Be free, have fun, ask why">

I needed to take the car to the Body Shop for some follow up repairs so I was up and making smoothies before 7:00.  Riesling and Cashel both got up at about 7:15.  I hurried us through our morning to get out the door at 8:30.

The kids both started out with $2 today, since they saved their dollars from yesterday.  They each spent 25 cents on candy from the machine at the Body Shop.  I was surprised that we were there for about 5 minutes or so before Riesling decided to buy something.  I guess that the toys were more exciting today, especially the Buzz Lightyear action figure that Cashel found.

Next stop:  James Madison University Young Children’s Program (JMU YCP).  I really really needed to drop off a book that I had  been borrowing for an obscene amount of time and Riesling wanted to say, “Hi” to her former teacher, Mrs. (Kelly) Rooney.  Riesling seemed to be very happy to see her.  Cashel explored the water fountain.

We went on our way to the Downtown Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market because it plainly states on the home page of their website that they are open March through December on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7-1. Not so.  Riesling and Cashel were both disappointed.

We drove on to Finders Keepers, a discount merchandise and grocery outlet store.  The kids took the opportunity to stretch their legs and ran around and around and around.  Fortunately, the store wasn’t busy at all and I only needed to reign them in once or twice.  Cashel found a padded bat and a lacrosse stick.  He alternated carrying these around the store.  I reminded him to be aware of the no “high sticking” rule!  He didn’t have enough money to purchase either, so he reluctantly put them back before we left the store.  Riesling found some light up flowers in pink, green and blue for $1 each and suggested to Cashel the they pool their money so that they could purchase them.  Cashel agreed.  He and Riesling played a game through out the store where they hid from and feigned fright of all people (including me at times).

As we headed through the middle of Harrisonburg on the way to the next stop, the kids asked if we could go to the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum.  It was 11:30 and we would have been there for hours.  I tried to let them know that we needed to keep going if we were to get everything done that needed to get done today.  As we neared the Harrisonburg Crossing Shopping Center, Riesling asked if we could go to the pet store.  Cashel chimed in that that would be a great idea.  I agreed to a short visit.

In PETCO the kids ran to check out the rodents and ferrets.  They got the biggest kick out of the mice on their exercise wheel.  Two of the creatures would get on at once and begin to run.  Well soon enough one would get going faster than the other and the slower one would do a loop-de-loop all the way around.  Riesling and Cashel laughed and laughed and laughed.  They checked out the dog treats that closely resembled human food and looked at the birds for a few minutes.  We stayed in the fish section for quite some time, reading the names of the types of fish and talking about how they looked.  They really liked the R2-D2 with a fish tank for a body.  Then it was on to the reptiles.  They watched the hermit crabs (they were in the reptile area) crawl around with their colorfully painted shells on their backs.  Cashel really liked watching the snakes and described their motions, complete with hand movements.  After an hour, it was time to go.

We walked to Payless Shoe Source to return some shoes.  Riesling insisted on trying on ballet slippers and tap shoes.  Cashel dragged a pair of rain boots around with him until he found the Cars slippers.  It was all I could do to get him out of the store.

It was quite busy at Walmart so I needed them to stay close to the cart, which after one retrieval of Cashel, they did.  They each had 19 cents left.  In the foyer of the store I counted out the coins and gave them to my children.  I let them know that there was a Salvation Army kettle outside that they could put the money in for people that didn’t have enough food or clothes or a place to stay, if they wanted to.  Riesling said that she would since she couldn’t buy anything with 19 cents.  Cashel said, “No!” and gripped his dime, nickel and pennies in his little hand.  When we got to the van, Cashel put his change in his cup holder for safe keeping.

At Kate’s Natural Products Riesling asked if she could have some change from the “give a penny, take a penny” dish.  I quietly explained to her what that money was for and that it wouldn’t be appropriate or polite for her to take it.  Cashel decided that he wanted to put his 19 cents in the little fountain.  I ran out to the van and grabbed it.  He threw it in all at once.  Riesling reached in to get it. We headed directly to the bathroom to wash her hands and to talk about why it isn’t appropriate or polite to take money out of a fountain at a business.  Then Riesling and Cashel walked around the store very fast, since the proprietor had asked them not to run last time we were there because there was another business downstairs.

Last stop (Thank GOD!) was Martin’s.  Riesling and Cashel insisted that they wanted to ride in the car cart and said that they would stay in it and not get out and leave me to push the silly thing around with no kids inside.  This worked for most of the time.  They were really rambunctious and silly by this point.

We were almost home and Cashel couldn’t keep his eyelids open any longer.  As I pulled into the driveway, he fell asleep.  It was 4 o’clock.  I put him on the couch in an effort to rouse him, but he did not cooperate.  He slept until 5:30.

Meanwhile, Riesling helped Joe take apart and fix my bed side light.

Soon enough it was time to go to Nutcracker rehearsal.  When we arrived, Riesling saw a girl named Danielle that Mrs. Rooney had mentioned went to JMU YCP and was in the Nutcracker.  Danielle is four.  Riesling explained to her that she went to JMU Young Children’s Program and that she was there last year and that Mrs Rooney was her teacher, except when she was having her baby and then Mrs Guerrier was her teacher.  Riesling tried to put her arm around the little girl and Danielle clung to her mother’s leg.  I gently gave Riesling a hug and said, “I think she needs a little space.”  I knelt down and asked Danielle if Mrs. Guerrier was her teacher and she said, “Yes!” and smiled at Riesling.  Later I saw them playing together while they were waiting for their turn to rehearse.

At nearly 9:00, Riesling was done.  It was so quiet on the way home.  I asked Riesling if she was doing ok.  She said, “Yes.”  The next time I looked back she was fast asleep.

I carried her in and got her out of her leotard and into her pjs while she snoozed.  As I tucked her in, I heard Joe take Cashel into his room.  He had just fallen asleep as well.

I asked Joe what they did while we were gone and this is what transpired:

Related posts:

1. Hill High Farm Riesling and Cashel got up this morning and drank their...
2. Bridesmaids, Flying and Math Riesling popped Arthur into the VCR and parked herself on...