Common Mom

Yesterday as the kids got ready for school, I heard myself say “go choose a pair of shoes, we’ve got to get going!” It made me think . . . when I was 4, I remember having one pair of shoes for school - my “school shoes” that I’d gotten in September that should last me the entire school year - there was no “choosing” which pair to wear on any given day. Sure, in the summer I got a pair of flip flops and in the winter I got boots . . . but not until I was 8 did I have a 2nd pair of shoes to choose from - my coveted clogs! But I digress.

Anyway, back to my kids. As I was telling my daughter to choose a pair of shoes, she put on her flip flops. I told her that was probably not a good idea since they were going on their field trip to the nature center today and the hike would be much better in tennies. She came back down with her pink and purple Sketchers (I love those shoes!), but I told her that maybe she should choose shoes without ties so the teacher didn’t have to tie her shoes all day (we’re not quite down with the tying shoes yet - but she’s close!). As she headed back upstairs one more time, I heard her say “can I wear my crocs?” I said no, she should wear socks and tennies, but tennies without ties. We had a great game of “bring me a rock” going on! She finally came down with her pink Sketchers (yes, the pink ones are different than the pink and purple ones) with the Velcro strap and we were good to go. After dropping them off at school, I headed out to run errands. You see, I had to buy Keira and Jason shoes . . . yes, I did just say that . . . I had to buy them shoes . . . more shoes. But these shoes had a purpose! They were soccer cleats . . . cuz we all KNOW that a 7 year old and 4 year old absolutely MUST have soccer cleats. Sheesh . . . who AM I? I’ll tell you who I am . . . I’m a freak who loves shoes, especially shoes ON SALE! Most of my shoes are either hiking shoes or some other type of athletic shoe, but I will admit that I have quite a few pair to choose from on any given day.

So I head to Target and Wal-Mart - no soccer shoes. In fact, neither of those stores really had ANY shoes! Really - I’m not kidding - the shelves were bare in the kid shoe section. They must be clearing out to get in their new stock of “school shoes” for all those crazed shoppers that will be out buying school supplies, school shoes, and school clothes next week!

Off to Famous Footwear. YES - soccer shoes! But only for Jason - they didn’t have any in Keira’s size. It was buy one get one half off day (week, month, year) at Famous Footwear, so I of course mosied on over to the clearance racks - I mean, you can’t ever leave a store without looking at the clearance rack, can you? And ESPECIALLY not at a shoe store - the horror! And there staring at me were the cutest pair of little girl tennies - white with pink hearts (I do not like pink - Keira loves pink) that light up. And they were only $10 - take half off of that and it’s a pair of shoes for $5. Who can resist that? Not me! So Keira got yet one more pair of shoes. As I was leaving the store, I heard a little boy say to his mother “I’m NOT getting those shoes!” Mom - “But they’re just like the ones you want, but a different brand.” Kid - “But THOSE shoes don’t come with a flashlight!” I gave a little chuckle cuz I’m sure the 5 year old wouldn’t be outside in the dark alone with his new shoes and just HAVE to have that flashlight. But moving on . . .

Then I was off to the mall in search of Jason’s “spring shoes” for this birthday gift - he wants some of those shoes like the Nike Shox . . . but there is no way I’m spending that much money on shoes for a 7 year old! So he ended up with some Sketchers that look like the Nike Shox (really, I love Sketchers for the kids - they hold up way better than any other brand I’ve tried!). And lucky lucky lucky me . . . what was on the clearance rack? Soccer shoes in just Keira’s size - for half off - woo hoo!

So, I went home with 4 pair of shoes for my two little kids who certainly did not need new shoes. Do they have some kind of group for moms like me? Shoes Anonymous or something?

It’s Toos Day

It’s Too Hot Outside

Which means It’s Too Cold inside the office

I’ve got Too Much work to do at work this week

The kids and I had Too Much Fun last weekend

As a result we spent Too Much Money on gas

Jason is Too Excited for his birthday party, which is still 2 weeks away

I have Too Much stuff to get for Jason’s birthday party, which is only 2 weeks away 

Keira is having Too Much Fun at school to take a nap during the day

Which means she’s Too Tired in the evening to make good choices

As a result I’ve got Too Many of Keira’s things in Toy Jail

Dan has been gone Too Long

I’m Too Tired to think of anything worth writing

Have a good Tuesday!

