Goner

Toys "R" Us is one store we usually avoid like the plague.  Not only is it one of those dreaded hundred-dollar stores...it also has the extra added bonus of reverting me to the mental age of five years old.  While this is not always a bad thing, I have a sneaking suspicion that it has some kind of effect on the amount of loot flying from the shelves into my cart.  I certainly can't take all the blame.

This past weekend was beautiful, as I'm sure you are all well aware.  The Hubbs and I ventured out into the bright sunlight with our sweet little girl, headed to the guitar and yarn stores.  We thought it might be nice to go somewhere that would pique The Princess's interest, so we made the trek over to the combination Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us for a little bit of fun.

The moment we walked through the door, I could feel myself getting more and more excited...and less and less logical.  By the time we had procured a cart and secured The Princess in the child seat, I was a goner.  The Hubbs took one look at me and knew it.  There was an extra twinkle in my eye, accompanied by a spring in my step...and if I wasn't careful, that spring was going to turn into a skip.  We were done for.

I stood in wonder, feet glued in place, not sure where to start.  Carefully placing one foot in front of the other, I made my way to the front display: bubbles.  Bubble machines, gallon jugs, wands of every shape and size.  The Princess and I were in heaven.  One of our favorite toys is her no-spill bubble jars with the integrated wands...one of the best inventions ever.  Imagine my glee when I realized they make bubble buckets.  These things were a good ten times the size of the little guys we have at home, with four - count 'em, four - gigantic wands.

Score.

This was not, I repeat not, our only purchase of the day.  We also procured a most excellent Play-Doh set, as well as a rhythm-gymnastics-style ribbon-on-a-stick that we're sure she'll love.  What I should make perfectly clear, though, is that these purchases - every single solitary one of them - were acquired with the strict promise that they would be for her Easter basket.

That being said, we've been playing with the Play-Doh bucket since the day we got it.  I couldn't very well come home with all these fantastic new toys without letting her play with at least one, could I?  What kind of a momma would do such a thing?  For days and days, The Princess has been climbing on top of us, reaching as far as her little arms will go in the general direction of the top of the entertainment center.  This is where the Play-Doh set resides when it is not in use...my way of ensuring that all of the pieces stay together, and that a certain little lady's room is not re-plastered in primary colors.  It's working well so far, and as long as we stick to our guns I think we'll be fine.

Yesterday was the nicest day we've had all year.  Venturing out into the afternoon with The Hubbs and the princess, sidewalk chalk in hand, my mind started to itch.  You know what I mean: that feeling in the back of your head that pokes and pokes at you until you just can't ignore it anymore?  Yeah, that.  It was telling me that there was a perfectly good bucket of bubbles sitting in the Toys "R" Us bag on the kitchen floor, mocking me.  Poke, poke.  What kind of a momma would make her little girl wait weeks and weeks for such a great toy?

Well!  I can't just stand idly by while my conscience pokes and prods at me like that.  What kind of a mommy, indeed?!  I tromped back into the kitchen to get the bubble bucket ready to go.

Back out in the yard, we made a family decision that this is the coolest thing EVER.  The Hubbs and I blew thousands and thousands of bubbles, watching The Princess happily chase and pop...Pop...POP them one by one.  We broke the giggle record for a single day, and are currently planning to venture outside once again to see if we can set a new record.  I'm thinking we can do it two days in a row...it just takes dedication, you see.

For those of you keeping count, we bought three toys for The Princess's Easter basket.  The first didn't even make it a day.  The second was busted out long before the first week passed.  I solemnly swear to hold out as long as humanly possible before giving her the ribbon-on-a-stick.  Any bets on how long I'll last?