grocery shopping

my kids love to grocery shop. i don't necessarily relish shopping with all three, but it does happen every once in a while--picture me rushing through the store with claire in a back pack for as long as i can keep her there because if she's not in it, she's either standing in the cart or running through the isles grabbing food from the shelves, and the boys hanging off of the cart making lots of loud, happy noises and as always asking a million questions. by the end of most trips, someone tells me, "boy, you have your hands full!" and those customer service oriented Whole Foods clerks are rushing to help me get my food unloaded and packed up as quickly as possible!

matt doesn't mind, though, and often takes them to the store. i try to discourage it because it just seems like it would be boring especially when they could be playing at home or having some one on one time with me:) they don't go for treats either. they went through a phase when they asked for foods we wouldn't normally buy, and we often did experiment with new foods, but now they don't really asks. they love to spend time with matt, like to be out and about, and truly like to help out.

we have always taken them to the store with us. i remember back in minneapolis, matt and the boys would often run out to our local coop which was a few miles away. they went often and had fun together. they would order a green drink from the juice bar and sit in a little kids area that had small tables and play food. so sweet and so nice for mama to have some time to herself!