I woke up today knowing I would have a rough day if I didn't stay positive. I had a bunch of errands that NEEDED to get done and I had my two sweet boys to come along for the ride. As the weather decided to sit in the 30's today I bundled us all up in our huge winter jackets and we headed off for our adventures. Nati's winter coat is so puffy he waddles like a duck in it and his arms seem to stick straight out as if he can't bend them. I worry if he falls over he will just lay there like a beached whale unable to move. I stuffed him into his car seat and the jacket seemed to overtake his whole head. I could see his sweet smile peeking out just barely between layers of red warmth. He didn't know we had errands a mile long to run, so he was still smiling.
We hit the Post Office first. The boys dread this place. Little do they know I dread it ten times more than them. We walked in and the line was out the door. My faint heart almost had me leave, but I had a letter I HAD to mail today registered mail. So I put on a fake smile and told the boys I was sure it would go fast. I impressed myself and them when I managed to pull two cars out of a jacket pocket for them to play with.
Amazingly the line went quickly, the boys played quietly and soon enough we were at the front of the line. The ladies in there know the boys and give them stickers every time. They are the priority mail stickers which in case you aren't aware are very hardy stickers. Yared put one on his eye once to be a pirate and lost a few eyebrow hairs and an eyelash. I was reminding him of this as he went to do it again. Then I jokingly said, "I know I am a mean Mommy not letting you be a pirate." He was highly offended for me and declared loudly. "No one calls my Mommy mean." He seemed to forget it was me who said it and stood glaring defiantly around the Post Office. This made everyone laugh and warmed my heart so I thought maybe today wouldn't be too bad after all.
We then went to the Navy Base for a present I needed to get on sale there. I pictured grabbing the item off the shelf, quickly buying it and being back at the van in 10 minutes top. We found the item quickly and then headed to the check out line. Here is where things fell to pieces. You see I have the KNACK. I am truly talented with the KNACK. I have the great, most coveted ability to pick the slowest line no matter where I am. Before kids this didn't really bother me as I must confess I liked to catch up on my Hollywood gossip. It didn't count if I didn't actually buy the magazine. After kids this KNACK has become a thorn in my side. I got in line and started my long wait even though there were only two people in front of me and they seemed to be buying almost nothing. Yared noticed a muscle man magazine and proceeded to ask loudly about this muscle man.
"Mommy, look at that man's big muscles." "Why are they so big?" "Will mine be so big?" Only if you spend hours in the gym lifting weights. "Mommy when I grow up I will lift weights so I look like that." I hope you don't Yared. I would rather you had fun running and playing lots of sports. "You don't like muscle men?" I do - trying desperately to drop this conversation which was drawing attention. "I like the muscle man Mommy. Why don't you like the muscle man?"
Finally I side track him with another magazine and then quickly flip the covers of two more magazines before we got into even an even more embarrassing conversation. By now I have waited at least 10-15 minutes and I put the present down as it is heavy. I am trying to keep the boys from touching the candy and toys that the stores insist on putting eye level with children. I look around and notice that all the sudden there are a lot of men and women in uniform. I am on a Navy base so I just figure it is that. Then a store attendant walks up to me personally not all the lines, not all the people but ME. She points to a sign that says, "From 11-1 military personal in uniform go to the front of the line." She tells me I need to let the 7-8 people in another line in front of me. The ironic thing is this... it wasn't 11 O'Clock when I got in that sloth-like line. I was so frustrated that I blurted the first thing that came to mind. "You are serious? You want a Mom with two small children and a heavy package to move out of line after waiting for over 10 minutes?" She nods and points to the sign hanging above my head like a giant ax. I am not confrontational but I was so annoyed I stormed off saying that I would go find someone that would let a Mom and her kids buy a present. The military for their part looked greatly embarrassed that this was going on. Most of them were very young and holding one or two small items yet they were to go in front of me and the boys who must have looked ridiculous bundled in our massive winter coats as the store was roasting hot. Remember I THOUGHT this was a 10 minute errand. I THOUGHT we would be out in the freezing cold so fast that it wouldn't be worth shoving Nati in and out of his straight jacket. I was so mad that I was walking too fast you could hear little Nati yelling, "Wait Mommy." as he bounced along in his massive coat. Yared was between us saying, "Come on Nati." and encouraging me with "We're coming Mommy." The good news is I thought outside the box and asked a lady who seemed to be doing nothing if she could help me. She started to ring me up and I saw some uniformed military heading my way, I practically through my credit card at her. Side note - I understand and respect this rule to let those in uniform go first but lets be reasonable about it and see the big picture like what time did that poor frizzy haired, stressed out, bundled up, mother get in line!!!
We tromped out to the car where Nati looked at me and said in a very clear emphatic sentence, "Me not wear my jacket anymore." I agreed and we took off the dead weight and everyone seemed happier. As we had one more errand and no more patience I promised the boys pizza if they would let me finish it up. With that carrot in front of them they jumped in their car seats and off we went. We managed to survive that store rather unscathed and the boys were happy the day ended with pizza for lunch.
I came to the conclusion that small boys and errands just don't mix. I am not sure how to get everything done and entertain them but I am working on a more superior plan than I had today, as I very nearly lost my Christmas spirit. Luckily a few hugs and kisses with the boys and some Christmas music had us feeling right with the world again.
This is at our friend's beach house. Just seeing Ben on a beach cruiser makes me smile.... not really his sort of bike and then add a sweet cheeky Nati and you have a GREAT shot.
I love that the roof of the building looks like a giant hat on Ben's head. We are so going to miss the warm Atlantic ocean. Back to the chilli Pacific for us. 
Nati giving Ann kisses. They love her. Ben adopted Ann in Italy as his second or third Mom. She has become a true friend to the whole family and the boys will miss her and her family a ton when we move next summer.
Our church had a picnic out at the camp they started years ago. The boys got to try..let's emphasize try climbing a rock wall. They just kind of hung there looking cute.
We got to go on a hay ride.. it was HOT but fun. Don't let Yared's face fool you he had fun:). Especially when we found out the pool was open and we let him jump in with his clothes on.
Posing for his soccer shot. Go team Germany!!
The lions at our local zoo. I also love seeing the kids with their grandparents. This was Nana and Babu's October visit. They are coming again for Christmas but the boys don't know that:). I can't wait to capture that moment on camera and video.
Last but not least my Birthday. A new tradition was started (by me) that we go out to the restaurant of my choice on my Birthday. I get to eat good food without cooking or cleaning AND I get a Birthday cake that someone else makes for me. The boys of course think this is a great tradition as they are always up for good food. I think Ben will come to really like this tradition too as it requires so little planning on his part and he gets a appreciative wife who feels loved and happy kids. What's not to love about operation Birthday Out for Moira?
