I was so proud of myself today. We were all more or less clean, we were all dressed, I had Eli in my Beco carrier for the first time and we were going on a walk because today and tomorrow are supposed to be the last nice days for awhile. Rain is apparently coming on Sunday and staying until Thursday so I thought we should take advantage of the weather while we could.

All was golden until I realized that Ben had found his Cinnamon Toast Crunch Hot Wheels car that Nonna had sent him and had it clenched tightly in his fist as we were walking out the door. He normally loves to go on walks and before Eli we went on at least one a day so I thought *maybe* there was a chance that he would be content just to walk and hold the car.

No dice. He wanted to drive the car. Still being optimistic I thought this could still maybe work out. So I walked to the bottom of the front steps and stood there for ten minutes waiting for Ben and the car to make it down the six steps. Since I wanted to finish the walk in this lifetime I told him that his car would stay here and wait for him on the steps.

This was not good news for Ben. He very reluctantly puts the car down and we start walking. He starts crying and then shrieking and then sobbing as we're walking. He takes two steps and then stops and sobs for a minute and then walks again, stops to cry and then walks again....

We've finally made it albeit still very dramatically to the end of our street and crossed it so we can walk around the neighborhood when Ben decides that he needs to turn back. So he turns around and tries to walk back home. I veto this decision which brings on (impossibly, but true) harder crying.

I say, "Ben, I know you're sad about your car, but it's waiting for you at home and we need to keep walking."

He looks up at me. He has tears running down his cheeks, snot dripping over his lips, and his fist stuffed in his mouth as he cries. Still sobbing he says, "Mom, I just can't."