Costco

We recently renewed our Costco card after a long stint of being without one. Since then I think I've been twice. I got all ambitious today and decided to take all FIVE kids to Costco. It was chaos right from the get-go. When we pulled up someone else was getting out of their truck beside us just as I opened the van door for everyone to pile out. He decided to wait in his truck until we were all out which meant I had to make everyone hustle. I turned around to thank the kind soul for waiting only to discover that I knew him from church! The kids skipped across the muddy, puddled parking lot and into the front doors. The dear man ended up having to wait once again as I loaded everyone into or onto the cart and fumbled around my wallet for my costco card. I waved him by because I knew we'd be a while! 

With Ollie sitting in the seat, Fin standing on the end and the boys hopping on and off the sides, we made our way to the baking section to start our grand tour. "Can we have cookies?" they ask. "No, we're getting hot dogs at the end remember?" We made our way around the busy aisles with our extra large and extra full cart. They spotted a sample table just as I rounded the aisle to the meat section. "But MOM! SAMPLES!" they all protest. "Yes, I'll turn around as soon as I grab what I need from this aisle." We lucked into trying a bunch of different things as we weaved our way up and down the aisles. Mango juice, yogurt, popcorn.... The samples really make the trip to Costco just a tiny bit more bearable. 

As we made our way to the checkout we were greeted by the longest lines I've ever seen. All of the cashiers were on and each had at least ten people in line. We pulled into the shortest one we could find and waited....and waited. Finley started hanging off the end of the cart almost bumping into the sweet lady in front of us. When Joe wasn't pushing everyone's buttons he was folding himself in half to fit underneath the cart. Before long the baby was screaming and I started a game of "pat-a-cake" to keep him relatively quiet. Finley started making dinosaur noises from the end of the cart and Hyrum kept getting in everyone else's space and adding to the nose. After all of the fighting, poking, yelling, and baby screaming we finally made it through the checkout. 

I had promised the kids we would grab some hot dogs on our way out for Dinner, since Daddy was working late.  One look at the hot dog line-up and I was kicking myself for even mentioning it. I took Ollie out of the cart since those have to stay out of the line. Camilla and Fin hung out next to it to keep an eye on things. Hyrum stood nicely next me in line while Ollie wailed on my hip. Joe ran back and forth giggling like a mad man making me regret my decision even more. 

We managed to find an empty table to cram into and eat. With the baby still on my hip I managed to get ketchup and mustard on every hot dog and bring them drinks. Just as I was about to stuff my face with another bite so as not to prolong our stay, a friend walked over to say hi. Things finished off relatively smoothly considering how busy it was. After I finished loading groceries and kids into the van I shut my door and let out a deep breath of relief. I probably won't be back for another couple of months (or at least until I forget about this visit). 

I finished off my day enjoying a cup of tea with a hint of peanut butter (because sometimes I use the same knife when I make PB&honey sandwiches).