Adventures in Babysitting

Mom got off work early and called and I think she was a little worried Gaines was not going to survive the afternoon so she offered to come and get the boys. Here is her story...

Nonni picked up the boy’s as promised this week to go and shop at Target for our Easter Egg contest.  This trip was to purchase candy to fill the eggs, and hope to get the boy’s to fill them before Sunday.  Anyway, this started out as a pleasant and enjoyable trip and before it was over it turned into something like this:

“Nonni’s Boys Gone Wild @ Target”

First we pull up to Target and they immediately asked if they could walk.  Nonni, being the smart Grandmother she is…said, “No, let’s use the cart so I don’t have to lift with my hurt arm.”  Little did I know they had already picked out the large train of a cart where you sit in front of the HUGE cart.  I’m sure I bruised everyone in the store before we left in an hour, which seemed to last 4.  But Gaines kept saying, “THIS IS SO MUCH FUN, NONNI!”

First stop was STARBUCKS, what child knows about that place at age 4 and 2 ½.  We pick up our usual Lemon Loaf and no they get their own slice, as Gaines informs me.  There is no sharing here…... Again, “THIS IS SO MUCH FUN, NONNI!”  As, Will is scoping out the room.

And the adventure begins, off to the candy isle.  Will stops and looks at Batman DVDs, and wants them.  We move right along to the candy isle, and since I couldn’t maneuver the cart very well at all.  I gave in and let them out (BIG MISTAKE)  and don’t tell their Mommy.  They unbuckled their seatbelts and took off down the aisle and started throwing bags of candy into the cart (that was parked at the end of the row).  So, by the time I went to check out what they had in their hands…it was way too late!  Within 5 minutes, my head was in a tailspin and my cart was full.  Now for negotiating time on what to keep.  I thought, “well, that went over well!” 

Gaines and Will take off to the Easter section and started throwing more candy with egg shapes into the basket, now the basket is getting tired and I don’t know what the heck I’m doing.  In the meantime, everyone that comes by Gaines reminds that the cart is like a “BIG OLD TRAIN”.  I guess he was tired of hearing me complain about the train I’m having to push around.   Nonni thinks she has a great idea, “Boy’s, pick out a basket that you can keep at Nonni’s!”  Off they went, Gaines decided he wanted this UGLY old treasure chest that will not hold anything for Easter and Will wanted Batman.  I tried to talk Gaines out of it, but that wasn’t going to happen.  Needless to say, I had to purchase the 10.00 treasure chest before the negotiations were over.  Another bright idea as we move onto the toy section.

Nonni, can we get a toy?  You can pick out one toy to go in your Easter basket, and you will get it on Sunday after church and not before then.  Okay, Nonni…I love you, Nonni!  SUCKER!!!!!  We started with fishing poles, tool chest, balls, metal baseball bat and helmet and we ended up with a football player for Will and a Jake the Never land treasure chest, that they just had to have.  I’m sure it was 500.00.  Back into the overfilled cart that I was going to have to unload without them seeing me.  That was a success, but before we left I was 70.00 poorer, if you include STARBUCKS for toddlers.

Now, Gaines said, “THIS IS SO MUCH FUN, NONNI!”  And, he tells the cashier we are shopping with our grandmother for Easter and he said, a the cashier said alot of grandmother’s shopping today for their grandchildren. Gaines say’s; “ We get a toy for our basket, and get it on EASTER!!!!”   Famous last words.  Just like his Mommy, full of it!!!!!  Will is taking it all in and he’s not leaving without his football man in hand.  Negotiations once again, I won…but not without a few tears.  Okay, we’re off to the car.  Hold hands, and let Nonni lead.  All I heard to the car, was Will telling Gaines, “hold hands Gaines!” 

In the car, Will is crying because Gaines is in his seat.  Negotiation once again.  And, I remember Grant and Christy fighting over the front and back seat.

Gaines has already asked if we could eat at Taco Bell, and can we go inside too?  Well, Poppy called and he is going to meet us…they we’re excited about that and will couldn’t wait.  They had a great time running free in Taco Bell, I don’t think Mommy and Daddy allow them to get their own straw, eat cinnamon sticks before the taco.  And, to open the door for people coming in.  And, throwing trash in the nasty trash can.  They we’re in heaven……..

Off to Mom’s, and here we go!  Can we hold our gifts Nonni?  I said, that get’s me in trouble everytime. No, we just want to hold.  All I can say is they left the car with their Easter toy’s and basically ran in the house so I wouldn’t get them.  Next I know they are telling me Happy Easter Nonni!  And, Will basically looked at me and held his football player and went “Nana, Nana, Boo Boo!  Gaines suggested we try my idea next year.  I later receive a picture with them and their new toys, that they didn’t wait for Easter. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Love those boy’s!