What was I thinking buying toys 2 days before Christmas?

I must be insane!!!

The boys' school has this Santa's Workshop thing were they can go and "shop" for cr*p for their families. They pick out what they want and then the school sends us a bill. OMG...the stuff is just the cheapest stuff you can imagine. I let them do it two years in a row but had to put my foot down this year. I don't think DH needs another $.01 flashlight with "DAD" on it! LOL!

Sooooo.....I promised the boys I would take them to Target to buy each other a SMALL TOY to give on Christmas day. Well, you can just imagine how that went. I had other stuff to get and they know that "toys are last". They were very patient. It only took us about 20 minutes to get what I needed on my list. Then, it took them about 40 minutes to pick something small for each other. (Of course, they really picked their own toy and then handed it to each other).
NOW, for the last hour they have asked me a MILLION TIMES. "When can we open those presents?". "When can we open those presents?". "When can we open those presents?". "When can we open those presents?".

They are driving me INSANE!!!

What was I thinking?

What is it about The American Girl Doll?

After having three boys, I figured it would be so much fun to buy a doll but I just didn't get The American Girl thing. Until this weekend!!!

I received catalogs in the mail which were sent to the previous owner of our house. I quickly looked through them and thought, "Who would pay that much money for a doll?". (Guess who?) I tossed out the catalog and went on with my life.

Fast forward to December 2005. It's time to start thinking about what to get Vanessa for Christmas. Hmmm.....a doll?? Sure!! It will be fun! Of course, I procrastinated and then before you know it....ANOTHER AG catalog arrived. This time, something caught my eye. The Bitty Baby Doll. Hmmm....has this been there the whole time and I didn't notice it? I'm not sure.

So, to continue the story. My Mother-in-Law, my Sister-in-Law Diane, and I planned a trip to NYC to get our hair done. While there I thought, "Why not stop by the American Girl Doll store?" We walked for blocks dodged crowds of people to Fift Avenue and 49th Street. Ther eit was right in front of us!! I was actually getting excited. THEN....OMG!!! The line! NOT the line to purchase the doll but the line to get INSIDE the store!!!! I asked a lady who was about half-way through the line how long she had been waiting. "About 40 minutes". OMG! I didn't think it was worth that long of a wait.

We decided instead to find a place to eat and "maybe" try again later. After dinner we walked back "just to see" if the line was managable. WELL, not only was it managable...it wasn't there! We walked right in. THEN, it HIT ME. I HAVE A GIRL and I'M BUYING A REAL DOLL!!! We took the escalator up to the 3rd Floor where the Bitty Baby dolls were. That is when I saw her....the fair skinned, blonde, blue-grey eyed doll. That was the one!! I scooped her up and hear the sales lady say, "You're lucky you got her, we're selling out really fast". OH JOY! Of course, I had to buy the Ice-blue winter outfit with the matching fur cape!!!

Now, I just have to wait THIRTEEN more days until Vanessa finds her under the tree!!

(Here's hoping she actually PLAYS with her!!!)