Some Childhood Obsessions Never Die

So, as you may or may not know, I grew up with a slight obsession with Nancy Drew. My grandmother had given me all of her Nancy Drew books when I was young, and I devoured them all, over and over again. When friends would come to play, I would usually talk them into playing "Nancy Drew" with me, which basically consisted of us running around the apartment complex pretending to solve mysteries. Oh, what I would have given to run into a *real* mystery! Of course, I was always Nancy Drew, and my friends were Bess and/or George. I don't think I ever gave anyone else a turn at being the teenage sleuth herself.

Fast forward to adulthood. I still love Nancy Drew, but for years my beloved books were locked away in a "pie safe" cabinet. They looked nice in there, but they weren't exactly being displayed as befitting a much-loved collection. Enter my husband, who loves me enough to not only agree to display my books, but to design, make, and hang the needed shelving. He's pretty awesome.

I was looking for a "before" picture, but the only one I can find is way before, like right when we moved in. I guess I had no reason to take a picture of that corner of the living room since.

So here's the result:

It reminds me a little  of the Apple newsstand. I love how all the books fit, and that the covers serve as art for that corner of the room.

And, side shot! We were originally going to put the books in the shelf "trough," but due to a slight curve in the wall and varying book thicknesses, many of them would tip forward and fall out. Putting the books on top of the shelves solved that problem, and allowed us to see the whole cover. I love happy accidents like that. 

You can also see my new, modern, print of the Oakland temple. I adore it. I purchased it on Etsy from a  store called Kiki & Company. I still want to hang a few prints above and below the temple print, just to fill in the space. I'm in love with the prints from Pop Rocks Design ... church related prints with a 70's touch? Did he read my mind?!?

As you can see, I love how it all turned out. It's so fun to choose a book, sit in my little corner, and bring back childhood memories. I can't wait until my girls are ready to meet and fall in love with Nancy Drew, too.

The Best Decision of My Life

(Elder Smout, me with very thick bangs, and Elder Kitchens at my baptism, June 9, 1991)

20 years (!) goes by very fast, but the memories of that day, and the blessings that I've been given since, will stay with me forever.

Wherefore, you must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

2 Nephi 31:20

One of my favorite scriptures from

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Another New Adventure

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their "day of rest" as much as I did ... there's nothing like your two year old throwing a humungous fit on your way into church to really start your day off on the right foot. (Because Jay has had to work the last few Sundays, church has been a bit of a challenge, but at least I get a lot of sympathetic looks!)

Anyway, enough about that. What I really want to tell you about is my new little venture. As a combination of finding a creative outlet and trying to earn a little extra cash for a much-hoped-for Disneyland trip this fall... I've opened an Etsy shop to sell my handmade doll clothes! Pretty fun, right? I opened the shop last Monday, as many of you already know, and I already had my first sale. It was very exciting, I tell ya!

So... if you're like me and have a slight obsession with American Girl dolls (or any other 18 inch doll, for that matter), check out my shop for some cute but inexpensive options to outfit your your daughter's doll. I will be updating it weekly so if you don't see anything that you can't live without now, keep checking back. To celebrate my grand opening, enter in the coupon code "grandopening" at checkout for 10% off of your order! Yeah! And please feel free to pass this on to any and all of your friends that may be interested.

My two newest creations ...

1930's Style Polka Dot Dress

Linen Pants with Butterfly Shirt

Thanks all, and have a fabulous Memorial Day! And don't forget to visit my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/MrsFear

Mix Tape

Jay surprised me with a new iTunes playlist of songs that remind me of my growing-up years. It was awesome. I was rockin' out in the kitchen as I flipped pancakes and sang along with every new song. Some of the songs we already owned, and some were new purchases that I know he only purchased for my sake. (Rick Springfield!) I really lucked out in the husband department. As if I need to tell you all that.

Here's a list of what he included. I'm rocking out to #21 right now.

