It Was the Best of Times, it Was the Worst of Times

Yesterday I had the brilliant idea of doing some thrift shopping. Actually, it wasn't my idea. I was inspired by this blog here. I had just dropped Oakley off at gymnastics, so I thought it would be the perfect timing, seeing how I would only have 3 kids to deal will, instead of the usual 6. And where else would I start besides the DI? I know there are other places and probably much better places, but this lovely store is the closest to me and I only had 40 mins to spend perusing (including drive time).

Things started off great, which is obviously part of the "best of times" title. My first stop was the belts, where I found 3 awesome belts (and the cashier gave me each one for only fifty cents). But as soon as I put the belts in the cart things turned bad. The kids were fighting over the belts, climbing in and out of the cart, screaming, crying, getting into my purse, and teasing each other. The reason this is blog worthy is because my kids were uncontrollable. Usually I can somewhat control them while I am shopping but yesterday was HORRIBLE. I am sure every mom was wondering what I was doing being a mom. I just gave them the look of, "I agree with you all 100%."

Between Oliver's screaming/crying fits and time outs (I placed him on the wall at one point and walked away. I seriously considered leaving him there, but seeing how he isn't mine I didn't have the legal right to put a price tag on him and set him on display) and Paige's sudden urge that she might pee her pants, I had waisted most of my shopping time.

Right after taking the kids to the bathroom, which always ruins any shopping trip (I HATE public bathrooms with multiple little kids to keep from laying on the ground, touching anything and everything, helping them go, washing hands, and getting out of there without touching the door handle) a miracle of miracles happened. I was looking through the little girls section and there were 3 brown shorts, exactly the same size, and exactly the same brand/style. Seriously. Who finds double or even triple of anything at the DI? I then found 3 more skirts for my girls. The best loot I have ever found at this store.

Then the worst of the worst happened. By this time Oliver was in the basket of the car and Paige in the child's seat, and I had just got done getting mad at Morgan for climbing in the clothes rack and screaming. She decided to start climbing up the side of the cart, which made the cart begin to tip over sideways. This begins the slow motion-the cart tipping over, me trying to grab it, 2 others mom's running over, the cart hitting the ground, Oliver rolling out, Paige smacking her head on the rack, clothes going everywhere, kids screaming, and me standing there wondering what the heck just happened. If not everyone in the store thought I was incapable as a mother before they sure felt it after that.

And that was the end of it. I would have just left the cart tipped over and clothes all over the ground, but you remember the miracle right? I couldn't leave my 3 glorious shorts. So, with what little control I had left I picked everything and everyone up and made my way to the cashier.

I am really surprised family services wasn't called in.

And I had to get a pic of my great stuff all for only $15 (the corduroy skirt is H & M and the bright skirts are The Children's Place), just to remind myself that what I (and my kids) went through was somewhat worth it.