Feb. 11, 2008 - Valentine Baby
Induction date is set for this Friday, February 15. I am hoping and praying that we can go VBAC. The kids are so exctied that they can't stand it. All of their excitement makes me a bit nervous, but I am confident that God is in control.
Jan. 10, 2008 - Christmas Pictures
We got so busy this year that I didn't think we would be able to send out our Christmas picture to family and a few friends. I limit who we send our picture to just because I don't want to assume that people want another photo for their fridge.
I sent out cards, and got some complaints from friends at church. Where's their updated photo? They need a new one! I decided to buckle down and get it done. I take my own pictures, so at least I wouldn't have to drag all the kiddos to a studio. I got the pictures taken, and loaded onto my computer. Then I sent it in to be printed. That's when the ordeal really began.
The website said it had been shipped, but a week and a half later we still hadn’t received it. I was getting so frustrated! The day we got them in the mail I nearly started jumping up and down. I thought for sure they had been lost. I opened up the packaging only to discover that the top and bottom had been cut off. The kids names were left off, and the side said, “erry Christmas!” That day our furnace quit working, and I was more upset about the cards than I was our lack of heat.
I was exhausted that evening, but I really wanted to get the cards out, so I called Sam’s Club to see if they could fix it in the store. I hauled all four kids to Sam’s Club for a fun night!
When we arrived at Sam’s Club I started to get all of the kids unbuckled and out of the van. I reached into my purse to get out my Sam’s Club card. I had no wallet. It was unbelievable! Back into the van. Everyone buckled (which is not an easy task with winter coats!) Christmas traffic was terrible. It had taken us 45 minutes to get there, and it usually takes 20. We drove back home. I debated staying at home, but the snow was coming overnight and we really needed diapers and salt for the sidewalk and driveway.
At home I got my wallet and a meek dinner for the children. (Raisins, crackers, sliced turkey, and sliced cheese with water.) They all complained that this was a snack, not dinner! It would have to suffice. Back to Sam’s Club. Another 45 minutes. DS-1 is tired of sitting in a car seat. The other’s are tired of hearing him complain. Me too. I cranked up the Christmas music, and we all sang. We got to Sam’s Club safely, and everyone was happy to get out of the van to stretch our legs.
We looked at the Christmas decorations, but steered clear of the toy area. On to shopping. First the pictures. The man was willing to fix them. He tried and tried, but said the cards would have to be 5x7’s! I declined, and decided to “fix” the cards that I already had by cropping them with my handy paper cutter.
20 minutes later, we were on to get the sidewalk salt. Oh my! It’s a 50 pound bag! Our neighbor lady would need some on her driveway too. I heaved 2 bags into our cart. (“Mommy, you shouldn’t lift that! Daddy’s stronger than you are! Where’s Daddy? I miss him! Why do we need 2 bags???”) Phew! We were almost done.
The youth Christmas party is coming up. We’d need hot coco and cookies. First the cookies. (“Can we have some? Why are you getting that kind? Can we get some for us? I’m hungry! I have to go potty!”) Then the hot coco. You’d think it would be in the same aisle as the coffee. It’s not. Up and down the aisles. (“Can we go now? Can I ride in the cart? I’m hungry! I have to go potty!”) The hot coco is in the main aisle.
On to the bathroom. I’m so thankful that they have a family bathroom. In we go, cart and all. Everyone goes that said they had to go. Hands are washed, and I opened the door to leave. DS-5 waits until the door is open, and people waiting for the bathroom are standing by the door to pull down his pants. The cart gets stuck on the door as I try to push it back into the bathroom. He goes, and washes his hands. We head back out and I’m ready to apologize to the waiting mother and children. She’s gone. She gave up. I didn’t blame her.
Now back to the back of the warehouse again to get the diapers. I find the diapers and put them into the cart. (“Ouch!!!!!!!) There’s screaming, and people start looking. What’s wrong? (“You threw that big box on my leg, and it hurt!”) DS-3, I’m so sorry. I get disgusted looks from everyone nearby. One man stops to ask me if they are all mine. No. I kidnapped half of them on the way just for the fun of shopping with 4 children!
Mental run-through of my list to make sure we got everything. We did. Time to go home. We pay for our items. The salt was interesting because the lady checking us out was pregnant also, and the bar code was on the bottom side of the bag.
After we paid I pulled the cart to the side to get coats on everyone. Sleeves were inside out. DS-3 can do it all by himself! His coat ends up on him upside down. (“That’s how I wanted it!”) I guess he needed the hood to keep his bottom warm!?! Whatever!
DD-7 carries the receipts. I look at our cart and realize the pictures are gone! Gone!!! We looked all through the cart. We shook our coats. No pictures. Well, who would want our pictures? Back through the store. We traced every single step and aisle we had been to. We waited in line for the family bathroom. Not in there.
Back to the photo center. Wait in line. The woman being helped had around 25 envelopes of pictures, and she wanted to look at each picture before she paid. She didn’t stand to the side. She asked questions of the poor picture man about each envelope. (“I’m hot! Can we take off our coats? I’m tired. Can we go home?”) It’s our turn. No one turned in any pictures.
Next is the Customer Service counter. I really doubted at this point that we had a chance to find our pictures. Wait in line. Wait in line. It’s our turn. Has anyone turned in a cardboard envelope of pictures? No. But he’d look around on the counter. He came back with our envelope. Is this it? YES!!!!! (“Thank you, God!”) It’s good to hear my children’s voices praising God.
We wait in another line to have the lady make sure everything in our cart was on our receipt. She checks, and lets us leave. We walk outside to find the Salvation Army band playing beautiful Christmas music. The kids stood and listened. I only had a little change, so each child got to put some coins in the little red bucket. They finished playing and wished us a Merry Christmas. We returned a very loud, but very sincere "Merry Christmas!" to them.
As I got the kids buckled, and loaded our stuff into the van I realized how grateful I am for healthy children, money to afford the things we need, a van that holds all of us, and friends and family who will appreciate getting a picture of my little angels!
And I tell myself that next year I'll take the picture in November!
Dec. 7, 2007 - CBD Discount Code
| Code: |
251451AH |
|---|---|
| Discount: | 10% off purchase of $35 or more. Expires 12/16/2007. Offer good online or by phone. |
