My Samantha doll was a Christmas gift from Santa in 1988. The Pleasant Company catalog had been coming to our house for years prior, but it said for ages 8+ so we had to wait. Christmas Eve that year was pure torture. I had a good feeling that Santa was going to grant my only wish that year and I would run over to find my very own Samantha under the tree.
Fast forward more than 20 years and I am now able to pass my Samantha doll and the American Girl experience on to my girls. Ellie has been to lunch at the American Girl Place five times, but always for a friends' birthday. When we were planning her cousins' visit, we knew that American Girl Place would be in our itinerary.
Not only a shop and restaurant, the American Girl Place also has a photography studio, doll hair salon {which promises they can bring back Samantha's curls!} and doll hospital. A large bookstore is street level and contains historical fiction as well as books teaching how to do various crafts, how to handle tricky situations and build self esteem.
We began our day with a little shopping and Abby got her first American Girl doll, a Bitty Twin that looks just like her. Ellie picked out the Bitty Better Kit and a sleeper for her baby.
With the big girls thrilled, we headed to lunch.
Part of the fun of having lunch at the American Girl Place is to have seats for your dolls.
All of the girls, ages 1, 2 and 3 took great care of their babies.
While the youngest cousin {4 months} and only boy took a rest.
We stopped by to visit the Elizabeth doll one last time before we went home. Elizabeth and her best friend, Felicity are being retired at the end of this year. If Ellie gets her way, her Elizabeth doll will be under her tree when she wakes up on Christmas morning this year.
When the store employee who took this pic asked Ryan if he and his brother were twins, he told her, "Yes. Didn't you know we were the models for the Bitty Twin boys?". He was thrilled when she cracked up.
Everyone, dads included, had a great time. Thanks for another great visit, American Girl Place!
That looks like so much fun for the girls, especially Ellie! I wasn't much of a doll girl but my mom was and is already starting GG with my old Madame Alexander dolls. GG seems interested so we'll see! Glad y'all had fun!
ReplyDeletelove american girl! Too fun!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why...but this post made me tear up! I had my first American Girl doll from the Pleasant Company in the late 80's like you did. A Kirsten doll...because that's my name too. :) I have since passed her down to my daughter in the original box with the extra outfits and accessories.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad Minneapolis has an American Girl store now. We had the pleasure of doing a birthday celebration there last January when my oldest turned 9. She brought her Kit doll and my youngest (then 3) brought her newly-acquired Bitty Baby. It IS expensive but SO worth it when you see the delight on their little faces as the waitress plays along with their "dolly is real" fantasy.
With so much commercialism saturated in everything we do...it is a relief to me as a mother to have something like American Girl to focus my daughters' attention on.
I never knew there was such a place. So much fun for little girls.
ReplyDeleteit's times like this that i have living in the backwoods country....we don't have ANYTHING like this around here and hannah would love it! she's getting her first american doll this year for christmas.... although i'm thinking she'll be getting elizabeth or felicity now. didn't know they were being retired!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been yet, though in a couple years, I want to fly back to Chicago and take the girls!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures, love the post, and loved the visit! Thanks for all of your hospitality.
ReplyDeleteMiss you all already!
Brent, Amanda, Abby and Alex