The tell tale signs of my yougest growing up

I went into Gymboree yesterday and after looking around for a few minutes realized that the Gymboree chapter in my life is over.  I really haven't bought anything there for Heidi in a couple years but I always go look.  Yesterday she was with me.  She declared to me that she was too old for those clothes.  Really?  Are you sure?  I just haven't wanted to admit it.  No more Gymboree.  She wants Abercrombie. 

During dinner Heidi was telling me about Sponge Bob and how he works at a place where he never gets paid.  I have never seen an episode of Sponge Bob so I asked why he works there if he doesn't get paid.  Heidi said, "Well, he's not very smart.  He's a sponge, you know."

I love spending time with my girls one on one.  I have the best times with them that way.  Yesterday Makenzie had a ballroom dance competition downtown and was gone from 6- 11 p.m.  Chris took Emma snowboarding with him which left Heidi to hang out with me.  We dropped Makenzie off at her designated meeting spot and then we went to Target to get her some church shoes.  To my surprise we found some. Why are church shoes so hard to find?  I've been trying to find a white pair for her for over a year. I think I've waited too long in the past to start looking and when I start looking they either only have a fancy flip flop white shoe or they don't have anything in her size.  Well, yesterday we got lucky and had several pairs to choose from.  I guess the trick for white church shoes is to go well before Easter. 

After Target we went to the mall.  I was on a quest to find inexpensive shirts for Heidi. She has had a growth spurt and while her shirts all fit her in the shoulder width, they do not fit in length. I am cheap on many things. Clothing being one of those things.  I want quality but I don't want to pay for that quality. This is why I only shop the clearance racks.

First was JcPenney:  The clearance stuff they had was all long-sleeved. That made sense but would not do.

Then there was Gymboree:  See above

Then Maceys:  All long sleeved...again

Then Gap kids:  Same as Maceys and Penneys

Then Nordstrom:  Nothing in my price range.

Heidi asks if we can look at Abercrombie.  

I agree to this and I stand there in the middle of the mall looking between Abercrombie and Abercrombie and Fitch trying to remember which one it is that has the kids clothing. Because I cannot tell by looking at the clothing which is which.  It's like the clothing in the kids one is mini teenage versions.  And the teenage clothing is just as small as the kids clothing.  It basically all looks the same.  I peak in at Abercrombie and Fitch and see a billboard of a half-naked man.

Hm......

So then I peer in at Abercrombie.  This billboard has three children doing somersaults.  I'm hoping I have it right and we head into that one. 



It was the right one.

And as luck would have it I found the best deal there.  Short-sleeved shirts for under $10.  Heidi was thrilled. It was from Abercrombie. Now she can look like she's 16 and not 4. 

And I can cry.