Escape To The Mall

On Sunday we went to breakfast with my mother-in-law, Rosamaria. I love I-HOP, especially the pot of coffee they leave at your table. Mmmmm! Coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee....

And then yesterday the girls and I got a chance to escape from the house and kick it at the mall. I say "escape" because it is a challenge, an obstacle course, to get ready to leave the house with these 2 girls. Raquel is easy, of course, she can brush her own teeth, put on her own sandals. All I have to do is dress her and brush her hair. Then I get myself ready and if I can't see myself fixing my hair in less than 5 minutes I don't bother--I just put on a hat (hats don't look good on me but I have to do it). Next I pack the diaper bag. Then if I've managed to do this much without Maxine waking up and/or crying, I put her in her carseat, cool the car down, pack the car and GO! The challenging part isn't over yet. I have to make it to my destination without having to pull over, which could happen if Maxine starts crying and Raquel isn't able to help me calm her down, which happens some times. One time, Maxine was screaming and Raquel accidentally dropped the pacifier on the other side of Maxine's seat where she couldn't retrieve it. I was angry and yelled at Raquel, then she started crying, too. I had two crying kids in my car and you know what I did? I was laughing. I wasn't even upset anymore, it was that funny to me.

Anyhow, we made it to the mall yesterday. It's Raquel's favorite place to go. The three of us go to the play area and I sit there drinking my latte, playing sudoku and when Maxine wakes up I feed her. It's nice. Better than going to a hot dirty outside-park. And I have fun watching the kids play.

Daddy came home from work shortly after we got home from the mall and we all had dinner together at home.