Claiming my third of the attention...

Bonjour petite soeurs!!!! How are you?

It's nice to hear from you. As you know I have a busy schedule so don't take it personal when you don't hear from me. A few days ago I got a siamese cat and she's sooooo pretty. We hang out together all the time. She's so smart and intelligent.

My human surprised me with a new outfit, too. I think she'd been feeling guilty for not spending much time with me, but I'm very independent so that's actually fine (as I said I have too much in my agenda), but it's good because I got a new gorgeous ballet outfit!!!

We have two new sisters here. The dresser is getting so crowded. Being standing up all day is tiresome. I can't believe we don't have a bed or some chairs yet. Geez, maybe on Christmas?

Anyway one of them is Miss Linden Elaine Holland. She thinks she's all that because she's the "Girl of The Year". But there's two things she doesn' t know: 1) Her days of glory are ending soon with the 2011 GOTY. And 2) Being a "GOTY" only helps to get confined inside the house and not going anywere (does it ring a bell Juliette? I'm there with you). So Miss Linden should be getting down from her cloud soon.

The second girl's name is Nayla Elizabeth Cole, we haven't met yet because she's being "stored for Christmas" but I heard that she's pretty chic!

Ok I'm posting a pic of Rascal and me. Drool if you may. LOL

Hannah Heads East

Bonjour, Claudette! Ça va? Nous sommes très bien!

Hannah left us the first of November for the cold winters of the East Coast. I think she had a good time here (she got to meet me, after all). Here are some pictures from her last day with us.

Véronique helps Hannah roll up her sleeping bag

Véronique helps out, taking one end!

All done! Hannah has her sleeping bag, pillow, and dog.

Before she left, we gave Hannah a little going away present. A little puppy! Isn't he cute?

So, we are a smaller household now, losing one guest. It was fun getting to entertain her and show her Southern California. Too bad it rained the last week she was here. We didn't even get to go to the beach.

We wanted to send a new photo of the two of us. Here we are in our new sweaters. It's finally cold enough for us to wear them. I can't believe I got Juliette to wear one - since it isn't a dress! We have new berets as well. Mine is red and Juliette's is navy blue.


Juliette is asking for the 2-in-1 ballet outfit for Christmas. Quelle surprise! So, tell us about your life in Mexico. I've heard that you have a new roommate or two? Tell us all about your new friends!

Love,

Lucie

I Make Sunday at the Park look GREAT!

Dearest Claudette,

It's has rained here in Southern California for over a week. I had plans to take Traveling Hannah to all sorts of amazing (and touristy, what can I say?) sites around town. Well, the rain kept us home playing board games - Hannah is an amazing Monopoly player. Hannah had already been to a park and a baseball game earlier yesterday, and by the time she got home, we only had about an hour of clear afternoon skies. I knew we had no time to get to the beach, so we got some fresh air at a neighboring park.

Let's go on the slide! Umm...but it looks pretty steep from here. Who should go first?

Hannah decided to try it. It was fun!

The second time we went together.

And then we went for a spin and we both stayed on!

What a great afternoon. It's raining again today so I don't know when we'll be able to go out again. Enjoy, Claudette!

Love,
Lucie

Traveling Hannah is Here

Bonjour ma soeur Claudette,

We have a guest this month! Hannah arrived last week . She should be with us throughout October. Here we are meeting her after her long trip to Southern California:

She's very nice! She arrived with a quite a wardrobe, even a beautiful Halloween costume! She got to meet the other girls, and then said she was tired so we showed her to her room. Mia was nice enough to let her use her bedroom set. We helped her get out her sleeping bag and pillow, and her favorite dog.

Later that week one of the little humans took her to watch a gymnastics class. Before the class started, she got some help with the uneven bars. I think she might have a future in gymnastics. I hope she'll get to take classes when she goes back home.

Look at her dismount!

And she snuck a turn on the balance beam:

Hannah went to lunch and did some shopping after the class. She tells me she had a wonderful day!

Love, Juliette

My Trip to Julian, CA

Bonjour Claudette et Lucie!

Finally! It was my turn to go out of town with the humans. I was starting to feel a bit unloved because Lucie was getting all of the attention.

As soon as we arrived, we spotted the sign, above. American Girl Doll Clothes? Shopping for ME? Yay!

We met a very nice lady who makes handmade American Girl 18" and Bitty Baby doll clothes and accessories. We bought a dark pink cardigan sweater for me (you know I love pink) and the humans chatted with her for a while. She had Molly, Ivy, and a VERY old Kirsten on display. Not for sale (thank goodness; our house is crowded enough), though I heard the taller human muttering something about wanting to get Ivy.

