Wish Lists are now CLOSED

In the past, we have never created 'wish lists' for Christmas. As little kids, I pretty much knew what my kids would like and I also knew what I would NOT get them, so having lists was not necessary. As my kids get older, however, I feel the need for some assistance. (And before anyone thinks I'm nuts for thinking about Christmas in November, please remember I have a business that has its VERY busy time coming up starting in about 2 weeks. If I don't do it now...well, stress.) Anyway, since I wanted some ideas for my older kids I let the younger kids do lists too. [MISTAKE] I now hear--I 'WANT' this, I 'WANT' that! Mom, Get me that for Christmas! Yikes, what have I started. In the past my kids have not been too bad with the gimmees but I may have ruined them. So starting now the wish lists are CLOSED.

Here are a few of my favorite items that made the lists though:

A Cannon
Fake Flowers
Balloons
A Big Pickle Train
I don't know
Warm Socks


I'll give you 10 bucks if you can match up the items with the requester. (note not all children have list items represented here.)

Grocery Store Baggers

I'm pretty capable. I can schlop a 25 lb bag of sugar in and out of a cart without too much lower back pain. BUT...if I DON'T have to do it...its all the better right? So lately I've been stocking up on some food storage items. 45 lbs of wheat in a giant tub x 4 (well not so much giant as comfortably huge) takes some muscles. So I'm checking out, there is no bagger but the checker, and HE asks if I would like help out to the car. Sure I say...so he calls for a bagger to come help me. How come all the baggers assigned to help customers to the car are maybe 18...maybe weigh 100 lbs and maybe look like they could heft a box of Wheaties?

At that point I have 1 of two choices...let the poor wispy girl try to heft my 1 month (for 7 people) supply of wheat while I look like a lazy middle-aged prissy woman. OR...help her heft the grains into my trunk. Then she is left wondering...why am I here again? Good question.

Then there is the awkward moment where we decide if the bagger or I should push the cart to the parking lot. The dance begins as I reach for the handle to start pushing at the same time the bagger does. What would Miss Manners say? So if the bagger DOES push the cart I'm left wandering around with my receipt and nothing to hold on to. I have to play tourist guide to point out my car and hope that the 3 yr old in the child seat doesn't decide to start his power kicks...again. For as you know there is no more lovely a sound to a 3 yr old then the banging of metal against metal when applied with pressure from a 3 year old's shoe. 'Watch out...he may get you in the gut'

The one...good...and nice thing about having the bagger accompany you is SHE will take the cart back. It's against my 'religion' to leave a cart in the parking lot. I admit I have 'sinned' before...but only in Wal-Mart's parking lot where the cart returns are about as close as the equator to the north pole.

Is this why they invented online shopping?