The Mall Rollercoaster

I made the questionable decision this morning to hoof it over to the mall with Brennan and Griffin. The mall at Christmas is at best, stressful and overcrowded. (and filled with Canadians! Hello there half of Ontario, welcome to Buffalo!) But when you add in two children three and under to your shopping (and hello double stroller!), the mall is a bit of a roller coaster ride with pronounced highs and lows of emotional giddiness.

High? Brennan shouting "Hey there Santa! Whatcha doin'?" to the delight of many onlookers who stopped and just laughed at the shouted conversation that ensued between Brennan and the Mall Santa. Brennan finished his little gabfest, grinned at his audience, waved to Santa and walked off yelling, "Yeah, so see you Christmas then Santa, okay?"

Low? Brennan yelling, "I have to pee! Oh boy do I ever have to pee!" in the Disney store as he grabbed his penis as if he was hanging on to each drop off urine by pure force. He continued holding his private regions and yelling about how he had to pee as I ran through the mall desperate for a sign of a bathroom. (Pottery Barn, god bless you, your very nice bathroom and the hysterically laughing sales associate who held the door to the bathroom open for me and my double stroller from hell.)

High? Griffin trying on his very first "real" pair of shoes and enjoying his very first ice cream cone.

Low? Griffin also apparently had his very first shop lifting experience. He had shoved some small "stocking stuffer" items under his seat from an (ahem) unnamed specialty store that I didn't discover until we were on our way home. Ah, his very first misdemeanor. I am so exceptionally proud. Can a one year old have a rap sheet?

High? We passed through Macy's on our way out to the car and I spied the most perfect necklace to go with my outfit for a holiday party tomorrow evening. And it's on sale. And I have a gift card left over from last Christmas. Score!

Low? Turning away from Brennan for, I swear, thirty seconds, and finding him with bracelets and jeweled watches on both arms from his wrist to his elbow. How is it that it takes me twenty minutes to undo something an (almost) three year old can do in thirty seconds? How?

High? Brennan hugging my arm after we sat down to lunch and telling me "I love you momma."

Low? Griffin discovered ketchup by the handful. Ugh.