American Girl Doll Day

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Patience is a virtue, but not something I usually attribute to my kids (or myself), but after nearly a year of patiently waiting, we planned our trip to the American Girl Doll store in Dallas.  Grandma Dar's visit was a perfect driver - what could be more charming than tea with 3 generations and her new doll?

Gracie has 5 or 6 of these dolls and Peyton could play with them endlessly.  She knows all their names, when Gracie got them, what they like to wear, how they are best used in an imagination game - everything!  Gracie was even nice enough to give Peyton Katie - one of her older dolls that she really doesn't play with that much...and Peyton loves her, but Katie is still not "HER first American Girl doll".

She has been pouring over the internet site for weeks, trying to decide on the doll she will choose, the outfit, the pajamas, the name...OH, the name...now there's a challenge....because Peyton, much like her mom, feels that once a name has been given, you can't just change it...it's too connected, too personal...to permanent!

The good news is - when we walked into this overwhelming store, she really didn't struggle too much with her decision.  She looked at all the dolls and all the clothes and all the dolls and all the clothes and all the dolls and all the clothes!!! but she knew what she wanted.

 This is Karly - officially known pre-adoption as doll #29 - one of the look-alike dolls and she is beautiful, just like Peyton.  There was one other option - hair a bit lighter and quite a bit shorter, but for now, Peyton has decided to keep her hair long for the school year, so Karly made perfect sense

 The stuff you can buy for these girls is amazing...of course my constant thoughts are about where, oh where would you put it all - Peyton has the tiniest room and no real love for cleaning it...it was fun to look and imagine!

 These little pink boots made the choice of pj outfits a slam dunk - how adorable are they?!  and we all know Peyton is a boot girl, so of course, Karly is going to be a boot girl too!

 So please with her choice and posing for Grandma, but I just had to snap one more shot!

 Check out all her goodies - Karly, 2 outfits and the all-important brush made especially for their hair.  I am sure we will be getting more things as time goes on, but this was a perfect start.

 With Grandma after check out - I'd say everyone is pretty happy.  The boys had escaped into the mall at this point - they were 'dolled out'!

 After we met Patrick and Keaton for lunch and did some back-to-school shopping, it was time for TEA.  Peyton got Karly dressed in her best outfit (check out these boots!  just like Peyton's faves!)

 At the Bistro even the dolls get their own special seats at the table.  We had made reservations, so we got a prime window seat - I think Karly looks quite pleased to be having her first tea.

 The menu was perfect - pink and doll-themed and everything was something a little girl would love to have...Peyton liked everything except Kanani's Hawaiian Hula Ham Sandwiches...I thought they were great!

 Our own personal American Girl Doll Bistro Tea Tower - start from the top, please!

 Saving the best for last!

 We got to make party hats for Karly - she just couldn't decide on her favorite, so she wore them all!

 Karly didn't just get her own seat - she got her own tea cup and plate too...Peyton made sure she got to taste everything!

 My girl and her girl

At home, Karly dressed for bed and Katie in her new back-to-school outfit...it was a great day!