a day with no mishaps... could it be?

When i woke up this morning at 6am (on a sunday.... UGH) I realized that the 2 of us just really needed to get out of the house for an extended peroid of time and watch people. So where do you take a 9 month old on a FREEZING cold day when you don't have any money? IKEA!

Sure sure I have a membership to the Museum of Science & Industry and the Shedd Aquarium but I wasn't feeling like that kind of adventure today. I was thinking how grouchy I was that I was going to leave behind the silly hooks in the bathroom & my groovy mirror.... so a trip to IKEA cheaply replaces them for the next house. And they are EXACTLY like the ones I was feeling all silly about because IKEA was where I had purchased them.
SO we went on our adventure. It started with a serious case of the giggles because my little zippy red car smells like pancakes.... Yesterday I sat on a nearly full container of Gerber snacks that are flavored like maple syrup & cinnamon. And the lid popped off and the snacks literally flew all over the car. I picked them all up. But the smell lingers. So the entire 48 minute drive I craved pancakes! And I quite certain my passenger did too!!

I timed it perfectly to arrive as we were hungry for lunch. Great people watching in the cafeteria! But let me tell you manuvering BOB (our awesome stroller), a tray of hot food, a glass of lingonberry (love that) and a little boy who at that moment decided to stand up in the stroller (my fault didn't lock him in) was a challenge. However -- I didn't drop or spill a darn thing! We got a table, a highchair & we ate & watched.

IKEA attracts people from all over the world it seems. And it is funny that all the signs are in Swedish & English (but not literally translated) and the overhead announcements are in English & Spanish. I found that super funny. I simply felt for one mom in particular. She had about a 4 year old who was wearing a coat (it was HOT in there) and he must have been also hungry/thirsty and he was throwing the most fierce fit. She seemed at her wits end. I looked at my happy, smiling, curious little boy and thanked God for him and his disposition. But I also appreciated myself because we had our coats off, some chicken fingers in our hands, some fries nearby and our lingonberry drink... and I believe my date even had one shoe off. So relaxed we were. No rush! We arrived at IKEA hungry so we ate straight away. No waiting - just straight to the food! So IF my little gem ever pitches a fit that size in IKEA (or any other store) rest assured we will be leaving. I couldn't handle it and if he is that unhappy there is no sense in dragging him along for my needs to be filled.

On the way out of IKEA they get you with those delious smelling cinnamon buns. Ohhhh they smell so delightful. Generally I get one (or six cause it is a DEAL). But today there was a box of open paperkaker (ginger crisps) and I gave one to my little traveler. And so gently and delicately he ate that cookie. Generally he crams food into his mouth as if there is a rush to get it down. But that treat he savored. So I came home with a box of these delightful cookies.... and I think they would be excellent with vanilla ice cream between them!! The cinnamon bun though would have been great with coffee in the morning... *sigh* ... He was so worn out by our excursion that he fell asleep on the way home - holding his cookie. We pulled into the drive and he woke up, looked at me & smiled and realized he was still holding his cookie so he continued eating it. Precious!!

We made it home to see the puck drop of the USA v Canada olympic hockey game for gold.... we watched the whole game... and what a fantastic game it was... and great show of sportsmanship for bringing the silver medals home....

So my day was without a break. Literally... I have been moving since 6am! (and i didn't break anything). And more importantly, I change of view renewed my energy so I don't feel so broken. Plus I didn't spend as much as I could have at IKEA!! And I am hungry again for some dinner... I think I'll have what my sister suggested, a quesadilla with salsa.... but I wish I had some lingonberry drink and vanilla ice cream!!! And I will watch the closing ceremony tonight and think about the summer olympics in 2 years.... and wonder "will a 2 & 1/2 year old be old enough to take to the olympics?"....

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