First stop: The Paint Department. That's where the fun always begins. Because how can you do anything if you don't know what colors are going on the walls? I had already decided that we'd use that 2-in-1 paint. You know that one that is paint and primer in one? I've used it before, and it's the absolute best. But you have to go with a good brand, like Behr. Yes, it's a little more expensive, but remember you're not buying primer.
So I know exactly what I'm getting. Just have to pick the color. Easy, yes? Not so much actually. First I have to get the kids to pick from the right section. I yelled, "That's OUTSIDE paint!" and, "That paint will drive Mommy crazy!" a few more times than I intended. I seriously thought about hot gluing them to the floor in front of the paint chips I needed them to pick from. And they have hot glue in store. And staple guns. How handy...
No, I didn't go get the glue. Or the staple gun. Instead I trapped them there and told them to pick. This should have been easy since they'd already decided on silver. But there were 10 different silvers and 2 boys. Did they pick the same one? Of course not. That would have made my life easier. So now we have two colors that honestly looked exactly the same to me (did I mention that I have just a touch of color-blindness?). So how to pick? I made it easy and lied. We needed 2 cans, I told them we'd get one of each. Then I get the one with 'silver' in the name (it was French Silver, if you're interested) and called it done. Also needed a deep brown (for painting the beds and shelves and other stuff), but I'd picked one out while they were arguing and said that one was Mommy's choice.
Were we done? Of course not. Now we needed paintbrushes and rollers. Do you think kids can pick these things quickly? Nope. They spent 45 minutes trying every single paintbrush in the store before they found ones they liked. We'd now been in the hardware store for well over an hour, our paint was still mixing, and we weren't done yet. Off to electrical and lights, which were luckily right next to each other.
Just as luckily, we only needed a faceplate for the light switch and a tiny extension cord (for that dragon light they'd insisted I order) from electrical. The faceplate had to be white, and there were only four options, but it still took 15 minutes to pick. We were now approaching the 2-hour mark and our cart was still depressingly empty. Paintbrushes, a faceplate, and an extension cord. Sigh. Now for lighting.
Now, it's important to note that the light in the kids' room is on the wall. On the wall. Let me repeat, on the wall. The light we choose, therefore, had to be on the wall. The wall. I even pointed this out to the kids and directed them towards the display of lights that go ON THE WALL. What do they do? For the first time they agree on something, but it's a chandelier. I refuse to buy it because it WILL NOT FIT. Crying ensues. They want the chandelier. Sales man, against what I'm sure is his better judgment, comes over, looking a little scared.
But he had a solution! They had just received a wall sconce that was pretty much a wall version of that chandelier. It wasn't even on the floor yet, but they had one. He went to get it, kids are dancing, I could have kissed him. I didn't due to the wedding ring on his finger, but I could have. Now back to the paint department.
And the kids have changed their mind. Not silver. Gray. So I tell them it's actually gray, and I'm so smart I knew they wanted gray (it was still French Silver with a high gloss finish). For some reason (possible a miracle sent by the gods), the actually believe me.
Now for the checkout. I just spent $560 because that light was so expensive. It's a light! And the kids want to add chocolate bars. More than one. And a couple drinks. What kind of hardware store has chocolate bars and drink? But I'm so tired I don't even care. $579 dollars now.
In the car, heading home, and I'm so tired I don't even care. We're not painting today. Cry all you want kiddos, painting will have to wait until tomorrow. Mommy needs a nap.