The question is, what songs would you add?

1) If You Leave (OMD)

2) Walk Like An Eqyptian (The Bangles)

3) Karma Chameleon (Culture Club)

4) Jump (Van Halen)

5) Policy of Truth (Depeche Mode)

6) Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson)

7) You're So Vain (Carly Simon)

8) Forever Young (Alphaville)

9) Oh l'Amour (Erasure)

10) Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen)

11) Red Rain (Peter Gabriel)

12) The Reflex (Duran Duran)

13) Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield)

14) Faith (George Michael)

15) Everybody Wants to Rule The World (Tears for Fears)

16) Mony Mony (Billy Idol)

17) Mandy (Barry Manilow) - I think it's hilarious that it comes after Billy Idol

18) Who Can It Be Now? (Men at Work)

19) Head Over Heels (Tears for Fears)

20) Your Love (The Outfield)

21) The Promise (When in Rome)

22) Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen)

23) Drive (The Cars)

24) Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) - if you haven't watched this version on YouTube, then you haven't lived.

25) Just Like Heaven (The Cure)

26) More Than Words (Extreme)

27) The Heart of Rock & Roll (Huey Lewis and the News)

28) Don't Stop Believin' (Journey)

29) With or Without You (U2)

If you're ever bored, you can look up a lot of the original videos of these songs on YouTube. It's quite entertaining. But for now, get commenting! I know there are some awesome songs I missed. (But don't say "Tainted Love." Oh, how it irritates me!) :)

Picking On Someone My Own Size

Every time - and I mean *every* time - my mom and I are in the same room, the discussion inevitably turns to height. There is a constant need to determine who is tallest, or rather, who is shortest, since that is the least enviable status. We will visit for hours without the subject coming up, but as soon as we begin to depart, the following scene takes place:

We will be saying our goodbyes at the door when Mom will turn to hug me, and will say, "How did you get so short?" I will argue that we're the same height, and then before you can blink an eye, our shoes are off and we are standing back-to-back, surrounded by various witnesses who are crouched down so that our heads are at their eye level. If my sister is with us, then she will be subjected to the same routine. Of course, we never come to a final agreement on who is the shortest, as there are usually many accusations of poofy hair, or some other obstacle to an accurate measurement.

(Yes, we could use a tape measurer and measure our individual heights and then compare them, but where is the fun in that?)

The last time Mom came up to visit, the brouhaha was just beginning when Jay announced he had finally had enough. (He has only had to deal with it for 9 years ... I've been dealing with it all my life, the lightweight!) Jay went to the garage and came back with a gargantuan level. We stood back to back, had the level placed across our heads, and had pictures taken of the result:

Huh. Turns out I *am* the shortest after all.

(Although, if you look closely, you'll see that Mom's hair is much poofier than mine... I'm sure it affected the outcome....)

Angel in Orangevale

Tonight, on our way home from cutting down our Christmas tree, we stopped to pick up a set of Jay's uniforms from the dry cleaner. The kids and I waited in the car as Jay ran inside. The minutes passed slowly. I could see through the large glass window that something was amiss, and Jay looked slightly frustrated. As another customer entered, Jay turned to leave the store - without his uniform.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Their credit card machine isn't working," Jay said with an exasperated sigh. We had been to the dry cleaner earlier, but were asked to come back because they were still working on Jay's jacket. The items were actually supposed to be ready on Tuesday. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal, but Jay needed his jacket for work, plus we were all hungry, including the kids. (And if you know anything about me at all, you know that patience is not my best virtue in normal circumstances, but especially when I am hungry.)

Just as Jay was about to start the car so that we could go to the bank and get cash, the other customer opened the store door and flagged Jay down. Wondering what the man needed, Jay got out and talked to him. The car door was left open, so I heard the man ask Jay if he was short on cash to pay for his dry cleaning. Jay explained the situation, and the man said, "Come back in, I'll get it for you." Jay protested, but the man very kindly persisted. They walked inside, with Jay still protesting. The dry cleaning bill was just under $30, so I knew Jay wouldn't actually let him pay for it.

