Regular Songs

I've often heard women describe their daughters as "thirteen going on twenty" or something to that effect. I don't know if I've ever heard the phrase "two going on twelve," but that definitely would apply to Allie. She knows what she wants and is not easily persuaded otherwise. We have been battling lately over her choice of clothes and her lack of interest in having her hair done. I'm usually very easy to please, because I don't particularly care what she wears or if she doesn't want to comb her hair. But when she has already chosen an outfit to wear, and suddenly decides she'd rather wear something else, that's where I draw the line. Earlier this week she was wearing a button up shirt and decided she didn't like it, but because she needed help with the buttons, she couldn't take it off herself. When I wouldn't help her, she cried for at least 15 minutes, insisting that she didn't like it and she wanted something else.

She has cried about her hair not looking nice, her chapstick not tasting good, not being able to find the right shoes...and I have begun to believe she doesn't want to be a kid anymore. That thought was confirmed the other night when I was tucking her in for a nap and she said, "I don't want to listen to children's songs. I want regular songs." She prefers Alicia Keys to Janice Kapp Perry and Fergie to Raffi. We're in for it with this one, I tell you.

What else? I am on an anti-Wal-Mart kick right now. I dislike so many things about shopping there--it's always crowded, you wait forever to check out, many of the employees there don't speak much English and therefore aren't particularly helpful (is that just here in Florida? I'm betting not, because we all know that Wal-Mart doesn't pay enough to make it worthwhile to work there). Every time I go, I ask myself, "why am I here? I don't like coming."

For the past couple of weeks I have been grocery shopping at actual grocery stores and getting everything else I need from Target. I love Target. I don't know about how they treat their employees, but the atmosphere is wonderful. It's never crowded, there are cute things everywhere I look, and the clearance sales are amazing. But, I will admit, it is pricier than its competitor. Today I only went in for a few things and $84 later left wondering what in the world I had bought (I have decided to return a couple things, making my trip more of a $60 trip and much less shocking). But I think it's worth it for my mental health and sanity. Kyla and Allie were much better behaved at Target. I think the relaxing atmosphere has rubbed off on them. And so I may never visit Wal-Mart again. At least until I sit down and figure out how much cheaper it is for me to shop there. Then, sadly, I may return. But I'm going to try to shop the ads, use coupons, and only buy things that I really need. Maybe I can do it. Who's with me?

We are going to make cookies for Damon's bus driver today. He is doing better on the bus, and doesn't come home crying anymore. He sits in the front seat (#1 he tells me) and I can tell that the bus driver, Ms Deborah, has kind been watching out for him. I appreciate that. My mom is the queen of Saying Thanks With a Treat, if there is such a place. If anyone ever does anything nice for her, the first words out of her mouth are "What kind of pie do you like?" She has delivered more than her share of pies to people who have helped her out, and even managed to get my sister a couple hundred dollars more for her pig by throwing in a pie or two (my bros and sisters raise pigs every year to sell at the 4H Livestock Show. It's awesome).

Once when I was in high school, a family let me tag along with them to SLC for the State Choir Festival so I wouldn't have to miss a softball game. I baked some cupcakes and took them over to them to say thank you. My mom was mortified. She had something much more grandiose in mind, and my cupcakes just didn't compare. I didn't care then, but in hindsight, I probably should've let her make them one of her famous Banana Cream Raspberry pies. It probably would've been much better received.

When Heather had some problems with boys in elementary, my mom's solution was to make them cookies (do tell the story, Heather!!!). And we did. I'm pretty sure the teasing stopped after that.

So, I guess in honor of my mom, we will be making peanut butter cookies for Ms Deborah tonight. I don't think it will change anything for Damon on the bus (he will probably still come home singing "We Will Rock You" or some other song that he has learned from the rowdy boys, and complain about it being too loud), but it couldn't hurt.

Oh, and did anyone hear Paul Harvey announce that Thomas Monson was the next president of the Church? I thought it was kind of interesting--after talking about how long Pres. Monson has served in the church, he said "he is a man who loves parables." What an interesting thing to say about someone. But it's true. He does love parables. And poems (pronounced "poims"). And does anyone else think Mitt Romney has a general authority voice?