Friday, March 30, 2012

A Wal-Mart Mornin'

I once read that you would be amazed at what you could accomplish if you actually stayed home five days in a row. This made me laugh uproariously. Staying at home for five days in a row is a drop in the bucket for me. Am I amazed at what I can get done around here? Clearly not-hence the uproarious laughter.


Going out is a huge day.


When I'm folding t-shirts into makeshift diapers and I'm on my last scrapings of baby cereal, I pull out my nineteen page list and trek into the city to hit Wal-Mart. It's a carefully thought out day and some would liken our getting ready to paint the town red, similar to preparing for church. Babies are washed, nails are clipped, clothes are laid out the night before. I haul the bambino's out of bed and we have a special breakfast of cinnamon rolls or some baked oatmeal. Lucy Lou, do we ever talk it up! We talk about going to town three days in advance. Last time we drove in, Taylin exclaimed, "Mama! Look at all the nice houses!" We do leave home, um, I guess once in awhile, but all the talk beforehand makes Wal-Mart sort of  Disneyland.


My cart is generally so full that I have trouble cranking it to get around the corner. Diapers, wipes, food and cleaning supplies spill out. I have to distract my mind from wanting to open the bottle of bleach and give the cart a good cleaning first. "Kids, don't touch ANYTHING! Yes, hands straight in the air-good idea. It'll make muscles holding them up like that."


I'm always worried someone is going to whip around an aisle and snap a photo of me and I'll become one of those infamous ladies on the "Wal-Mart People" e-mails that circulate the internet. I don't think anyone would know what to make of the unmanageable wilds in the cart and the mama adding up her grocery bill in her head. All the baby washing and nail clipping  doesn't prevent Taylin from putting 'lip gloss' with markers on Myla. Oh boy.


As long as our tummies are full, it helps reign in  the children for the morning out. I like going to town to be a big deal, for it to be a fun, special day and I do believe that the way to an extra special day, is  special food, ladies. Healthy, we are not.


The last recipe for our Wal-Mart morning was found in a Taste of Home magazine and was sent in by the brilliant Arlene Riehl.  Try it out! We had canned pears with ours, along with the hollering, 'Come on, let's hurry up! We need to get going!'
I then may or may not have added chocolate chips to our recipe & realized I'm basically feeding my kiddo cookies for breakfast.




Baked Oatmeal


3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted


Additional milk


*In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and butter. Stir into oat mixture until blended.


*Spoon into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 min or until set. Serve warm with milk.


Now it's grocery shopping time!





linking up here.

18 comments:

Katie Olthoff said...

Seriously? We go to town several days a week. 5 days at home when we were sick just about killed me!

But that oatmeal looks AWESOME! I think I'll make it in the morning!

Gumbo Lily said...

This post cracks me up! My Littles are all grown up, but I have two grandgirls next door who LOVE to go to Walmart. Like your kids, they think it's something close to Disneyland. Hilarious.

The baked oatmeal looks delish.
Thanks for the laugh.

Jody

Sherry Sikstrom said...

That looks wonderful! I would like to come for breakfast before my shopping trips too please!

Jenn Jantz said...

thanks for the good ole laugh.

Just tonight I *again* informed somebody that .Yes. Truly.Cross-my-heart.Where I came from- we.lived.1 whoooole hour. away from a WAL-MART.
Her expression? eyes got big, mouth dropped open.
uh-huh. its for true folks. :)

I love baked oatmeal. Just found an idea on Pintrest to bake it in muffin cups for individual servings. Perfect for me for all week !!

Deb said...

Don't all kids love going to the Walmarts?? Your oatmeal looks divine.

Faye Henry said...

Hello Cheyenne..
I loved your posting and laughed all the way through it.. Wished you had wrote more.. smile..
Your family sounds delightful..
As does the oatmeal..
Blessings dear friend...

Lindsay said...

Well, we live not too far from a major shopping area, so I can run and get something if I have too, but I still try to maximize my trips and it just about kills me to waste the gas to run over there if I don't have to- plus I get more done if I stay home. LOL!

I did have a big day out to the grocery outlet this week, and I stocked up on oatmeal. So, since I was debating on what to make (procrastinating by going online) I am going to try this recipe for breakfast. Thank you!!!

Jaimi_C said...

Thanks for laugh this morning! Wal-Mart is like Disneyland to my kiddos as well. How funny is that? It must be the aisles upon aisles of stuff they can look at and grab that makes it so fun. We make it to town once a week, and its usually to get parts for something around here. 5 days is nothing!
Your oatmeal looks yummy!

Jaimi

Trish said...

I just had to comment because I know EXACTLY what you're talking about, girl! I have filled up my cart at Costco, paid and unloaded it in my truck, then went back in and filled it again. Maybe I shouldn't have waited 3 months between trips to town?

Shannan Martin said...

You guys are the modern-day Ingalls family hitching up the buggy to go to Mankato! I love it.

Unknown said...

We do the same thing here! Next week we are going into the big city overnight for two doctor appointments....I'm already planning the trip! My list for WalMart is growing exponentially at this moment...time for my monthly spending spree.

Rain Barnes said...

Town is a production for us as well. Actually it used to be, now I'm in everyday to take my oldest to school.

When Buster was little though I'd only go once a month. I can remember people asking me how many kids I had waiting at home when they saw how much was in my cart. They were blown away to hear that there was only one!

It was an ALL day ordeal, with errands that seemed to go on forever!

Can't wait to try the oatmeal cookie bake. ;)

Crystal said...

That recipe looks delishious!

I used to spend so much time at home that I only went to town if we were starving, but now I go to ride my pony pretty much everyday which is on the way to town, so it seems I am there more than I like.

NaomiG said...

Hahaha! I LOVE this. What I especially love about it is that I live like 20 minutes away from Walmart, and I still have that one day a month thing that we do where I hit my three stores--walmart, costco and trader joes, and it takes ALL DAY. And, the cart is LOADED. And it is HORRIBLE.

But, I hate leaving my house too, just because people everywhere are so annoying. So, I may bring this upon myself. :-)

Tara said...

The less time I can spend in a Walmart the better! Love the pictures in my head from this little story and the oatmeal sounds heavenly - must try it.

Libbie said...

ooooo that looks so yummy! I go to Target way too much...sometimes twice a day! I can tell people where anything is right to the shelf :) embarrassing! I will let you know if I see anypics of you going around :)
I gotta sneak down & see the next post down! I spied some beautiful eyes!!!

Suzie Salmon said...

Mmmmmm. I've even added pumpkin to mine :) I LOVE baked oatmeal!

Anonymous said...

Yummm!!!! We make this baked oatmeal too! :)
Loved this post. I do my big shopping once a month, so I know what you mean!! Its always a big deal to go to town.

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