My Real Life

So, Monkey Girl and I had a “Girl’s Day Out” on Sunday.  We hopped on the train and headed into NYC to the American Girl Store.

Here, she waits patiently for the train…

…and here she is ON the train.

We got off at Penn Station and started walking the 16 blocks to the store.  Turns out, there was a Polish pride parade along 5^th avenue, so we were entertained on our walk by Polish dance music.  Loud Polish dance music.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day in the city and we were pretty darn thirsty by the time we got to the store, but before crossing the street, we turned left and went to Rockefeller Plaza instead. 

I showed her where the Today Show is filmed (even though she has no idea what the Today Show is) and we went inside the NBC Experience Store.  They had a little fridge and we bought a Snapple to share.  Of course, I also bought myself a “Property of Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital” t-shirt since I am the world’s BIGGEST House fan.

Needless to say, Monkey Girl is an enormous fan of NYC.  She talked and talked the whole time, telling me that we need to go back to the city and we need to see this and this and this. 

She definitely wants to go see the Empire State Building and head up to the top.  I can’t wait!

Anyway, we got to the store and she literally gasped and said “Mommy!  It’s a girl’s dream here!  I couldn’t have dreamed something better than this!”

We walked around and she looked at every single outfit on every single floor.

She looked at every book they had.

She looked at, and explained to me, every single doll in detail.

Then, she saw the “Just Like Me” dolls.

She wants doll #39 which really does look just like her.  She knew better than to ask for it right then, however, we talked about the fact that Christmas and her Birthday are coming up.  Of course, she doesn’t realize that I’ve already finished my Christmas shopping for the kids.  Perhaps for her birthday…February isn’t that far away, although those puppies are expensive!  Anyone got a used one I could buy?

So, then we went upstairs to the café for our lunch reservation.

When you walk into the café, they ask how many dolls you have with you.  Then, they give you a little booster seat that attaches to the table for your doll to sit next to your girl.  It was freaking adorable.

First course…Cinammon buns…

Monkey Girl ate those.  Even though I’m willing to cheat with the occasional peanut butter chocolate ice cream cone, I knew for sure that my diabetes wouldn’t survive a frosted cinnamon bun.

Second course…cheese, carrots, grapes, celery, pretzel things…

Good stuff.

Main course…we both ordered macaroni and cheese, applesauce, carrots, and a fruit kabob.

Delicious!!!

Dessert was a heart-shaped cake, a star-shaped cookie, and a chocolate mousse.  Forgot to take a picture of that.  Too busy eating.

The most charming part of dinner was this little box.

It was a little box full of questions that the girls and their parents could ask each other.  Well, Monkey Girl was ALL over that.  She asked me half the questions and I asked her the other half.  It was a lot of fun and a neat bonding experience.

After lunch we needed to hit the loo, and while I normally would not take pictures in a bathroom, I just thought this was the coolest thing ever.

What is it?  It’s a doll holder that is attached to the wall of the bathroom stall.  It’s so you don’t have to put your doll on the floor or on the wet counter outside while you go about your business.

Here’s Monkey Girl’s doll, Mia, hanging out in the stall.

Sorry…but I found this incredibly cute and incredibly creative.

So, we bought a ballerina outfit, a pair of pajamas, and a witch costume for Mia.  Monkey Girl was thrilled.

On our way back to Penn Station, we stopped at the NYC Public Library.

I’ve seen the outside many times.  I’ve never been inside before.

I almost wept.

My God.  It is the most magnificent building I’ve ever been in.  Ever. 

Okay, well, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is something else, as well.

But…but…this building is built for books.  It’s purpose is to house books.

Who can stand it?

Now I know why I’ve always wanted to live in the city.  That building calls me.

We had to leave, however, because we were going to miss our train.

So, I said goodbye to my new best friend and we headed toward Penn Station.

Oh, and the parade was still going on…3 hours later.

On the way home, Monkey Girl dressed Mia in every outfit we had bought (which I will not subject you to.)

It was probably one of my most perfect days, you know?