I really solidly enjoyed today. I am trying really hard to make the best of these early mornings, and running a peaceful day. Its not always especially successful, and potty training has added its own special challenge, but I think we’re succeeding in a few aspects that I’ve very happy with.
This morning, Dekker had stayed nice and dry again. Yay! He and Laela had a really adorable breakfast together, where Dekker constantly told his sister how sweet she was, and he teased her into taking bites when she was getting bored of being in her chair. They did great. After breakfast, they played while we waited for my mom to arrive. They have missed her SO MUCH the last little while!! Its so funny. We’re never this busy, but now, it always seems that the times I’m free, she is busy, or gone, or both. So today, we spent a good few hours just visiting, reading books, celebrating potty successes (lots of them!) and eating lunch together. It was so lovely to finally just be in each others company again without any reason other than just wanting to be together. She’s a special lady.
Shortly after she left, Brady arrived home and we took the kids to the city for the evening. I had carefully put together a LONG list of places we needed to go and what we needed to get. Lots and lots of places!! Luckily, our kids love those days 🙂 It was Dekker’s second outing since potty training, and the first that wasn’t to a friends house, so we were curious to see how it would go. We did Costco without anything crazy happening, and I picked up a mug I had ordered from Indigo. We ducked into Carter but they didn’t have what I was looking for. It was when we stopped at the mall to go to several stores that Dekker decided he had to pee. THANKFULLYYY!!!, they had a family bathroom and it had one of those teeny tiny little toilets!! Dekker was right on board with that, and peed twice while we were at the mall. We had a successful shop there, and we had supper in the food court. Laela had a crazy sauce meltdown on the way out of the mall, but otherwise, it was pretty delightful!
I stopped by a friends house to do a little makeup swap, and upon opening her mailbox to make the switch, I found a whole little treat bag made up for me, with extra products I wasn’t expecting!! It was so sweet, and its all RIGHT up my alley!! Thank you, Steph!! I’m so thrilled to have new products to play with 😀
We did Superstore last, which is always the big ticket item for the kids, because of the cookie in the end. However, poor Laela was struggling SO HARD. Brady said he would just take her and Ro to the van and I could finish the shop with Dekker. I actually tried to switch him out, since he often ends up in the van with the kids while I run in places, but he insisted. So I let him, and I got some very special one on one time with Dekker. Best of all, Dekker seemed so happy to have that time with me too! He was pleasant and engaging, and just talked with me the entire time. We had fun, and no whining or fussing AT ALL. He earned his cookie at the end easily, and asked with his manners, without missing a beat. He even made conversation with the cashier. He was feeling good.
We ran down the ramp leaving Superstore and went back to the van. We made our way home from there, and everyone is tucked away now. It was a FABULOUS evening in the city. Despite Laela being done a little bit sooner than was ideal, I could tell that everyone really enjoyed their time. It was nice to go as a family, too. Its easier, yes, but its so much nicer. I know I have people in our lives that are willing to take the kids so we can shop alone, and its a lovely offer! But I’m very proud of my family, and I like taking them with me!!! Call me crazy, but shopping with three is lovely, and feels much more normal to me than two ever did.
This is good. Today was good.