School Shopping Blows...and other news

For the last two days, I have been clothes shopping for the delightful children. Total, minus shoes? $300!! Ouch!! Payless BOGO starts Tuesday, so that will be even more money. But I am definitely going to try and recoup some from Wayne at least. I finally got my tire fixed yesterday also, at the cost of choir day and choir rehearsal. I am so bummed about that. Not to mention another $200 for 2 tires (yep, just 2) and an oil change.

OUCH!!

Sad thing is I still have to get shoes AND all the other BS school supplies like wipes and hand sanitizer, and reams of copy paper! WTF??

What did I buy for me, you ask? A fifty cent Reese's at Wal-Mart on the last day! Not a STITCH of clothing, not even a spool of thread. So what? That's motherhood for you! My hair is shedding due to poor maintainence, my artificial nails are falling off because I am so past due for a fill-in. But the kids will look great when it's time to head back to school!!

Whatever. I'll get to me soon enough.

The Weekend in Review

Whew! Wow, it's amazing how quickly money can go!

I got my tax retrn deposited on Friday (Thank You Father!!!) I missed Thursday and Friday from work due to the 'love note' I received from daycare on Wednesday. I told them one of the kids was sick. I didn't really have a choice, you know? At least this way, I can be sure I can log sick time and get paid for it! Again...Welcome to Solo-Mommy's World! I do what I have to!

I was all freaking out this weekend, worried about Dante. The last time I talked to him, he was gonna call me back once he got home, and then I didn't hear from him until Sunday night. I knew he had to work, and I knew he was to be driving to NC for work next week. I sent him a Good Morning text Saturday morning and got no response - which is unusual. So later in the afternoon/evening, I called and left a voicemail since no answer. Nada - again, unusual. Called Sunday afternoon to say I was just checking on him, and by that time I had given up. I knew him well enough to know he would call, though not as soon as I wanted him to of course. So my mind was wandering all sorts of places. I actually woke up Sunday from a bad dream of my mom having driven all the way up here to tell me in person that she saw the news saying he had been killed in a car accident! (Remember, I knew he was to be driving to NC soon?) So, I prayed against such horrible thoughts...and the pendulum started swinging the other way.

"What if he is there, but just not answering you because he's with someone else this weekend?"

Yeah, I kicked the little devil off my shoulder for that one! That's just years of deceit and mistrust that I am still working through, because he has given me no reason to think such a thing or doubt what he tells me is truth.

Then when I was upstairs working on clothes in the girls' room, I missed his call on my cell downstairs. I even told him I was gonna whoop him for making me worry! And he's like "Duh, I told you I was working this weekend!" But I'm like, "Yeah, but I thought you meant going into the office on Saturday!" And he's like, "Um....no!" Sooooooo, then who's left with egg on her face for worrying and losing sleep for nothing???

(Solo-mommy sheepishly raises her hand)

In other news, Can't Get Right actually came through today! I went to a furniture store to pick up the dresser I bought for the girls, and a bunkie board for DJ's bunk bed (so he can finally sleep in it, poor thing). Well, the delivery people loaded it up, so on my way home I'm thinking who am I gonna get to help me get it in the house? On a whim, and it being Sunday and all, I dialed his number. Straight to voicemeail, and I'm not shocked. I called again about a minute later, and it rang, and ... (drum roll) ... He Answered!!! Yeah well, it shocked the hell out of me. I told him I needed him at the house for a few minutes cause I needed help taking a dresser for the girls upstairs to their room.

Surprisingly enough, he showed up in a timely fashion! Starr was happy to see him of course, as were Bruzer and Champagne. DJ went with his dad on Saturday and didn't get back til tonight. He took the dresser up by himself, and then took the bunkie board to the boys' room also. He stayed for a minute and talked, and I chastized him for not coming by to see Starr since well before her birthday in November. He made a comment about Memphis, and I warned him that he really doesn't want to go there. See there is thing about me that he knows, if you ask me a question I will assume you really want the answer. So, I'll give it to you, whether you like it or not! So, he took a detour from such a dangerous path, for the sake of getting his feelings (and perhaps his ego) hurt.

Then he was off to work. And I confirmed something during that visit. It's really over.

Usually when I see him, no matter what else in going on in my life or who I am with, there is this attraction I feel for him. I could always look at him, even on his worst days or when he was sick, and think he just the cutest thing ever. Not there...gone....nada. That felt really good. Sometimes you can be so over a person....until you see them. Then all the feelings rush back to the surface ( I have a LOT of experience in this area). Today was the proof, that it's gone baby gone!

