MONDAY NIGHT MUSINGS

 - Did I tell you about my Hallmark experiences? We've had several special occasions the last month, so I've made a couple of trips to Hallmark to get some cards. The first time I went in, I put Mattie in the stroller, and hooked CJ to it too. I thought it was a brilliant idea to hook one of the clasps on the stroller, that had about a two foot strap, to one of CJ's belt loops. So the three of us headed into the Hallmark and made our way to the farthest row of cards. If you've ever been to Hallmark you'll know that it's like a library and a museum all in one, what with the hushed whispers as people read cards, and tiny breakable objects within inches of you everywhere you turn. The perfect place for a 1 and a 2 year old, right? First, CJ was trying to pull all the cards off the shelves, and then reaching for the tiny porcelain piano, then trying to walk away, and tipping over the stroller that Mattie was in. So we switched, and CJ got strapped into the stroller, and Mattie got to walk. But it took less than 10 seconds for me to realize that Mattie, who was now the one pulling cards off the shelves, was just as dangerous. So I picked her up...and then had to hold her the entire time (which is getting increasingly more difficult with her weight and her wiggliness). So here I am, holding Mattie, trying to push CJ in the stroller, and trying to get around the way-too-many stands they have crammed into this store (but the stroller wouldn't cooperate because I was only pushing it with one hand so it kept veering one way or the other), and just get to the register. And then the clerk kept trying to sell me multiple things on top of my cards! Couldn't she see I was struggling? Anyway, by the time I left the store, I was sweating and vowing to never take my kids to Hallmark by myself again. 

Oh, but it doesn't stop there. The next week, I needed to get some more cards, and I was kind of in a rush. I had to get the cards that day, and mail them right away so that it would get to their destinations on time. I was already out running errands, and so I stopped by Hallmark again. This time, I parked right in front of the doors, which by the way, the entire front of the store is windows. Anyway, I debated for a minute, but rememberd my last trip to Hallmark and decided that since the kids were totally happy in their car seats at the moment, safe and sound since they can't get out of their car seats yet, and since the weather was nice  and I only needed to go in for a minute, that I would leave the kids in the car. It was overcast with a slight breeze, so I cracked the windows a bit, locked the doors and headed into the store. I could see my car from where I was looking at cards, and I quickly chose what I needed, bought the cards, and headed back out to my car, probably taking about 10 minutes. Yes, you may think I'm totally a bad mom for doing this, and honestly, I'm not comfortable doing it either, but on this day, I HAD to get these cards at this time, and I just couldn't do it again with the kids. Anyway, as I came walking out of Hallmark, an older woman, probably in her 60s or 70s, was pacing in front of my car. As I unlocked the door and began to get into my car, she started in on me: "How could you leave your kids in the car?" she contemptuously asked me. My first thought was, "Ok, how can I handle this in a good way?" So I smiled sheepishly and asked her calmly, "Are you a mom?" She said yes, and so I then asked her to put herself in my shoes. I was about to tell her about my experience the week before, but my comment apparently set her off and she began telling me how irresponsible  I was, and a bunch of other things that I didn't hear and don't remember, because I just got in my car and started to drive away. As I was backing out, she told me she had my license number and was going to report me! 

As I drove home, I didn't know how to react. I didn't know how I felt and whether or not I should cry or shout or apologize. And honestly, I didn't really think I could be mad at her because she was just doing what she thought was right. But the first thing I did when I got home was look up the WA state law. And just so you know, it is illegal to leave kids under the age of 16 unattended in a car IF the motor is running, which mine most definitely was not! So I guess the law was on my side this time. But I do want to put it out there, I would never leave my kids in the car with the motor running, or if the car was unlocked, or if they weren't in their car seats (or could get out of their car seats), or if it was a hot/cold day, or if there was any other thing that might be unsafe. And I also want to put it out there that this is not a regular habit of mine, to leave the kids in the car. I have a feeling though, that even though this was the first time I've been yelled at by a total stranger for my parenting skills, it probably won't be the last. From what I've heard from other parents, it's kinda par for the course.   

