rural kids, urban mom

As we live in the country and the nearest mall is an hour away and going to the mall with four kids is usually a hellish experience, we never go. I hadn't really thought much about it because I grew up in Vancouver with a mother who's idea of quality time with her youngest of four children was hanging out at the mall. My idea of quality time is sitting on the balcony with my iBook while the children entertain themselves with power tools, well actually, half the entire Little Tykes catalog circa 1997-2003.
So, anyway, I assumed that my children didn't care about the mall or shopping or had somehow inherited enough shopping experience from me?
I was wrong.
Today, we drove to the Hell's Angels capital of Canada, Nanaimo, to drop my oldest daughter, Tristan, off at the ferry to spend the week (at the mall i suppose) with my mom and my rich sister. As an aside, my mom in all her wisdom, said "how nice, now you'll only have three kids to take care of"…. Three kids? Only three under 6? Now that's a regular week at the spa!
So, we were in Nanaimo at 10 in the morning and going to check out the mall there seemed like a good idea. Even better, when we got there the first store we saw was Toys R Us. I am realizing that my kids are a little deprived as Parker had never been and Eliza can't remember ever going! Wow. I think I have embraced online shopping a little too heartily. Needless to say there was much overstimulation and many items added to the "when is Christmas anyway?" wishlists.
I managed to walk away with only a new noodle for swimming and a basket for Eliza's bike. I try and hold fast to the toys only at birthdays and Christmas rule as after four kids we have pretty much a full supply of toys – most of which don't get played with.