Five more minutes

My life is like a sitcom. Seriously I could write a good stand-up set with my every day experiences. Today's excursion - the community pool.

We swam. We met up with friends who swam with us. We talked. We laughed. We swam some more. Yet as we neared noon, my little one started to grump up. First there was a few minor instances of whining over who got the ball thrown to them. I should have known right then and there to give the two minute warning to departure. Instead, I ignored and forged forward with our "good" time.

Several minutes later there was an outburst from that same little grumpus. She yelled at her similarly aged friend, "I don't like you!" because said ball either came too close or not close enough. I'm still not sure. Yet, again...this should have been my sign. It was time to go. Still, I swam.

Tick tock tick tock. Lunch time was approaching. Rest time wasn't far after. Still, I swam.

I gave an official "five more minutes" and got out of the pool to start picking up our toys and drying off. My older daughter, who had swam miles and miles in her delight of being able to do so without "swimmies", obediently exited the pool and sat, with her head down, on the picnic table. I thought she was going to doze off right then. Little one refused to get out of the pool.

I packed up and called to her. I threatened with the "I'm leaving you here if you don't come". She stayed in the pool. I yelled. She stayed. I did the talking through gritted teeth thing. She stayed and yelled at me. I threatened, "If I have to get back in the pool..." leaving the rest to her 3 year old imagination. She stayed, yelled and then scowled. I'm certain by this point everyone was giggling. Our friends promptly left, probably afraid to witness what was about to happen.

I kicked off my shoes, dropped my towel and swiftly sank into the pool like a shark pouncing on some prey. I took her little hand and dragged her to the stairs. She cried despite not being actually harmed. I took off her swimmies, did some talking about how she'd never be allowed to come back to the pool and something about being put in time-out until she was 32.

I put her and her sister in the car, We drove home. She immediately went into the shower. Ten minutes later I told her it was time to get out. Nope. "Fine two more minutes." Five minutes goes by, "It's time." Nope. Hello?!? Lather, rinse, repeat? *sigh* God help me when she's 15. That's all I have to say.

Excuse me sir, my parents left me but remembered their luggage

As reported by MSN, an Israeli couple, along with their five children were on their way to Paris for a family vacation upon a charter plane. Forty minutes into that trip, the flight staff informed them they were short one kid.

It seems in all the hustle and bustle they were able to keep up with 18 pieces of luggage, duty-free goods and four of their five children. Unfortunately their three-year-old daughter got so far lost in the crowd that her family had left the country before her absence was noticed. Evidently Home Alone isn't a popular movie in Israel.

Let me not throw too much judgement as when my own children were babies, I'd have honest-to-goodness nightmares that I was out somewhere and left them in the car, on the car, in the store, in the house...you name it. I guess I was stressed about missing a details, albeit an important one, in my role as a mom. So I'm sure this incident was a true nightmare for this family and their little girl. I'll bet they'll never lose her again. And thankfully it appears all is well now. The children continued on the next flight to Paris accompanied by an airline staffer. The parents returned to claim their daughter. I can't help but to wonder...how old are the older kids? Because short of about 18, I'm not trusting an airline employee with their safety in a foreign country for any length of time. No offense to airline employees, of course, They are very likely outstanding folks. I'll hope so for the purpose of this family as they cared for all of their children at one point or another on this trip. But, yikes! Is anyone else envisioning Macauly Culkin making that face where he puts his hands on the sides of his face? "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

After a full day's work, we have success! Who doesn't love a tax-free weekend?!

After spending in excess of 8 cumulative hours shopping personally and another 3 or so for my husband, I have a theory. We've all been swindled by this tax-free weekend business. The government suffers the loss to tax income while stores jack up the prices because they know we'll buy based on the guise that we're getting a deal in the absence of sales taxes. That's why I did all of my shopping last weekend when I paid full sales tax but got a deal, dammit! (...what a joke!)

This weekend we hit Gymboree for approximately $185, Haggar for $45, Brooks Brothers for $100, Belks for $145 and Nike for $30. We definitely fueled the American economy. And given the size of the crowds, many others did as well. 'Cause I'm proud to be an American, for at least I know I'm free... :-p

With all of this shopping came three pairs of tiny shoes. Two pairs of Mary Jane's and one pair of sneakers. In total, I'd estimate that we tried on no less than 30 pairs. I, personally, only tried on 2 and had to talk myself out of both. What finally ended up in a purchase was what I thought was a defunct trip to Belk. Their shoe section was in horrible disarray. I chose one pair of shoes that weren't even in a box. I thought what I saw out was what they had. The scene looked like a crime scene. Single shoes out of boxes laid strewn here and there. Boxes without lids littered the floor. Women rummaged through the piles like they were at a garage sale. I almost walked away before even looking. Little did I know...there were more in the back!

