Ahh, shopping

We went back to school and birthday present shopping today. At an actual mall. Like with stores and stuff. I think the last time I was at the mall was for Christmas shopping.

I kid you not.

And of course, we were shopping for anyone but me. The hubby even got socks. I got nada. We walked through a Barnes and Noble, but I wasn't allowed to stop to look. Beyond depressing, people. I apparently am so shopping-deprived, I was staring longingly at clothes. I hate trying on clothes. Scary things happen in department store dressing rooms.

But luckily, I had kid shopping to distract me.

My kids have enough generous hand-me-downs that I think I'll only need to buy socks, underwear and shoes between now and well, forever. But even I, who am not a shopper, cannot go without getting SOMETHING for the start of school. So they each got a few shirts and new pairs of pants. And bi-annual trip to Stride Rite that the total makes the hubby shake his head in disbelief every time.

What can I say? My little man has very wide, very flat feet. My princess has tiny, pudgy feet. Both have feet that did not grow. I repeat, have not grown since we got them shoes in April.

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

We survived a trip to Toys R Us too, with minimal whining and no bribery necessary. We found what we needed and got a few ideas for upcoming birthdays and Christmas. Luckily we hit there right before lunch, so when it came time to leave "empty-handed" (ie, without a present for him), Nathaniel was fine once we mentioned food.

See? They like to eat. I guess their feet just aren't getting any of it.


Still counting down to DMB@Wrigley. This song is an eloquent description of Matthew's homeland, South Africa. It holds even more meaning for me, since I have seen the pain and beauty of Cape Town with my own eyes.

"Cry Freedom"

Hands and feet are all alike
But gold between divide us
Hands and feet are all alike
But fear between divide us

Cry freedom, cry
From deep inside where
We are all confined
Till we wave our hands