i remember as a child, having kids in my class whose families owned restaurants, bakeries, stores, etc, and always wishing that my family had a place like that. a place we could go and work....and enjoy. I think the majority of this wishing was done while i was out applying for one lame job or another, and i had all these friends that didn't have to do it. they could roll out of bed, drive down to their folks place and hang out...
so, while there is very little "hanging - out" that goes on, and a hell of a lot of work, i must say, that i am so damn proud of these guys. the store is on the cusp of opening, and looks like it will be tuesday of next week. the shelves are mostly stocked the folks are doing great, working hard, and keeping cool about it all the while. it is taking shape. i honestly couldn't be prouder of them or happier for them. i so heart walking up and down each aisle and marinating in each and every product filling it's own little place on the shelf, and knowing that while it is weeks of hard work that have filled these aisles, it's a lifetime of their hard work that has brought them to the place that they are now.
it. is. amazing.
we have been running lots of errands, trying to be as helpful as we can with 3 beans that are desperately awaiting spring - lots of creativity i tell yah...there has been train building with some of the MILLION boxes that have been unpacked, stacking of foods, sweeping of papers and building ramps for little trucks and stuff. that said, the beans have been tremendous....T even did a seven hour day at the store with not one meltdown....sweet.
and the biggest bean, he just wants to help. but on his terms of course......
benji is less easy to work with, as he is simply into everything. and i really mean everything. he wants to run, explore, climb, play, climb, oh - and nurse at the same time. fun. stocking shelves with a baby at the hip, now that is where it's at. the child spends the vast majority of his day stuffing things into places that they don't belong. in turn, i spend much of my day scraping melted crayon drippings from under the baseboard heaters, trying to get cars out from under the stove or diapers out of the laundry. this morning i said, "benji go get your SHOES..." "SHOES benji SHOES." so he promptly took off to the garbage pail in the hallway and started banging on it. i picked him up and moved him, and i shook my head and said "NO GARBAGE benji NO. now go find your SHOOOOOOOES. got it benj? SHOOOOOESSSSS."
he smiled and took off again, laughing all the way to the garbage can which i am forever telling him to get away from. again banging on the pail. so, again i did the whole "no benji that's yucky no touch" thing. again moved him away from the pail.
again "SHOEEEEEEES benji....."
again, the damn pail. so just for kicks, i picked the kid up, and opened the pail to show him, garbage is yucky....and we don't touch. and alas, i am the asshole, because there in the pail, where his two little blue crocs, just hangin' out happy as pie.
will wonders never cease.
hugs all,
*A*
p.s. nins, thanks for the sweet post, and the kidlets v-day surprise, they were tickled....you rock my world lady...
