A Nerf Gun

As I mentioned below, Patrick was promised a final potty prize if he could go a week without any poopy accidents. After starting at day one about fifteen times, the concept finally seemed to grab hold in his little brain and we made it to day two, and then three, and then four - well, you get the point. On Saturday he hit day seven and boy was he ever excited to go shopping for his BIG potty prize. He has had his eye on a Nerf Gun forever, but in the days leading up to day seven he had other thoughts as well. He thought about a Pillow Pet, but really can't make up his mind on which one he likes best. He went swimming this weekend and wound up coming home asking for a snorkeling set. He saw a set of golfing gear at Ross that caught his eye.

Upon arriving in the toy section at Walmart, I attempted to guide him over to the guns. As I stood there examining the fifteen hundred different types of Nerf Guns they sell (really, it's a tad bit ridiculous) he disappeared. I quickly decided the ten dollar one was the best one for him and then it would allow me to buy him some extra darts and still remain in my around $15 budget.

Patrick had other plans. I went in search of him in one direction, my mom went in search in the other direction and I found him first - sitting in a motorized Hummer. I laughed and said, "C'mon buddy, I want to show you what your choices are." He shook his head at me. I said, "Seriously, Patrick, c'mon, let's go look at the toys." He said, "Mama, want this!" I thought he said "What's this?" as "want this" and "what's this?" sound the same. I said, "Buddy, it's a car. C'mon, let's go look at the toys." He said, "NO MAMA!!! WANT THIS!!!" Ha ha. I had to break it to him that a $349.00 motorized Hummer was not in the potty toy budget. He would have to go a REALLY long time without accidents to get that kind of prize. In fact, it made me wonder what I would spend $349.00 on if I had it just laying around waiting to be spent...

So, he got out of the Hummer and we headed over to the guns, where he promptly chose a $20 Star Wars gun. He really wanted the Star Wars gun, but it was kind of poorly made, he has no connection to Star Wars, and it was $20. We eventually got him steered in the right direction, even though he kept asking for Snorkel gear, and I did look for it, it just happens to be out of season now. I kept thinking about how we would arrive home with some dumb toy he picked on a whim and he would start asking about his "BAM BAM" that he has been wanting for a long time. He picked the gun, Grandpa bought one too, so they could play together (actually grams and gramps bought both guns - THANKS mom and dad!) and we headed to check out.

Upon taking it out of the box, Patrick has staunchly refused to fire the gun. He put the darts in, cocks the gun, and then FLAT OUT REFUSES to shoot it. So, I take it from him while he screams and shoot it myself. He then reloads it, cocks it, and REFUSES to shoot it. Sometimes, and only sometimes, I wonder what is wrong with my child.

On the upside, we have all (as in the adults, Katie, Jon, Dad, Me, Brandon) have really enjoyed playing target practice with the guns. They are quite fun and the darts actually stick to things, including Patrick's thigh, as I discovered when I misfired.

And as a total aside, NO WONDER my child has an ear infection. I am sitting here telling him to stop squirting his water gun directly into his ear...really, what is wrong with my child?