the night.

So yesterday, we took the girls to Olive Garden for dinner and then to see the new Disney movie Frozen. It was all sold out when we got there. The girls were a bit bummed but the theatre had an arcade so we played some Whack-a-mole and a few other games to make them happy. Then we roamed the mall for a bit.
So we are in a store (Laura) exchanging a dress Brian bought me (it had a snag). The sales lady is looking for it and we are following her around. Its a big store that has tons of dresses so it was taking a bit of searching. All of a sudden I notice I can't see Lexi. I ask Brian if he has her, and no, he does not. So we start to look around, assuming she was playing in the racks. AFter a couple minutes my heart begins to race and I realize, she's not here! We are yelling for her now looking all over the store and the clerks are starting to help and then I'm running up and down the hallway asking if anyone has seen a little girl in a green shirt and grey leggings. Brian goes to customer service with Kennedy and I keep looking. Someone tells me to go to security, they can look at the cameras. At this point, we are past 10 minutes of searching for Lexi. You can imagine how fast my heart is going and where my mind is taking me. Thinking of scary scenarios- she's outside in the -25 weather, someone took her, shes crying in a corner somewhere all alone etc. etc. On my way to security, Brian calls my cell and says he has her. He found her at security where a lady had taken her! Apparently, once she turned around at the store, she couldn't see us and left the store thinking we left! The lady must have seen her all alone in the hall. She could understand Lexi saying "I can't find my mom and dad", but unfortunately she couldn't catch her name. It comes out "wexi". Once Brian found her, the lady started bawling and just felt so terrible for Lexi. Lexi was pretty calm, a bit of a whimper cry, but not too concerned. Just confused.....like I couldn't find you dad, where were you??
Once I got to Lexi, I hugged her like crazy and tried so so hard to hold in my tears. I didn't want to terrify Kennedy who is super sensitive to me crying. It was nearly 15 minutes without Lexi. Man, was I scared!! I was so happy to be back together again.

So, we went back to Laura to tell the clerks that we found her. One of the ladies that was helping us, tells us to be more careful and we should never take our eyes off our kids or they'll get taken away from us. Child Services will take our children away from us and we will have to prove we are really responsible parents in order to get them back. Kids are tricky and they can run away in a second.....
It was then that I interrupted her with, Ok, thanks. BYE (spoken very curtly) I was SOOOO mad. How dare she speak to us like that. After I just finished crying. Like accidents never happen or we did it on purpose?! UGH! I just wanted to say a few choice words to her, but I was actually so shocked by what she was saying, I just thought, GOODBYE ! I need to get away from her! later on, I was sad I didn't say something to her, but it was probably best I didn't.

Its crazy how after the adrenaline of the experience I was so TIRED! Like completely exhausted. I was happy my girls were safe and sound, we finished what we needed to do and then we left. I was so ready to be home.

What a night.