What was I thinking?

Ok, so I decided that it was a good idea to take both of my boys to Barnes & Noble for toddler story time and for lunch at Central Market with two other moms and their 4 children. Yes, I'm officially crazy. First of all, 3 adults and 6 children..you would have thought we were smart enough to know that we're outnumbered. You know those people at the store that have the screaming children and you're thinking, "Please shut up that child!" Yep, that was me today. Those poor people came to B&N to come and read and enjoy a book while I was frantically trying to keep my boys quiet. I had a 2 year old whining, "I want to hold you, mommy," and "READ THIS BOOK, MOMMY!" and an almost 6 wk old screaming at the top of his lungs. I mean one of those cries where they're crying so hard that they're actually quiet for 2-3 seconds because you know a REALLY loud wail is about to come out. As soon as we walk out of the store, Campbell just goes right to sleep like he doesn't know what the big fuss was about and why mommy would be sweating through her clothes.

Well, apparently I'm a gluten for punishment and decided, "Sure let's go to Central Market and attempt to do the same thing outside in 100 degree weather." At first all seems well. Nolan is eating (miracle in itself) and Campbell is asleep (Whew!). Then Nolan decides the mac n' cheese is not as good as his fruit snacks and the abundance of snacks I have on hand at all times. The poor child has survived his entire 2nd year on nothing but snacks. BUT, I had already run out of all the snacks at B&N trying to keep his mouth full of food instead of whining. Campbell hears big bro making a fuss and thinks he might join in the fun too and he's hungry. Let me preface by saying that I'm not the "La Leche" type and loathe having to nurse in public. I was breaking every possible modesty rule I've ever made. There were several men at Central Market that got a show. Meanwhile, my nursing pads fall to the ground and I'm leaving a little Hansel and Gretel trail of nursing pads around me. I try to discreetly put them back in after I'm done nursing Campbell all the while I'm rocking Campbell in his carrier with my foot. Emily (my friend's daughter) spots me and asks me why I'm stuffing things down my bra. Her poor mother is probably going to find her stuffing her shirt when she gets home.

Now everyone is fed and we head to the playground. Oh good, Nolan will go play and I can talk. WRONG! Since it's 100 degrees outside the slide practically burns him (and maybe took off a little skin too). Then he loses his shoe at the bottom of the slide and the scalding tar is too hot to put his foot down. So Nolan is screaming standing like a flamingo with one foot in the air and I'm running to put his shoe back on. Campbell then voices his opinion about being in the heat and joins in the chorus of screaming with Nolan. Finally, this mommy decided that enough punishment had been done for two hours and I headed home. I pack both boys in the stroller, start the car that could literally bake cookies in it, load the boys and the double stroller and collapse into the driver seat. And in perfect timing, I look in the rear view mirror to spot my cute toddler with hair so wet with sweat it looks like he took a bath and he says, "That was SO much FUN!"

Tonight is my scrap night with my girlfriends and it's my first night away from both boys. I think I deserve it, don't you?