Lessons Learned

Here are a picture of G's new shoes. I had to take a picture of the shoes next to him, because he refused to let me put them back on him. hmmmmm????


Every time I venture out of the house and brave a store with 4 children in tow, I always end up wondering the same thing..Why am I doing this to myself? This is the exact reason Matt and I rarely take the kids out to eat. It is just not an enjoyable experience. Well, with summer here, what are my choices? I already do the grocery shopping at night or on the weekends, but sometimes I really do need to go "run some errands".
This morning, I piled everyone in the mini-van and headed to get the oil changed. We did pretty good, because we all stayed in the car and everyone remained strapped in. After the oil change, we went to get Gray a new pair of "walking shoes". The child has never had a pair of shoes on his feet, and now that he is walking, the 100 + degree pavement is not kind to his little footsies.
Let's just say we did walk out with a pair of shoes, but along the way (and I will remind you all this happened at a children's shoe store), the following incidences took place:
1. found a frog with a hurt leg (yes, we are at the store--WIERD!?)Our new pet
2. Mommy accidentally stepped on the frog--jumped out of Owen's hands and landed right under me (honest)
3. Owen holds a dead smushed frog and tells me he is going to be fine. I finally talked him into going outside and putting him in the bushes
4. Find bathroom to wash hands. Owen gets lost in the back of the store among all the boxes of shoes (panic attack)
5. Gray hates shoes on his feet = tantrum
6. Kate has tried on nearly every headband in the store and re-arranged the bow display
7. Wills is trying to figure out how to open the fish tank because he is curious as to how they clean it.
8. Now, Owen is climbing on the display walls
9. Gray WILL NOT straighten his little feet inside his shoes so that we can get a proper fit.
10. Kate found a new dress--whining...please please "it is a beautiful dress mommy". It was a size 10, she is a 3/4
11. Wills decides he wants a new pair of shoes and Owen wants this small stuffed animal hedgehog
13. Gray's shoes cost $44~! I see the price after we finally got them on.
14. The guy gives me a discount on the shoes (i think he feels sorry for me) $30
15. Heading out the door and I knock over a tower of sale shoes with my bag. I guess my kids get it honest.
16. In the car, strapped in! Thank you Lord for seat belt laws.
Lesson #1 shoe shopping with 4 kids 5 and under is not a good idea.
Lesson #2 ZAPPOS.com from here on out or a good babysitter!