Her Glass Slipper Went for a Swim
When we realized we had a wide open day to do absolutely whatever with, we immediately made up our minds to head down to Ohiopyle. It had been two years since we last visited, which was about two years too long since we really have been wanting to do this:
What? You don't think spending two hours riding bikes over 20 miles sounds like fun? Pshaw. It's fun. (When I can't walk tomorrow, I may have to rethink that.)
Before we headed to Ohiopyle, we made sure to pick up some things we learned were essential the last time we were there. Water shoes for all were tossed into a bag, along with a picnic lunch and a few bottles of water. We planned to picnic, go mountain biking, and then jump in the river to cool off.
All went exactly as planned. The bike ride was full of breath-taking sights and by the time we reached the water, we were all ready to cool off.
Alexis had a blast playing in the water.
A BLAST.
Right up until the chubby little face went from all smiles and giggles to frown city.
Somehow the kid lost a shoe . . . one of the light purple water shoes that she had picked out just the night before. It was her very first time wearing them, and apparently also her last. It had fallen off of her foot and got caught in the current that was headed straight for the very large waterfall.
As a misery-filled Alexis whined and complained and cried for us to find her shoe, we tried to show her that it just wasn't retrievable.
I mean, maybe it's in there somewhere, but I certainly wasn't about to just jump in the raging rapids and try to find it.
Alexis searched and searched and searched, despite our explanations that it was gone and that we could go buy a new pair.
Finally, we drug her away and headed back to Pittsburgh.
Along the way, we heard about that damn shoe at least 14,351,981 times. The shoe that she had known less than 24 hours was suddenly the most important shoe of all time. It was her Best Friend, her glass slipper, and her most prized possession all at once. In fact, when I asked her if she had fun at Ohiopyle, she replied, "I miss my shoe."
SHE. IS. SUCH. A. GIRL.
We stopped at Toys 'R Us to buy a replacement, knowing full well that there had been several light purple water shoes in her size just one night earlier.
Of course they were all gone.
I'm going to be hearing about that stupid shoe for the rest of my life, aren't I?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Reader Comments (21)
Probably so...
My son had a similar reaction to our broken vacuum cleaner. It was taken away JUST as we were leaving for the airport one morning. FIVE hours on a plane, plus another one to get to my parents house... the WHOLE time he just whimpered and cried. If I knew he loved it so much, I would have taught him how to use it. :-P
The good thing is that she cares about her stuff (trying to think of the bright side of things). Very cute, and the pictures are beautiful! :)
For some reason at first I though you meant the iphone went for a swim, and I freaked out a little bit for you. Sounds like a great bike ride to me, and what a cool place! It looks like so much fun!
I threw out my old leather desk chair Tuesday morning, and the ONE TIME Fionn decided to watch the garbage men pick up our trash, he sees them taking the chair. For the love of God, you would have thought I pitched his train table. He SCREAMED like someone was attacking him when the man heaved it into the truck! He continued to scream, and cry, until he was choking, and couldn't speak...over a chair! It was downright ugly! It had been in our room at my desk and Fionn suddenly thought it was a jungle gym, and put a hurting on it the last two weeks, hence it's trip to the trash. We now realize that things need to disappear in the dead of the night so no one is the wiser.
Maggie lost her brand new "disney" sunglasses two days after getting them at the gulf shore on our trip last week. I'm still hearing about it. For once I splurged and spend $20 on sunglasses for her, and BOOM gone. It's how it happens. I actually looked online to see if they sold them there because every day after school I hear "boy, mom....it sure is sunny" GRRRRRRR!
Hope you had fun anyway, even if you're sore tomorrow!!
ok, what app is that. i totally want it
Probably lol. We're still hearing about the beloved (never worn) alligator flip flop the waves at Ocean City ate.
Yes, probably. Knowing full well that if she HADN'T lost it she would probably have refused to wear them the next time. At least that's how it goes in my house.
Two questions:
1) Does Alexis walk on water or does it merely look that way???? : )
2) Which drug did you give her? 'Cause it certainly didn't stop her from asking questions.
Oh no! "I lost my shoe" lol* The poor girl. I'm sure you'll be hearing about it at least for the next few months. And then sporadically over the years. "Hey Ma...remember the time you made me lose my shoe by taking me to the stupid river...and then wouldn't get it? You're the worst mother ever." Of couse, this will be followed by slamming of doors...then when she's finly an adult it will all be in teasing good fun. We still torture my mother with bits like this :D
@Juli--It's Runkeeper lite. It tracks all sorts of activities (running, cycling, walking, etc.) and it's freeeeeee. Me likey freeeeeee.
Nah, it'll only last until your mind is completely and totally SICK AND TIRED OF IT. Trust me, a few days won't be sufficient from her standpoint. When you truly explode and brain matter is on the walls, she'll then promptly forget about that shoe. Her mission was accomplished. Kids are evil that way.
yes, yes, you are!
Probably, but I think the cute pic of her looking through the fence for her shoe is worth it! So! Adorable! (and typically Alexis!)
Forget about the shoe for a minute ... Why does Alexis look so grown up in that first picture of her?!
We have lost many things in that water and once they are out of your hands, they are GONE.
Can't you find them online? Aqua sock, water shoe, swim shoe... Is there a brand name on the mate? Poor mommy.
Yes. Yes you are.
And I? Can sympathize. What size is she? I'll check my TRU and see if I can replace her best friend ;)
I, too, would love to know the name of that app.
Also, if she had lost it, say...at home. It would have been a stupid shoe that she was too tight on her foot and didn't get lost soon enough. But since the river took it, of course its her best friend.
p.s. it doesn't get better.
The bad news is that Yes! By Gawd, you will hear about it forever--the good news is that over the next four years or so, she'll have ADDED to the list of things you're going to hear about forever, and will alternate amongst them. Until she realizes that running through the entire list 20 times in 30 minutes will cause your head to explode waaaaaaayyyyyy faster than just nagging that one thing for days.
About a week from now, deny EVER having any knowledge of the sacred purple shoe. It won't stop her, but it will distract her for about 5 minutes when she has to think about whether or not you would know (backlash can happen using this: if she EVER--and I do mean EVER--gets copies of these pics in her hands, she will shove them under your nose as visual aids in the nagging, but it may be worth it.)
Another entertaining post with great pictures. Isn't Ohiopyle awesome? Love your blog. I am as curious as Julie. What app is that? It will be one more reason for me to finally cave and get an iPhone. If only it would come to Verizon!
When she is 16 and deep in teenaged angst she will bring up 'that time you lost my shoe!'
Your photos are gorgeous!