Not your regular trip to Target....

When Kayden was younger, I'd take him everywhere with me.  We used to go shopping all the time.  He'd ride around in the cart at Target while I browsed the aisles picking up all the things I needed, crossing things off my list.  He was happy just to people watch and hang with his mommy.  

So, Thursday, Tyler had a follow-up appointment at the ENT for his 1 year-post tubes check. So since his appointment was in the middle of the day, I had the whole day off.  I rarely spend time with just Tyler, so I thought it would be fun and I had plans to get.  stuff.  done. 

I thought we'd head to Target, then the doctor, then lunch, then a few other stops I needed to make, then home for a nap (if he didn't already take a nap in his stroller). 

OMG---things were not as easy as I remember them being with Kayden when he was Tyler's age.  All through Target, he yelled and pointed out every ball, puppy, dinosaur, car, everything.  When I didn't give him each of those things, he yelled louder, and sometimes even added tears.  I was constantly handing him "stuff", and then slyly taking it away and putting it on random shelves throughout the store so that I didn't have to buy it. 

By the time we got to the check-out line, his patience was gone.  He spotted a little cup of "Teddy Grahams". So, I grabbed it, opened it up, and gave it to him to keep him semi-quiet.  You all know what happened next.  He dumped the whole thing on the floor (except for about ten little teddies left in the bottom).  This, before I even paid for it.  So, by the time the cashier scanned it, I was paying a dollar for an empty container and listening to an almost-two-year-old yell and whine because he wanted the ones that were all over the floor.  

I paid for our stuff, talked Tyler into putting his coat on and headed out the door.  

We got to the car, I unloaded all of our bags into the back, then went to put Tyler in his seat, and found a $5.99 package of wipes sitting next to him in the cart.  Uh Oh.  

I know I should have gone back in to pay for them, but I was exhausted.  I couldn't do it.  That would have meant, taking Tyler  back into the store, where he would surely have spotted something that he needed, then proceeded to throw another fit.  I couldn't.  

So, Target, I'm sorry.  I stole some wipes.  But it was an accident.  

I won't give you the details of the doctor appointment, our lunch date with Grammy, or our trip to Old Navy and JCPenney.  I will just tell you the stinker fell asleep in his stroller, and took a three hour nap. I was able to move him from his stroller to the car and from the car to his bed, all while he stayed sleeping. 

The busiest time of year

As I've mentioned before, November is crazy for us.  Mike spends A LOT of time hunting, and then, the holiday season begins. 
We celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday at my mom's house with her family.  There were far less people this year than there usually is, but still, they managed to be just as loud as normal ;)
Thursday was also the day that Mike finally came home!  The boys were so excited to see him.  Kayden and Tyler were napping when he got there, so I had him go wake Kayden up right away, and they were able to have some time together before we woke Tyler up.  It's nice to have him home again. 
Friday morning, Holli, Tammy, Amy and I headed to St. Cloud.  I picked Amy up at about 4:30, and we were at Shopko by 5:00.  We didn't necessarily find any amazing deals, but we all managed to buy a lot.  I'd call it a successful trip, since I did get quite a bit of my Christmas shopping done. 
Saturday, the kids and I spent the day at home while Mike worked, and then we met Mike and my mom in St. Augusta to cut down our Christmas tree.  We've always had a fake tree, but this year I really wanted a real one.  So, we ventured out and cut one down.  (I'll add pictures later). 
Sunday we had Thanksgiving with both sides of Mike's family. 
Today, I am home with the boys, because our daycare is closed.  This afternoon, I need to take ALL of them to the clinic.  Tyler has his 18 month appointment, Tyson is getting his 2nd flu shot, and Kayden and Tyson are having their ears re-checked.  Should be interesting ;)

Less than 1 week away!

BLACK FRIDAY!  I used to think those women who went shopping at 6:00, 5:00, even 4:00 a.m were absolutely crazy.  I still think they're crazy.  They only difference?  I've become one of them.  For the past two years, I have gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving with my two cousins and my brother's girlfriend.  We haven't gone super early, but this year, we're thinking about going earlier than we have in the past.  I have started to at least think about Christmas shopping, but I haven't bought much.  The main reason---I'm afraid I'll buy something, and then find it cheaper on Black Friday.  Dumb, I know.  Here are a few things I'll be looking for this year:

-Movies at Target.  They always have lots for $5 or even $3.  

-MobiGo games.  Kayden is getting a MobiGo from Pat and Leah (his godparents) for Christmas.  I believe the frappis(a word invented by Mike's uncle Baylen) comes with one game, but if I find them cheap, I'd like to get an extra one or two for Kayden's birthday in February.  

-One of these things.  Don't tell my husband.  He'll say it's dumb and pointless, but I want one.  You can fill it with those little balls, and it becomes a ball pit too.  My plan is to put it in the basement, and start sending some of the chaos and mess down there. 

-A DVD player for the in-laws. They still have just a VHS, and we're sick of having to bring a DVD player when we go there in order to be able to entertain the kids with movies.  

My list will grow in the next week, and I plan to head to St. Cloud on Wednesday (my day off) without kiddos to get a jump start on a few things.  

Happy Shopping! 

What? No coupons????

It seems like I never shop without coupons or gift cards these days.  I look forward to getting the Sunday paper so that I can check out what's on sale in the coming week.  Yes, I've become "that mom".  Side note---Don't worry mom, I haven't gotten as extreme as your good friend E.G. yet ;)  Last night I went to Target, knowing that diapers were on sale, and I'd get a free $5 gift card if I bought two boxes (my favorite kind of sale) and formula was also on sale.  Before I left the house, I failed to check my diaper supply to see what sizes I should get.  I have a stash of diapers in my basement in various sizes.  Some that Tyler and Tyson wear now, others that they'll grow into.  So, I decided to get a box of the next size up for Tyson and a size that Tyler is wearing now, because I figured, if I have too many of that size, I can just save them for Tyson.  So, I came home with two boxes of diapers, three extra large containers of formula, a Halloween bucket for Tyler's treats (since we only have one, and this year Tyler will need one), and a $5 Target gift card.  You would not believe how hard it was for me to go through the checkout and use no coupons.  Although, I did have a $5 gift card that I had gotten the last time I bought diapers ;)