Chocolate donut with gummy worms...yum! Shopping with three hungry kids...yikes!

The other day we all went to the grocery store. Typically, this is a rather uneventful procedure. But now that it is summer, I am having to readjust my mindset to include three children rather than just one (whom I can usually strap in the cart). Maybe it's because I am pregnant, and maybe it was just an off day, but suddenly having them all at the store asking for different things and going in different directions was making me crazy. Spencer refused to sit in the cart because he wanted to be a big boy like Carter, but then he just kept running in various directions. Carter and Chelsea kept helping me select multiple unapproved products from random aisles. There were cereal boxes flying in my cart and suddenly appearing Pop Tarts and granola bars and packages of hot dogs. I think a shrimp platter was even requested at one point. "Oh, look mom, shrimp. We love shrimp!" (What? Shrimp? No! Don't put that in the cart!)

I certainly take all three to the store during the school year as well -- just not mid-afternoon when everyone is hungry.

At one point Carter asked, "Can we all get a donut?" I said, "Maybe, if you stay with me for the rest of the trip." It was a deal and they did much better from then on. Spencer chose the donut with chocolate and sprinkles and gummy worms, which he proceeded to eat right off the top. He said, "This is good. I like these worms!" I am glad he enjoyed it, but in the future I hope he can distinguish gummy worms from regular worms...

Ultimately the trip was a success and I only had to do minimal editing at the checkout. Although somehow we ended up with four different packages of gum. Apparently when I choose a flavor that means everyone else gets to as well. Hmm. It may be a long summer of evening shopping -- when Dad can either tend or come with. Although, come to think of it, he tends to accept/encourage the selection of random packages...

"Dad can we get pop tarts?" Sure!
"Granola bars?" Great!
"Sugar cereal?" Throw it in!

I think I may have discovered the source of my problem.