Dear Journal,

Today was a shopping day from HELL. I tried to involve my kids in the Christmas shopping for each other and it did NOT go as planned.

We started out in store #1 where I asked Tori to watch Benton so I could look at some shoes for Dad. Two minutes later I turned around and Benton was gone! I asked the BIG sister where he went and she said, "I don't know." Not only did I have to lecture her on NOT fulfilling a very important task but I had to find the baby! I was frantically searching every store isle and finally found him on the opposite end of the store admiring basketballs.

When I got back to the shoe department, where Tori and Alex were supposed to be, I discovered that Alex was now missing. I once again asked Tori if she knew where Alex was and she said, "I don't know." By this time I am running circles around the store with Benton under one arm, a pair of shoes under the other and Tori following behind. I can't find Alex anywhere! My mind is filling with every worst case scenario.

When I was about to recruit help from the store employees I caught sight of a little blond running from one rack of clothes to the next. She was HIDING from me! I could have killed her!

At this point I am FURIOUS! I now have Benton, kicking and screaming, under one arm, Alex by the ear with my other hand, and Tori following CLOSELY behind carrying those dang shoes! We get in line to check out when I realize they gave me WOMEN'S shoes!!! I had to march everyone back to the shoe department and get the correct shoes and try once more to check out. After paying for my ONE item I was trying to get out of the store when my insert came sliding out of my shirt. Now, not only am I a psyco, angry mom but I am a mutant and everyone is starring.

That was only store #1!!!!! After a car ride of lecturing both girls, we were onto the mall. This time I had Garrett with me so I thought it would be a breeze. We hit our first two stores without insident so I thought we were set. Boy, was I WRONG!

Garrett took the girls to the food court, play area so I could finish up at my store. Once I met up with them I sat down to touch base with him when Benton took off running out of the play area. I jumped up and caught him before he got far. Then Alex came up and asked if she could ride the train. I told her "in a minute." Little did I know that after that statement was made she turned right around and headed for the train. Once I noticed her absence I started running around looking for her and found her about to take off on the train! I pulled her off just in time.

Garrett came over to me to see what was going on when a lady asked us if we had a little boy because he was running away from the play area once again. I put the girls back in the play area and took off after Benton only to find him standing next to the rental strollers. He wanted one! I was about to rent one, so I could harness him in and $5 was totally worth the peace of mind, when Garrett came up to me and said that was a ridiculous price to pay for a rental stroller. We argued about it until he volunteered to take Benton with him while he purchased my Christmas present while I played with the girls.

Piece of cake. I could handle that. So off they went as I headed back to the play area. Upon entering the play land I noticed my girls where NO WHERE to be found!!! For the LOVE! I tried calling after Garrett but he was out of ears shot. I started running around the food court trying to locate my girls when I spotted them across the courtyard attempting to go down the UP escalader, hand in hand. I SCREAMED for them to stop while disturbbing everyone's lunch in the food court and took off in a dead sprint to try and catch them before the fell to their deaths.

A sweet women had spotted them trying to defeat the impossible and held them back until I got to them. BY this time I was crying, me feet where hurting, I had bags everywhere and two WIDE eyed little girls. I lectured and lectured until I could lecture no more. My little country kids thought they could conqer the city so I had to tell them what the real world is like.

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly and I had both girls glued to my side and Benton in Daddy's arms. I don't think I will ever forget this Christmas shopping experience. And I hope to NEVER experience it again!