School is coming up here in our neck of the woods. The boys have about a week of summer vacation left. The older boys usually have to wait until school visitation, usually a few days before the first day of school, to get their school supply list, but Middle and Elementary schools put theirs out early. I printed off Hayden and Addi’s lists a few weeks ago and have been buying as I go to the store and items go on sale.
But Addi and Hayden also need new sneakers, so today I told them to get their shoes and socks on we are heading out. Dean, of course, wanted to tag along. Here is a script of our adventure:
“Boys! Seriously, let’s go!” I demanded. Dean was ready to go, and had been for about an hour. Addi and Hayden came barreling down the stairs.
“OK! Ready?” "Ready Mom!“ I looked… shoes but no socks.
"Guys, you need socks on if we’re going to try on shoes.”
“UGH! FINE!” The two boys stomped up the stairs.
“Joe, you want to come?” I asked as Joe went to wash his hands for the 10th time today.
“Yeah, no thanks.” Ok, no SweetFrog FroYo for him!
“LET’S GO!” I yelled up the stairs again.
“Chris! I’m on the phone!” Roy yelled at me then shut his office door.
The boys finally made it down the stairs, and we hopped into the car. We drove to Target, walked in, and the goofiness started.
“I need to drop off Addi’s prescription. Addi, can you get a cart and meet Dean and I over there?”
Addi and Hayden went to get a cart, and I swept Dean up in my arms and walked to the pharmacy.
“Mama, Ben 10 toys?” Ben 10 is Dean’s new obsession, and he knows where Target keeps the toys. Our pleas to Iron Man went unheard, so Dean found a new desire.
“Ok, my baby. Can you wait a minute?” I nuzzled his neck, and he giggled in my ear.
“Ok, Mama. You pretty.” He knows how to suck up!
Meanwhile, Addi and Hayden were just taking in the redesign of our local Target.
“Ohh… Mom! Can I go look at the art stuff?” Everything is an exclamation with Addi.
“Fine, but stay there. I’ll just be a second.”
“Me too, Mama.” Dean started squirming to be let down.
“Ok, stay with Addi. Addi, you watch him.”
“Mama, can I get this?” HERE WE GO! I’m impressed though… the kids didn’t ask for anything for five minutes. Must be a record.
“No, Hayden we don’t need more band aids.”
“Fine” Hayden slunk off, dejected.
I finished up at the pharmacy, and we headed out to do our shopping. I looked at some clothes, while Addi tried to get me to buy a turquoise tank top.
“That’s a pretty color, mom. You should get it.” Addi insisted. I picked it up and thought it over. It was cute, but not sure what I would wear with it, so I put it back.
“It is nice though.” I told Addi.
Then we headed to the shoes. Addi scanned the rack.
“I don’t like any of this Mom.” He said. And I sighed.
“Ok, we can go somewhere else this weekend. Hayden?” I was hoping Hayden was having more luck.
“Well, I want high tops.” He frantically looked at the offerings. "I don’t see any, mom!“
"I know, honey. We can go to another store this weekend with Daddy.”
“Well, can I just get these?” He picked up a pair of shoes that look like the ‘skater’ shoes he always gravitates too. See, Hayden likes to get something, anything, when we go out.
“Is this what you want?” I gave him the look. You know the one that says, think about your answer, and don’t lie to me.
“I really want high tops.” He responded.
“OK, we will go somewhere else this weekend with Daddy.”
“But I want some new shoes, Mommy!” The whine was creeping into Hayden’s voice.
“Hayden don’t start, please? We will find you some shoes. I promise.”
“Ok. Can we go look at books?” And it’s off to the next area.
“Look, mama, Boba Phat!” Yes, that is how Dean pronounces it.
“I know. Is that a neat book?” I asked.
“I want it.” He held it to his little chest and stared up at me with his big eyes.
“No, sweetie. Mommy is not spending $30 on a pop-up book.” But I wanted to.
“Ok, fine.” He happily put it up, and we wandered over to the toys. Dean was quick to pick out something - a Ben 10 toy, of course! But the other boys went up and down the aisles.
“You can each have $10. Please hurry. I didn’t come here to spend an hour looking at toys.” I pleaded with them.
“Ok, mom. Can I get this?” Both Addi and Hayden finally came up with Lego sets. Just what we need.
“Fine! Come on! Let’s go!” I urged since I wanted to get away from the toys. We wandered over to get school supplies, grabbed a few things in the food aisles, and then it was off to the pharmacy to get Addi’s prescription.
They didn’t have Joe’s face cream in, so we just got Addi’s, and Joe will have to get his tomorrow. From the food aisles to the pharmacy, there are about 10 racks of items. In the 30 seconds it took us to walk it, I got asked for dog bones, dog toys, hand soap, kleenex (the boxes were kinda cool looking), the boys said I should buy the new coffee mugs that were on display, they wanted stickers, mouthwash, new toothpaste…
And then I got our prescription, and we went up to pay. The boys just stood there.
“Guys, can you help me unload the cart?” I brought my pretty reusable bags from home, and I get a credit for using them, but I also have to pack them myself.
“What?” Dean and Hayden are hiding behind a pole. Addi is cradling his medicine.
“Guys, come on! Please help me. People are waiting in line.” At this point, I was seriously wondering WHY I took the kids out by myself. At least Roy could bag while I unload the cart.
“OK, fine!” Addi did unload the cart. He did it slower than a snail, but he did it.
“LOOK! The entire time we are in the store all you guys did was ask me to buy you things. Things you don’t even need. The least you can do is help unload the cart while I bag stuff up? OK? Guys? Are you listening?”
“Ok, Mama.” Dean said as he tried to lick my leg.
“Yes, Ma'am.”
“Sorry.”
I am hot at this point and exhausted.
“FINE! Let’s go get some ice cream.” SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt… Yum!
They probably didn’t deserve a treat, but I sure did!