Here I am outside the craft show. The whole town was decorated for fall, even though it was 85 degrees outside. It didn't feel like autumn to me.


One of the smaller humans bought a wax bottle candy from the big candy store. I don't know if I would like it or not. I was too afraid of the liquid staining my beautiful skin, so I just posed for a picture with it and handed it back to her.


One of the girls wanted to go for a ride but I was too afraid of falling to the street, so I protested. We walked instead. Well, THEY walked while I was carried. What a life!


We stopped in for a late lunch at an old fashioned soda fountain shop. The building was very old and the counter and stools looked original. I ordered a turkey and avocado sandwich.

Afterward we toured a book store. They had a wonderful fall and Halloween display in the front yard! I made it look even better.


Our last stop was for pie. Julian is famous for its pies, especially apple pie. The humans took home a blackberry apple pie and I went to check out this unusual fall/Halloween decoration. There were actually legs and boots sticking out of the bottom of it. Upon further inspection I realized it's a Christmas tree covered with this...thing...so I guess they just take it off in November and voilà!!! Christmas decor!

Well, that was our day in Julian. We had a nice meal or two, toured the shops, and the nice lady in the toy store didn't want to put me down. She thought I was lovely. I recommend her shop. After all, she's got great taste!

Love, Juliette

Check them out!

Check out BunnyBear's patterns for American Girl dolls!!!
http://www.bunnybear.com
Ok human, when are you making new clothes for me??? I need some!
Claudette

CRY-NO-MORE!

Oh Lucie!

I can't believe it, you cry-babies!!! I'm here trying to find some time when the laptop is free, and turned on! It's hard to do that with a human addicted to the Internet!!!!!! Besides now she takes the laptop to work, she didn't do that before. But oh well, I know how hard it is to live without me. After all, you are my triplets and we were conjoined by the same vinyl placenta... (hey hold on, where has my belly button gone??!! LOL). Haha.

A public sauna San Diego is, huh? Eek. I can't imagine that. Lucie, you have to watch out and put a shade on top of your head. You don't want to melt, little sissie! (I said sissie, as in little sister... don't get me wrong). I've heard of Patty melts but Lucie melts... ????

I rock in Spanish!! Of course ;) But to find out about the latest gossip I don't need it. Our human here contacts yours in English... and we heard that not one but TWO girls are coming to live here, and that Mabel Caitlin has been displaced!! She's been in tears the poor girl because she's made really good friends here... but things aren't that bad because she's going to live with her two sisters (Mia and Maura) in Texas. I know it will only take a week and she'll forget about us. I can put money on that!

So the curly girlies will be coming home soon. One is Linden and the other has been Nicki until now but will her identity will be remade. I'm glad cause I don't dig horses or ranch-stuff. Oh wait, I do dig one thing: ranch dressing!!!! (my fav!). ROFL.

Ok I have go to now. It's getting dark and the princess goes to sleep early. Nooooo, not Rebecca!! Me, me, me!!!

Rebecca is wearing a hoodie that says princess... but she doesn't know who rules here.

Oh Lucie, I do rock the berets, too. Just look and see.

Luv ya girlies.

Sis Claudette. (La hermanita Claudia... hermosa y preciosa princesita).

L'automne Est Chaud

Fall is officially here. What does that mean for us in Southern California? Why, 100 degree temperatures, of course!

There are sweaters and heavy coats in the stores, and people making preparations for the holidays, but I can't think of that right now. I can't think about ordering winter coats and snow boots for the mountains (besides, Kirsten will probably get to go again this year with her winter outfit and snowshoes). I can't think about Halloween costumes and baking pies.

No, instead I put on my favorite swim suit and headed out to the pool!

End of September means 100 degrees here. I'm quite annoyed by this. We had an "easy" summer until August hit and it's been hot one day and relatively cool the next. I wonder if we'll get fall temperatures by December?

Juliette's been all depressed this week. I think she misses you, Claudette. I do too, but she's been really sad. She said she wants to take you shopping and out for lunch and that she doesn't know when she'll see you again. Can you send pictures of you and your life in Mexico? Pictures with your friends and what you're doing lately?

Por favor?

How are you Spanish lessons going, anyway? Are there any people there who speak French? How are you getting along in your classes?

We miss you! We will be having a visitor in November. I'll be sure to update you then. Please write soon!

Love,
Lucie (et Juliette, bien sur!)

Véronique!! Elle est ici !!!

Remember when Drew joined the household a couple of weeks ago and I said,

"I hope we don't get any new roomies for a long time".

Does a relative count?

Dearest sister, our cousin is here from France!


