last shopping day

Dennis and I had a nice morning at home even though David wasn't here. Around lunchtime, we loaded up the car and went to Gran and Pop's house. We then loaded up in their van and headed to Birmingham for a day of shopping. All four of us got new tennis shoes, mine and Dennis' as a gift from Gran and Pop. Then we went shopping for stuff for Uncle Denny's home construction project that will commence this upcoming weekend. Allison picked me up at Mazer's and she and I went hiking for her first time on the Blue Trail at Oak Mountain, and she did great! She assures me she'll hike it again. After supper, we met back up with Gran and Pop and Dennis at Cracker Barrel. Gran told me that he got very excited when he saw the Cracker Barrel sign and started saying "go to Cracker Barrel". He loves to eat there. When Allison and I got inside, Dennis was kicked back in his high chair with his feet up on the table like he owned the place. He had been just about ready to melt down when I arrived, so he delayed his meltdown until well after my meal was finished. He wanted to play with the trucks and tractors, he told me, so I put him down and watched him run through the restaurant to where they are in the store. He played for several minutes and then said "Mommy change my diaper", so I told him it was time to go to the car. He laid down in the floor and said (loudly) "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!". He went limp like a noodle and screeched while I scooped up him and his cup and his Froggy. He was okay by the time we got outside, and calmed down in the car. He was exhausted! But he talked to us the whole way home, answering mostly correctly when we asked him what color James, Thomas, Elmo, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Percy, Abby, Edward, Henry, Bill & Ben, Rusty, Oscar, Bert, Grover, and Big Bird are. He knows his trains and Sesame Street characters! He was THRILLED to see his Daddy when we got home and ran to get a big hug. He went to bed immediately and was almost asleep before we left the room. I think I'll let home to home tomorrow rather than making him go to the home stores again. He was unusually good yesterday and good today as well, but it's time for him to have some quality time with his toys. Flooring and appliances just don't hold his interest, especially when we don't let him open all the ovens, push all the buttons, and turn all the dials.