"Stay At Home." Ha!

So what did we do this week?

Let's see...Monday morning we went to the Family Ministry Center's play area (one of the aforementioned trusty but tired old winter options) and were relieved to run into Debbie Blankenship and her kids there. Both boys played this time (often Henry opts to sit next to me, saying "I'll just watch for a while," so I was glad to see him climbing and sliding and jumping) and I got to have an adult conversation with Debbie, who is a very interesting person, while the kids had lunch. Monday afternoon we went out for ice cream at Dairy Queen, which always reminds me of my Dad (he used to take us there for Peanut Buster Parfaits or Dilly Dips, which I'm not sure they still have, which makes me old). The boys and I all sat in a booth, and Henry left his Roboticus figure (one of Russell's old Star Wars figures) on the table when we left. I had to lock both boys in the car while I darted back inside to rescue Roboticus, who by his name and physical appearance should probably be able to rescue himself. Please don't tell the police. It was so cold, I just couldn't bear to unstrap the boys, bundle them up, and carry them back inside just to grab Roboticus.

Tuesday morning I took the boys to the Gallatin Public Library for music time, which they both enjoy. It only lasts for thirty minutes, and as we are fifteen minutes late everywhere we go, without exception, that means we only get to enjoy fifteen minutes of music, but we still keep going back. Tuesday afternoon we had coffee with our friends Kristin, Selina, Keira, Cindy, Claire, and Baby Ben. Kristin has a newish latte machine that I covet, and I'm trying to think of ways to justify buying one. Our current coffee pot, a Cuisinart, we have had since we married, and it is maddeningly durable. Just crap out, already! Wait, I don't mean that. I just really want that latte machine. Would it be wrong to have a coffee pot AND a latte machine? Technically they are different, right?

Wednesday we went with the moms' group to Peekaboo Play Town (trusty old winter play area Number Two) and enjoyed hanging out with lots of kids and fellow SAHMS (that sounds so much cooler than Stay At Home Moms, it actually sounds like there might be intrigue of some kind involved, or at least leaving the house. I recently saw it written as SHAMS, which made me giggle). Charlie proved himself independent by crawling across the room without even looking over his shoulder to see if I was behind him. Henry continued to hone his skills on the five-foot rock wall, which he can scale alone now unless he over-thinks it. He is truly my kid. Wednesday is Kids Eat Free Day at Qdoba, just around the corner, so we ate there for lunch with our new friends Melanie and Claudia. This is exactly what we did last Wednesday, now that I think of it!

Thursday morning we went to the Delmas Long Community Center in Goodlettsville, where they have play time in a big gymnasium filled with balls, tunnels, ride-on toys, and lots of open, echo-y space. Henry ran around chasing or being chased by his best buddy Parker, and he surprised me by being the more aggressive of the two for the first time ever. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH" he screamed as ran, tripping over toddlers and balls. Everyone looked at me like, "Really? Henry?" and I just gave them my "Who knew?" face. Charlie explored, but didn't enter, a tunnel, and spent the rest of the time chasing after balls and a hula hoop. We ate lunch afterward at Chef's Market with moms from the moms' group.

Friday, Friday was my favorite day of all this week. (Sorry, Monday through Thursday.) Friday we went with our friends Susie, James, Christina, and Maddie into Nashville to the public library, where we saw a real marionette show. Henry and Charlie both loved it! It was an African tale about a spider named Anansi, a trickster given a taste of his own trickster medicine. I am a trickster myself, so I left somewhat chastened. Henry's favorite part was the brief song at the end of the play which was about being oneself and only loosely related to the trickster storyline as far as I could tell. He is definitely going to be musical like his Dad. Charlie mostly watched the people in the audience, especially Christina, and Maddie helped me entertain him. He was surprisingly quiet during the thirty-minute production. After the play, we went to eat at Noshville, which used to be one of my favorite restaurants, with our friends. Henry had pancakes and I had eggs, but the focus of the meal was on what James and Maddie had: smiley face french fries. As soon as I saw them, I knew I should have ordered them for Henry (the menu didn't SAY they would be smiley face shaped!), but it was too late. He fixated on them for a few minutes, but then his friends shared with him; crisis averted. Susie and James rode with us to and from Nashville, and we enjoyed the company. We listened to a CD of kids' songs on the ride home, and, as I always do when Henry is harassing me in the van, I had to turn the volume up very loud at one point and sing at the top of my lungs. This time it was during "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt." I think it was at this moment that Susie began to have second thoughts about riding with us.