Véronique arrived on Sunday. She's mother's fourth sister's middle child. They are originally from Honfleur, but a year ago moved to Le Havre, in the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) region. Do you remember a long car trip to the coast when we were two? Dipping our feet in the cold waters of the English Channel? Looking at the boats in Honfleur Harbor? No? I don't either. Anyway, it's nice to reconnect with family. Tante Manon sent along a gift package with Véronique so we'll send your portion along this fall. Tante Manon sends her love and she wishes you were here with us as well.

Kailey and Carys have moved away. They transferred to different schools out of state. We'll miss their smiles and I'll miss Kailey surfing with me!! Véronique took their room. She's just starting to decorate it, mostly with pictures of the harbor and streets of her hometown, mini sailboats, and lots of stuffed animals.

Since Kailey moved,I have no surfing partner. Maybe Véronique will try it? She's used to colder weather than we are, and there was no surfing since they lived on the Seine (can you imagine?). I'll talk to her about trying it, though.

More on our cousin later. Claudette, we all miss you and can't wait to hear about YOUR new roommate! I hear your human is on her way home to you right now. I hope you will be spoiled with lots of presents from her vacation. Please write soon. We miss you and we want to hear all about your summer.

Classes start here in two weeks. Back to school!

Love,
Lucie
(et Juliette, bien sur!)

Well... what do you know?!?!

Dear soeurs,
Je suis desolé... I haven't been able to write much lately. Now that the human is off for vacation we're having a big party here and I'd rather be partying than writing really. But due to the importance of the latest events I feel the need to communicate via the blog.

Lucie, until now we had been told that the girl named Summer Joy would be coming here as my newest foster sister... well... get this! I just heard through the grapevine that she won't be coming here at all... but to your house!!! Apparently either 1) Your own human liked her too much...2) Our human didn't like her as much ...3) She heard what a diva I am and chickened out... or 4) All of the above. So be prepared my dear!! Strong competition for attention ahead! Beware!!!!

Now. I'm also in HUGE alert mode!!!!! My best sources told me (you won't believe who my source is!!! That girl named Drew from your house!!!!!! She's a SLEUTH!!! But that is another topic) that there's another girl coming here. Her name: Rebecca Judith Rubin ... of all dolls it had to be her!!!!!!!!!! Chrissa and I are freaking out. Why? Well until now we were "the different" ones. The pretty ones. The most photogenic. And it seems this girl Rebecca steals the show wherever she shows up. So there. I'm preparing the grounds! I'll show her who rules here. No newcomer is arriving to steal our position.

So yes. I'm partying out to forget about all this too. Enjoy the attention while you can.

Let me know what happens.
Claudette

Our new bracelets!

Look at what the human faction made for us this weekend. Juliette isn't here to show hers off, but we'll post a shot of both soon. I love my new bracelet! I just wanted to post this before running off to watch diving practice. Juliette has become obsessed!

Hugs,

Lucie

Rockin' the Beret

Did I tell you I rock the berets? Well, here's proof! I went outside to model my beret, scarf and mittens and Drew followed me (she put her detective novel down, at least). The humans bought this set at the store and I quickly claimed it as my own. I know it's summer but WOW do I look great or what? I'll be using these all winter long. Not that we get much of a real winter in Southern California. Maybe Kirsten and I need to take a road trip to the mountains? She had a great trip last November. Here she is in the snow:

Doesn't that look nice and chilly? Our hottest summer weather hasn't even hit here yet, though.

BIG news here, Claudette! Guess what Juliette's been up to! Reading books? Well, yeah. Dancing? Not so much anymore. Our non-athletic sister has taken up...

DIVING.

Yes, diving. She went with a roommate to her swim lessons and saw the diving boards and is now taking diving lessons! Can you imagine? I'll have to get a picture of her in her diving gear. She's at the pool right now, learning something called a "pike".

I need to get to my surfing lesson, so I'll leave you with another picture of Drew, our newest roommate. I hope we don't get any new roomies for a LONG time.

Love,

Lucie

Drew Erin, our latest roommate and resident sleuth.

Getting a roommate from "The Place"

Dearest Claudette,

We miss you!!! Where are you? What are you doing and why are you so quiet??

So. Hmmm... I didn't get to go to "The Place". In fact the only one who got to go was that other blondie, Elizabeth. She didn't end up having a very good time. More on that later.

As if this place wasn't crowded enough. The humans brought me (okay, us) a new roommate.

I guess she's nice enough, but that girl is very...curious. She carries a notebook and magnifying glass with her everywhere and I think I saw her dusting for fingerprints in the hallway this morning. She says she has her own "roadster" (what??) and her dad is a lawyer. She's majoring in criminology. Her name is Drew (like "Nancy" from the books). I think she takes her name way too seriously.

I'm locking my diary and hiding it away.

