I make sure I have my coupons, list, and reusable shopping bags. And money. I have forgotten at least one of these on a trip at some point in time. I was super proud of myself when I forgot the list and then got everything that was on it and forgot nothing! The money, well I had to go back and get it.
I take off to Aldi. Our family loves Aldi. I can get things cheaper there. The workers are also a little more tolerant of my children there. Lately, Will has been a different animal every week. This week he was a dinosaur. Last week the manager stopped us and asked us what he was today. That day he was a dragon. The manager laughed and said he looks forward to our family. There is one cashier there we have gotten to know. She remembers when Will was a baby and when I was pregnant with Casey. She always asks me about Evelyn (who used to go shopping with me until she went to school). The week before Christmas, she realized that I had four kids and thought it was grand. Then she gave me a discount on our ham! J See I can get ham on sale anywhere!
Before we leave the store Will and I have to sit on the bench by the door for at least a minute. I do it every time. Then we go to Walmart. Not a fan of Walmart, but unfortunately I can’t get everything I need at Aldi and Walmart is better when I only need to get 10 items or less. Right now they are building a Sam’s Club next to the Walmart. I go the ‘long’ way around so Will can see the diggers, tractors and dump trucks. He was thrilled to see the big ladders that were up so the building could be painted. I will be sad when the Sam’s Club is built. We will have to find something else to look at. But then again I will probably have find room for the 200 rolls of toilet paper I will buy at one time.
Once we park, we take our grocery cart up the pond next to the Walmart. It has been said that I had 15 minutes of fame on TV talking about an alligator that tried to shop at Walmart one night. Ask me, I love to tell that story. Ever since that day, we go to the pond to see if we can see an alligator or two. There are still supposed to be some living in it. We have only seen ducks and bugs. According to Will the alligators are sleeping.
After we get our stuff, we stop by the fish section for a bit and then we have to go to the seasonal section. We look at Christmas decorations during Christmas. Right now are looking at umbrellas and lawn chairs. He is fascinated with the idea that they are up high.
After we unload the car, we put our grocery cart in the cart corral. EVERY TIME. I will even go out of my way to park in the shade and next to a cart corral. EVERY TIME. Seriously. A friend of from college proclaimed the importance of putting the carts away and ever since then I remember her face book musings and return it every time I shop. Seriously I do this. Every time.
And then we go home. I unload the groceries. And my family eats them. Fast.
My fridge is full and my day is busy. When people say enjoy this time with your kids, it is this type of day I do. I miss shopping with Evelyn. I will one day miss shopping with Will. And one day there will be a day that I wondered how I shopped with kids!
Until next Monday!