Birthday Date Night with my Niece!

I took my niece out for her 8th birthday! The night included:
* A trip to Old Navy (dress, leggings, skirt bought)
* A trip to Gymboree, Childrens Place, Crazy 8s and Abercrombie (one pair of boots bought). Let me just say: I could have bought the entire A&F store!!! I left depressed I didn't invent the Post-It Note so I could buy every cardigan and tank in there for Grace!
* For supper: Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory! (She had her choice: Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll, Cheesecake or Food Court. She chose cheesecake. What can I say? The girl's got taste).
* Movie, Popcorn, Slushie, and Pop - Ramona and Beezus!! LOVED it! It was the perfect movie for our night together!

Here are some of the things she said/did:
* She said: Aunt Holly, this is probably the best day ever. It's better than Minnesota. (Her parents had just taken her to Minnesota on a little vaca).
* She said: Ever since I saw the previews for Ramona & Beezus, I have wanted to go. And, then you told me you wanted to see it WITH me. And, ever since you told me that, I see the commercials and I picture you and I in the movie eating popcorn and watching it together! It's going to be so good!
* She said: Wouldn't it be great if it were a Saturday and you didn't have to work and I didn't have school, but everyone else did, and we could go shopping and eat cheesecake all day long?
* She said: Who has cheesecake for supper???? WE DO!!! WE DO!!!
* She said: My mom and dad would never let me have a Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll.
* She said: You must have a lot of money in your bank. You bought me cheesecake, and popcorn, and a slushie and a movie and clothes. (If only she knew....)
* She said: My mom and I love to shop and my dad always says 'Meet Maya and I back at the concession stand in one hour'. But, my mom and I get so excited and we love seeing everything and well, we just lose track of time. And, daddy calls and says 'Where are you?' and we say 'We're sorry, we can't help it. We just love shopping and everything! We're coming!!'
* She said: I like clothes like this and my mom likes clothes like that....but I think you like clothes just like I like.
* She said: Why do you think they call it Cheesecake Factory? This does not look like a factory. Factories look bad. This looks so nice.
* During the movie, there were a couple of sad parts and she turned to me with tears welled up and said, "I think I might cry." Let it out, Grace, let it out.

The entire time, she held my hand - in the mall, in the parking lot, everywhere. And, in the movie, she would look up at me, grin the biggest grin, grab my arm and snuggle up to me.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful niece! She was right - it was the BEST day!!