Out & About in the Arctic

If you are able to recall all of the excitement contained in my posts over the past 2 weekends, you'll know that Elaina and myself have lived like hermits in the warmth and seclusion of our home. For the third weekend in a row, it's terribly cold outside and I can't take it anymore! I have to get out!

Even though today's temperature reached an all-out record of 7 degrees, I set out for some much needed shopping therapy. Donning multiple layers of clothes, my new favorite courderoy, short billed hat and my comfy boots, I was ready to do some damage at the stores. I had been mentally preparing Eric to be ready for a "Daddy Day" with Elaina and not even question when I might be coming home. As I was trying to get myself out of the house, Elaina ran to me at least 7 times, asking for her hat to be able to come along and hugging and clinging to me. It's not that she was opposed to spending time with her dad, it's just that she is used to mommy staying home with her and taking her places when I do leave. She has grown accustom to daddy leaving certain nights of the week for bowling and fire meetings and being away from home on some weekends to work his second job at gun shows. She gives him great squeezy hugs and kisses and says, "bye-bye Dadda" and gives him her friendly wave. The flip side is when mommy decides to leave the house without her and she feels betrayed. It hurt my heart a little to finally sneak out the door without a final good-bye, but I couldn't draw more attention to my departure. All in all, it was a good thing for all of us to mix up our routine a little bit.

As for my shopping trip, I rocked! I covered a lot of territory in about 5 hours and found some great deals along the way for all of us. I put my mom guilt aside and tried my best to enjoy my day out on the town. Bundled up. In 7 degree weather.