WOOHOO! I'm FREE!! (solo-mommy dances a quick jig)

Saturday, I spent the day with Leigh and her girls. Went down to ESL and got more gray contacts, finally. My last pair did not survive the first weekend in Memphis! (I will let you think what you want on that one!) I went to Target and spent loads of money, but got things the kids and the household surely were overdue for. I went to Sam's and spent a bill on meat alone, but it will last well into spring. I went to Wal-Mart and spent a mint on more household stuff and grocery and undies for the kids. I bought a computer for an awesome price on ebay. So, I can be back to work soon at home!!!!! YAY!!!! I bought a digital camera/camcorder, and an mp3/mp4 player for me and an mp3 player for DJ. I am so ecstatic that the bills are caught up and will stay up from this point on, and I can finally get to work bringing a few extra hundred a month working nights and weekends from the comfort of my own home. One more thing I need to purchase to do that though? A damn portable heater, cause it is cold in here right now!!!!

On that note, I am going to soak in a warm bath (a rare luxury for me), and then head to bed!

The Funniest Shoe-Shopping Event Ever!!!

So, it’s BOGO time at Payless, and I literally could not stand to look at Starr’s shoes one more day. Seriously, when we got home I wouldn’t even let her take the old tennis shoes to her room! I told her to put them straight in the trash!

I ended up going to Payless 2 days in a row. No, I am not balling like that (it’s Payless remember)! I went for Starr and then the next day remembered Bruzer really needed shoes too. The first day, I picked Starr up from summer camp early so she and I could go together. DJ is staying this whole week with his father, he will be home tonight. So, she and I enjoyed time to ourselves, without the distraction of the WonderTwins.

The fun began on the second day when I went with WonderTwins in tow. My oldest sister is out of town this week (if I haven't mentioned that already) so my mom picked up the kids the last three days. Well, on Wednesday she took them to McD's for Happy Meals. By the time I get off work and out to the parking lot where they were, they had drank all their juice and were just finishing up their food.

You know where this is going...don't you?

One thing about me when I get in shopping mode, I don't like to be distracted. Yeah me...Ms ADD herself, doesn't like to be distracted! Honestly, I HATE grocery shopping with my kids for the most part, though it is usually not avoidable. Oh no no, don't get me wrong. I don't have those kids. They will literally get beat down in the middle of the store, with no fear of legal interference! Okay, not beat down (for all you sensitive folks). But, the rod of correction will NOT be spared! It's not always needed, but if it is, it is well used.

Anyway back to the shopping. Five minutes into the store, Bruzer has to go to the bathroom.

"Mommy, I have go potty." "Can you hold it?" "No." "Fine, come on!"

Yes, I am visibly annoyed, but I try to keep my composure. Okay, back to shopping.

Ten minutes later, I hear this: "Mommy, I have go potty so bad." Yes! Bruzer again, saying this through clenched teeth as he was using all of his 3 year old might to hold it in! Mind you, he really did use it when we went a few minutes earlier.

Sidebar to note: Champagne also had to go in between his two trips. Of course they didn't have to go at the same time! That would have made things easy for me!!

So after another six pairs of shoes today at about $40, added to the six pairs the day before totalling about $60. Yes, I even got two pairs! Starr ended up with 4 pairs. Bruzer got 3 pairs. Champagne got 2 pairs. DJ even got a pair in his absentia! We finally left without any more trips to the facilities. Starr? Nah! She's like her momma, she can hold it all day!

Since the kids had eaten I decided to stop at Lion's Choice for a serious roast beef sandwiches. I felt Bruzer kicking the back of my seat as I waited on my food. So I turned around and his face was contorted in a combination of agony, determination, and fear. I asked what was wrong.

"I have to go potty so bad, Mommy." Clenched teeth again. Still haven't gotten my sandwich yet...what to do???

There it was in the cupholder! An empty McD's cup I had recently taking from Champagne! I have limo tinted windows in the back of my van so I did what I had to do.

"Starr, undo your brother's seat belt!" "Okay, pull down the front of your shorts and underwear. No! Just the front, buddy!" The pee has seeped through the front of his soccer shorts now. "Okay just pull em down and here!"

Yes, he basically mooned his sister (Champagne) since his bottoms were pulled down to his ankles....and he was standing right in front of her! Me saying 'here!' was sticking the cup directly over his "stuff" to catch the pee!

Okay, thank goodness after he was done is when she handed me my food bag! I drove around the corner to a parking spot. I told Bruzer to take off the wet clothes, and psuedo-wrapped his bottom in his swim/beach towel! Then, after getting out to pour the liquid into the grass, I readjusted his seat straps and put him back in his car seat!

Thank GOD we didn't have an accident in the five minutes it took to get home! Can you imagine how awkward that would have been to explain? Yeah, I shudder and laugh at the same time just thinking about it!!!

So, everytime I look at their new shoes, I will think of my half-naked child peeing in a McDonald's cup in the Lion's Choice drive thru!!!!