American Girl Birthday

A few months ago, Brooklyn came home from school begging us to get her an American Girl Doll. All of a sudden she was dying for one and needed it RIGHT NOW (as is always the case with Brooklyn). There was no way Ryan and I were going to just get her one for no special reason, and there was no way Brooklyn could afford one since she had spent all of her Christmas money on other "super important things" already (aka, nonsense). So we talked about some of her options, like waiting until her birthday, earning the money, etc. Instead, she called Grandma Sugar. So, as a very EARLY birthday present, Sugar sent Brooklyn Julie.

With Julie came the idea of celebrating Brooklyn's very special eighth birthday in New York City at the best American Girl Doll store in the world with the best family in the world. So, today we (Sugar, Jim, Grandma and Grandpa Asay, and the Murrays) dined and shopped at the American Girl Doll store.

I was amazed and totally surprised by Brooklyn's sheer joy and giddiness while we were there. She absolutely loved looking around at all of the fun clothes, toys, accessories, etc. for her Julie. She ended up using her birthday gift card from Grandma and Grandpa Asay on reading glasses, colorful hair extensions, and a pet bunny for Julie.

After shopping, we dined at the American Girl Doll cafe with the kids' dolls. Everything was so cute - the doll high chairs, tea cups and cupcakes - and really good. The staff and all of us sang Brooklyn Happy Birthday with an adorable birthday cake.

It was such a great day and fun way to spend Miss Brooklyn's eighth birthday!

We waited to open birthday gifts until all of our family arrived in town. Brooklyn was beyond thrilled with the American Girl gift card from her grandma and grandpa. The girl loves to shop and spend money!!...

Andrea, Abby, Josh, Zachary, Brooklyn, Matthew, and half of Travis all watching Brooklyn open gifts...

Yay, more money from Aunt Michel and Uncle Chris...

Counting all EIGHT dollar bills from GG and GPa Pomeroy...

 More American Girl Doll goodies from the Murrays...

Hudson feel in love with his fun BOY cousins this weekend. They played ball, trucks, wrestling... all the things boys should do. He loved every minute of it. He and Zachary walking through NYC...

Destination AMERICAN GIRL PLACE...

Two peas in a pod when it comes to shopping...

Oh I love this spunky little girl...

It's so fun having Abby here!! She was such a help with Kendall and Hudson I didn't want her to ever leave us!!...

"Julie"...

She's made her selection...

Too much girlie stuff for this guy!...

Ryan was starting to feel a little out of place in all of the pink, too, or maybe it was the price tags on all this stuff?!...

One happy little girl!...

The lunch crew...