Eagle Eye

I tried, I really tried. I vowed last week that I would not go to walmart for an entire week, and I almost made it, but Miss Becky had to come home and tell me she was going to walmart and did I want to come. I told her no, I was not breaking my vow for anything, and she asked Aunt Cheryl if she would go with her. Walmart is like the Circus to Aunt Cheryl, and she said yes, and then asked me to go with them. I again said no, I was standing firm, I would not break my vow, and anyway, I only had one more day to go. Then, they brought in the big guns. They told Martin that I refused to go with them, and he started his business about how I should go and it was a stupid vow anyway, besides, just go. I cracked. Becky said I would be sorry if I didn't go. Aunt Cheryl reminded me that I had been good all week, so what was one more day? Like I said, I really tried, but I soon found myself going over the Kemah bridge and on the way to Walmart. Kayleigh had asked me for some sidewalk chalk, so that was going to be my only purchase. Then, I remembered that Martin wanted some Cool Whip for his Jello, and I was almost out of Silk beverage. The bananas looked really good, and Little Joe had eaten the last of them yesterday, and oh, I forgot that I was almost out of flavored water, so I went and stocked up on that. By the way, it has been 3 weeks since I have had diet coke or pepsi, so at least I am keeping that vow to myself.

Then it happened. I found Aunt Cheryl and Becky in a heated discussion at the end of an aisle where a display of Kraft mac and cheese and Spam were located. I wondered what the deal was, so I checked it out. Aunt Cheryl was very excited, because someone had put the spam on the display with the mac and cheese, but the price of .98 cents was for the mac and cheese only. She was adamant that the Spam was .98 cents as well, but around the corner where the Spam was supposed to be, it was priced 2.48 a can. She said, "I just happened to see it! Right there! Under the Mac and Cheese! Good thing I have eagle eyes!" It was a bargain hunters dream! I told Becky to go and get a manager, and she did. The manager told us it was a mistake, the Spam was 2.48, but before she could finish, Aunt Cheryl jumped in and argued that it was displayed under a sign that read, .98 cents. The manager knew she couldn't win this one, and graciously told us that we could have it for .98 cents a can. I graciously thanked her and made a showing of only taking six cans, after all, I don't want to look like a pig, right? When the manager walked off, Becky said, "really Mother? Really? Only 6 cans?" "Heck no" I said, "give me two cases! (12 cans to a case). This is perfect for my food storage!" Aunt Cheryl wanted a case too, and between the two of us, all you could hear was tickled chatter. I made sure to check out with a clerk that is a friend of mine and Becky's, he never questions me about anything, but I did drop the manager's name just in case. I'm glad she didn't see me with my two cases, but c'mon, when the food storage fairy drops a special in your lap, you take advantage!

Also, Little Joe had his first accident today. When the boys got in from school, Eli wanted to hold Little Joe. Little Joe is getting another tooth, and he had been having a hard day, whining and wanting to be held. I did my best, but I was glad for Eli to take a moment and relieve me for awhile. I told Eli to go and rock him in my bedroom, and started cleaning the kitchen. There was trash to go out, so I called Eli and Jacob to come and help me. They came right away, and took the trash out without argument. As they were outside, I heard Little Joe scream. I had completely forgotten that I had asked Eli to take him, and I knew that he had rolled off the bed. Usually, Eli will put Little Joe in the playpen when he is done with him, so I guess I assumed that he had done so this time. I ran to the bedroom, hearing Little Joe crying as I ran, and my heart was in my mouth. As I burst into the room, the first thing I looked at was the bed, and sure enough, no Little Joe. I screamed his name, and ran to floor at the edge of my bed, but he wasn't there either. I heard muted crying from the playroom, and ran in there. There he was, on the floor beside the daybed. I realized that he had fallen from the daybed, but that wasn't near as far as he would have fallen from my bed. I picked him up and crushed him to me. I kept saying, "baby, baby, baby, oh my baby" and rocking him back and forth. In no time, he had stopped crying, but I had not. Then, anger burst from me and I yelled for the boys. They came running and asked why Little Joe had been crying. "BECAUSE YOU LET HIM ROLL OFF THE BED!!!" I shouted. The little boys were shocked, because I don't ever yell at them. Poor Jacob didn't know what to do, and he ran from the room. Eli followed him before I could remember to ask him why Little Joe was in the playroom and not being rocked. I took Little Joe to the rocker, and held him tight. He patted my tears and grinned at me, and then I realized what I had done. I called the boys into my room and took them in my arms. I hugged them and asked them to forgive me for shouting at them. After all, I am responsible for Little Joe, and they are only little boys. Jacob explained that they had taken Little Joe into the playroom to watch cartoons with them, and when I called them to take out the trash, he left him in there to wait for them until they got back. Jacob's little eyes filled with tears, and he told me that he didn't think Little Joe could get off the bed. He was sorry, and that made my heart break. I felt so bad, because he felt so bad. Little Joe was not hurt in the least, only frightened, but I could have made a bad memory for my other l ittle boys with my thoughtless response. That would have caused much more hurt than simply falling off the bed. All is well, the boys are okay, Little Joe is fine. I learned that I can realize my mistakes and have learned enough humility to apologize for them. Anyway, after all the excitement, I got to go to Walmart, and find Spam for .98 cents a can!