I watched them through the large glass windows, wondering what was happening. The man said a few things to Jay, smiled a warm smile, and shook Jay's hand. Jay responded, and then the next thing I knew he was coming back into the car, dry cleaning in hand. "Why did you let him pay?" I asked.

"He insisted," Jay said. "He told me 'Merry Christmas, and pass it on.'"

It was one of those random acts of kindness you hear people talking about, but you very rarely experience. I was honestly shocked that a complete stranger would spend $30 of his hard earned money on us, but I was also very touched. What an example of selflessness and Christlike behavior. What an example to Jay and I, and to our children, about serving in the moment. And what a way to begin the Christmas season.

To the stranger at the Orangevale dry cleaners ... thank you. Your small act of kindness has made a lasting impression, and we will definitely "pass it on."

Coming Up Out Of The Fog

I don't want to jinx anything, but I think it's possible we are finally becoming ourselves again here in the Fear household. We've been sucker-punched by the respiratory flu, which started with Natalie and made its way through the rest of us, one by one. It's been a miserable 10 days. All of us, with the exception of Natalie, are still nursing one or more symptoms, but thankfully we are all finally on the mend.

I am very happy, though, that the fog of sickness seems to be lifting just in time for Halloween. We already missed one party, and we're not keen to miss any more. The girls are actually allowed to dress up at their new school, and there will even be a parade! Hooray! I loved Halloween parades when I was in elementary school, and was more than a little bummed when their previous school did not allow the tradition.

I don't think there is a costume contest at the school, though, which is a shame, because Bea would totally take it this year, as is her birthright. (Jay and I have both won quite a few costume contests in our time - no wonder we are a perfect match.......... what? Too sickening?) Jay made Bea's costume and I'm so excited to have her wear it. Natalie's costume is adorable as well, but I'm afraid people won't know who she is. I'll know, of course, since it was my childhood dream to *be* this person, but we'll see if anyone else can figure it out.

But anyway ... enough talk about costumes. There are so many things to do this week that I don't know why I'm still typing. I should get off the computer and:

1) Decontaminate my house, which looks like a mob came through it just to use every clean dish and throw used tissues all over the place.

2) Determine if it's worth sorting through the mountains of unfolded laundry to figure out what's really clean, or if it's easier to just throw it all back in the wash.

3) Figure out what I'm going to do for Jay's birthday, which is this week...

4) Finally go to a pumpkin patch with the kiddos, assuming there are any pumpkins left.

5) Find the cheapest place to buy Halloween candy, since word on the street is we get *a ton* of trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood. Not to mention our church's trunk-or-treat celebration. Jay thinks we should just buy candy for trunk-or-treat, and then use the candy the girls get that night to give out to the neighborhood kids on Halloween. I of course have ix-nayed that idea, but he seems determined, so I'm going to need to be extra vigilant.

There are many more things to add to the list, I'm sure, but I better stop if I want to have a chance to actually accomplish something today. Have a great Halloween everyone ... and whatever you do, don't get caught swiping your kids candy. Take it from me, it's very embarrassing.

Now I'm Second Guessing Myself, Which Is Nuts

When I was in my mid-twenties, I went to fashion design school. That fact may not be apparent by my outfits on most days, but it's a fact nonetheless. At said school, my favorite class was color theory, where we spent Saturday morning painting and walking around Union Square analyzing the department store window dressings. Twas great fun. I felt that I had a knack for putting colors together, but more in an interior design sense than in a fashion sense. (I really stunk at designing clothes.)

But anyway, as I was saying...

I actually didn't stink at pairing colors, and have since prided myself on only ever changing my mind about one paint color I've chosen (back at "the house with the red door," as Natalie and Bea remember it). Well...

