happening so I spent the little extra and got Nike's. I could tell the girl didn't want to return them but I am happy they did the right thing.

Tomorrow the boys have their first day of school....well it's really orientation. Cody and Dylan are looking forward to it and Tyler well, it depends on when you ask what his response is. I'm sure they will do great.

Shopping with kids

The title really does say it all. For any of you that have a child or children - going shopping is not easy. It doesn't matter what you are shopping for. I remember back to when C&D were babies and going to Walmart required both Brett and I to go. They just didn't make carts big enough for 2 baby seats. Then don't forget the diaper bag - thankfully we took a small bag for these type of trips and saved the big one for the all day adventures. So as they got bigger we added Tyler to the mix and decided at that point one of us would stay home with the kids and the other one would go shopping. Or possibly the one that went shopping might take a kid with them. So we did this for a while. Now we are onto working different shifts and I'll be darned if I am just sitting home. One thing I always wanted to make sure of is that my kids were portable and we were not just sitting home. Or would I feel out numbered because there is 3 of them and 1 of me. Soooo...now that they are all potty trained, can walk, can listen (sometimes) - we go and do a lot of stuff together at night while Brett is working.



Tonight was no exception!



However, the potty trained thing is wonderful but not so when the kids have to use every bathroom there is. I was the exact same way as a kid though so I'm totally getting paid back. I can pile the 3 of them into a shopping cart but man is it hard to push. There is about 100 pounds in that cart. Some would think - well let them walk. Yah right! They LOVE to walk but the whole listening thing goes right out the window. I really try to scar the crap out of them because this world these days is not a nice place to live. Then the 3 of them can work together and against me. This was proved tonight. Dylan was in the seat, Cody and Tyler in the basket. I had picked up some shaving cream for Brett and then went on to get other products. Next thing I know is Cody telling me "look mom" and all I saw was shaving cream. Dear, sweet Tyler managed to get the cap off and covered the back of Cody's shirt. Lovely! So we headed to the bathroom to get them cleaned off and Oh ya, go the bathroom.

Throughout the rest of our shopping trip, I get looks and stares and people asking if they are triplets? I smile and say No, twins and a single. All the while they are thinking I'm nuts and I am thinking he wasn't planned but wouldn't change it for the world. So we get to the check out and the cashier ask the above question. Then she said "are you having more". I'm sorry - how is it that it's any of the cashier at Walmart's business. No I'm not BUT! So that was our fun shopping trip! We'll do it again and I'll have many more stories to share I'm sure.

You 'do' feel better when complaining!

So after my stint with the whole shopping cart issue last night, I decided to write to Kohl's corporate and complain. I am upset over the fact that somebody took my cart but even more ticked that not one associate or the manager bothered to 'help me' during that time. So from their website they have a "comment on your store visit" - so I did. I received a reply back that said I should be hearing from an Executive Team Member within 5 days.

When I got home tonight there was a message on the machine from the store manager. He wanted to call and apologize again. Apparently after reviewing the tapes, a lady and a girl took my cart after exiting the rest room - seconds after we entered. I don't really remember them but then again I had 3 kids with me and I was trying to watch which stall they were all entering. I remember two associates who came in but not this lady. So who knows. I didn't see the tape and this manager isn't exactly on my good side. So they found the cart but still isn't sure if the items have been put back on the shelf or what. I was really hoping it was a different manager so I could complain about his whole "do you want to yell at me" comment. But I'll have to save that for if/when the corporate office contacts me. In today's world - and working in customer service myself - the least they could of done was offer me a coupon or something. Anything would of been better than I got! So we'll see what happens.

It was a warm day today but surprisingly tonight is very comfortable out. Brett and I took the boys to a park. One that is out in the country some. We had access to a creek so Brett had the boys in it walking around. And don't you know I didn't take my camera with me. UGH! They had a blast in the creek bed, picking up rocks. The water was about ankle high if that but in spots a little deeper. Then of course if you drop a rock close enough - you get wet. All 3 of them left soaked from the waist down. They had fun though! Then it was home to the bathtub. I am sure we'll be back and I'll have to take pictures then.

