So Young Now...

FURNITURE SHOPPING

What a fun and entertaining day. We dragged three kids around to a number of furniture stores, and told them they were going to behave because it was the one day that mommy and daddy needed to do something for us, and not for the kids. I don't know what we were expecting---not much really---but our expectations were thrown to the floor and stomped on in a matter of seconds into the visit to the first store. Jack started to scream as soon as we went into the first store, because we wouldn't let him get out of his stroller, and he was watching big brother and sister sitting on couch after couch. He wanted this to be his personal playground as well! His screams got louder and louder, and he was shouting "DOWN DOWN DOWN" and driving everyone crazy, literally minutes after we entered the store. The sale associate we were talking to said "why don't you guys take a nice walk around the city, I will pull up the information you're looking for, I'll give you a call on your cell phone and you can come back in to pick up the pages, and swatches for what we have in stock." What I heard was: "OMG, can you get that screaming mess of a baby out of here. Not only is he driving me and the owners nuts, but he is offending our new and existing customers, and we will soon be forced to call security to have you removed from the store if I have to hear this one more minute!" Nicole and Max were relatively good in store #1, although they had to be reminded a few times of "The Rules." (We actually did get a call back from the sale associate but I waited with the kids in the car while Kurt ran in to pick up the information and chat for a few more minutes.)

We set off for store number 2 after we had lunch in the city, packed the kids in the car and drove a little, giving Jack an opportunity to sleep in the car. Jack's never been the power napper, so 20 minutes was not nearly enough time, but he was slightly refreshed when we arrived at destination #2. Walk into mall. Remind Nicole and Max of The Rules. (You will SIT on one couch, no climbing, no feet on furniture. No running, no jumping, no laying across couches and chairs. No interrupting when we are talking to each other or talking to sales people. You will sit with your hands folded in your lap, and look and act like model citizens.) Rules fall to the wayside about 90 seconds into our visit. Jack starts screaming about 92 seconds into our visit. Jack is picked up and carried around 93 seconds into visit, is happy for about 6 seconds, then starts kicking and screaming "down" as he watches his siblings move from chair to chair, and decides that THIS is the store that he wants to make his own personal playground. Oh, and I have the opportunity to look at about one couch as I run around like crazy trying to get the kids in line.

Go to store #3 across the mall, repeat scene from store #2. Get to look at one piece of furniture again, spend all energy chasing and/or scolding and/or hunting for the kids. I have had enough by this time, but husband says that we should drive to Morgantown to look at the furniture outlet...with kids in tow, late in the day, and all my energy zapped. Not only have we shopped at the Morgantown outlet before, but we had a pretty negative experience there. Not an unforgivable one, though, if we find what we are looking for at the right price. Drive 30 minutes to Morgantown, enter mall that is looking pretty desolate and creepy, many stores shut down since the last time we were there. Let Jack out of the stroller to run around 2 seconds after we arrive. Remind older kids of "The Rules" as we enter another furniture store. Experience exactly what we have experienced in stores #1, 2 and 3 above, in many additional stores in the outlet mall. Note that the inventory seems low, and nothing is aesthetically pleasing (read: all furniture HORRIBLY UGLY on this trip!).

We did have a highlight to our day. After searching 5 Walmart stores this week for 3D glasses for the Hannah Montana concert on television, we ended up at a Walmart in Morgantown today where we HAPPILY threw down $8 for two TV Guides so we can get the "free" 3D glasses inside. Mom is not a complete failure. (Of course, you know this part! Kids did not wear 3D glasses at all during movie!)