Make it two.

I picked out a new paint color for our dining room chairs, and although I really like it with the table color, and I like it with the new wall color, I don't know if I like it all together. There is something not quite right about the room, and I can't put my finger on it. I'm quite flummoxed. Maybe it's the whitewashed sideboard. I don't know. Jay thinks there is too much of one color (even though it's two different shades). Maybe it's the two different shades that are the problem.

Maybe I just need new curtains. (That's the story I'm trying to sell Jay.)

Here is a sneak peek - don't look if you have a moral opposition to painting wood furniture.

I won't show you the whole room since I'm not happy with it and it will likely change. I already drug dragged took the boys to Lowe's this morning and came home with every paint chip they offer. I will conquer this!!

Thank goodness we bought a paint sprayer.

P.S. - I will be seriously impressed if someone can tell me where my post title comes from without looking it up.

Too Much

There is simply too much going on to blog about in any kind of detail (what that translates to is that I'm just feeling lazy). So, here is a brief recap post:

1) My CHP ride along with Jay = awesome!

I had so much fun spending the day with him. The 12 hours flew by, and I didn't want them to end. Nothing out of the ordinary happened during the shift, which was a good thing for me, because even though Jay showed me how to get the shotgun unlocked, I didn't really want to have to use it.

2) Family pictures with the wonderful Shannon Montez

We travelled back to SJ to have our family pictures taken on Friday. We had so much fun with Shannon, even if I picked the absolutely wrong shoes to wear. My feet were killing me by the end of the session! But, I have a feeling it will be worth it when I see the proofs.

3) Time Out for Women!

I went with my friends Joyce and Veronica to Time Out for Women, a women's conference put on by Deseret Book. The two day event was a much needed spiritual recharge. With talks by many people including Wendy Watson Nelson and Sheri Dew, and amazing music by Hilary Weeks and Jenny Oaks Baker, how can you go wrong? I was a tearful mess throughout the whole conference, but I left feeling so uplifted and motivated that I am already planning on going again next year when they come to Sacramento. (All you ladies are welcome to join me!)

4) The kids are settling in... I think...

There was a little rough patch, but they are doing better every day. Bea told me the other day that she had made 6 friends. I had no idea she was keeping track, but hey, whatever makes her happy.

Visiting Grandma makes everyone happy!

Thanks, kid.

The other day in the car Natalie was talking with her cousin Danica, and I overheard this little gem:

"Bea's going to kindergarten, I'm going to 2nd grade, Danica is going to college, and Mommy's going nowhere."

Kids sure know how to tell it like it is, don't they?

And Away We Go...

Tomorrow is pack-up-the-truck-day. I am excited and sad at the same time. Excited for our very own house. Excited for a backyard with grass. Excited for a new adventure. And sad for the family and friends I will now be hours away from.

Yes, I know in the grand scheme of things, 2 1/2 hours away isn't really that far, but the reality is that as a mom of four young children whose friends all have young children, it will be harder to get together, especially during the school year. Perhaps if we start scheduling weekend visits now, we will be sure to come back to San Jose before the kids are teenagers!

This week has been full of wonderful people helping out our family in wonderful ways. From friends inviting us over to dinner so I don't have to cook, to people volunteering to watch our children so that I can pack, to our fantastic friend and babysitter, Kymber, bringing over a constant supply of newspaper for wrapping dishes, etc., and our dear friends the Oler's loaning us their truck. Added to all that are the many well-wishes and expressions of friendship we've received. I feel so very blessed. Thank you all for your support and friendship. I will miss you all more than I can express without bursting into tears (which I already did for the whole hour of Relief Society on Sunday). Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And now, I will take a deep breath and plunge into the rest of my packing, and hope that my excitement overtakes my sadness. It has been a blessed 5 years in San Jose. I will always be grateful for it.

