American Girl Trip

Many (many) months ago Mom told Ainsley for her fifth birthday she would take her to the American Girl store to pick out a doll. Every since (literally every.day.) Ainsley has been researching dolls, checking out books about them at the library, and trying to decide which doll she wanted to bring home. She has been talking about things she wants to do with her doll, places she wants to take her, the list goes on. First she wanted Mary Ellen. Then Julie. Then McKenna. Well apparently McKenna isn’t for sale anymore. So then she wanted Tenney. Tenney was the one she went in wanting. 

Sunday after church we picked up Nanny and hit the road to Columbus! Ainsley made it 20 minutes before she fell asleep:) 

We pulled in and she was so excited when she saw the store! We all went in and she was a little overwhelmed at all the dolls and things that went with them. She ran to Mary Ellen and stated that was who she wanted. We looked at every other doll and she stayed firm that she wanted Mary Ellen. 

At check out she got to ring a special bell for getting her first doll. They made an announcement and every chanted “friends forever!”. She was dying to take Mary Ellen out of her box, so we came back to the hotel so she could play with Mary Ellen and her dog Scooter (and maybe a few outfits I had to get). 

Nanny got the “AG package” and with our stay came a bed, a robe and slippers for her doll. We also got popcorn and a movie :) We took Mary Ellen shopping and out to dinner. Ainsley got a special birthday push pop. Ainsley taught Mary Ellen many important lessons like holding hands when crossing the road and eating the biggest tortilla chips. 

*i have to note here that in the hotel elevator it was the 3 of us and a man. He had a beard and long hair and Ainsley loudly asked if he was a boy or a girl. So that was awkward. 

We came back to the hotel, put on our pjs and watched a movie with our popcorn. Well, Ainsley more so practiced gymnastics on the bed, while Mom and I tried to convince her to lay down. 

Monday morning we woke up and Ainsley woke up Mary Ellen. She took Mary Ellen to breakfast with us and the hotel ladies brought her a special high chair. 

We played hide and seek with Mary Ellen and Scooter in the room and took turns trying to get ready for the day. We got to the store right when they opened and Ainsley knew exactly what she wanted to spend her birthday money on (Mary Ellen’s juke box and her flamingo outfit). She also got a coupon from the hotel to get her dolls hair done:) 

Then for the weekend finale, we did the Birthday Celebration Lunch at the AG Bistro. Mary Ellen got a tea cup and saucer, a tiara, a birthday shirt a birthday balloon, birthday muffin, and Ainsley got a tiara and a birthday cake. 

Ainsley said she didn’t want to leave. She asked if we could “start the weekend all over again”. And said “this was the best girls trip ever!”.