The one in which I admit to shoplifting

I had to stop by the grocery store to pick up a few items. It has gotten near impossible to grocery shop with Ellie. She will not stay in the cart and I can no longer distract her with treats because she is adamant about holding the container herself and inevitably ends up spilling her goldfish all over aisle 7. So, I decided to give one of those fun looking shopping carts a try. You know, the ones at Kroger that have the little car in front. Ellie happily climbed into the little red car and up and down the aisles we raced. And by raced, I do mean raced. If I paused to do a little price comparison or to try to locate an item, she started whining and trying to climb out of the car. So, I started grabbing things off the shelves as I flew by. Since I was just getting a few things, most went in the little seat area where Ellie normally would have been except for the milk which was placed in the cart. When I was checking out, Ellie was throwing a fit and I was totally distracted. When I got to my car, I realized that the milk was still in the cart and I hadn't paid for it. Yep, I shoplifted milk from Krogers. I haven't shoplifted since I was four years old and I stole that pack of gum from the Piggly Wiggly. I could have waltzed back into the store and paid the $1.79 for the half gallon of milk, but I just couldn't deal with Ellie and the grocery store scene anymore. I just have to accept the fact that I am a no-good milk stealer.

Happy Birthday, Kolby!

Ellie attended Kolby's awesome truck-themed birthday party yesterday. Kolby is obsessed with trucks (and good thing, too, because he got a ton of them for his birthday). Sabrina had the place decorated so cute and had even gotten hardhats for all the kids. Ellie, of course, would not keep hers on.
But Daniel and Kolby happily wore theirs (I swear, Kolby really was happy about his hat).
The kids had a blast playing Pin the Wheel on the Truck. Even Ellie got in on the action.
Afterwards, the fam played a rousing game of croquet (which Tom and I bailed on because we are party poopers like that). Look at my goofy brothers in their matching outfits. They swear they didn't plan it. Sure guys, sure.

Last Year vs. This Year

Last year at Kolby's birthday party...

This year at Kolby's birthday party

"Hiiii doggies!"

Things are looking up

Ellie is doing much better today! She is fever and spot free. It looks like she will be well enough to attend Kolby's birthday party tomorrow (knock on wood). And I had a good day at school, too. I brought home a mountain of papers to grade and a huge stack of materials to plan out my lessons for next week (I have THREE preps), but it is the weekend and I have all the time in the world, right? Right!

A Happier Ragamuffin