Adventures in Aldi

So, Tired Mom was too tired to go to a big grocery store today, plus we need lots of food, and we do not have lots of money, so naturally we had to go to.....ALDI!!!

Am I the only parent that lets their kids run around smaller stores? I keep them in sight (or they're in trouble), and I don't let Danger Boy bark too loud at people or let Kid Catastrophe get to screechy. I think, "heh, they're getting their exercise at least!". Seriously, I think making the kids walk (or run) themselves is a good thing, but then I worry that I'm not being considerate of others since they are little kids, and they act like it. Danger Boy had a really short day at preschool, or I would not have had to take him on the big bi-monthly grocery shopping anyway.

One woman said to me as I was bagging groceries that she was watching as the kids and I went around the store and she thought the kids were really sweet and nice. The kids were playing some game where they whispered together while "hiding" in the bottom part of the cart (you know the part where you put sodas and heavy stuff) so they did not notice the nice older lady. So, then I thought, some people may be annoyed, but other people get a kick out of little kids like this nice older lady.

Maybe I'm just rationalizing my parenting technique, but on the other hand, it's a free country, even for little kids ;)

A funny thing happened while QQ was sick...

So we have had a fun evening. QQ has not been eating all day and at dinner things got worse: she threw up. The rest of the evening was spent on clean up and comfort. She mostly vegetated while watching Dora the Explorer- now I am ill ;P- while sitting on Mama's lap. Well it's about 10:30 and she has not been ill for about 40 minutes. She has been drinking a little ginger ale and eating some crackers all night. All of the sudden, she gets the hiccups. Timpani waits a minute and then startled her by yelling, "Quisqueya!" Quisqueya looks behind her- she's on the lap again- and says in her baby talk, "stop!" T and I both cracked up.

Oh No! SNOT!!!

Every time Kid Catastrophe sneezes, copious amounts of snot comes out of her nose. If she does it when Danger Boy is around he yells, "Oh no! SNOT!!!"

Paranoid Dad thought it was very unfortunate that his daughter got his sinuses, while Vance got mine (with my clean, snot free sneezes).

Lately, KC does not just say "no", she has to say "not want that ANY MORE!". Very dramatic, even for an almost 3 year old.

Whistles & Sticks & Cats Oh My!

When we first moved into our home almost 7 years ago, I noticed that there were A LOT of young boys running around. They all got up at 6 AM on Saturday mornings and they all had whistles! I noticed Vance running around outside with a whistle he found, and I was reminded of my annoyance with the neighbors at letting their boys blow whistles so early on a Saturday. My turn neighbors! I have my own whistle obsessed little boy to revenge myself with! Bwa ha ha ha ha! Vance is not an early bird, so they're just lucky!

Vance also has a fascination with all kinds of sticks, but that has nothing to do with the neighbors ;)



Nutmeg (aka Nutty Cat) continues to love the children (more so with Vance) and seek them out at every opportunity. Nutmeg kept meowing at Vance's door this morning to be let in since we were all sleeping in for the school holiday. The moment I got up and unlatched the door, Nutmeg goes running in to see Vance.

"You know, there's like a boat-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bow staff. "

While Danger Boy eschews the combat arts- at least on camera- Kid catastrophe says, "Hey! I need no one to protect this pretty face." Then she does two snaps and a twist.

(After this video, Paranoid Dad again ponders getting in touch with the "House of Israel" side of our faith by wearing a yarmulke.)

For Crying Out Loud

It's a good thing she's so cute and cuddly because she sure does come with lots of the crying.

On a side note. Girl clothes are the best! I don't think QQ has a single outfit that is not over the top adorable. And the church clothes! Oh my, the best.

And here are some random cute pics that we have taken recently.

I Call This Game- CAT-IN-A-BOX!!!

Danger Boy says "Nutmeg needs a box to play in, and to live in". Tired Mom says "we don't have a box, and I don't think Nutty Kitty would like a box anyway."

Vance finds a box in the basement (how did he know it was in there?) and puts the box on the ground. Nutmeg walks right in, and then starts playing with it. Once again, Tired Mom needs to trust the mysterious boy-cat relationship ;)

Of course as I wrote this, the boy got scratched twice in a row by the overly fiesty cat-in-the-box.





The boy found some pillows to put in the box, but they did not last long. He also had to be forbidden from blocking the cat-in-the-box in the box with pillows and blankets.