grocery shopping

The grocery store is one of those places that has become so much harder with kids. Journey with me if you will...

We arrive at the store and thanks to my lucky charm, find a great parking spot (I almost always find a close spot since ladybug came along). First I unbuckle Butterfly and help her out of the car. Holding hands, we go to Ladybug's side of the car. First we have to put her shoes back on (refuses to leave them on in the car) before unbuckling her and wrestling her into her jacket. Carrying Ladybug and holding Butterfly's hand, we maneuver around the puddles and ice to get into the store where Butterfly immediately spots and races for a "car cart". I clean the cart and buckle a resistant Ladybug in and then argue with Butterfly about whether she gets to ride in the car or push the cart. (ironic, I know. She insists on the car cart but really would rather push). We compromise that she will sit in the car but doesn't have to wear her seatbelt if she will stay sitting.

Boxed stuff first, produce and cold stuff last, we make our way around the store. After her third escape, I have to buckle Butterfly into the car. But from her seat, she can still spot and beg for the much-desired sweets and treats. But I'm an experienced shopper and have learned to A.) use a grocery list and B.) distract her when needed. We usually see at least one friend from the neighborhood or from church and that's usually when I make the mistake of letting Butterfly out of her buckle.

Anyway, we shop, try to keep it under an hour and arrive at the check out stand. So far, the trip really is fun. I show things to the girls, talk to them, point things out for them to look at. But I kind of dread the check out stand. Ladybug is bored and mad by now, straining to get out of her seat and usually grabs at a magazine or two. Butterfly, once again buckled into her seat, realizes that the candy aisle is perfectly within her reach and that I am distracted by putting grocery onto the conveyor belt. She become very quiet while she carefully picks out her treat (I usually catch her before it's fully opened). I'm trying to pay attention to the prices as the cashier rings them up but really I'm just trying to keep my little tornadoes from wrecking too much havoc in the narrow aisle. Once the grocery are on the counter, we can move the cart forward and the girls are suddenly in view of the cashier. They magically turn into angels again and the cashiers can't resist. "oh how beautiful! how old are they?" and "look at that hair! is that curl really natural?" the girls smile and show off and are usually rewarded with a roll of smarties from the cashier.

With our cart loaded up, Butterfly munching on her candy and Ladybug waving the receipt, we journey out to the car. More buckling, shuffling groceries and a quick ride home where I will soon find the box of striped EL Fudge cookies that managed to stowaway home with me. I'm not really sure at what point she managed to get them into the cart. Or how I managed to pay for them without realizing it, but she has done it three times now. sneaky girl.