Sometimes I worry about Rex

A few days ago, the kiddos and I headed to the mall.  We left too early and I knew it, but I didn't want to wait until after Alice's second nap.  I hadn't left the house for a few days and was anxious to get out.  I also wanted to try out Alice in the stroller sans carseat.  We packed up and away we went.

And it went poorly from the start.

I had planned to buy Rex a super cute sear-sucker vest from The Children's Place for Easter.  In fact, that's one of the reasons why we went to the mall instead of the park.  I had been pondering on this purchase for about a week.  I wanted that vest.  But Rex refused to try it on.  I bribed him.  He put it on just to tear it right back off.  I didn't buy it.

Next we hit up the play place.  Rex enjoyed himself but then he had to pee so we left.

Since we'd already put shoes and such back on, I decided to venture the quarter mile around this riduculous mall looking for my final birthday gift for Greg.  Rex decided he wanted to help and kept jumping off the stroller to do so.  We are like a circus I swear.  After several stores, we locate gift.  Purchase gift and leave.

I decide to try one more store for a cute something or other for Rex for Easter.  As soon as we walk in, he hoppes off the stroller and grabs some sunglasses.  I look around bit and decide there's nothing there for us.  I tell Rex that he already has sunglasses the he just got for Christmas and that I will not be buying him anymore.  I  put him back in the stroller and we leave.

We are just about to walk out of the mall when I stop one last time to look at a shirt for Rex when I notice them.  The sunglasses.  I immediately turn around and we head back to the store to return them.  Now this is not the first time we've walked out of a store with an extra pair of sunglasses, but this is the first time Rex was older to know better.  Usually I just stick them back on the counter and leave.  But this time, I have a million Conference talks running through my head so I decide to do the good-mother thing and make him apologize.  I stop half way back to explain to Rex what he'd done wrong.  He refused to make eye contact.

and a picture just for Hannah

We go back to the store and wait in line 20 minutes.  Finally, we're at the checkout counter. I try to give Rex the sunglasses but he refuses to open his hand.  I give them to the cashier.  I tell Rex to apologize for stealing.  He breaks down and started bawling.  The cashier, who obviously doesn't have any children, gets all nervous and fidgety.  She accepts Rex's crying as an apology and we leave.  I am, meanwhile, secretly thinking to myself  (how's that for redundant), "Good let him cry.  At least he feels bad."  He screams through the whole mall.

We get to the car.  He stops crying.  I buckle in Alice.  Rex looks at me and says, "But I need new sunglasses!"

I prayed for his little spoiled, thieving soul that night.