The Kassel Family Project Life 365

The kids had the day off school and so Laura and I had a Girl’s Day Out!  We met one of my best friends, Carol Tisdale, in St. Louis at the American Girl store.  After working hard at her chores for a long time, Laura had earned enough money to pay for half of Saige, the Girl of the Year doll.  Saige best fits Laura’s personality, so, after much back and forth, Andy and I finally relented to Laura getting a second doll.  She was so very excited and was up by 6:00 am!  On the drive to St. Louis, I heard Laura say to Lauren (her first doll), “I’m going to be buying Saige today.  I will be playing with Saige a lot at first because she will be new.  Just because I play with her for a while doesn’t mean that I don’t love you.  It is like Saige will be your sister!”  It was too cute!

After arriving at the store, we spent about an hour wandering through as Laura decided what else she wanted to get.  She finally settled on the Saige Starter Kit that included Saige, both Saige books, three outfits, Saige’s accessories, and her parade hat and helmet.  We also got a second display stand, some hair highlights, and another book.

One of the main reasons for going to the St. Louis store (besides having Carol be able to join us!) was the chance to eat at the Bistro inside the store.  Laura LOVED this new adventure especially because both dolls got to join us for lunch.  The food was actually quite good and it was a fun lunch.

When we were done eating, we took Lauren to the Doll Salon to get her hair done and to get a cleaning.  Laura chose pigtails for her and was very excited when it was done.  We spent the next couple of hours wandering through the Chesterfield Mall.  At about 2:00, we stopped to get a smoothie at Orange Julius and I could tell that Laura was getting tired.  We returned to the American Girl store to buy the new doll tote bag because the bag has been updated and it is much better than the one I picked up off eBay.  We said goodbye to Carol and then headed for home.  About ten minutes after leaving the mall, I asked Laura a question and did not receive an answer.  I glanced in my rearview mirror to discover that she was sound asleep…

She stayed that way until we were twenty minutes outside Columbia.  This is the sign of a successful day and it really was lots of fun!  Thanks for joining us Carol!

I was all prepared to take a picture of the kids with Grandpa Ken and Grandma Marilyn today until I walked into my kitchen, looked over, and saw this…

The time has come to move the Little Tykes picnic table out of the house.  It has been the “kids’ table” in our living room/dining room area since Laura was one year old.  The kids are just too big to sit at it and eat all the time, so outside it goes.  We will keep it for a little bit, but we will most likely give it away this winter or early next spring.  It is just another reminder that Laura and John are growing up so fast…

Dad and Marilyn arrived about 4:30 today.  After a great dinner and drinks, we all settled in to watch some Mizzou football.  The kids managed to talk Andy into playing their favorite new game, Uno.  It was a relaxing and fun evening!

Laura’s Second Grade School Picture

John’s Kindergarten School Picture

Laura is working on a color drawing for her soon-to-be new cousin, Baby Dinsmor!  She is sketching first and will color next.  In case you are wondering, that is Aunt Amanda in her wedding dress holding the baby and Uncle Ian in his wedding suit.  I think I am most impressed because Laura is seven and the people and baby look like real people.  I am glad that someone got the artist gene that runs in my family.  It certainly passed me right on by!