The many uses of baby wipes...

Honestly? Couldn't think of what to title today's entry, and I just finished cleaning up our lunch mess with the ever-useful Kirkland wipes from Costco...just love those bad boys. Unscented, which...I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of at first, since you're left with nothing to mask the stench of messy diapers. But when cleaning off faces, counters, hands, toys, spilled milk, etc...I'm mighty glad for the unscented-ness.
Anyway, I promise this isn't the extent of my post today.

What a great weekend! Brian and I left mid-afternoon on Friday for our trip to Detroit (hilarious as it sounds). After about 20 minutes in the car, we both agreed it was completely strange to be driving on the highway without children! We chatted for a while, but mostly just enjoyed the radio (NPR--yay! No Dan Zanes!!!)...and I caught up on my Parenting mags.
Our hotel was great, nothing special, but super close to the concert venue and restaurants. Dinner was so-so (Pontiac, MI is not the mecca of tasty and cultural cuisine), but we managed to enjoy several pints of yummy beer before the show.
The opening bands were pretty decent, but the second of the two was our fave--I think they were called Augustana. Brian and I obviously aren't super in touch with music these days, but congratulated ourselves on recognizing several of the songs.:) The longer we stood there (it was a club-type venue, so no seats), drinks in hand..having a good time...it brought back some really great memories from Chicago. One of our first dates, actually, was to see Coldplay at The Riv--a smallish venue for a band that was less-known in those days. Anyway, it was the beginning of a shared love for these kinds of concerts...the venues always making such a difference. We're not sit-in-your-seat-and-enjoy music type of people...so we loved it.
AND.
The band--Dashboard--was ammmazing. Incredible. Energetic, played for a long time, and had a great rapport with the audience...they really are a great concert band. The lead singer, yes, was as yummy as imagined...but by the time I had two or three gin and tonics, Brian was the yummiest thing in my mind. LOL! Not that that should be laughable...but was surprising given the context.:)
There were lots of people in their twenties...but not so much that we felt like we were chaperones.
And like I said, lots of gin and tonics.:)
Overall, what a fun night...the only time I felt seriously overage was when I was in the line for the bathroom, and there was a girl next to me texting her friend in the back of the line...."Ohmygod...".:) Oh, and she had a cigarette with her. In the bathroom.

Our drive home was really pretty with all the fall color...and by the time we pulled onto my parents' drive, we were beyond antsy to see the boys.
Unfortunately, Jonathan had just woken Benjamin up by dropping B's porta-potty (I guess it was pretty loud) on the hardwood floor upstairs...thus bringing Benjamin's nap in the lower level to a crashing halt. B was not happy.
At all.
So we had a verrrrry crabby Benjamin on our hands...but decided to go to Meijer for a family grocery experience anyway.
WHAT WERE WE THINKING??????????
Benjamin had what I termed his worst, most collossal meltdown to date while we were trying to check out with the groceries. There was a display of matchbox cars...he went into full "I'm going to go ape unless I can walk out of here with my arms loaded down with cars" mode...and I knelt down and tried to encourage him to pick one.
I knew things weren't going to go well pretty much immediately...and by the time I started putting said cars back onto the rack (who the F decided to sell these things by the anti-bac stuff and fingernail clippers at the checkout lane, anyway?) Benjamin decided to scream and yell loud enough to be heard back in the housewares dept.
He went beet red, stiff as a board, and when I picked him up...he went horizontal on me and started kicking.
It was from hell.
I walked out calmly, pressing my face into the back of his neck (so as to avoid the evil stares and few sympathetic looks)...and when we got outside, he jumped down and started bolting for the car. We have a rule that he has to hold mommy or daddy's hand in the parking lot, so as he took off he began yelling "no mommy's hand!!!".
Lovely.
I won't go into anymore excruciating detail...too late as it is, I know.
But suffice it to say, we won't be making any trips to Meijer on such low energy anytime soon...when we got home, unloaded the groceries, and started making dinner (and pouring wine heavily), Benjamin came shuffling into the kitchen.
"Mommy..mommy..."
"What, Benjamin..." (complete I love you but am really ticked at you right now sound in my voice)
"I sorry, Mommy."

PLG.