I long ago taught Alexis a really neat trick when I taught her that she had to pick Just One when we are out shopping. So, whether it's new clothes, toys, or whatever, she will willingly select just one item to take home. It's generally very handy, except for maybe when the Gap Outlet has a ton of stuff on clearance and I have a coupon. Then it would be really super handy if the kid would stop with the, "No, I want the blue one," and pick our five or six dresses while I can get them for under $10 each. Cause, you know, I GOT THE MEMO--she wants the blue one, but what about the red one? HUH?

Anyway.

So, it was really easy for Mr. Husband to convince Alexis to only choose one Halloween costume from The Disney Store way back in September. She carefully perused all her options and narrowed it down to the red Minnie Mouse costume and the pink Minnie Mouse costume. Mr. Husband invoked the Law of Just One, she picked the red one, and all was wonderful and dandy. (I am conveniently ignoring the part where I also bought her a costume and how she wore MY lovely $15 Snow White dress for Halloween and not the *ahem*not$15*ahem* one Mr. Husband bought. Conveniently ignoring. Yeah.)

The only thing was that Alexis did not forget about that pink Minnie Mouse costume. I mean, you have the brain power necessary to hold onto information like that when you're biggest responsibility is to make your parents crazy, so OF COURSE she remembered it. Every time we have gone to The Disney Store in the past two months, Alexis has run around looking for that silly dress. Which I wouldn't have bought her even if they had it. Not a chance. Cause I already bought her a Cinderella costume for Christmas and she doesn't need any more costumes. Period. NOT HAPPENING.

Fortunately, it wasn't an issue because The Disney Store loves me and sold out of them long before Halloween. Three cheers for the Rich Rat!

Today we needed to run into The Disney Store to get a few ornaments before they were totally sold out (I don't have enough Christmas ornaments, you know). As usual, Alexis said she was going to buy the pink Minnie Dress. Thinking I was waaaaay in the clear on that one, I told her, "Yeah, whatever."

DAMN YOU, MICKEY, for putting out more of that stupid pink Minnie Mouse dress! And DOUBLE DAMN YOU for only having them in 18 months!

While Mr. Husband was being all stealth and buying the kid a t-shirt to toss under Christmas Tree number 1 of 6, Alexis and I were battling over that costume. She picked it up and was all, "Let's go pay for Minnie dress" and I was all "Uh, that won't fit you." She was all, "Yes, it will." and I was all, "Dude, that would almost fit Baby Shell it's so small."

OMG! Stupid! Me!

Alexis was MORE than happy to accept the dress as a gift for her doll Baby Shell. Who wouldn't fit it. While I have bought her kind of creepy doll real baby clothes and had them fit, they were of the newborn or 0-3 months variety. 18 months isn't going to cut it.

I somehow managed to perform a little magic while Alexis was picking out an ornament for her tree and made the pink Minnie Mouse costume vanish into thin air, but I doubt that will be the end of it.

Yet, I'm still not buying it. No way. Just because I know there are some 4T ones on eBay does NOT mean I was going to buy it.

NO.

Not a chance.

(Seriously, I'm not buying it, not for Alexis nor for Baby Shell.)