An Ode to a Man (Who Is Not My Husband)

When I was beginning those horribly awkward teenage years, I was blessed to meet a new friend. A boy, actually. A boy who liked me despite my braces and my Cure t-shirt with mismatching gold cardigan ("borrowed" from my sister, naturally). A boy who sat next to me in science class and passed me notes to be read after school. A boy who would listen to my tales of woe as I tried to sort my way through the aftermath of my parent's divorce and all the other complicated feelings of adolescence. A boy who invited me over to his house to bake cookies and watch movies. A boy who always tried to do what was right. A boy who stood up for his beliefs.

A boy who changed my life.

18 years ago, that boy gave me the greatest gift that can be given. He taught me of Jesus Christ, and the restoration of His Gospel. He taught me by word and by action about the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was there as I learned and changed, and as I entered the waters of baptism, which was the catalyst for all the tremendous blessings in my life.

Because of him, I have my beloved Jay. Because of him, my children know and love Jesus Christ. Because of him, countless generations after me will be blessed.

And I don't know if I've ever thanked him.

So today, with a full heart I say.....

Thank you, Jeremy.

Little Things That Make Me Happy

So, I'm feeling just a tad overwhelmed these days. It's not just because of the upcoming move, either, but that certainly is a large part of it. I'm worried about getting everything done, and I'm worried about moving to a new place and making new friends. I'm worried about my kids making the adjustment. I'm worried about our TV fitting into the built-in's. I'm worried about the house inspections taking place tomorrow. I'm worried about living in a town without an In & Out Burger.

I'm also worried about my grandparents, the direction our country is headed, fitting all our junk in one moving van, and the rising price of gas.

Phew! Told you I was feeling overwhelmed!

When I feel this way, though, the best thing for me to do is to summon my inner Maria Von Trapp and think about things that make me happy. Such as:

1) Waking up to a clean sink, with all the dishes done

2) The upcoming summer vacation - no hustling to get everyone out the door on time!

3) Pinecrest! Just two more weeks and we'll be there.

4) Cleaning out my old diaper bag and finding an unused $50 gift card to Target - score!

5) Dexter using his new vocabulary to tell me dinner was "yummy." 

6) Mother's cookies are back! (And I've done my part to help them in these Tough Economic Times, let me tell ya.)

7) Jay taking me on a date to see "UP," and making me laugh in line while we waited 45 minutes for it to start.

8) My Dwight bobblehead

9) Raindrops, and roses, and whiskers on kittens... 

10) Ok, that last one was a lie. Except roses. Those I do like. 

There, I'm feeling better already! Maria really was on to something!

Up next, another lesson from Maria: making kids' clothes out of old curtains!

A First For Me

My sister, Jennifer, and I attended a Tea Party protest yesterday. I have never attended a protest of any kind before, and it was a great experience! It was a peaceful, bipartisan event, and the support was amazing. There were about 1,500 people there, not to mention all the supportive horn-honking and thumbs-up from the cars driving by. Sometimes, it's just nice to know you're not the only one feeling the way you are feeling. 

I don't normally go into politics on my blog, and I have no plans to go into anything in depth, but I wanted to share this with you because, well, it *is* the year of  trying new things, and this certainly counts!

Me & My Sis. 

We're Right-Wing Extremists, doncha know. 

And that's a wrap!

Well, the play is done and it was a success! Thank you to everyone who supported me and the other members of the Stake. We had a blast. I feel especially grateful to have gone through this experience with my friend Joyce. She made even the most frustrating of rehearsals fun. (And, she was a very funny grasshopper!)

Now I need another new thing to try! (Don't worry, I have a few ideas....)

