Pop!

Charlotte doesn't quite get the concept of lines.  This morning at at Kids' Day at Zumwalt Park, there was a booth with young women in princess costumes giving out free balloon animals and painting faces.  She had never seen balloon animals before and had an urgent need to investigate.  She made a beeline right to the front of the line and stood looking up with fascination at the princess of balloons.

Being a cute toddler has its benefits, and the princess graciously whipped up a balloon heart to offer her tiny admirer despite my protestations that we could wait our turn.  Charlotte ran off happily, clutching her prize. 

Her clutches were a little too tight, and she experienced another first: balloons sometimes pop.  She looked confused.  Where had the heart gone?

I explained and we returned to the line.  This time I held her on my hip to enforce proper turn-taking.  We didn't have long to wait, as the princess made another heart for a less-than-grateful recipient.  Charlotte reached for it eagerly, signing thank you.  We took it to the neighboring Farmers booth to show Adam.  Just as we walked past the princess booth again ... POP!

The princess saw it happen and quickly started to inflate another balloon for Charlotte.  I asked if she could make a shape less likely to pop.  She whipped up a yellow butterfly.  All but one of its wings survived the ride home.