Shopzilla

Caralie and I are getting shopped out. Since our weather here is in the 80's some days we've had to acquire a new summer wardrobe for my little bean pole. I've gotten a bit picky about what I will purchase, so we've been working hard. Luckily, there is a play area in our mall that Caralie enjoys romping around in so I can usually bribe her into submission.

On top of the giant baseball glove.

She likes to jump down from the baseball and announce, "I didn't break any legs or bones!"

Striking a pose on the hound dog slide.

Caralie likes to set a good example for the other kids and go down head first. I'm surprised more parents haven't given me the stink eye.

Now typically I save the playground for last so that I have the upper hand. You would think a kid would be happy to be shopping for stuff for her, but that is not always the case. Most of the time I get a lot of:

"This is so boring."
"That's ugly. I won't wear that."
"I'm tired of walking!"
"I don't want to shop ever again."
"I want dessert. Can I have dessert?"

At which point I threaten, "oh, I guess we're not going to the playground after all."

"Playground!!!"

"Okay. Then be _____ (insert 'patient,' 'nice,' 'a good listener', 'happy')"

Caralie being "happy."

Don't you love the super-sincere quality of her smile? Just makes you all warm and fuzzy inside.

Oh well. I'm just glad she's still willing to be seen with me in public and lets me pick out her clothes.

She even holds my hand.

So life is good.