There are a lot of places I don't like to take my kids. That list includes pretty much any place one would go. Grocery store, Wal-Mart or Target, the DMV, eating establishments, the doctor, etc. etc. The more children in my possession, the less likely I am to leave the confines of my house. It it just too much effort and the reality is that they make any simple errand or task take twice as long, I lose my mind and forget half of what I went for, and 7 out of 10 trips, someone melts down, there is a fight or they embarrass me in some way. Just. Not. Worth. It.
However, if I never left the house, I would A. Be a weird Hermit and B. We would starve and stink. Thursday morning is the only day I have where I am child-less. But I can't get everything done in 3 hours. So this morning, Will BEGGED me to go buy him new crocs. Being the awesome Mom that I am, I decided I would make the 15 mile journey to Gaffney where there is a Crocs outlet. But it is Monday, not Thursday and that meant that Maggie had to come with. Now, some days, Maggie is a good shopper. She likes Sam's (because they serve food) and she does OK for short run-in-to-pick-stuff-up trips. However, she is about to turn two next week and her temperament is as predictable as a woman going through menopause. She is one tantrum laced, meltdown city just waiting to explode.
But off we went and to my surprise she was being very good. She got a little ancy at the Crocs store when I was taking too long to make a selection but for the most part, she was happy and excited to shop. So when we finished there, we ventured over to The Children's place, Carter's, Oshkosh...no meltdowns. I was feeling really good and started to feel confident that this was going to be a really productive trip to the outlets. As I passed Ann Taylor, I decided to go check out a cute turquoise dress that I thought would be great for ZTA Convention this summer. Dress was awesome but it was $109.00 and well, I am too cheap to pay that price for one dress. Maggie seemed a little miffed about our stop in AnnTaylor but she was still OK. So I went into a store because I wanted to buy a new bra. In we went, and of course, they didn't have my size of the particular one I wanted so I asked the lady to check in the back. As I was waiting for her, I had my back to Maggie. BIG mistake. In just a minute, she had wiggled herself out of the stroller and grabbed a package of little girl panties from the wall. Hearing the sound of ripping, I turned around to find Maggie buck naked. She was going to try on these cute little panties but when she saw me turn around, she knew she was in trouble....and she takes off running....through the store....as naked as she came into this world. And lately, let Mommy chase me around naked is her newest and most favorite game. She is squealing with delight at the top of her lungs, running around the store with me in hot pursuit behind her. She would run around the racks and just as soon as I would lunge to grab her, she would dart under the rack and out the other side. Everyone in the store was watching me chase her. Some I am sure thought it was cute. The sales ladies didn't find it amusing at all.
I eventually was able to corner her after she took a wrong turn and hit a dead end. When I finally got my hands on her, she squealed with delight and laughed so hard that she proceeded to pee all over me. She laughed harder. Fabulous. I quickly dressed her and walked out, forgetting completely that I wanted to purchase a bra. It was the least of my wardrobe requirements at the moment. And after that little taste of freedom, she refused to get back in the stroller and the meltdown came, fast and furious. So over my shoulder she went as I dragged the 2 kid stroller behind me all the way out to the car. Embarrassed, pee soaked and exhausted, I made the 15 mile journey back to Spartanburg, pondering the thought that becoming a hermit may not be such a bad option after all.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
My Kid is Terrific....
 |
| Ian being recognized by the Asst Principal at the Terrific Kid Breakfast at School |
That pretty much sums him up. Kind, generous, the kid who always does the right thing. He is wise beyond his years. Just like today...On the way home, we pass by a do-it-yourself car wash. As we are driving past, there were some young girls in way-too-small bikinis washing their cars. I mean, I know the weather was nice today, but it is still March for goodness sake! Anyway, Ian looks at those bikini-clad girls and then looks at me. If this had been Will, he would have likely made a comment about how nice they looked in those skimpy pieces or asked if we could go wash our car. Not Ian. Ian looks at me with a perturbed look on his face that I am sure mirrored my own and said "What is wrong with those girls? Why on Earth would they wear their bathing suits to wash their cars? People are supposed to wash their cars at the car wash, not go swimming. I mean, they barely had any clothes on. I swear, I don't know what is wrong with people!" My sentiments exactly, Ian!
He is so much like me, but I think far more sensitive and compassionate. Just this past weekend, he and I attended our first conference on Mission work. He is completely intrigued by the opportunity to work as a missionary and at the conference, he met missionaries who serve all over the globe. He spent a good bit of time with a woman who serves in Brazil and Ian just fell in love with the work she is doing there with children. We have also been reading about the work of Doctors Without Borders. He is a helper, a doer. He is anxious to go on a mission trip himself. I keep reminding him that he is only about to turn 9. I also keep pointing out that while serving others around the globe is noble work, there are plenty of people in our own community who he can help. So he is researching places in Spartanburg to see what might interest him.
On the 21st, he turns NINE. I cannot believe it. Where did all the time go? I could not be more proud of the person he is growing up to be. It makes my heart so happy to know what he endured in his life as an infant and to see how he has transformed into this truly terrific child. I know that there are many great things ahead of him and I cannot wait to see all of the incredible things he will accomplish. It will be Terrific....just like him!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Drive-Thru Recap...
Why haven't I been blogging? I have failed to include so many great stories in the blog. After all, I created this blog just to record all of the things that the kids do. But no matter how much I try, I can't seem to find the time or the energy to write. Why? THE KIDS! In the hustle and bustle of trying to run the back and forth to school, work and keep our house from being condemned, I am just exhausted.
