Well, I managed to buy some $91 worth of groceries, yet made it out of Kroger without a single meal to prepare for the week. Sadie screamed (and hit and kicked) for at least five minutes before I made it through the checkout line, because I wouldn’t go back to the candy isle. Dinner was a total hodge-podge: I’m pretty sure Sadie had five olives, a little yoghurt, some mustard and a couple of bites of “burrito.” Must get back to meal planning and solo shopping on Sundays.

But I can’t even tell you how glad I am that bedtimes are mostly smooth. Pajamas, medicine, brush teeth, good night to Daddy, read three or five books, quick bedtime nurse, scratch back, scratch belly, scratch armpits (I don’t even know what that’s about), I Love Yous, kisses, cuddles, sleep. It’s such a good mending time for Sadie and me when we’ve had a rough spot. And it’s SO much less work than it was even a month ago, as hard as that might seem to believe.

Not all evenings are so rough, mind you. Yesterday was one of painting and goons, whatever that means. But this toddler thing sure kicks my ass sometimes. Oh, and Kroger, would it hurt to have the peanut butter on a different isle than the candy?

To all the people out there who told me Sadie wouldn’t want to be patted and shushed to sleep forever: You were right. It only took two years and nine months.

I asked Sadie where she would go if she could drive the car.

“To the store to get some more candy.”

Clearly Halloween season is upon us.

Nope, that’s not just Sadie watching a little TV. That’s Sadie reenacting the beginning of Alice in Wonderland. I didn’t grab my phone quickly enough to catch the start of her performance. Ah, well.

I’m feeling pretty grown up about our new bedding. We’ve maintained our old sense of style by adding the wrinkles. Here’s hoping the dogs don’t trash it.

Sadie’s just discovered the joy of back scratches. I’m in for a long few years.

I took off a bit early today and picked up some bakery cookies on my way to get Sadie. She’s really become enamored with the Arkansas state capital building, and we drive to see and go through the tunnel two or three times a week. So we finally went while it was still open and had our cookies on the front steps. We went inside, but there wasn’t much going on, with it being a Friday afternoon. Sadie liked climbing the marble staircases and thought it was all very big and pretty. Maybe she’ll be an architect… Or governor.

Want to know what not to get your kid to celebrate no more diapers (!) and being 2 and a half (not two and ever, as Sadie would tell you)?

A fish in a tank.

Sadie loved the idea of the fish, who she named “Daddy Fishey.” But she pretty much flipped her shit yesterday when I tried to explain she could not, under any circumstance, hold Daddy Fishey. Not even just a wittle bit moore.

So now Trevor and I are keeping Daddy Fishey safe, way up high on the wardrobe in our bedroom. I guess until Sadie can understand that Daddy Fishey will be asleep forever if we take him out of his water house. And can agree not to bang on the tank when told such news (guess a larger, heavier tank would have been the better choice after all).

Oops.

Some people find the Virgin Mary on their toast or Jesus on a water-stained wall.

Me? I find Harry Potter’s scar in my cantaloupe.

I was trying to get Sadie to say, “Kiss me, I’m Irish!” this morning. Instead,
I got two kisses. <3