Best buds?

Sometimes, when watching the boys, I can't help but hear a Dickens-like voice within me narrating, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." As an earlier post mentioned, when the boys are playing well, they are playing SO well. But, then, there are moments like my trip to the store yesterday that have me torn between giggles (for the melodrama of it all), tears and frustration!!

We were trying to find a birthday gift for a friend of theirs and both boys were quite opinionated about what we should buy for her. It started out okay, with two requests that were completely acceptable and would be make perfectly fine birthday gifts. It ended, of course, with the boys spotting something THEY would like... and the rest is history. This is the "conversation" that ensued.

Me: "Well, guys, I think we picked out some great gifts! Why don't we find one more small item to use as a gift topper?"

Boy 1: "I want to buy a batman DVD!!!"

Me: "I don't think Lily would like that quite as much as you would."

Boy 2: "No, I want a batman DVD!!"

Boy 1: "No, it's mine!!"

Boy 2: "No, it's my batman DVD!"

Boy1: (louder) "No, I want the batman DVD!"

Boy 2: (almost screaming) "No, it's MINE!! I want it!"

Me: "No one is getting the batman DVD, we are shopping for Lily."

Suddenly, the boys join forces against Mommy. The act is completed with loud, body-shaking sobs and large, crocodile tears from both boys. Together, they implore me to buy them a batman DVD.

Alone, I resist.