Let's All Go to the Mall!

On Sunday morning, the day between Caroline's party and actual birthday, we planned on going to the mall to give her her presents. She was getting her ears pierced as her present from us. She's been asking for a few months now. George's gift was a surprise. The mall is her happy place. She loves grabbing a bite to eat, window shopping, and riding the carousel.
Before we headed out Nana and Grampy came by to give their present to her. It was a giant bean bag from... the mall :) She and Alan have been in and out of that store a bunch of times and Caroline was very excited to have her own now.
We got to the mall and went straight for the ears. There was nervousness, but she told me she was okay. That started to go away as they prepped her. I told her that we could stop at anytime but she went for it. Poor kiddo cried and broke our hearts. She didn't want to look in the mirror to see her ears really. Afterwards, we immediately look for some accessories which took some of the sting away. When we left the store we told her we had to go get George's present to her. Build-a-Bear! She jumped for joy and the ears became less painful. She's been wanting one for almost two years now.
She had a lot of fun building her cat and George had a lot of fun watching her. We were actually surprised at how quickly she chose her stuffed animal, a cat since she has no cat toys.
After Build a Bear we headed to carousel. We found out that since it was her birthday she and George got to ride for free and get a balloon. Score for us!
Our next surprise was lunch at Bugaboo. Caroline and George love the restaurant and we wanted to treat Caroline to a little late lunch. The whole ride home she kept saying how it was the best day ever and she loved us all so much.
Don't worry, her ears felt fine and didn't bother her at all after a couple of days and she loves them :) 

Being silly on her bean bag. 

What, you're too tired to go to the mall? :)

Watching another young girl get

her ears pierced

Those sweet, unpierced ears :) 

Had to get a little rub in before they were pierced :)

When she started slinking down in her 

seat and she looked so vulnerable.

 

Rubbing the cat, Julie's, heart

Placing the heart inside

Getting a push from her little brother

Showing off her goods

Happy with his balloon and stamp :)

Two kids with giant balloons in the mall. 

Glad we weren't walking by :P

Happy girl :)

Very happy boy 

(he loves all of these celebrations :))

This is the best day ever!

Goodnight sweet 5 year old Caroline

Tomorrow you start your new adventure

as a 6 year old