This is an Ellie/Mommy outing story.

 

It started out very cute.  We both got dressed.  I brushed her hair and before I was done she ran her hands through it madly in protest (think Mazie in Uncle Buck)  We both kissed her Daddy good bye, and as he began, to tell us to be careful, Ellen cut him off and said, "Don't worry.  We'll be careful and not bump into anybody when we're driving and die and bleed!"  I broke into hysterical laughter and ushered her out the door.

 

As she's climbing into the car she asked for loud music.  I knew that meant Mama Mia, because we had heard it the other day and she wanted it blasted.  So I ran over to the truck and found the movie soundtrack.  She hasn't watched Mama Mia or listened to the music in almost a year, but as we hurried down the 840, she yelled, "louder mommy!"  So as Skynyrd says, I turned it up ya'll.  I then watched her in the rearview mirror as she sang every single word of every song.  She still loves them!  That made me happy.

 

First stop was the Dance Store.  She needed a pink leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet shoes for class that starts in Sept.  I also grabbed her a bag to keep every thing in, and let her pick a tutu (which as of tonight she will not wear)  Lastly she chose a navy blue hair tie and actually wanted it in her hair!  A messy ponytail was concocted on the spot!  $80 later and an Oscar winning performance by me to not pass out at the total and we were on our way.  I'm just glad its a one shot expenditure ... until she out grows it that is.  Just upset me, because I know I could have found them cheaper elsewhere.  Oh Well... I'm sure it just gets more costly as the ballet adventure continues. 

 

With Dancing Queen blaring, we next hit the Mall for school clothes!  We went straight to The Children's Place, where I felt like I was shopping with Merely Streeps' character in The Devil Wears Prada, as she looked around the store acting as if she were too good to even know me.  I grabbed several things from each rack at a time and asked her which ones she liked... she very quickly, but with an impressive eye for detail, carelessly slapped the one she liked and the rest were dismissed.  She then befriended an employee, and Ellen spent the rest of our visit to TCP helping her hang up purple butterfly shirts that were too big for her, as I desperately ran back and forth holding clothing out for her to choose.  I must say by the time we left, she had put together a punk rocker look that would make any Green Day groupie proud.  My kid's got some style all her own, that's for sure!

 

We then hoofed it all over the mall looking for American Eagle.  Finally we found it near the fountain, where she asked to sit and throw pennies.  Phew... time to sit and text!  While chillin' as Ellie says, we ran into our friend Kayla where we chatted a bit, then ventured inside to get something for my niece Amanda.  Back on our way Ellie decided she wanted to look inside every garbage can we passed...I told her no.  Then we made the mistake of passing too closely to the candy vendor and the dragging by the wrist began!  It honestly all started to go down hill from there.  By the time we got back to Payless she also discovered the arcade and the mini golf across the way and the battle was in full swing.  Next I found myself repeatedly explaining to her that those shoes "are NOT your Size!!"  LOL  This went on a good 15 minutes as I sat deflated on the floor of the toddler section disgusted they didn't have the shoes I wanted for her.  Finally we were on our way out (and I passed the MUCH cheaper ballet shoes with a snarled on my face)

 

Headed now to the car, she again wanted to stop and look in the giant flower pot.  Once out the door she was insistant on looking at the garbage can and the "baby" garbage can, A.K.A. the ASH TRAY!!  Once again...dragging began.  She dug in her heels and leaned back against me as she tried desperately to go play with the ash try.  My inner child briefly considered letting go and allowing her to sling shot away from me agains the cement, but the mother in me said, that was a terrible idea.  :o)  After she realized that was a no win situation, she decided that she didn't love me and wanted to walk in the road instead of with me on the sidewalk.  I (maybe too violently) scooped her up and pressed on as she squirmed her way off my hip and down my leg.  I held her tight and spoke closely to her ear, asking if she was going to walk like a good girl... refusing to, I scooped her up yet again and pointed out the cars that would have hit her.  Finally in the car she hated me, hated every thing we had bought, didn't want Mama Mia, and didn't want to go to dinner with me.

 

I turned on the music anyway and ignored her.  By the time we reached 5 guys burgers and fries, she was a happy little cutie pie again and we had a nice rest of the evening... 

... until I found her painting Jr. with ketchup!

 

... I might have yelled again...   It's hard to say at this point...