She’s All-American and will cost you $100. It’s the American Girl and the company's motto is about celebrating girls and all that they can be. Granted these dolls are adorable, but as parents you have to be prepared to shell out the cash for happy little girls.

My six-year-old got her first American Girl Bitty Twin for her birthday in April. She knew exactly which doll she wanted after visiting the American Girl store in Denver. This $50 doll is soft and cuddly and looks like Olivia with blond hair, blue eyes and pig tails.

“3-G, that’s the one,” Olivia said as she took to memory the label on the box back in March.

“OK, hon,” we’ll remember…3G.

So, when 3G arrived on April 16th, Olivia hugged her brother.

“We can’t just call it 3G. You should name it something with the letter G in the name, “ I suggested to little O. “How about Gigi?”

But Gigi was just what you’d call a “working name” for the moment. In a few days, the American Girl was officially called “Angie.” A good fit.

I also liked the name because it reminded me of my childhood. My best friend in country school was Angie.

So little Angie became a welcomed addition to the Vanderford family. This was the first time Olivia really attached herself to a doll. We ordered clothes and a brush for her hair. And Olivia would look through the American Girl magazine to get more ideas.

She also began to talk “American Girl” with the neighbor girls.

“Paige has two American Girls…the big ones” Olivia exclaimed.

Olivia's friend, Paige, has Kit who is one of the popular historical characters that inhabit stories set during important times in America’s past. And I believe Paige also has a contemporary girl who looks like her. That’s the fun thing about these dolls…not only do they come with books, cool clothes and accessories that both doll and girl can wear, but you can get the doll to look like you!

Recently we took another trip to Colorado and a stop at the American Girl store was on the top of Olivia’s list (along with swimming at the hotel pool). Anyway, Olivia appeared “star struck” as we entered the overwhelming store. Dolls, clothes and accessories everywhere…a little girl's dream!

We headed immediately for the doll salon. Here, you can get your doll’s hair done as you shop. Sounds sweet, huh? It is…except it will cost you. What do you think the actual price was?...a few bucks, maybe $5.00? Try $15.00!

I didn’t tell Jon as first. And when I did break the news, I prefaced it by saying, “You only do this once in a while…once in a long while. “

Our final purchases at the store?
1. One American Girl outfit
2. One pair of pink glasses
3. One box of stick-on earrings
4. One hair brush
5. One sleepover snack pack with a doll-sized backpack, two pretend juice boxes with straws, a pretend snack box to share and a container filled with pretend Bitty Bear crackers, string cheese and apple slices

Overall, it was a good experience at the American Girl store. You have to be willing to spend a little cash for fun sometimes, right?

We finished off the experience with a dinner at the neighboring Cheesecake Factory. As we looked around the restaurant, we noticed more and more little girls holding their American Girls here, too. These parents must have had the same idea…

As we took our seats, the waitress asked, “Would you like a chair for your doll?”

A…what? Did she say a chair for Angie?

Yup! The American Girl even has her own chair that slides onto the table at the Denver Cheesecake Factory.

“Oh…Can I get a chair for Angie to take home?” Olivia asked.

That’s the American way…everything for a price.

Happy Parenting everybody!

Taryn