I guess we’re on a recall kick! I saw this on the news over the weekend . . . a dad was sifting (literally) through some Gerber Organic baby food (rice, etc.) and found some large chunks in it. The chunks did not disolve in the water as the rest of the boxed food did. HUGE choking hazard for the babies!

Here are some links for more information:

Gerber Food Recall #1

Gerber Food Recall #2 - this is the Gerber Web site. There’s a teeny tiny red hyperlink at the top that opens a teeny tiny press release from them.

Also, if you haven’t already read about it, go here to check out the Thomas the Tank Engine Wooden Railway System recall.

And finally, check out this Parent Center article on lead poisoning in children and ways to prevent it. Lead poisoning seems like it was an issue so long ago, but obviously there are still hazards out there. I know I know . . . there are hazards everywhere . . . but it never hurts to be informed!

What was the number one song on the day you were born? Go here to find out! And please share

Mine was Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me by Mac Davis! I knew every other song on the list for my birth date in the 70s, but not that one!

I don’t know about you, buy my kids love the Thomas The Tank Engine wooden train sets. We have a whole crate full of the stuff - and we love them, too - something we can do together and have fun building.

Check out the RECALL ON THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE WOODEN TRAIN SETS. Apparently, some of the paint used on the wooden toys contains lead - not good! Not all components are being recalled, so check the list carefully. The link contains information on how to return the unsafe items.

Keira’s preschool teacher is on vacation for a couple of weeks. We got to school a bit early yesterday because I had to get to work for a meeting, so I didn’t get to see who her substitute teacher was. I also got to school a bit later to pick them up, so I didn’t see her after school, either.

When we got home, I asked Keira what her teacher’s name was. Her response almost left me rolling on the floor!

“I don’t know what her name was. But she had long hair in a beautiful pony tail on top of her head. She had on a pretty purple shirt with sparkly pink hearts and flowers on it and a beautiful skirt. She wore blue shoes . . . shoes that covered her toes, but not her heels . . . kind of like flip flop shoes. But I don’t know what her name was.”

OMG!!! I fear that I am raising the next Joan or Melissa!!!

I’ve been tagged by Melanie to participate in the My Four Favorites meme.

Four Jobs I’ve Held

• Bean Walker (any one who is over 30 and from the Midwest knows that I’m talking about!)
• Bar Tender
• Typist at Carlson Craft (invitation printer)
• Technical Writer

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again

• A Christmas Story 
• Mystery, Alaska 
• 40 Year Old Virgin
• Ice Age 

Four Places I’ve Lived

• In an apartment in Minnesota 
• In a camper every summer
• In an apartment in Colorado 
• In a house in Colorado

Four TV Shows I Watch (I don’t watch much TV - hmmmmmm)

• The King of Queens 
• The local morning news 
• Army Wives (thanks to Taunya for TiVoing this for me!) 
• 24 - but I watch it on DVD after the season is over - does that count?

Four Places I’ve Been on Vacation

• Hawaii 
• Vermont 
• Puerto Rico 
• Eastern Caribbean

Four Favorite Foods (Really? I can only choose 4?)

• Dan’s Grilled Salmon 
• Tootsie Rolls 
• Homemade Smoothies 
• Chipotle 

Four Websites I Visit

• The local newspaper 
• Yahoo News 
• Quite a few blogs
• 4th . . . hmmmm, guess I don’t spend as much time online as I thought!

People I’m Tagging - I’m only tagging 1 because I don’t know lots of people with blogs.

• Ami at Cup Runneth Over

My daughter was invited to a birthday party last weekend - the whole family was invited to attend the pool party and had a BLAST! When we took Keira to Wally World to pick out a gift for Rylie, she immediately went to the Barbie aisle, because Rylie LOVES Barbie. There was all kinds of fun stuff . . . Barbies that swim like mermaids, a Barbie swimming pool, lots of Barbies in swimming suits . . . perfect for a pool party gift, or so I thought. Keira wanted to get Rylie the one with the dog. I kept asking her to walk up and down the aisle and maybe see if there was something else she’d like to choose instead - but nope, she just HAD to have the one with the dog. After about 10 minutes of looking and looking and me trying to talk her off the doggy ledge, I convinced her to round the corner, and lo and behold, it was full of BABIES! Keira immediately forgot all about the Barbie with the dog and chose a baby with a pacifier and a couple of bottles of milk and juice. Whew! I was so glad she chose something from the baby aisle, because I would have stayed there all day telling her that I refused to buy a Barbie and Tanner for Rylie.