Mall Day
Yesterday we didn’t have anything scheduled to do. This hasn’t happened in a while so I decided to live on the edge and ask Bug what she wanted to do. Go to the mall! she exclaimed excitedly, like going to the mall is equal with Disneyland or something.
What is she a teenager already? What kind of kid wants to go to the mall when they are four? She’s crazy. Thankfully, I realize that going to the mall does not require spending money so I was open to the idea. Sure, we could walk around and look at things, maybe spring for lunch at the forbidden McDonalds and if I’m feeling super generous, I’ll let her ride the carousel for a buck. Not a bad day’s entertainment really.
Then we found out that Toby was shooting some store fronts at the mall too. Hot dog! We could have a Take Your Daughter to Work Day. We hardly ever get to follow Toby around on his shoots because they are usually in super luxury homes with rugs you can’t walk on and breakable objects every where. Besides we don’t like to get in his way. At least I don’t.
However, Toby was happy to have us come with him. Mall shoots can be tricky for him. Even though he wears a big press pass, has a super official looking camera and all the security guards on his side, he still worries that the shopping mall customers are going to get weirded out by him taking pictures of them. He doesn’t actually take photos of the customers. He photoshops them out on the computer afterwards but there will always be some woman who thinks he’s taking a photo of her and it causes problems. So having your wife and kid along can cut down on the weirdo perviness factor.
Also, he just loves his little princess. She has him wrapped around her little finger. You think I spoil her? Well Toby is even worse.
He bought her a stupid ten dollar balloon. TEN DOLLARS! I know! What a rip off. It better light up, glow in the dark and serve you a hamburger in my opinion. Well, it does light up. And it is super big and supposedly un-poppable which is a total lie since the outer clear balloon popped and scared the crap out of us as soon as we got into my steaming hot car to go home.
Ugh. I hate that balloon. It’s so big and constantly in my face. She has bopped me in the head on purpose and not on purpose about a thousand times. I feel like having a punching match with that balloon. I might have to take an exacto knife to it in the night and say the fairies stole it.
But it made her happy and it made Toby happy and it was strangely photogenic in the mall which made me happy. Which is sort of the same way I feel about that silly pink puffy skirt that she’s been wearing for a month straight now.
I hate it and I desperately want to wash it but it does look cute in photos, I have to admit. It also gets us special treatment. You should hear the things people say to her when we’re out and about. Her pinkness this and her highness that and, oh look at the pretty princess etc etc etc…No wonder she doesn’t want to wear anything else. She’s getting used to this and she really does believe she is a princess. Which makes me the evil non-stepmother who makes her wear ugly non-pink clothes, clean her room and who also won’t buy her expensive balloons that don’t even come with a coupon for a free hamburger!
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19 Comments
nicole i
i hate balloons too….even the free ones!
how fun to hang with toby at the mall!
Barb
Whoa, that is a FANCY-SCHMANCY mall. (Can you tell I’m from the Midwest?) Bug is beautiful in pink, I have to say. Her skin tone is perfect for that color. Looks like a fun day.
agirlandaboy
You guys are all so cute.
Sonja
Well, the tiara and the skirt do make for a good combo. :)
Justyna
Super duper cute as always! Bug IS a princess, don’t you know? Ha.
PS. I’m very freaked out by you LOOKING AT ME from the banner, just like an old house with lots of antique portraits starring at you.
a chris
I think they should make the “press” badge a little more serious-looking.
You guys have an upmarket mall! I hope there are also stores selling something a little more utilitarian in there.
sizzle
That last photo is so great.
Calee
For all the headaches that come with freelancer/artist/computer-glued husbands, you can’t beat the perks.
gingermog
lol your rant about the balloon reminds me of this wicked little animation Billy’s Balloon. Bear with it, it starts getting good after 45 seconds in. Your right balloons do bop you on the head on purpose!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpc5vgi9zbM
I’m glad you and Toby got to spend the day together as a family. I don’t think it hurts to go through a fluffy pink stage and Bug does look cute. When my nephew Rob was her age he wore a superman cape and top day in day out. Now he’s almost 21 I should remind him of this :)
Jaynette
That skirt is adorable. Did your mom make it? Maybe she needs two…one for laundry day.
Jess
I hate balloons, too. However, do you know that the last picture looks like it came from this French movie? (Le Ballon Rouge)
http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/05/red-balloon-1956.html
I’m pretty sure Bug would fit in this picture:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YGVLM2i9n6o/Sh9NuDdXwHI/AAAAAAAACoI/ATKeuWvxtb8/s1600-h/meet02.jpg
bethany actually
I laughed out loud at the idea that the balloon should serve you a hamburger! And maybe you should hint to Toby that next time he can buy Bug a shiny mylar balloon at Dollar Tree on the way home for a buck!
Tabitha (From Single to Married)
Such a little cutie!
Melissa
I love when dads spoil their little princesses and not just because I was totally one of those ;)
jenifer
love your blog! we were at south coast plaza a couple days ago. I lurve it at x-mas time even thought I massively loathe the mall. your little girl is beautiful!!!!
Kuky
We got Isabelle two balloons for her birthday. She popped them both by smacking the beep out of them.
Kuky
Sorry I broke my comment in two. I was on my computer and Nathan started to cry. I was headed to the bedroom to lay down and use my phone. I didn’t feel like retyping what I wrote into my phone so just submitted the comment with half my thought. That’s ridiculous though because I’ve already typed more explaining myself. I’m a goober.
And all I wanted to say additionally was Bug is so cute in her little get up. I can see why everyone is calling her a princess. And also to say you should hope the balloon lasts for three months then you will think wow that’s $10 well spent.
shawntelle p.
Blame most things on the fairies. They aren’t supposed to be particularly nice creatures, anyway.
BeachMama
I love this post. Seeing Toby work is awesome, and getting to tag along and watch him spoil Bug is fun too. It all speaks to my Photographer side and I can see her running around with the pink balloon and pink skirt having her picture taken.