My Real Life

Today we went to the mall.

I believe I’ve shared with you my distaste for shopping before. However, although I cut the boys hair, I don’t mess with Monkey Girl’s hair, and it was time for a cut. So, I made the appointment at the kids hair place at the mall, called my Mom and asked her to join us and off we went.

Even with the appointment, they weren’t ready for us when we arrived, so the kids played on the riding machines outside of the “salon.” We didn’t actually give them a dollar for them, but they had just as much fun as if they were moving.

Then, they were ready. Monkey Girl took her seat and let the work commence.

My feeling about her hair is that I let her make her own decisions regarding length. It’s just hair, it will grow back. As she gets older, if she wants to experiment with color, I’m cool with that, too. It’s a non-permanent way for a kid to express their individuality. With hair…anything goes.

Today, she decided to get it chopped off. She wants it short. I’d think to keep it long for the winter and short for the summer, but who am I to buck the logic of an 8-year old. She wants it short.

While she was in the chair, the boys were waiting just outside the door of the “salon” for Grandma, who ran to Macy’s to pick up something.

I think Baby Monkey was meditating.

But, I could be wrong. He could have also been begging the passersby for change. I hope it was meditation.

When it was done, I thought Monkey Girl looked adorable. She was thrilled. Even now, hours later, I keep forgetting about it until I see her and it keeps knocking me over again, how cute that girl is.

Next, we headed to the Hallmark store where my Mom wanted to pick up some thank-you cards.

The monkeys and I waited outside.

While we did, Monkey in the Middle entertained himself by playing a pretend football game. It was Rutgers vs. Utah, and Rutgers won.

Here he is after catching a particularly difficult touchdown pass.

Go Rutgers!

Then, we hit the food court where Grandma bought the monkeys some lunch. While they ate, I ran and used one of my Christmas gift cards.

When I came back, they were all done and we headed to the kiddie playground that this mall has.

The kids love this place. I have no idea why, but they really, really do.

Monkey Girl is starting to feel a little old for it, but she played for awhile before her newfound “maturity” got the better of her. I don’t want that to start already. I want her to be little and not caring about cool forever.

After the playground, we went to get the monkeys each a cookie at Mrs. Fields (which is the real reason the monkeys love the mall.) They sat with Grandma and ate their cookies, like happy little monkeys.

While standing there, watching them devour their sprinkle cookies, I looked up and noticed the name of a new food stand at the mall.

Seriously? Perhaps they should just have a stand that has a bunch of IV lines that simply sends the cholesterol and fat to peoples veins directly. I mean, seriously, just leave out the middle man!

 Again, I say, ick.

Finally, we went through Barnes and Noble, which is on the way out of the mall.

Ahhh…I love you Barnes and Noble. I truly, truly do.

The monkeys headed for the train table, while my Mom shopped.

I get my love of books from both of my parents. When I was a kid, about three or four nights a week, after dinner, we would get in the car and head to the local strip mall and browse a book store called “The Happy Booker.” We would each leave with at least one book each time, and sometimes more than one book each.

My family and book stores are like peaches and cream, peas and pods, milk and honey. We go perfectly together.

While the kids played and my mom shopped, I looked around the kids section and saw that the kids Christmas books were 50% off. So, I picked up 10.

Then, I saw two books in a series that Monkey Girl loves, but she doesn’t have these two yet, so I picked them up to put away for her birthday in February. I also found a cool scratch and sketch pad for Monkey Girl’s birthday.

When my Mom came back, she watched the monkeys at the trains and I bought the stuff using the rest of my Christmas gift card. Great deals, and no money out of my pocket. Gotta love that!

When I came back, my Mom headed to checkout and I started gathering the monkeys.

At this point, Monkey Girl was all mall-ed out.

On the way home, I ran into Target and returned something. So proud of myself that I fought the lure of the aisles on this trip. I went in, returned and walked out.

Then, my Mom stopped at Kohl’s to buy something, but luckily, she knew right what she wanted.

And, when we pulled into the driveway, Baby Monkey was fast asleep.

I picked him up, carried him through the 20 degree weather, laid him on my bed, didn’t even bother to take off his coat, and covered him with the Giants blanket. This was 3 hours ago.

This is what he looked like, as I typed this blog this afternoon:

Let’s face it…malls are exhausting.