Yesterday the kids and I went to the big city. We were gone about 9 hours and only got a few of our errands done, but I loved it. I couldn't find my cell phone, so I borrowed Mitch's. Of utmost importance was buying Jack some shoes. His feet had grown 2 sizes, and I was feeling like a crummy mom, but when I told him the order of our business, he balked. "I'm going to pick the first pair I see. I hate shopping for shoes!" 2 hours and 5 stores later, Mr. Picky finally found a pair he could live with, which were not on sale, of course, but by then I would have traded one of the twins for a pair of shoes he liked. At one point, while the three youngest were playing hide-and-seek under the shoe racks, Grace glimpsed herself in one of those little shoe mirrors. Earlier that morning, she had brought me about 6 hair things and gave me instructions on how to do her hair. After she saw it in the mirror, in the middle of a very crowded store, she shrieked, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HAIR! I DIDN'T WANT THE FLOWER BARRETTES ON THE TOP!!!!! IT LOOKS TERRIBLE!!!!" She carried on and on. Sure Jack, you can get those expensive shoes. Let's. Just. Get. Out. Of. Here.

When we got back in the car I got a call from Mitch.

"Hi honey, the Coupeville Liquor store called. They found your cell phone."

We had a much-too-brief visit with the Gesingers and Grace admired Jessica's new Snow White hair-do. Thankfully there were no misplaced barrettes in it. Picked up Hunter and headed to a Gano birthday party at Pump It Up where the kids and I bounced for a couple hours. It was a blast, but I had taken pain killers for a headache, and forgot about my pulled muscle. Couldn't move when I woke up today. We brought Hunter back home, driving by our old house. "What a dump!" said the ever-charming H. Went to Costco, which wasn't too bad for some reason. I think I was just so happy to be around lots of people. We were the last car on the ferry and the ride home was very peaceful. Just as we were coming up our driveway, though:

"Mom?"

"Yes, J?"

"These shoes aren't very comfortable."