Our Shopping Trip to the Mall

Every year we as a family go at Christmas time to the mall in Grand Rapids. We went today. We left our house at 9:30 this morning. We had a few places to stop on the way there and finally arrived at the mall at noon. The first stop- the bathrooms. Next stop- food.
The food court presents our first problem. Only two adults with three children with all those choices! Who wants what? The final decisions came a couple of times and only stood in line three times. I guess that wasn't too bad considering that 5 different people have 5 different opinions.
So we walked passed all the stores and looked in only 3 stores. A Game Stop... (which we were only in for 30 seconds.) A toy store... (which we spent several minutes) and Dick's Sporting Goods store... (which we parked in front of). Trent would not ride the carousel for the first time this year. Michael was excited until he got on and saw that the majority of riders were 3 and 4 years old. So he sat on his horse with no hands trying to look bored.
We left the mall and stopped to look at Trent's turkey mount on the way to Walmart.
We shopped for presents for the boys together and we shopped one aisle behind them. As we swept through the toys aisles they were having a blast UNTIL they got to the doll aisle. They were NOT going to go down that aisle. I insisted and they went arms folded and scowls set and they marched to the end of the aisle and faced opposite of the dolls. We finally finished our Christmas shopping. While dad went to pay for them and hide them in the truck, I went to get groceries.
While we were getting our necessities I put the milk in the cart and then went to grab the coffee creamer. They didn't have the one we usually buy. So I read to the boys my choices. They had sugar free and fat free. "Gross I said I think we'd rather have none." Tyrell looks at me measures my stomach and announces to me, "Mom go with the fat free. You CAN"T get any fatter!" I busted out laughing. I laughed so hard I could hardly even walk. I think that we should all pray for his wife whoever she may be. I will keep an extra bed available for when she kicks him out for the night. When the stores are closed and he can't buy chocolate or flowers until morning.
Well I am thankful we only do this once a year and I'm ready to give it up anytime they are. Memories were made and I survived. All is well.