Shopping Buddy

After a fun birthday party for one of Alexa's friends at Pump It Up (a party center with inflatable bouncy houses, slides, etc...), I decided to bring Alexa with me to Michaels Craft Store to pick up a few decorative items for her upcoming birthday party.  I knew it was a risky move, seeing as she had been bouncing for three hours straight (gymnastics + Pump It Up), but Michaels was so close, I figured it was worth a shot.  Wow.  I cannot believe how 'easy' things are with just one nearly four year-old...it's almost too easy.

She was extremely well-behaved in Michaels, although she did talk me into purchasing a sticker book and matching Hello Kitty items for her and Gabriella.  It was such a good experience, I decided we could venture into Nordstrom Rack next door .  In Nordstrom Rack, Alexa decided to pretend she was a "helper" (employee) in the store, and she was trying to sell me everything in the store.  It was like I was shopping with a girlfriend - she was telling me whether she liked items I selected and even picking out outfits for me.  Her outfits were a bit over the top - imagine everything with sequins, glitter and sparkly fabric combined - but it was a shopping trip that seemed representative of reaching the next level of childhood for her.  Alexa is definitely not a baby, or even a toddler, any more.

Her clothes shopping had actually started earlier in the day.  While we were waiting for gymnastics class to begin, Alexa ran over to the rack of leotards for sale, and in the very back, there was a giraffe-print leotard.  If it had been her size, she would have owned it for sure.  She really does keep her eyes peeled for anything giraffe - a great reminder of our Granty.

Alexa and a very young (~ 2-months) Granty....
the love was always there with these two.