Lowes and Texas Roadhouse

The last two days sure were eventful and fun, but boy am I exhausted. It has been HOT here in North Carolina as well. It was looking to be so beautiful that I decided it was finally warm enough to go buy some flowers at Lowes and made my front yard look pretty. When we moved into our house there was a lovely completely empty flower bed just waiting for some colorful flowers. Up until now, it was just full of fresh mulch. Thanks landscapers!

I was so excited to pack up the kids and head to Lowes. C was super excited as well as she loves flowers and associates them with my mom (Omi) who works at a plant nursery. I think she thinks all flowers are somehow related to Omi! Anyway, all was going well until I pulled into the parking lot and realized that I had no idea how I was going to carry D, who can't sit up unassisted yet, and my purse and somehow still have access to the entire cart to load up with plants. Typically, everywhere we go I leave D in his car seat and set it in the back of the shopping cart. Unfortunately, this method leaves very little room for plants, so I needed a plan B. Well, I remembered I had my baby Bjorn front carrier in the car. I had not used it in months but figured it was my only way to attempt this. So, in the parking lot I had to readjust the size since D is much large than he was last time I used it. I was just praying he wasn't going to hate being in the thing. Miraculously, I got it all adjusted and D seemed to really enjoy facing out and hanging on me like a baby kangaroo! Yay! 

I happily trotted into Lowes, and found a cart. C was being wonderful staying right by me as we navigated the outdoor nursery...and little D kept putting his hands on the shopping cart handle, haha, so funny! It looked like he was pushing (maybe this is only funny to me). Anyway, this trip was looking pretty good until I found the large flat of flowers I wanted and realized I couldn't pick it up around the 18 pound child dangling from my chest! I couldn't get my arms around him and still pick up the flowers. Where were the helpful employees we see on the commercials?? Nowhere to be found! Or a passerby....anyone?? So, Me and little D just did the best we could. He got a face full of pink flowers and we quickly tossed them in the cart. The next two pots I got were not a problem after that fiasco. But then....we needed soil!!! The bags may as well have been 100lb bags. How was I going to lift the big (heavy) bag of soil into my cart? Now, I must say that twice while I was there people commented to me, "you've got your hands full!" And I nodded happily as if it were a piece of cake (why don't we let our true frustrations show?). So, I was very irritated when nobody "noticed" me and my dilemma in the soil section about 20 feet from the register. Oh well, I had to settle for 2 small bags of soil because I could lift them and only partially squish my son. 

So, after paying and getting everything loaded into the car, we headed home. I absolutely hate planting flowers but I love having them to take care of and enjoy. So, C and I planted them out front and they look fantastic! What a day!

I have to share this one more thing because it was hilarious. That evening I decided to take the kids out to Texas Roadhouse. It is C's favorite place because she LOVES their bread and cinnamon butter. She knows exactly what she wants when we go and actually orders her meal by herself every time..."chocolate milk, macaroni and cheese and applesauce." We go there about once a week, so she is pretty used to this.  And, we are starting to get to know a couple of the waitresses! So, this particular evening, C was interested in the waitresses "dancing" in the center of the restaurant. (Every once in a while the servers do a line dance to one of the songs...not often though, maybe once every hour and half or so) C even asked our waitress if they were going to dance. She said she thought they probably were going to soon. C was excited but as soon as the waitress cam back again, C asked again. Our poor waitress didn't know how to explain "about 10 minutes" to a 3 year old! So, she asked C if she would like to dance with them when they danced. My little C smiled this huge smile and was so excited! All she could talk about the rest of dinner was "dancing with then...when we gonna dance?....we dance now?" Longest 20 minutes ever!! FINALLY the song came on and all the servers lined up. One of the waitresses came up and got C and off she went down to the floor. She stood right in the middle of their line and danced her heart out with the "dance teachers" (as she later called them). It was so funny and I was so proud of her. She is not afraid of much. I am proud of her independence and self confidence. She is going to be quite a woman one day - and will probably wait tables at Texas Roadhouse when she is in college!