When it came down to time to plan Elle's birthday party I just wasn't sure what to do. She was really wanting to have a sleepover but has too many friends to have that many girls over to our house and then we didn't really have any ideas in the works for a big party either. So I proposed the idea of going to the American Girl store and to Atlanta (which it really turned out to be Alpharetta) for the weekend. I was completely surprised when she said she would love to do that and chose that over a birthday party.
Over Christmas Break Kenny and I did some researching and booked a hotel and I made the reservations for the American Girl store. We ended up booking the hotel off of one of the recommendations from the AG website. It looked really nice on their website and was a much better rate than some of the upper scale hotels we looked at. But other than that we didn't really know a whole lot else.
Since Kenny would leave for market on the day of her actual birthday we took the trip a couple weeks before her birthday. We checked her out of school around noon on Friday and made the drive over. We left Walker at home in Starkville to spend some quality time for CeCe. We wanted this to be a special trip for Elle plus Walker wouldn't of understood the American Girl store at his age and it would of been a big ol meltdown. Due to traffic we didn't get to the hotel until 6 or so but when we rolled up Kenny realized he had been to the area before and was super excited. We were so happy to find that the hotel was so nice and fun and the area around it lended itself to lots and lots of shopping, restaurants and all kinds of other stuff all within walking. We quickly got checked in and freshened up and went downstairs for a snack and a cocktail. Then we walked down the street to a causal pizza place that was recommended by a friend. And then after that we went to this ice cream place called Jenni's which is a chain but oh my goodness I am still dreaming of this ice cream! It was such a great night spent with Elle and relaxing.
Elle waiting on Daddy to get us our room keys. So happy to be there. Of course she brought along
her doll Julie that she got for Christmas. We had big plans for her the next day.
Daddy daughter love.
Letting Elle indulge in some screen time and a coke while we indulged in a cocktail.
Enjoying some really really delicious pizza.
The best ice cream at Jeni's
Elle and Julie in their matching nightgowns turning in for a good night sleep.
Saturday morning we woke up and ordered breakfast from room service. It took a little longer than we expected to get it but it was still very yummy and we enjoy doing that for breakfast lately because it makes mornings more relaxed. While we hung in the room and got ready Elle perused the AG website to look at the different hairstyles she could choose for her doll. Mid morning we had reservations for lunch at the American Girl Bistro and then planned to shop the store before we took Elle's doll to the salon for nail painting, hair styling and to get her ears pierced. We got to the store a little early and had a little time to walk around before it was time to sit down for lunch. I had booked a birthday package for our lunch that included the courses of food and then they would bring her out a little cake and sing. We made our way to the table and we put Julie in her high chair and they brought each of them a crown and brought Julie a place setting of her own. It was all so sweet. Then we started to look at the menu and Elle said you know...I'm really not hungry. So we talked it over with her and made sure she wasn't in a hurry to shop and that's why she was saying she didn't want to eat. We told her it was her birthday day and if she didn't want to eat then that was fine. I was happy she had at least told us before we ordered all the food and then none of it got eaten because I wasn't all that hungry myself yet at the point. So we ended up getting up and and not eating and we were all fine with that!
So then it was time to shop. Elle decided she wanted to get a new doll and spent lots of time making that decision. She is so much like Kenny when she shops. Takes her time and really thinks about each thing. So we must of circled that store 100 times that day. She ultimately decided on Luciana. A brunette doll who loves space and science. She is really cute! Then we shopped for outfits, accessories, and other things for the dolls to use in their doll lives before we made our way to the salon. We managed to squeeze Luci in for all the same things that Julie was getting and we enjoyed watching them get pampered!
Checking out the possible hairstyles.
Breakfast before a day of shopping.
Elle in front of Julie's set up holding Julie.
Getting Julie situated in her chair for lunch.
Birthday crowns for the birthday girl and her guest of honor.
A picture with my girl to honor the choice finally being made on Luci.
We ran into one of Kenny's friends and fraternity brothers from college who
was there with his daughter and I had to get a picture of these two Daddys with all their loot.
Watching Julie and Luci get pampered.
One last picture before we left!
So by the time we left American Girl we were hungry so we headed for the food court where we hit up Chick Oil A because Elle loves a chicken sandwich pretty hard these day. They had a big carousel that we each rode with Elle after we ate and then we had one last fun surprise before we left the mall. Our friend who lives in the area had let us know that we needed to take her upstairs to ride these funny animal ride things. It was a big hit with Elle and we enjoyed watching her ride hers around the entire second floor of the mall.
Carousel ride with Daddy.
Ready to go for a ride on the panda she chose.
Daddy on baby doll duty while she was cruising.
After we left the mall we went back to the hotel to put our bags away and Elle wanted to change her dolls into some of their new clothes. Then we went downstairs to have a cocktail at the bar, They had this drink that I fell in love with. Then we walked around and went to a few stores. By that time it was getting close to dinner time so we went to this beer garden place that Kenny had been before and he loves a lot of the beers they have. So we got some french fries and watched some football and that was where we were when we heard from Uncle Mike. Aunt Pam was out of town and he decided to come out and meet us for dinner. We were happy to see him and went to a great little spot for dinner before going back to Jenni's for more ice cream. It was a late night and we said our goodbyes to Mike in the hotel lobby before we went up to bed.
All dressed in their new clothes and ready to hit the town.
Wherever we went that weekend Elle's girls went too.
Quick picture before Mike went home after a long fun day.
The next morning we slept a little later. Then we ordered some breakfast and packed up so that we could let CeCe get home at a decent time. I know I always say this about every trip we go on but we so enjoyed this trip with our big girl. At times we miss her being a little girl but having her get a little older and doing more grown up things is really fun too. She has since told us how much she too enjoyed the trip and how appreciative she was. Happy 8th Birthday Elle!
Packed up and going for a ride.
These swings were in the breezeway when you came through the doors and
Elle loved sitting on them so we stopped one last time before we got in the car for home.
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