Thank Heaven For Little Girls

On our recent trip to Chicago, Grandma treated all the granddaughters to a trip to the American Girl Store. The girls knew we were going, but they didn't know that Grandma was planning on surprising them all with new dolls!

These dolls are nothing new for my girls. We have had them in our home for about four years now. The clothes, the movies, the books.... they love them. In fact, here they are on Christmas Day, posing with all of their dolls, plus my Kit doll. (Who says I have to grow up?)

Can you tell that they took this photo themselves??? Anyway, we love the dolls. I think they're all kinds of fun and if my girls want to play with them until they're 20, I'm okay with that.

So we went to the doll store and the girls were loose, looking for their new best friends. In all honesty, my brothers and my dad kind of had a glassy-eyed expression and seemed a little bit overwhelmed. Matt had been through this before, and simply said, "I'll take the boys to the Cafe; come and get me when you're done."

Now because the girls knew we were going, I was able to "motivate" them to help out around the house so that they could earn money to buy all the extras that I knew Matt would have a hard time with. I have to say, that Erin busted her butt trying to earn extra cash. When you add the gift cards that Uncle Greg and Aunt Sarah gave the girls for their birthdays, my girls made a haul at the store and they have been so happy ever since.

They have set up an entire American Girl house in their bedrooms, with their new beds and bedding. These dolls have a bathroom, complete with a styling chair and hair accessories. Erin's dolls have glasses and head gear, and one of Allie's plays the violin. They have their own assortment of pets and a sleeping bag, should they choose to rough it. So much fun for them, and I am so happy that they have each other to enjoy it with.

This last photo is one of them in a pink-induced haze.... clearly basking in the afterglow of their shopping experience. Leave it to Jack to find some way to have an adventure of his own.