Five Guys

Yesterday I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and continued the pity party all morning.  At 11:00 everyone was bathed, dressed, and fed and we had an hour to kill before lunch.  Russell was ornery but didn't want to sleep and since I definitely wasn't in the mood to entertain we headed to Target with no real purpose other than to buy me a bottle of nail polish.

I tried to enjoy browsing the store, but Lydia's deaf ears to my persistent warnings about opening the bottle of nail polish definitely interrupted.  Carrying on my pity party, I decided I would at least splurge on a treat for myself and sneakily eat it during the kids' nap time.  However, the bakery at Target's didn't have anything I wanted.  Or maybe they did, but I can't ignore the nutritional labels they put on their desserts--I'd rather just not know.  So being just a little ways from a delicious little cake store called "Nothing Bundt Cakes" I got a harebrained notion, loaded up the kids and drove there ignoring the motherly instinct that told me I should just go home.

We crossed the insanely busy parking lot (me pushing a stroller with one hand and dragging Lydia with the other as we ran) and I again thought, "Why am I here by myself with both kids in one of the busiest lunchtime areas in the city?"  But the lure of that delicious cake kept me walking.  I acquired the piece of chocolate heaven I wanted.  And just as we were walking out, Lydia started to tantrum at the same time that I realized Five Guys was just next door.  Before she could get very far and before I thought it all the way through I said, "Should we get some fries?"  Tantrum solved.

I didn't get three feet into Five Guys before I knew it was a mistake.  The restaurant is always crowded and resides in a building that is smaller than my apartment.  Russell's stroller got caught and banged against every pole, chair, and table as I struggled through.  I enjoyed my burger, but was annoyed I'd forgot to order a cheeseburger and thanked heaven that Lydia was content with her fries.  And then it was time to leave.  I had to ask two men to completely stand up from their chairs and tuck them in so I could get Russell's stroller through, then I had to ask another kid to move his chair from the aisle, and since my struggle was so completely obvious, another guy held open the swinging garbage can lid for me and another held open the door as I tripped through.  I felt more like I had tried to run the gauntlet than simply walk out of a restaurant.  I was a little embarrassed and thankful at the same time when the last guy helping me said, "Hang in there."  It made my nose and eyes sting as I suddenly fought tears and the desire to live someone else's life just for awhile.  Three thoughts crossed my mind, I brought this on myself, what was I thinking, and I need a good cry.  Five guys (really) just had to help me leave Five Guys (the restaurant).  Thank you! Sigh.

After all that, I got home feeling so full of grease and bun that I knew I wouldn't enjoy my cake the way I would've if I just listened to my motherly voice, come home, and eaten the over healthy, homemade vegetable soup I had planned on eating that day.  I had made my little treat feel more guilty than pleasure.

That is why, today, we are staying home.

How do you eat your yogurt?

Like this?

How about your sweet potatoes?

Get them in your eye much?

Ordinary Pleasures

Life as a stay-at-home mom is...well, interesting to say the least. One minute I'm ready to give my kids away, change my name, and move to Mexico. The next I'm lovingly looking at my kids and wondering how I got to be so blessed. It's funny how ordinary pleasures of everyday life can seem so extraordinary when the moment is right. Here are a few of mine:


Little man outfits...


Impromptu lunch-time birthday celebrations and a gift that will further my attempts at domesticity.....


Little boys after their baths....


Little boys' faces after rice cereal.....


Looking forward to days when I can use my new stroller and get started on my athletic ambitions....

Walking with your hands in your pockets.....

Awesome aunts and uncle......

Pianists......

Riding side saddle.......

Oh, yeah, that rice thing again.....

And cell phone cases that hook to your belt (or pajamas, in this case.......get it? case?)

Isn't life grand?

Resolved

It's a lazy Sunday Afternoon. Why Chad is the one taking a nap when I'm the one who hasn't slept through the night in over four months is a conundrum. But since I'm awake I thought I'd share the fact that I actually made New Year's resolutions this year and I actually wrote them down.

Here are a few:

1. Eat treats only 1-2 times a week instead of that many times or more a day.
2. Participate in a triathlon
3. Go on as many vacations as we can possibly afford. Camping counts and Chad and I will make it to California for our 5-year anniversary without our children (do or die on that one).
4. Buy a house (we hope!) or at least get out of this cramped apartment.

Let the games begin! And here are a few new pictures of my super cute kids. This first one of Russell is my most favorite I've ever taken of him so far.