Evening shopping with boys

Back in early November:  out of sheer desperation, we attempted an evening shopping trip AFTER Josh got home from work, and BEFORE dinner.  "Stupid," you are thinking, I know, but let me explain....
1.  We live in a hotel, and after a few days of bad weather that kept us cooped up inside the room, the boys and I were starting to go a little crazy.
2.  Henry told me that his heel hurt.  Upon inspection, I noticed a blister from shoes that were WAY too small.  Poor kid, but seriously, I think we had just bought him those shoes.  I have to quit feeding these kids:)
3.  #2 inspired me to inspect the other two boys' shoes.  Yup, too small. We do have a shoe bin full of various sizes and styles, but unfortunately, it is in storage and inaccessible for another 6 weeks(at the time).
4.  The rest of our week did not allow for shopping, but did require shoes for the boys.

So, out we went to the outlet mall excited to get out, and I was super excited for new shoes, even if they weren't for me:)  Nothing around here is within a convenient location, so 30 minutes later, we arrived at the mall.  For some unknown reason, William was furious at the idea of having his feet measured and trying on shoes, so he screamed and wrestled us through the process and for the duration of our outing.  The other two boys were so excited about their new "very fast" shoes, they ran, and ran, and ran around the store like a bunch of track stars.  We had no control over our children.

We justified another store stop to find William a new sweatshirt.  I left Josh behind to pay at the shoe store with a screaming 2 year old, and took my track stars to the next store down the sidewalk.  As I am desperately looking for the correct sized sweatshirt for Will, I hear him coming (still screaming) and I ignore Josh and Will like they don't belong to me.  Henry is next to me observing one of the store workers assembling a new shelf to display winter hats, gloves and scarves.  Sean is next to me jumping, "Okay, they are fine, "I think to myself.  Next thing I know, the worker has finished her task, and Henry, oh, so curious Henry, immediately disassembles the shelf, hats, scarves and gloves to tumbling all over.  "Don't worry Mom, I know how to do this" he reassures me.  I look away from this huge mess, to get a visual on Sean.  I don't see him at first, and then his head pops up from within a clothing rack that he has climbed- on top of.  As quickly as I can, I clean our mess, and bury my head as I grab my boys and officialyl declare our shopping trip over.  I join Josh, who left the store shortly after he arrived, and interrupt his wrestling match with William to inform him that we are done.

Once again, shopping, or going out in public period, is only a good idea with well-rested, well-fed and well-exercised boys, no matter how desperate the situation.  Lesson learned, again.  This shopping trip pretty much sums up the boys...
Henry- always figuring out how things work, and how to assemble/disassemble things (that is why the boy LOVES legos and such toys)
Sean- sees the world as some sort of physical sport or challenge to either win, climb or defeat
William- he has a mind of his own, and isn't shy about enforcing his opinion on all those around

Maybe nobody noticed that I am pregnant on top of the three monkeys we already have.  If anyone would have asked, I would have denied it, and claimed obesity (sorry babies).

Now for some success...
Henry is the proud new owner of his first pair of tie up shoes.  He was very eager to master the task of tying shoes, and after a quick lesson, he is an old pro.  This new skill has another benefit...tying my own shoes has become quite a task, and on the more uncomfortable days, Henry is happy to assist me and tie my shoes.  What a sweet boy.

William has also learned a new skill....potty training!  With the upcoming arrival of our twins, we felt the urgency to eliminate some diaper use in our home!  Back in mid November on a particular Saturday, the two older boys and I headed to a friends house for a few hours, while Josh (my hero) stayed back to train William.  Here is our big boy in training...

A few weeks later, and he is still using the bathroom like a champ.  Will had never eliminated on the toilet before "training day" and so after Josh set him on the toilet, he stepped out of the bathroom for a moment to hear Will exclaim, "Its WORKING"!!  Yes, son, it does work!  He continues to declare this every successful bathroom trip since....except, somehow he has developed a German accent, so it sounds more like, "ess voorking".  I really have to stop calling him Wilhelm...