- Last Sunday in RS we had a lesson on prayer. One of the things mentioned was that the things that are important to us, are important to the Lord, even if we don't think they are. I liked that. I also liked how they said that anything worthwhile takes work, even prayer. That really resonated with me. So I thought I would prove the Lord a little bit, and pray for my running. I know, may seem silly, but I've felt like I've really been stuggling, both physically, and even more so mentally. So I prayed that I would have a good run, mainly so that my confidence could improve again. And you know, I had such good runs last week! I felt so great as I ran and had a good pace and finish time. And all I could think about as I ran was how the Lord was answering my prayers (which is funny because usually when I'm running I'm just praying to be finished :)!

- Last week Mattie started doing the funniest thing: whenever we're getting her dressed and she's sitting up, she looks down at her belly and starts to pinch and pull at her chub! I do that too, but in the privacy of my own room :). We've got to watch her though, because she's started to make her cute little belly-button red and sore.

- (5/11/10) Mattie started blowing her nose last week! We'd hand her a wipe and tell her to blow her nose and she would take the tissue, hold it to her nose, scrunch up her little nose and blow out. So cute!

- (5/11/10) CJ FINALLY jumped for real last week! For the first time, he was able to get both feet off the ground at the same time. I know it sounds funny, but CJ has always just kinda skipped when he's tried to jump, so we're making progress!

- (5/11/10) And CJ started catching balls last week too. I mean, he caught them before, but his balls-caught to balls-not-caught ratio changed dramatically! Before he was missing most of them and only catching a few, but now he's catching most and only missing a few. Bryce is so happy!

- So Bryce graduated. It's crazy. It hasn't really sunk in yet. The fact that our friends are all gone - you should have seen me weeping like a leaky faucet as we said our goodbyes after graduation - that started to sink in almost immediately. Like when we went to the park later that day and CJ asked if his friend, Brody, was going to be there. Or like when we went to dinner and remembered going there with all our friends. Or when we pulled up to our house and the Adams' cars weren't there anymore. Anyway, that part has already made its sinking way into my heart, but the fact that Bryce is done with law school...nope, hasn't hit me yet. Maybe because he begins his bar review classes in a couple of weeks and it will be just like he's in school again, but worse.

- Mattie is quite the little cleaner. We went to Hu Hot, one of our favorites here in Spokane, with my mom for dinner on Saturday. After Mattie was finished eating her noodles, she decided it was time to clean up. She then spent the next 7 or 8 minutes wiping the area in front of her with a napkin (basically spreading the mess to all the surrounding areas, including on the floor and in her lap).

- CJ kept calling Bryce's graduation cap, "Daddy's funny hat"

- We went to Nordstrom today to look at some shoes for Bryce. While we were looking at their selection, Mattie was looking at herself in the mirror...and she kept pulling up her shirt and seeing her belly-button in the mirror. Then she would find her belly-button with her finger and look down and try to actually see it. She kept doing this over and over and we were just laughing....as we stood in the men's shoe department at Nordstrom!

- Bryce suddenly has an interest in home decor. I'll tell you more about why that is later...

- As we were driving around running errands today, we drove past a Jack in the Box on Division. Bryce pointed to it and told me that was where he got a free lunch, like I was supposed to know what he was talking about. I asked him when he got a free lunch, and he went on to tell me about how one time he went there for lunch and it was super busy. He went through the drive-through, made his order, and when he got to the window, he realized that he didn't have his wallet. He was super embarassed, but the girl working the drive-through seemed to think this was her way of getting in with my hot hubby, because she told him his lunch was on her, as long as he promised to come back when she was working! Can you believe that?! Wow, I guess his good looks can get him more than a wife, but a free lunch too!

Happy Monday!