Rich brought home a slip from the church Giving Tree yesterday so today we went to the BX to fulfill some of the little girl's wishes. She wanted Barbies and art projects. You gotta understand, I have been appalled by Barbie ever since she first came out. At one point, when Roni was 7 or 8, Mattel called me and asked my opinion on Barbie, and I told them how I hated the materialism and the "little girls get to play dressup and little boys get to have action toys" approach. I didn't think Barbie was long for this world. Yet another of my predictions going awry, that. However, I don't argue with the disadvantaged 8-yr-old: she wants Barbies, Barbies she shall have.
The Barbie aisle at the toyland was overwhelming! My GOODNESS! I decided right away that rather than get one collectible Holiday Barbie for $30 I would be better off getting some playable ones and more of them. After hemming and hawing and looking and picking and choosing, and not running away as I really wanted to do (there's a REASON I do most of my shopping by catalog!) I settled for a brunette (possibly Hispanic) Princess Barbie in a blue sparkly princess dress and crown, and a blonde tie-dye Barbie with t-shirts you can tie-dye yourself and do again and again. Then we also got some bake-beads. I didn't see an age on these, except over 3, so I guess they are suitable.

From there it was off to the main BX. I picked up some word-search puzzle books for my mother-in-law, who turns 85 on the 21st of the month, and who doesn't read this page. Then we went to look for a Christmas dress. I settled on a green velveteen shimmery dress with a "diamond" clasp on the waist. I hope she likes it. We bundled it all together and took it over to the church, with my note on it to please give her the dress early so she can wear it on Christmas. This is always fun.

Thanks, Renee!I'd like to meet you, too! If we ever get to the South Ca'lina sister-in-law's, we'll be sure to visit you, too!