Sunday, August 29, 2010

Just Another Great Reason to Love IKEA

We were leisurely strolling through Walmart, looking for lunch snacks and baby food, and then we heard it: "Downpour out there." If you live anywhere but the desert this may not be shocking, but in the desert, at 10:30 am, you never hear this. And I was caught completely unprepared--no umbrella, Hyrum and Eve (buckled into her carseat in her sleeveless dress) in tow, brand-new leather bag on my shoulder. As we checked out, I hoped that by the time we got outside the rain would be letting up a little. I was wrong.

When we got to the exit, rain was coming down in sheets, water was rushing through the parking lot, and customers were standing in the shelter of the doorway, puzzling out their options. You never know how long a storm like this will last in AZ--isolated, yes; fast-moving, yes; short, well?
I bent down to Hyrum, explained how hard it was raining, and told him we were gonna make a break for it. I couldn't really shelter Evie more than just pulling her canopy down as far as it could go. Hyrum curled into a ball under the toddler seat. I covered my precious bag with a 30-pack of chips and opened People magazine to the middle, attempting to cover my head. We waded slowly dashed to the Suburban and Evie started screaming--instead of shelter, the canopy had acted like a rain gutter, funneling water into her face. Poor girl!

The kids were safely in the car and I began unloading the cart. We were thirty minutes from home, and this trip had been spurred by a need for IKEA. I wasn't about to abandon my plans, so I MacGyvered it.

Those wondrous blue bags--big enough to comfortably shelter me and Evie. Handles for Hyrum to hold one over his head as well. This time we dawdled in the rain, enjoying the puddles and splashes. Hyrum added: "This is awesome!"

The trip wasn't a total bust--even though Hyrum refused to stay in Smaland, he insisted that he wasn't bored at all and stayed by me in the store, and I replaced my horribly cracked, broken, kid-stacked plates and bowls for $24.99.

I had two gut feelings before I left on errands:
1. You shouldn't do your hair today.
2. You need to bring the camera.

I didn't listen to either one.
Wish I'd had a ball cap.


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14 comments:

  1. Oh Laraine, I thought the same thing. haha

    Nothing worse than getting wet when you are all ready. No really, so irritating. Glad it all turned out well for you.

    Good thing Ben isn't coming until thursday, I'm sure the bug will be gone by then.

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  2. Oh, the unheeded gut feelings. I never quite know if it's gas or one of those things I should listen to. Glad your big blue IKEA bags saved the day, I love that store and it's shopping cart escalator.

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  3. I had to laugh at the first two comments as that was what came to me too!

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  4. We bloggers should have two cameras...so we can keep one in the vehicle at all times! What is Smaland? Never heard of it before!

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  5. haha..i have that thought all the time ' i knew i shouldn't have washed my hair today'

    i have naturally curly hair and straighten it every day...when it rains on me i look rather comical!

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  6. A-Those big blue bags are AWESOME. I've used them at garage sales to collect and haul all my goodies, at the grocery store, etc.
    b-We just had a dousing rain JUST like that here. It lasted about 5 minutes.

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  7. Hi Jen ... it's good to be home! I've spent this morning catching up on all my favorite blogs ... love that you "McGyvered" over to Ikea and got big payoff with those blue bags, great story!

    Now for the most pressing issue after catching up on your posts ... tell me everything you can about those gorgeous cowboy boots of yours, I LOVE THEM!!! happy belated b'day!

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  8. I remember the days of trying to figure out how I was going to make a mad dash to the car in a downpour with one infant in a car seat and one unwilling toddler who was not going to come willingly without getting the toy she wanted from the store. We were getting drenched and that's all there was to it. I remember a very nice man offering to carry Emily to the car while I carried Eric. We got wet anyway, but it was nice to know people still care.
    I recently helped a mother in the same situation. Pay it forward.

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  9. :::cracking up at Laraine's comment:::

    I think I love our blogging community as much or more than I do our blogs!

    =D

    PS. Glad you persevered. You rock, my friend.

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  10. hahahhahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! Ikea is worth it!
    Have a pretty day!
    Kristin

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  11. Those necessary errands and a rainstorm! It's like the Mesa kids in Provo who go out when it rains instead of going in... we just can't help it. I am glad you enjoyed and accomplished!

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  12. Love those blue Ikea bags :) Glad you had a good excursion despite having to make a mad dash to the car with 2 kids in tow!

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  13. Can you believe I've never been to IKEA? I know, I feel like there is an empty hole. Someday... Next time you come up this way, drag me to IKEA!

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