Saturday Craziness

Walmart.  I am convinced it is the main American evil.  I hate going there but I have too.  Yes you save money.  However, one's life is shortened with each trip.  Tonight for example...

I took the kids to Dennys for an early dinner.  The food was great and so were the kids.  It was wonderful.  Reagan sat in a chair and behaved himself the entire time.  No crying, no food on the floor and no running around.  I thought we had it made.

Then comes Walmart.  Change atmosphere.  Reagan helped push the cart.  He didn't want to sit where he was supposed to and he was ready to leave even before we walked in.  So you hurry around the store and get what you need and about $50 of what you don't need only because you are in a hurry and you will meet any need of your children just to get out of the store.  

So we made it home, still without groceries.  Thus leaves us with tomorrow's project.  

This week's happenings

1.  Ben left us to attend business training in Boston.  

2.  All went well without dad, until mom got the flu Wednesday night.  Fortunately the kids were sleeping through the worst of it so I was ok.  Had to call my mom at 6:00 am to see if she would come and take Madison to school and Reagan to daycare.  I slept until 4:00 on Thursday afternoon.

3.  Back to work on Friday and then sleep over with mom and the twins at our house.  Oh, and the late February winter storm.  A few of us are anxious for the snow to leave.

4.  Sunday while Ben and Madison were gone, I was taking a shower when Reagan decided to jump in, fully clothed.  He has never shown an interest in getting in the shower, especially while dressed.  It was rather funny and I managed to get the camera before it was too late.  

5.  Looking back I realize how wonderful Madison's toddler years were!  Reagan is a joy but he certainly is a handful.  He is in his cute, smart age where he is cute while getting in trouble.

6.  I think I may have to look for a second job to feed our son.  Today's menu for the 2 1/2 year old:  Breakfast:  2 bowls of cereal.  Lunch:  Pepperoni, bologna, soup and mac and cheese. Supper:  Chicken nuggets, french fries, three tubes of yogurt.  After dinner snack:  Three packages of fruit snacks.  

7.  Madison looked smashing this morning in her little black skirt, matching top, black tights and Mary Janes.  I forgot how darling she is when she gets dolled up.  I realize how tall she is getting as her jeans finally fit in length although she still does need to work on growing a butt to hold them up!  Thank heavens for adjustable waist lines.  

8.  I got a Wii Fit today!  I am super excited about my late Valentines Day gift from Ben!  Madison is just as excited.  Is he telling me I need to lose weight?  

What have I learned this week?

1.  I truly enjoy my days off when Madison has school and Reagan has daycare.  Ok so it's the first one as we were closed on Monday but it was a storm make up day for schools but it was wonderful!  I had all my errands done by 10:00 am, had lunch with mom, got a haircut, went shopping, stopped by Andreas and picked up the kids by 4:00.  

2.  My son's stomach doesn't like milk that much.  We had him tested as a baby and they said he wasn't allergic but after we took him off milk, except for a glass at lunch and a little at supper, he is not congested, his eyes don't run and his nose it clear.  Check out www.milksucks.com.  I am not saying milk is terrible, I'm just saying that some kids (like Reagan) can't tolerate it well and doctors will go head over heals prescribing 20 different medications to fix it when all you have to do is decrease the milk intake.  They get plenty of calcium in their diet from other foods.  Problem - he LOVES chocolate milk and sometimes will not drink anything else.  The solution - he doesn't know when I water it down.

3.  Reagan is bump prone.  No matter what he does or how careful I feel like I am, he always seems to get a new bump on the head or black and blue mark.  I guess that's life with boys.  

4.  I love meatloaf cupcakes and the rest of my family hates them.  You make meatloaf like you normally would (I like to use Stovetop instead of bread crumbs) and put it into a cupcake pan.  Top with melted cheese or BBQ sauce.  Yummy.  More for mom I guess.  Footnote - I lied, I was making them as I was typing this post and Reagan is eating one like it is candy. 

5.  When Reagan's tummy doesn't like milk, it's not a good idea to let him sleep in our bed, on a dry-clean only comforter.  Enough said.  

6.  Whenever I make instant mashed potatoes, I always boil over the milk/water.  Always.

7.  Terrible twos are more terrible the second time around.  Especially when your oldest child is there to think everything he does is funny, not terrible.

8.  Most contestants on Wheel of Fortune are either really stupid, really loud or should just go back to bed.  

9.  I love butter and am terribly afraid for the day when I can't eat it like I do now.  

10.  I love Tupperware and am very excited for our order to get here Wednesday or Thursday!  Clean pantry, here I come!

11.  I think Ben should take us to Hawaii next year for our 10th anniversary and our 30th birthdays.

Random Thoughts

Well, there's nothing new or exciting to report.  Sometimes mondane is a good thing.  

I have contemplated going to the grocery store at least four times today but keep finding a good reason not to go.  The flyers have some great sales but taking Madison and Reagan to three separate grocery stores isn't really sounding too exciting right now!  I am guessing they will be quite busy with the possible ice storm approaching.  I am hoping school/work is on as I have tons of work to do this week.  

Madison is very excited for tomorrow as it is the 100th day of school.  I can't believe she is just about done with first grade.  We are anxiously watching the changes with the new kindergarten bills in the legislature.  They are looking to change the enrollment date to those being born before July 1 rather than before August 31.  Reagan was born August 10 so this would affect him.  I hope that we can have him tested to start kindergarten when he is five rather than waiting until he is six because I do think he will be ready.  I don't agree with catering to lazy parents who don't help their children learn when they are little.  Please don't misunderstand me, some children just aren't ready regardless of the interaction of their parents.  I just think that there are a lot of children who would be ready if they had support/encouragement from their parents.  If Reagan can't test into kindergarten when he's five that will be four years of preschool for him, that's a little much. 

On Friday Ben and I were able to attend the West Fargo Chamber Big Event with others from my office.  It was great food and the entertainment was fantastic.  It was Dueling Pianos from St. Paul and those two guys knew how to keep an audience entertained.  If I would have known about them nine years ago, I would have had them at our wedding rather than a DJ.  Ben won some great silent auction items so that was a plus.  I'm hoping one of the attorneys I work for doesn't fire me tomorrow - I drug him into the conga line!  

The highlight of my week was an awesome Tupperware party.  Thank you to all who ordered.  Tupperware has some great host incentives so I am anxiously awaiting my Tupperware package, hopefully this week.  I love Tupperware.  I am addicted to Tupperware.  Don't steal my Tupperware because I will find you!  This weeks project:  clean the pantry to make room for the new arrivals and throw out any old/non-Tupperware containers.  Can't have that contamination with the new fabulous items. 

Have a great week and a Happy Valentines Day!  I smell the Tator Tot hotdish so it must be time to feed the family.