Pictures from left to right: (top) Amy & Joyce as the Ant & the Grasshopper, Sarah, Amy & Joyce as the three quarreling sisters, Amy, Vanessa, Cordon, & Michael as the four "cats,"  (bottom) the opening scene - Amy in the fur coat, Jocelyn & Sarah as the Sun & the Traveller, Ryan & Brit as the Fox & the Crow

Try

One of the wonderful-and-at-the-same-time-frightening things about having children is that inevitably one of them will have a trait that frustrates you because it reminds you so much of yourself. Such is the case with my eldest child and me. She has a tad bit of the perfectionist about her and therefore has a bit (read: huge amount) of anxiety about trying something new unless she is certain she will excel.

For example: A few months ago she and I got in a huge argument before school because I offered to give her a quarter to buy milk at lunch. She had recently lost her water bottle, so I was trying to be nice and let her have some chocolate milk at lunch instead of having to drink out of the water fountain. But she didn't see it that way. She had never bought *just* milk before, and because she didn't know the exact procedure, she freaked out. It led to an argument, and we parted in a huff. Eventually, Jay had to go to the school to bring her the milk money and explain the situation to her teacher, who then had another student show her how to negotiate the milk-only line. Now that she's done it once, buying milk is no problem at all.

I am so similar to this it makes me want to scream.

I used to be much better about trying new things. Or perhaps I'm looking back on my life through rose-colored glasses, I don't know. All I do know is that I get so worked up and nervous about trying new things that it sort of takes the joy out of life. And... I don't like it. So with that in mind I have decided to have a new focus this year, based on the Word of the Year idea I've seen on many blogs lately. And so...

My word of the year is TRY.

As in, try new things and try not to be a wuss about them.

How am I doing on this goal thus far? Well... pretty good, I think. I have tried Greek food with Jay (at a place in Willow Glen called Opa's! - seriously good stuff), and I auditioned for a play my church is putting on. I don't know which experience was scarier for me! Kidding, the audition was scarier, but I am so glad I did it. I loved performing in high school and college, but it has been a very long time since I've attempted anything of that nature. You can imagine how nervous I was. I made a good friend come with me, and I'm glad I did because now we're in the play together! I even have some singing parts - *gulp*. I'm a little nervous about that, but I know it's going to be a fun experience.

So... that's my goal this year. To try new things. Some things are going to be little, some are going to be big, but regardless, I'm going to try to approach them with enthusiasm and courage. The only fear I want in my life is my last name.

In honor of Nie...

Those of you who don't read Nie or CJane's blogs will not know what I'm talking about, but...

In honor of Nie's return to her inspiring blog, I present... A Self Portrait.


Welcome back, Nie Nie.

(Now go read! You won't be sorry.)

(Comments off)

My life of ease is almost over

Jay returns to work in exactly one week. He has been home since the week of Thanksgiving, and I frankly have no idea how I'm going to survive without him. I'm actually going to have to take Natalie to school in the morning, which means packing up all four kids for a 5-minute round trip. And I'm going to have to *gasp* make dinner by myself! AND, as if that weren't bad enough, I'm going to have to take the kids with me to the grocery store!

Ok, maybe not. The grocery store will have to wait for Jay's days off.

I don't know how I'm going to fit in showering and getting dressed every day. Maybe those will have to wait for Jay's days off, too.

(kidding on the shower part... maybe)

It has been a joy to have Jay home for the past 7 or so weeks. And I mean that honestly, not the way I mean it when Dexter is screaming his head off and doing the straight-back-I-refuse-to-get-in-my-carseat-dance and I respond with a fake smile and a "You're a joy and a treasure, son!" Really, Jay has been fantastic. You would think we would get sick of each other after spending so much time together, but I think I speak for both of us when I say it was wonderful. I can't wait for our retirement years. Maybe I should make a paper chain...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, etc., etc.

The last week has been full of gift-making, cookie baking, Christmas shopping, present wrapping, and trying to keep my head above water. We are all adjusting to life as a 6-person family ... the kids are probably doing better than I am! In fact, the one person I was most worried about - Dexter - seems to be handling it like a pro. I, however, seem to alternate between feeling completely under control and being a blubbering idiot. Ahhh, such are the joys of postpartum life.

