I Have Questions

I spent a good portion of my day today at the mall with the biggest shoppers I know...
my sis & her girls.

My sister was the inspiration behind the term, 'Shop 'Til You Drop' & a quick run to the mall to them means hours of non-stop, hard-core, back-aching buying.

But today, it was me who was all business about the deals. My human leg-warmers weren't tagging along, so that meant no potty stops, no can't resist givings ins (& going to the mall "park"), & no wearing anyone out but myself.

And so, after a trip to the place that looked like Christmas Eve last minute shopping on speed, I have a few questions...

1. What the heck happened at Forever 21? Not only did they change their name, their logo, & their store sign... but what used to be a somewhat normal store, with some cute trendy & affordable clothes, is now ladies night.
Music so loud you couldn't hear the millions of cell phones ringing, girls EVERYWHERE, & a line from the register that resembled a ladies bathroom line found anywhere girls are.
I'm thinking a guy would be smart to stop in. Not only a smart move, but a sure outnumbered favor.

2. Whoever decided there needed to be escalators? Clearly the people shopping can walk... they're already walking around the mall. At what point did someone say, "that's enough exercise, let's get these shoppers a break" ?

3. Why did I blow perfectly good "Bear Cash", at Build-A-Bear, on 2 outfits that required less material than a scarf on Heidi's head? $24 would've hurt coming out of my wallet, had that bear cash not been there. Seriously tho, Build A Bear underwear? Really?!

4. The Hollister naked models. Put on some clothes boys, put on some clothes.

5. The solicitors. Should I really have to tell you no that I don't want to try some lotion? I would like to roll ALL the kiosks down Old Lemay Ferry. And watch them crash at the bottom. Remember when FOUNTAINS lined the center of the walkways of the malls? Not some lady wanting to rub lotion on my hands, in an accent I can't quite put my finger on.

6. Who in their right mind pays for a massage that a large population of people get to snicker at while walking by??
And besides,
icky.

7. Why is it that every trip to Victoria's Secret makes me feel like a 13-year old girl with an eating disorder?

8. Why is it okay for AE to put a display table out, donned with stacks of shirts. With a sign that says, "Shirts, $6.95". And all the shirts on this table ARE THE SAME, except for their color. And I grab a white one because, well, who can't use a cheap white undershirt? Except after my transaction, I look at my receipt & see that my shirt cost me $12. In confusion, I walk back to said table & see in MICROSCOPIC letters 'select styles'. But unsquinting my eyes, think to myself, 'they're all THE SAME style'.
And sadly grab a GRAY shirt to exchange for the WHITE one I purchased.
I like white, but not for $5.

9. Which bathroom, in the long line of stalls, is the germiest? And why hasn't 20/20 or Dateline done a swab test? Really, I tend to think the closest stall is probably the dirtiest & most visited.

So I always go to the last one.

Thoughts from the Backseat

Today, after a VERY long day, we were on our way home when my girl chirps from the backseat,

"Hey, you know Grammy has a trash can in her car."

"Wow, that's a really great idea."

"Yah, it hangs from the back of the seat."

Deep Thoughts by Flynn (volume I've lost count)

We were returning from our morning full of park, picnic, walgreens, post office, & bank & were taking the long way home when it was completely quiet.
Apparently too quiet for Flynn who seemed to want to strike up conversation.
Out of the clear quiet blue she says,
"Mom, what did you dream about last night?"

How Does She Know This Stuff?

During bedtime:

"Mom, since California is so far away, is it morning there?"

It's a Bug's Life

Flynn: "Mom, why did God create animals?"
Me: "To keep Adam company - he was bored."
Flynn: "Why did God make spiders?"
Me: "Well, I know that spiders kill some bugs....and if some of the bugs didn't die, we'd have too many; they'd be all over the place."
Flynn: "Mom, do you think Jesus ever killed a bug?"
Me: "Good question Flynn."

Deep Thoughts by Flynn, part 8

"Light Nap" = nap
"Dark Nap" = bedtime

It's ironic that she'd even acknowledge "light nap" considering she quit taking them a few weeks ago!

Deep Thoughts by Flynn, part 7

She was diligently searching for the magna doodle. She asked for a flashlight to look under the couch, but it wasn't there.
I figured it was downstairs, so I told her to go down & look there.
Just as I predicted, she got 1/2 day down the stairs & retreated back up. As she was making her way though the gate, I asked her, "Why are you not going to look for it?"
"I just don't want to."
I already knew the answer, "Are you scared to go down there alone?"
She confirmed it, "Yes."
"But, isn't God always with us?"
Then, with the wisdom of a wise 4-year old, "Just because God is with me doesn't mean I'm not scared."

Deep Thoughts By Flynn

Trying to convince us to get out the 'Sit & Spin', she said,

"Please get out that thing that goes round & round...I like to feel dizzy."

Deep Thoughts 6

Flynn: Mom, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Me: What would that be? (w/ a giggle because I can't believe she said that)

Flynn: That you should color with me.

Deep Thoughts 5

Flynn: Mommy, Remember last day (yesterday), when Grammy came over?

Mommy: Yes

Flynn: That was really fun.

Frozen Eggs

Yep, we nearly froze our eggs off, hunting eggs in 40 degrees.
But we hunted, nonetheless. Not once. Or twice. But three times.
So my kids are pros.

And there will be pictures to come. As soon as I surface myself from the pool of plastic eggs that my surroundings have become.
And those pictures will be cute. You can count on that.

But meanwhile, you can gush w/ me at what Flynn & her Daddy conversed about the other day...
"Flynn, why do we have Easter?"
"Because of Jesus. The bad people put nails in his hands and his head."
"That's right. Jesus died for us."
"But why?"
"Because He loves us."
"But why?"
"Because He wanted us to be in heaven forever."
"But why?"
"Because He's God's son & God wanted to give us a gift."
"But why?"
"Just because."

So, yesterday, Jeff wanted to turn the tables & started asking Flynn questions. She'd answer him & his response would be, "But why?"
She finally said to him, "that's too many questions."

Deep Thoughts 4

A few nights ago, Jeff was trying to talk Flynn into choosing the movie, CARS, to watch as they wound down for bedtime.

He told her, "It's got 'Mater', the tow-truck."
She said, "Yah, he's funny! He's got two teeth. Like Bubby."

Deep Thoughts 3

Flynn's really struggling w/ her asthma, which means red cheeks & heavy eyes (accentuating the lashes); which basically equals instant beauty.

She woke from her nap just now & loves to get up in my lap. I said, "Do you know you're beautiful?"

She said, "God made me beautiful."

Score one for the creator.

Deep Thoughts By FJ

Last night, we segregated... girls stayed home & the boys went to a PAT meeting, 'Out of the Box', where they crawled through & did lots of other fun things with boxes.
Since Flynn is such a social butterfly & prefers the fun to be had AWAY from home, I was sure to have an evening chalked full of activity for her here, including a grand tea party, complete with tea (lemonade) & biscotti (Scooby graham stix). We spread it out on the livingroom floor, something we normally can't do w/ Bubby home, invited her babies, and even had music.
After that, she used her brand new finger paints, used brand new markers, ate ice cream (soy) sandwiches & even some 'guckers' (gushers).
Despite all this fun, she still kept on eye on the door & was wondering 'where' Dad & Bubs went.
In they came after their outting, and Daddy filled us in on all the great fun they had.
Flynn says to me,
"Can I go there when I get little?"