Bad Night of Shopping

You would think it was because I had 3 kids with me with no carts to confine them in. But that wasn't it at all. I got home from work and we all got ready to go to Kohl's to do some father's day shopping. Brett needs a new pair of swim shorts. So I grabbed a cart and around the store we go. After only making it to the men's swim shorts everyone has to pee. Of course they do! So we go back and everyone pees. We come out, grab our cart and go back to shopping. By this time we have made our way over to the kids clothes and Cody has to go poop. So we all head back to the potty - AGAIN! We come out AND MY CART IS GONE! Gone! No where to be seen. Thankfully there wasn't nothing in it but clothes that we had picked out. Nothing personal. But I was in shock as it's gone and didn't know who took it. So....I ask a few close personal and they didn't see it. They say no one took it. So I take the boys and around the store we go - 3 times! Still can't find it. I've told everyone that would listen by this point because now I am just plain ole ticked off. I found a manger and told him (which he already knew about it by this point) and all he says was he is sorry, somebody must of mistakenly taken my cart and if "you want to yell at me you can". Well why do I want to do that. But I almost did. Because nobody was walking with me to help find it. Not to mention there is probably a good $200 worth of merchandise in that cart that is now missing! So I give up - give them my number and tell them that there is some stuff that I would really like and if the cart is found to please call me. So the boys and I go back and get a couple of the things that I could find again. Other things I couldn't get because I had taken the only size available and it was in MY CART! UGH!

So as I have stewed over this for a while now - I decide to call the store back to see if they have found it. NO! I told them that I had a lot of merchandise in that cart and they said they have all been looking for it. Apparently about the same time somebody was in the store trying to steal a vacuum or something. So they aren't sure if this is related. I guess the security clerk will be in in the morning to look at the tapes. She said there isn't much you can do in that store where the cameras aren't watching. So it should be on that tape who took that cart. Now it kind of freaks me out if somebody took my cart - they were either watching me or something. As there was another cart right next to mine that has been there all night. So why my cart? It's just very, very weird.

And to kind of top it off and tick me off more - they offered me nothing for my time or inconvenience. So not sure how fast I'll be returning!! So note to self for further shopping trips, when you have to leave your cart to use the rest room - have someone watch it for you. It just might not be there when you return!

Funny thing...

This afternoon we all went to Walmart. THAT was fun! (did you note my sarcasm?).....Anyway, I had Dylan in my cart and Cody and Tyler were with Brett. As Dylan and I were heading over to the produce section we passed an elderly black man that was just kind of standing there. As I walked by Dylan says "Mom is he alive?" Oh my heck, I started laughing so loud. It was hilarious. I told him yes but I could see what he meant. He was standing pretty still! I so needed that laugh today.

And I should know this by now but never take hungry kids to the grocery store! I mean I think we bought one of everything. We also didn't go shopping last weekend due to the holiday and we weren't home but still............could hundred dollars later and it was all food! No fun stuff!!!

In case your wondering....

When you open the defibrillator box it makes a loud noise!!!!!

Want to know more? Last night I had to run to Walmart to get a few more groceries. Before I left I made sure everyone had went to the bathroom. As I am standing in the card section, Cody says he has to pee. Of course you do! So I pick out my card and we head to the back of the store. I park the cart in front of the pay phone. Suddenly nobody had to pee but they sure wanted to play with the phone. So we go in the Bathroom and of course nobody could go in the same stall. Great - now what do I do? I can't go in with one - that leaves 2 unattended. So I stood guard outside the stalls and waited for them to appear. Only hoping nobody is deciding to play in the toilet. :( We leave and have to take a quick pit stop at the water fountains. Now everyone is soaked. Stressed is a word running through my head right now. As I am putting everyone back in the cart....Tyler finds this cute little white box with a handle on the door. What kid wouldn't want to open it? So he does and this most loud, shrieking noise comes from it. OMG! Thankfully when you close it the alarm goes off. I was waiting for 1/2 of Walmart to come running. Weird thing though - nobody did. That's probably not a great thing...anyway....At this point I have FRUSTRATED written all across my forehead. As I look up there is a lady sitting on the bench. She obviously has been watching the whole time and she says "it's fun isn't it?"...............Phew - she obviously knows what it's like to take kids shopping.

I go back to the eye doctor tomorrow for a follow up on my eye. Today the eye has felt the best. Sunlight did not bother me. I am very anxious though to get back in contacts.

Sister Time

Tonight Tanya and I got some much needed "sister time" with NO KIDS! It was wonderful! We shop a lot and almost always one of us has a child or two with us. (heck we normally have all 5) Today though, our lovely husbands kept them and we got to take our time and actually look around the entire store. Without a potty break, fighting, changing carts, buying extras that we really don't need!

I bought a new lamp. I hate shopping for lamps. I am excited to say I found a great one and it was only $20. I love a bargain.