Anyway... with a few days until Christmas I thought I would share a few of the handmade gifts I've made this year. For obvious reasons I can't show everything that I've made, but here are a few examples:

An apron for someone-who-I'm-not-going-to-mention-in-case-they-read-this-blog. It's a self-made pattern, by the way. I actually like this pattern better than the one I purchased! I made a few other aprons as well, but I can't show those yet.

Crayon rolls for some friends of the girls:

These are so fun and simple to make and are perfect for church. I found the tutorial here.

I am also in the process of finishing a quilt for my grandparents, which I am really excited about. A few months ago my mom stopped by my house with a bunch of fabric from my Nana, who doesn't really feel up to sewing anymore. Among (amongst?) the fabric was a half-pieced-together quilt front that Nana had started many years ago. Many of the quilt pieces were hand embroidered with the names and birth places of our family members. I decided that I should finish the quilt for her as a Christmas present, so that is what I'm attempting to do. Wish me luck!

And now I'm heading back to bed since it's 3:30 in the morning and I just got Calvin back to sleep. He actually slept from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. (which was exciting), but of course that meant he wasn't ready to go back to sleep as quickly as I was. :)

Adventures in IKEA

What is it with me and IKEA? It seems like every time I go there, something strange happens. Am I the only one? (Don't answer that.) Last time I was there, I had my belly rubbed by a complete stranger. Another time, I almost got in a throw-down with an extremely rude woman and her foul-mouthed, wheelchair bound mother. But perhaps I should save that story for another time. Let me tell you about the most recent IKEA incident, which occurred just yesterday.

Jay had the day off, so we decided to take Bea & Dex (Natalie is in school, of course) to IKEA for some window shopping and cinnamon rolls. Everything was going smoothly except for the D-Man. He just was not in the mood to be in the stroller. But, since he still prefers crawling to walking 90% of the time, he was stroller bound. He was not happy. And I don't know if you've ever heard "unhappy Dexter," but it's not pretty. He SCREAMS. Loudly. And kind of girly. And he doesn't stop. I always see people trying to find the source of the screech to make sure that some kid isn't being abused or abducted.

Anyway, that was the mood Dex was in yesterday, so Jay and I did the only thing that we can do in those situations: we ignored him. He went back and forth between quiet happiness and blood-curdling screaming, and we continued our shopping. We finally made our way to the downstairs part of IKEA when we passed a woman that I had seen earlier. I remember seeing her before because she was one of those people who beg to be noticed: she was wearing a vulgar tank top, covered in equally vulgar tattoos, and had a shaved head. Yes, you heard that right. Anyway... I wouldn't have paid her any attention except that Dexter started screaming right as we were passing her and I heard her say, "Ugh, it's that kid again," in a disgusted voice.

Well, of course I gave her my best fire-shooting-from-my-eyeballs look, but she didn't see it. I told Jay what she said and he just started laughing. Then he turned around and made sure to park the stroller right by her and her companions as he pretended to look at some picture frames. Jay was very disappointed when Dexter stopped screaming. He wanted to torture Ms. Tattoo a little longer. I had to walk away because I was laughing too much. I would never have had the guts to do that, but I'm glad Jay did.

Seriously, what is wrong with people? Obviously Ms. Tattoo has no children and has never tried to keep a toddler happy in a store. It's not like we *want* him to scream, but short of stuffing him with ice cream (which we eventually did), there's not much to do. It's just something he needs to grow out of, and something we need to ignore unless we want to give in to all of his demands and turn him into a complete brat down the line. No thank you.

I will say that my faith in people was restored a little when, a few moments later, we passed a woman with a toddler and she gave us the sympathetic "I know what you're going through and I'm not judging you" smile. In my heart I know there are more people like her and less judgmental-bald-headed-tattooed women in the world, and that is very comforting indeed.

But I think I'm going to take a little bit of a break from IKEA nonetheless.