An American Girl Surprise {Sonoma's Wish Come True!}

What a special weekend!  Mimi & Auntie K came into town on Friday afternoon for what the girls thought was just a little weekend visit.  Their visit was enough of a great surprise for both of the girls.  We went out to dinner at one of our favorite places we hadn't eaten at in a few years, Two Brothers' Roundhouse.  

After Cora went to sleep on Friday night, my Mom gave Sonoma the surprise of her lifetime so far:  Saturday morning we would be taking a train into Chicago and spending the day at American Girl Place! Sonoma squealed and almost cried tears of joy she was soo happy!  I passed down my American Girls to Sonoma over a year ago.  For exactly one year now, Sonoma has asked for her own doll:  Caroline.  She has talked about asking for Caroline for Christmas for a whole year now!  Mimi told Sonoma that she could pick out whatever doll she wanted and that would be her early Christmas present from my parents.  

We woke up early and took the 8:20 AM train into the city.  Sonoma had only rode the train once before, and it was only for a few stops, not all the way downtown.  She was so excited to have a legit train experience and she was a perfect passenger!

We arrived downtown a little after the American Girl store had opened.  What an experience!  The store is amazing and so well organized.  It's HUGE and they have everything you could possibly imagine plus more.  A treat shop, a doll hospital, a doll salon, a doll ear piercing salon, a restaurant, rooms and rooms of dolls and furniture and outfits, a photo studio, etc!  Sonoma ran right into the Caroline section and picked out her doll that came with a few accessories and a book about Caroline's life and background. We also got one additional holiday outfit.  Before we checked out, we explored the entire store and let Sonoma do the American Girl photo shoot.  You get to do a real photo shoot and we ended up getting a 5X7 in a frame and wallets.  It turned out so cute!

Caroline Abbott!

Thank you Mimi!!

Does she look happy or what??

I was so excited that my sister was able to come into town and be a part of this too!

What could possibly be even better than shopping and buying your dream doll?  Having an incredible lunch WITH your new doll!  Seriously...this restaurant in the American Girl store was probably one of the best lunches I have ever had!  It was a 4 course meal and was sooo delicious.  They bring out little chairs for your doll that attach to the table and they also bring out a plate and tea cup for the doll.

There were so many different people celerbrating birthdays during our lunch time.  They probably sang happy birthday about 7 times!  They bring out a really nice pretty pink cake, and Sonoma has already says she wants to come back for her birthday!  She ran into one of her friends from school and gymnastics who was there celebrating her birthday!  So fun!

It was really special that my Mom, Sister and I could all be here together to share this special experience with Sonoma.  American Girls were such a big part of me and Krista's childhood, so it meant a lot to have us all experience it together.  It was something my Mom has talked about doing for a long time.  I am so glad that we waited until Sonoma was 4 and a half years old.  In my opinion, it is the perfect age to experience something like this.  She was so grateful, so appreciative and so well behaved.  

Desserts!  So so yummy!

While the 4 of us were enjoying the city, Daddy and Cora had a special Daddy Daughter date day.  Daddy and Cora left super early in the morning, before us, so Cora would not be upset.  It worked out very well.  Daddy took Cora to Chickfila and the park.  They played all day and after her nap, when we got home, Mimi had a special doll waiting for Cora!  We couldn't leave her out!  When Cora is 4, will get to experience the American Girl store too.  

Meet Shelly, a Cabbage Patch doll!

Thank you Mimi!

Shelly came with a tea cup, so hopefully she and Caroline will have many tea parties together!  

I will forever hold the special memories of this past weekend in my heart.  "Best day ever," said Sonoma! :)