Princess Down!

Let me preface this story by saying that both of our girls are/were afraid of the vaccuum. I always thought it was a silly fear. Sure, the vaccuum makes some noise, but what other harm can come from it? Well, yesterday Nina's fear of the vaccuum might have gotten rekindled a bit. Here's how things went down...

• Me: (thinking) I'm almost done vaccuuming...so tired...need a shower before Lyla wakes up...Ariel doll is laying on the carpet by the wood floor...too much effort to bend down and pick it up...I'll push it onto the wood floor with the vaccuum so I can finish that spot of the carpet
• Nina: (painting at her table, thinking) It's a good thing I saved three weeks worth of allowance to buy my new Ariel doll because I really love her
• Me: (out loud) OH NO!!! (looking down at the red flecks all over the carpet and hearing some sort of grinding sound) The vaccuum definitely did NOT push the Ariel doll onto the wood floor. It sucked her up and was spitting out pieces of her back on the carpet.
• Nina: (out loud) Mommy, what happened?????
• Me: (pulling Ariel from the bottom of the vaccuum) I'm really sorry but I ran over Ariel with the vaccuum cleaner
• Nina: (very distressed tone) Mommy, why would you do that to Ariel?
• Me: (trying to be apologetic) I am so sorry. It was an accident. I'll get you a new one with my money this time.
• Nina: (heightened distressed tone) But, Mommy, why would you do that to Ariel? She's wrecked!
• Me: (thinking) Next time must not be too lazy to bend over and pick up Ariel... must remember that princess dolls and vaccuums don't mix... am really hoping Target has one in stock...
• An hour later: Nina has now told even strangers in Target and McDonalds that Mommy sucked Ariel up in the vaccuum but is completely thrilled to have replacement Ariel!
  Her hair took the worst of it on the actual doll, but the pretty dress she was wearing was definitely ripped beyond repair. Luckily for Nina, the only Ariel doll that Target had in stock was the "upgraded" one with three dresses, three underwater friends, and a treasure chest. So, of course I had to plunk down the extra $ to get the only replacement they had, but it all ended well for Nina.