The art of the shoe

This morning my mother in law treated the kids to a trip to the shoe store, and for the girls this was delight….for Nathaniel, it was a horror that could only be matched by a trip through the Victoria’s Secret.

Peyton tried on at least 7 pairs of shoes, pranced and sauntered around in each one testing for adorability. It is an inate gift you’re either born with or you’re not. She told the saleslady “I looove shoes!” Don’t we all?

Rachael started trying on shoes the minute we walked in the door and didn’t quit until we finally left. She had her heart set on shoes that would only be appropriate for the high school prom, but we were able to convince her to choose some more sensible shoes….never using the word “sensible” mind you…but she did finally remember that she’s too young to suffer for beauty just yet, to enjoy her years of comfortable shoes.

Nathaniel walked in and got his feet measured. He disappeared around a corner and came back in under two minutes with the pair of shoes that he wanted, they fit, done deal. Boys really do suck all the fun out of shopping. He was thoroughly disgusted with how long it took the girls to make their choices. Once he even nudged me and whispered “Can I just pick some for them?”

Peter and I spent the rest of the day horsewhipping the kids, after which we stapled their earlobes to the floor and made them lick the belly of cockroach! Actually, all we did was make them do housework and lawn work, but it might as well have been. But Nathaniel did make a huge step into manhood. He mowed part of the backyard all by himself. I’m sure Peter’s having fantasies of lounging in a hammock with a beer in hand, pointing out that “Son, you missed a spot over there!”

Breaking news….Peyton was hollering from the bedroom “Help me!! Heeeelp me!! I need you to help me! I’m stuck and it’s freaking me out!” Well, I had to go see what this was all about. Promising myself I wouldn’t rush and nearly kill myself the way I did when she proclaimed herself legally blind. At least if she’s yelling, she’s still breathing, right?

I get to the bedroom and there’s Peyton…let me see if I can actually explain what she’d done…she was trying to climb up her dresser by opening the drawers and using them as steps. She had her left foot in the bottom one, her right foot in the next one….the top drawer had slid open enough to wedge against the foot in the bottom drawer, her pocket was stuck on a handle and she had lost her balance so she couldn’t get enough leverage to move any of the drawers. I just stared at her for a second, trying to figure out how she gets herself into these situations and she says to me “Are you just going to stand there?” Ok….she’s 3!! Seriously! She says that to me like she’s the boss of me! She is definitely spending too much time with adults.

Anyways, all is fixed, the rest of the crew is out washing the car and enjoying a nice water fight. Frankly, if I wanted to go totally white trash I would just hand them all a bar of soap and tell them all to wash themselves up while they’re at it, but I don’t want the neighbors to call DCF on us for making our kids bathe in the front yard.

Tomorrow we’re heading to church and then off to a Tampa Bay Storm game in the afternoon. We’re looking forward to a fun time with Adelaine’s family and some of our other great friends.

Our only scheduled visit to the clinic is for a finger poke on Wednesday, followed by a photo shoot that’s being provided by a photography studio that’s setting up shop at the clinic to do pictures of our special kids. They actually told the child life specialist that they would make sure to have HAIR and makeup people there to help out….I guess someone has to fluff Peyton’s fuzz, I’m not sure what else they could do with it!! Peyton’s counts were fabulous at the end of last week, so I’ve got my fingers crossed for a repeat performance.

I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend, full of family and good times!

f.r.o.G…fully relying on God
—Anissa

Peyton and her friend [url=www.caringbridge.org/visit/carleevessel]Carlee Vessel[/url] from the Tampa Bay Yankees game

The Awesome Mike Alstott up to bat at the celebrity softball game that raised big money for the Children’s Cancer Society.

Peyton, Samantha Lee (one of our shining Children’s Cancer Center friends) and Mary Ann Massolio, the CCC executive director and one amazing lady.

Peyton getting smooched by Mike Alstott…gotta love those perks! Think if I shaved my head I'd get the same treatment? Yeah, me neither.

The “Fairy Princess Teddy Bear Float”