Like an angel from heaven, a kind, grandfathery-looking salesman asked if we needed help. I almost hesitated asking if he had any other sizes anywhere. We'd already been at this for a few hours and I was tired. I mustered up the energy, though, and hoarsely asked in, what must have sounded like, a desperate tone. Unbelievably he said they did.

We had that sweet older gent hold two pairs for us while we hit *one more store*, I later returned alone, while Grandma and the girls enjoyed a Strawberry Julius, to make the all-important purchase. Choirs of angels sang.

One last stop before collapsing at home was to the Nike store. Note to self - never ever leave this store as the last stop in a busy day. The aisles are narrow, there is next-to-nowhere to sit to try on shoes, it's crowded and the rap music is a *tad* too loud. It's overstimulating and hot. Yet, surprisingly, we were still able to crank out a quick purchase. The sneakers made my daughter run faster in her eyes, and as memory serves me correctly, that is the criteria for a good-fitting pair of new sneakers.

So we're home now. I've had several glasses of wine. One daughter just put in a mis-matched pair of pajamas. The other is happily playing in the tub with her Polly Pockets. I'm looking forward to hitting my bed in as little as 40 minutes with a cream puff or two, another glass of wine and perhaps a funny movie. I can't decide yet if I'll go with Wedding Crasher or Talladega Nights...but really, can you go wrong with either?

Buenas noches, mis amigos. Tax-free weekend has come to an expensive end for another year and I'm beyond fatigued. Damn shame I didn't need a wedding gown as they, too, were sans income tax. Hmmm...maybe I should have rethought our anniversary plans for next weekend and dreamt up something that involved a little white number by Vera Wang. ;-) Seriously, it would be dangerous if I ever decide to renew our vows. We had a beautiful wedding but were both 22. My wedding at 30something would be *quite* different.

Isshoes

I wrote an, almost, identical post to another blog at this time last year. I HATE SHOE SHOPPING! No, I'm not betraying my inherent right as a female to love such an event. It's just that my daughters have such narrow feet!

I've been to the Stride Rite store. They make ONE style in a narrow width. And wouldn't you know it, it's fugly. I have girly girls. They want something with a little pizazz. Not the solid colored more-basic-than-black pair that still doesn't quite fit them correctly.

As luck, and genetics, have it, I experience the same problem. My heels are exceptionally narrow. My mother has been through this same hell. The difference, though, is that when I got new shoes we left the store with little thirty little pads stuck strategically in them. One do-dad around the heel, some little sticky deals along the side... They shoe guy kept modifying until we got it *just* right. Today, you can't find those little modifiers anywhere!

I've got a store or two left to try. We'll hit there tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm not terribly hopeful. Thankfully there is always http://www.zappos.com/ and their beautiful free return shipping. But still - ordering shoes online for children is risky business. It's just so more likely that any given pair won't work for a plethora of reasons than them actually fitting correctly.

Tonight I will sit back with a lovely glass of pinot noir and think about anything other than mary janes...unless the have a rockin' heel and come in patent leather.

On a positive note, we cleared Gymboree of most of their size 5 stock. :-) The first day of school outfit includes an adorable apple skirt. Could that be cuter?

[photo courtesy of www.gymboree.com]

...and it continues...

I promise tomorrow's post won't be yet another recipe review, but I can't stop myself today.

Last night for dinner I prepared the chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes from Deceptively Delicious and they fooled everyone! The chicken was coated in a broccoli puree and the potatoes were mixed with cauliflower. Everyone ate everything, including my parents! I'm still amazed! The food was really really good. And please believe me when I say they turn their noses up at a lot.

The one downfall of the book is that you've really got to plan what you're going to make for the week. There is a section in the book about freezing the purees, but I'm hesitant. Some recipes call for 1/2 a cup, others 1/4 a cup and others 2 tablespoons. I'm not sure in what quantity I should doing my freezing. So for now, I'm trying to use up what I have within a few days. I think as I get more experienced, I'll probably freeze in 1/4 cup quantities and just concede to occasionally having to trash a tablespoon or two every now and then.

My plan this weekend is to try a dessert - my favorite food group! Tonight for dinner we'll undo all the nutrition we've built up over the past two days as we're eating out to celebrate my parents' anniversary. Greasy, cheesy and fattening food...yummmmmm! :-)