Rebecca earns Kanani

A few months ago, Rebecca began to want the newest American Girl (the doll of the year), whose name is Kanani.  Kanani is a Hawaiian girl and has very long hair and wears a hula dress.  She will only be on sale for the year 2011.  Rebecca decided that she wanted to earn money to buy her Kanani doll.  Since we were in the process of getting ready to list the house, having the house on the market to be shown every day, and moving, Rebecca found plenty of ways she could earn some dough.  She helped make beds. She had a dedicated job of putting all shoes in the hall closet or upstairs where they belong.  Rebecca helped Grammy plant flowers.  She helped pack boxes, put away dishes, fold towels, and on and on.  There was even a trip to a Coinstar to cash out a jug of pennies. Rebecca was very proud of herself for the way her box of cash piled up, and she frequently took her money out of her "cash drawer" to count it.   Finally, Rebecca had plenty of money, and last weekend was chosen as the day she could buy her doll.  Rebecca transferred her stash of cash from her "cash drawer" into a purse (which Mama watched like a hawk the whole day!) and we were off in search of a doll!

The day was made even more special because we got to meet up with Addie and Miss Julie for lunch and fun, as well as a trip to the American Girl store. 

For the past several weeks before the trip, Rebecca had decided she wanted to buy Josephina instead of Kanani.  We told her it was her money and her choice, but I always knew that when she got to the store and saw Kanani again, she would want her.  And mama was right.  As soon as we saw Kanani in the store window, she changed her mind.  Rebecca paid for her doll herself, and mommy and Grammy both treated Rebecca to another outfit for her dolls.  It was a fun day, and Rebecca LOVES Kanani.  The other dolls haven't been neglected, however.  They were moved over in the bed to make room for their new sister.