Seaside sand mermaids

Sunday, June 29, 2008

My good friend from high school ventured down to the Florida panhandle with her family, so we managed to meet up with the kids.

We’d actually hoped to meet up and run, but lack of babysitters and the Florida heat were prohibitive, so we settled on breakfast and a trip to the beach.

Actually, the breakfast part was not entirely planned. I had gotten up with TONS of extra time, so the kids and I lolled about the house, specifically avoiding breakfast so that we could stop on the way to Seaside for bagels. There’s lots to pack when you’re planning an outing - with potential for beach time and still hoping for a possible run. I had my purse (stocked with water and snacks), a beach bag with towels, swimsuits, sunscreen and swim diapers, a beach toy bag with shovels, pails, and more sunscreen, a run bag with shoes and a running outfit, and then a diaper bag with extra underwear and outfits for Jackson (see potty training post). I had loaded all this in the car, and was getting the kids ready - and trying to convince Jax to potty one last time before getting into the car. Riley was up and in her dress, but barefoot. So, I told her to get her shoes on while I continued wrestling Jackson into some shorts and a tshirt. After I’d loaded up the car, and went to buckle Jackson in, I noted Riley had gotten in the car and even managed her own seatbelt.

So, we were on the road, with 30 minutes to spare for breakfast on the way. We had just gone through the tollbooth on the Midbay Bridge when Riley piped up “Mommy, did you get my shoes?”

“Ah, no, Riley, I told you to get them”

“Oh, well, I couldn’t find them”

“Riley, THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR, RIGHT BY THE PIANO!”

“Oh”

So. we drove to Destin, then turned around and drove back over the bridge to home where I unbuckled her and sent her inside to pick from the 2 pairs of shoes that were sitting by the piano, or the 3 that were hanging in the shoe holder in her room.

She eventually wandered back out, and we got on the road.

So, as we were sitting in Seaside eating breakfast with my friend and her family, I was rubbing Riley’s back when I noticed there was weird smoothness along her waist. I peeked down the neck of her dress and confirmed my suspicions.

“Um, Riley... why aren’t you wearing underwear?”

“Oh, I forgot.”

She forgot. and in a short dress, too. You’d think that would get drafting - especially when Mom’s made a special trip back to get your shoes, maybe you’d grab some panties too.. . I couldn’t help but laugh. Fortunately I had about 10 pairs of Mickey Mouse underwear packed for Jackson, and Riley was okay with borrowing one.

So much for self sufficiency in dressing!