Truly Blessed

Ever wonder what a typical day is like for a single mom?

Here's just a little sliver of one of the evenings I happened to be taking the girls shoe shopping. I'll slowly reveal it to you in bite-sized pieces. On this particular day, the evening started off like this:

1. Pumping gas (ugh, I HATE this chore), turn radio on for girls to listen to Princess CD. Jump back into the car, put car in gear, realize that it's not actually on, put back in Park. Try to start...nothing. Weird car issue which resulted in having my battery die. Fortunately, kind passerby offers to jump the car. Back on the road in 15.

2. Evening traffic on East bound route...huh?? 2.5 yo growing ever so restless in her carseat. Quieted possible outbreak with a pack of craisins from the bottom of the diaper bag. Arrive to mall much later than anticipated.

3. Arrive at mall to only find that I have 1 (yes, 1) pull up and the pack of wipes are frozen into a solid brick - no joke (they were in the car overnight). Say quick prayer for short trip. Load up stroller, enter mall looking like a small Gypsy caravan.

4. Trip to the mall for shoes (the girls, not me - unfortunately) ;)

5. Already frustrated that girls sizes aren't available. (Gggrrr) Only shoes left that fit my oldest are the Juicy Couture. No thank you, not spending $90 for ballerina flats...THAT she hates.

**asked if she needed a potty break.

6. My two year old finds a pair of rainboots. Yeah! They fit. (but we are shopping for shoes not boots)

7. Total melt down when Hello Kitty boots are removed, followed by immediate purchase of HK boots.

**asked if she needs a potty break.

8. Shoe shopping at Nordstrom took much longer than anticipated then add in 2.5 yo 5 minute meltdown puts us promptly into dinner time.

9. Off to Chickfila for quick meal (no time for Cheesecake Factory or Benihana with looming bedtime)

**asked if she needs a potty break.

10. Score 1 for Mom! Make your own valentine station with glitter galore and the Chickfila cow makes a debut.

11. Take girls to bathroom, place screaming toddler on potty, score! Houston we have a peepee!!

12. Desanitize entire family unit...off to try another shoe department again.

13. Score 2 for Mom! Cute patent leather flats with "sassy buckle" (her words not mine) and happy smiles for "big girl shoes".

14. As promised, play time in crazy play area in mall. (dreading the 2.5 yo departure)

15. 5 minute warning, followed by 2 minute warning, coral girls, shoes on, balloons in hand, turn focus toward new HK boots...no screams, no tears...piece a cake! Score 3 for Mom!

16. My oldest is holding hands with her baby sister as she walks next to the stroller, sharing her new Webkinz cat "Mouser" (name courtesy of Laurien!). Deep sigh...aaaaaahhhh, these are the moments, right?

And it ended like this:

Leaving Nordstrom's as Ray Lamontagne's "You are the Best Thing" is pumped throughout the store...baby girl is softly dozing off in the stroller, my daughter and I are walking hand in hand and she looks up at me and says, "Mommy, this is your favorite song isn't it?" to which I reply, "Yep, don't you like it, too?" She replies, "Yeah, it's my fav too." We groove together in the aisle as we put our coats and hats on, then she looks at me and says, "YOU're the best thing, Momma." To which I replied, "No Sweet Pea, YOU're the best thing."

Totally melts my heart, makes me weepy, and soooooo thankful God gave me 2 positively precious baby girls.

I am truly blessed.

Aaaaannnnnd...they're off!

Today's Picks: "The favorite for today is Mind that Mommy at 6-1, and the long shot Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners (7-1). But everyone is talking about the newcomer Pink Filly. "

And they are lining up at the posts...

Alarm clock: Beep Beep Beeeeeep. 6:15...the gates open..."Aaaaand they're off!"

"It's Mind that Mommy off to a strong start, pulling away from the pack with 3 healthy breakfasts while doling out morning snugs and kisses, 3 beds made, 2 dogs fed, scratches and walked, 1 round of StarWars Legos..."

"Pink Filly starts to make a move on the inside as Mind that Mommy has trouble with the bean grinder..." 1 pot of coffee, 1 cup of pink tea (guess who that's for?!), 1 load of dishes,

"And at the break it's Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners and Pink Filly, but here comes Mind that Mommy..." 3 coordinating outfits and 3 pair of shoes (may seem like a no brainer to you...but hello...we are girls. Do you know how many clothes we have to choose from? And shoes?? They are only 3 and 6 but they have a sepearate closet just for shoes!),  3 hair styles, 

" Pink Filly is really giving Mind that Mommy a run for her money, Folks!"

1 load of laundry, 3 sets of teeth brushed and flossed, "The Pink Filly is in a dead heat with last year's winner."

1 baby doll dressed in coordinating outfit, 1 pink poodle (aka. Pinky Frenchy) leashed and in her posh puppy bed, 2 lunches packed (crust trimmed sandwich and quartered into perfect squares, canteloupe specifically cut into perfect squares, wheat thins upon request...because well, they are perfect squares - can you guess what the new shape of the week is at school?!),

"And down the stretch they come!" 2 backpacks ready and waiting by the door, extra outfit and panties for school (had to repack backpack because she noticed the extra panties did not -indeed- match the outfit...who's child is this?), "Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners is all acey deucey with lacing her Nikes at the front door..."

"Now it's Mind that Mommy out in front!!! Send out a search party for the rest of the field!! This old Mare has it by a long shot!" 1 gym bag packed with after work run essentials, car unlocked..."Coming down the back stretch now it's Pink Filly out in front, no it's Mind that Mommy "And here comes the Closer "Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners" to steal the lead! Folks...it's going to be a photo finish!"