…the kiddos rode bikies on chilly mornings… and might it just be noted that i’m getting some serious wildlife photographer vibes from rocco, now that he’s discovered my camera! yes? yes? as long as he’s not compelled to fly off to south africa any time soon, i’m good with that!
…breakfast by daddy was a hit, as usual… while i survived on mostly coffee, also as usual!
…very cold pool water was splashed in by the babers! this year was probably the chilliest LDW we’ve had in a long time, and i was a little bummed that it wasn’t a big, warm pool weekend. but!! still, we had such pretty weather, i wasn’t complaining!
…aaand most importantly! madd went to a birthday party at american girl! it was our first time there, and i have MANY thoughts on this… because oh boy, did i love my samantha doll growing up! i still do, which is why she is the one that little hands are not allowed to play with. haha. 🙂 maddalena does have my second doll, though, which was a “girl of today” doll at the time that i got her, and her name is now thumbelina! so, she got to take thumbelina, who got her very own seat, and have tea at the american girl bistro. they served yummy little goodies and gave all the girls hair bows! i was so excited, myself, and my inner 8 year old was ready to soak it all up. although, the other moms at the birthday party were a smidge older than i, and apparently did not have the american girl phase that i did… since 5 year olds don’t have much history with them either, i kind of felt the most enthusiastic one there! haha!
i have to be honest, too, though… i loved american girl growing up… i read every book and learned so much from every historical detail! i had the whole entire catalogue memorized… and whenever i saved up my money for something i wanted [that wasn’t on my birthday or christmas list], i made the phone call and learned to place the order all by myself. each girl’s collection was relatively attainable, quality made, and elegant… and there were only, what 4 or 5 girls! so, i felt like walking in to see wall-to-wall pink shelves full of endless doll stuff for endless amounts of dolls was just… overwhelming and underwhelming all at once. i couldn’t even find samantha, and it just made me realize how very different it all is today, now that it’s owned by mattel. it also made me so glad i got to enjoy it all back in the pleasant company era! and it completely validated the idea i had earlier this year to start collecting all the original, pretty white books for maddalena to read one day. they make me so happy, seeing them on her shelf!! so yes, i’ve officially dorked out about this, and i need a support group! i mean, i’m totally still trying to avoid being a creepy doll lady, but please tell me you loved your american girl doll!!!
…aaand one final note! while i took m to the party, rocco woke up from his nap just devastated that he was left behind, so i suggested to steven that he could take him on a walk… and steven pushed him in the stroller all the way to the farm! quiiiite a walk!! of course, he ended up in his favorite spot – on the golf cart – and definitely didn’t miss us a bit. 🙂
OH My Gosh! I LOVED my Samantha doll, as well as Felicity! I read ALL the books, and waited eagerly for the catalog to arrive in the mail. It looks so different now, with such a huge store and such a commercial feel. Definitely makes me nostalgic!
me too!!! i remember those two-page full size doll photos of each one, i would just flip through over and over and over! and ahh, felicity is my other fav!!! my sister had her and i always thought her stuff was just beauuuutiful!!!
Samantha was my girl too. I completely agree – American Girl is not the experience that it was when we were young. It’s so commercialized now. Very sad. Our Junior League did a couple of American Girl fashion show fundraisers and I was very underwhelmed – yet overwhelmed, like you said! – at how different it is now.
Good call to collect the original books. Where are you finding them? eBay? Used bookstores?
commercialized is a good way to put it!! it’s all about bright colors and anything to sell and the historical part seems so put on the back burner! i’m honestly so torn, because i still love it all so much, but i wish their priorities had remained the same even as they’ve grown! the old books i have found at a local used book store, but i am betting there are tons on ebay!! i kind of want to enjoy the hunt for a while, but i don’t know how many i’ll find out and about!
okay okay okay. so. i had kirsten growing up. i chose her because of my laura ingalls obsession! prairie life! i was obsessed with her and i have all of her line other than the bed (books too of course!). i kept every stitch of it, i even have the original packaging, tissue paper and all! letty has been asking for an american girl doll for awhile and i thought well i mean obviously i will never sell my kirsten and i won’t be buying letty her own because holy expensive…. so i am debating letting her have her? but she is soooo not me! letty is rough and messy and i just kept all these things for so long and so safe that i just don’t know. i have been debating it internally for two years. in case you were wondering what a crazy doll lady looks like? right here. me.
oh that is soooooo amazing that you took such good care of her!!!! i seriously think i knew you had kirsten, we must have talked about this haha!! i’m pretty sure i won’t be letting samantha make her rounds as a play doll for like… a long time… on account of the fact that my mom trusted a tiny brittany with her beloved barbie and i ruined her. i think i cut her hair. then i actually cut my samantha’s hair in 3rd grade! totally ruined it. she actually went to the doll hospital when i was like, in college, and became fresh and pretty again, haha!! so. i guess i can’t even trust myself. 😉 but luckily i have the secondary doll that didn’t come with a name and a background, and she’s been absolutely perfect for madd to name herself and get attached to. she takes decently good care of her, too, i will say!! i’ve been impressed!