So to recap...
Ian played Upward Basketball at Cudd Memorial Baptist this winter. He turned out to be a pretty scrappy and aggressive player. He had decent ball control and could shoot but most of all, his little, scrawny hiney could rebound the ball! It makes his former-center on the court--Momma very proud. We spent a lot of time practicing in the drive way. I gave him the full Bobby Savage coaching experience, without as much Marine Corps hollering. At first, he hated the dribble and passing drills. Especially since we went entire practice days without shooting the ball in the basket. But I promised that if he would buy into the Bobby Savage method of coaching, it would make him a better player. I was right. After all, Papa's methods helped me learn to do everything but be a decent free-throw shooter. Probably because Mom wouldn't let him Duct tape my hands together...but that is a whole other blog post.
At any rate, Ian had a great season and he was fortunate to have two wonderful coaches in Clay Houchins and Joe Pepper. Now, without even taking a breath, we start baseball season for Ian and soccer season for Will. How much are gas prices, again?
Will celebrated his fourth birthday. I simply can't believe it. Time went by in a flash. He had a pirate theme party at school. I was terrified about his cake because he had changed his mind about 10 times on the theme and I just knew that when I showed up a school with cake in hand, he would tell me I got the wrong one and tell me I ruined his life. But to my surprise, he loved it! A rare compliment from Will.
The night of his birthday, we went to eat Mexicans (the food, not the people). Will loves to eat Mexican food so he was thrilled that Josh's parents & grandmother were able to join us for dinner. Days before his birthday, I asked Will what he wanted for a present. He sat for a while, really pondering his options. Finally, he looked at me and said, "I can't think of anything that I need, Mom. If I do, I will let you know. For now, though, I am good." Deep down, the kid has the heart of an angel. You just have to peel back a lot of layers to get there!
Maggie has pretty much mastered potty training. She has been using the potty since 15 months old but these days, we are pretty much accident free! I am certainly happy about that! She is talking up a storm, singing a lot and recognizing most of the alphabet. She is big tattle-tale and the boys can't seem to get away with anything anymore. She loves to report to "Will's Mom" all the naughty things he is trying to accomplish. I don't discourage her....I need all the help I can get! She is really into baby dolls at the moment. In fact, not only do I have to compete for bed space and covers with her, but now her dolls Ella, Susie and Annie. All of them have to come to bed with us and if you dare move them at any point during the night, she wakes up and chides you for it. It is definitely time for her to get her own bed!
This is it for now. We have upcoming birthdays and the big Burgess Bunch Birthday Bash! That's right....we are having one large birthday party for the kids this year. They will probably feel robbed of 2,4 & 9 and need therapy because we robbed them of individualism, but as Will always likes to tell me, "You get what you get, and you don't pitch a fit." So there!
So to recap...
Ian played Upward Basketball at Cudd Memorial Baptist this winter. He turned out to be a pretty scrappy and aggressive player. He had decent ball control and could shoot but most of all, his little, scrawny hiney could rebound the ball! It makes his former-center on the court--Momma very proud. We spent a lot of time practicing in the drive way. I gave him the full Bobby Savage coaching experience, without as much Marine Corps hollering. At first, he hated the dribble and passing drills. Especially since we went entire practice days without shooting the ball in the basket. But I promised that if he would buy into the Bobby Savage method of coaching, it would make him a better player. I was right. After all, Papa's methods helped me learn to do everything but be a decent free-throw shooter. Probably because Mom wouldn't let him Duct tape my hands together...but that is a whole other blog post.
At any rate, Ian had a great season and he was fortunate to have two wonderful coaches in Clay Houchins and Joe Pepper. Now, without even taking a breath, we start baseball season for Ian and soccer season for Will. How much are gas prices, again?
Will celebrated his fourth birthday. I simply can't believe it. Time went by in a flash. He had a pirate theme party at school. I was terrified about his cake because he had changed his mind about 10 times on the theme and I just knew that when I showed up a school with cake in hand, he would tell me I got the wrong one and tell me I ruined his life. But to my surprise, he loved it! A rare compliment from Will.
The night of his birthday, we went to eat Mexicans (the food, not the people). Will loves to eat Mexican food so he was thrilled that Josh's parents & grandmother were able to join us for dinner. Days before his birthday, I asked Will what he wanted for a present. He sat for a while, really pondering his options. Finally, he looked at me and said, "I can't think of anything that I need, Mom. If I do, I will let you know. For now, though, I am good." Deep down, the kid has the heart of an angel. You just have to peel back a lot of layers to get there!
Maggie has pretty much mastered potty training. She has been using the potty since 15 months old but these days, we are pretty much accident free! I am certainly happy about that! She is talking up a storm, singing a lot and recognizing most of the alphabet. She is big tattle-tale and the boys can't seem to get away with anything anymore. She loves to report to "Will's Mom" all the naughty things he is trying to accomplish. I don't discourage her....I need all the help I can get! She is really into baby dolls at the moment. In fact, not only do I have to compete for bed space and covers with her, but now her dolls Ella, Susie and Annie. All of them have to come to bed with us and if you dare move them at any point during the night, she wakes up and chides you for it. It is definitely time for her to get her own bed!
This is it for now. We have upcoming birthdays and the big Burgess Bunch Birthday Bash! That's right....we are having one large birthday party for the kids this year. They will probably feel robbed of 2,4 & 9 and need therapy because we robbed them of individualism, but as Will always likes to tell me, "You get what you get, and you don't pitch a fit." So there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)