Chicago Day 2- American Girl

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On Friday we went to the American Girl store. Makenna was not all that into the dolls, because quite frankly, I always thought the price was ridiculous. She had a doll we bought in China and she was fine with that. But Malaine has always been into all dolls, and loved going through the American Girl Magazine each month. For Christmas she got her first doll, Ruthie, and since then we have all got into them more. The girls pulled their money together and bought Julie, all for her hair. ;-) Then Kit came for kindergarten graduation. Price wise, yes, still think they are high. But I would rather cut out some of the other "stuff" that we tend to lose pieces to, or they get bored with quickly and buy something that they use their imagination with. Not to mention that Makenna & Malaine play so well together with these dolls. So, all that said, this was our first time to visit the store. Makenna was not so sure, and was certainly not going to wear a dress to match her doll. But once we walked in that store, both of their eyes lit up, their mouths dropped open and they were full of giggles and smiles!
On our way to breakfast, we stopped at the doll hospital and checked in the doll I have tried to fix myself. We all loved that they put the gown on her with promises of her having a good hospital stay. Can't wait to see what they can do with her hair and they will reattach a broken leg.

We were ushered into the dining room with a warm welcome to the girls AND dolls. They were so sweet over Malaine wearing a matching set to her doll, everywhere we went people commented about their dresses, which she loved. The pictures do not do the dining room justice. It is so cute with hot pink and black. The napkin rings were hair scrunchies for the girls to keep, they bring out chairs for the dolls. They treat the girls like grown ups. My favorite moment was when Makenna leaned over and said "I feel like such a princess mom!" We thought the food was just OK, which is what I had heard. You are paying for the experience. And it was so worth it.

After breakfast Malaine bought Chrissa. She had saved up $$ along with an early birthday advance from Grammy and she could not wait to buy her. We had ears pierced to. They had a spot you could get hair done, but Makenna has to much of Mark in her. She said there was no way she was letting me pay $$ for the hair to be done when she could do it better and then redo it later with out feeling guilty. ;-) At one point I threatened to take her home if she said one more word about $$. Mark said he told her he would give her 10% of all she saved me from spending. (kidding of course) Actually Makenna is pretty great with hair and I have to agree, she did do better than those girls there!

We all enjoyed walking around reading about the dolls and the eras they are from and looking at the things from their time periods.

All in all, a wonderful time and worth the $$. I was so into dolls when I was young, this is like MY dream come true! ;-) I loved that the entire weekend the girls just wanted to get back to the room and play with the dolls together. I can't wait to take the little girls someday. (or to give them their birthday gifts we bought while there!)