So the humans had an overnight trip to The Place and brought home big red bags and some cute outfits but I haven't been able to try anything on yet. Juliette was hoping for a ballet outfit (surprised? Didn't think so)...and didn't get one. She left a printout of it by the human's desk.

The other girl who got to go was a visitor who will be meeting you next month, Claudette! Iris is a sweet girl, kind of quiet, but she seemed to enjoy the trip to The Place. Check out her modeling debut in the baby section:


She made a new friend while there. I guess she likes the blonds.

Here they are at the hotel afterward. Elizabeth spent most of her time on her face in the bottom of a stroller so she was pretty upset about the lack of respect. At least she got to be in the group shot. The one on the far right? Well, meet YOUR new roommate, Summer Joy! The humans were practically drooling over her, so be prepared, dear sister. You might just be toppled from your throne (or the dresser).

Summer is ridiculously popular. She wasn't even supposed to leave The Place!!


The youngest human brought home a Bitty Twin (minus her twin, but that's okay, remember I said this house is crowded!). I guess that's why Elizabeth was ignored during the rest of the trip. At least she got to go out for Chinese food the night before and they gave her some water.

The newest toddler addition is adorable as well. Meet Vanessa Shirley (Shirley for the "Temple" girl of movie fame):


I think that's it for this update. I'm planning to steal that purple plaid dress because I know I'd look better in that than any of the other girls. You know how I rock the berets! I'm just trying to figure out a way to take it without that detective wanna-be girl finding out. Good thing the humans brought me some mittens!

Please write soon, ma soeur. I bet you can't wait to meet your new roommate.

Love,

Lucie

Un voyage à la American Girl?

Rumours are floating around la maison today, dearest Claudette. I hear the female humans in the house muttering about a trip to some place where they *gulp* SELL vinyl people like us? A place filled with clothes that I can wear, furniture for my sparse room, telephones, books, clothes hangers (yeah, believe it or not, they are important), shoes, tables, desks, sport accessories,school supplies, hair care, camping equipment, pets, horses and more. Why have I not heard about this place before? And get this...it's called a "Place". How original is that?

I'm not exactly sure when this big event is taking place. Some time this summer. I tried to bribe Juliette to eavesdrop on them to get more details but she didn't go for it. She's the quiet one, so I thought she could just sit and read her book in the corner where no one would notice her, they would make their plans and I could find out more information.

Best of all, the little humans are talking about taking one of us with them. But which one? I feel like we're all waiting to win the road trip lottery. A couple of the girls haven't been getting a lot of attention lately, so they might be the front runners. Carys is one of them. She's a JLY 29.

Carys is quiet, but one of the nicest girls here. She takes care of the pets (we didn't make her do it, she WANTS to do it). She feeds the turtles, fish, cats, frogs and mice. She talks to Leonardo and Gamera (the turtles) and gives them strawberries and turtle food. She takes naps with the furrylazysleepy cat Marseille. She watches the mice scurry around the cage; I think they are afraid of a cool breeze because they are so shaky and nervous. Not all of the pets are hers, but she enjoys them and I can't complain. She got to clean the mouse cage tonight. Have fun, Carys.

One of the friendliest girls, Megan, might get to go on the trip because she's "Girl of the Year" at this "Place". They have a whole year dedicated to her? What? She's nice enough, but who wants to go to some oversized building with her face plastered all over the walls? What did she do to earn such a title? Do they give her a crown and a cake when she walks through the door? Does she sign autographs too? Hmm...maybe I should get her to sign some here at home and auction them off. You and Juliette were "girl of the year" a few years ago. Did you get some sort of royal treatment? And hey, why was I left out?

So here's Princess GOTY Megan working hard in the garden. She might want to change out of those overalls if she is chosen to go on the trip.

My biggest fear is that they'll bring home another roommate. Our place is getting pretty crowded and frankly I'm not too excited to share the spotlight with a newcomer. With my sparkling wit, charming personality and adventurous attitude, I get a lot of attention around here. That had better not change.

Love,
Lucie

My Day At the Rink

Do you enjoy the cold, Claudette? Are you getting used to HOT weather? Do you cringe at the idea of snow and ice and can't stand being cold? Well, me too. So the humans decided to take me to the ice rink today to watch one of the mini humans practice her jumps. Thankfully they didn't take me out on the ice, but could they have bothered to bring a jacket for me? NO!
After cheering on the little athlete, I got to rest on her Zuca bag. Now that's an interesting bag. It's on wheels that light up when it rolls. There are pockets everywhere and a huge space for her skates, tights, boot covers, extra clothing, skate guards, and even a small lunch. I saw skaters everywhere rolling them around and the top makes a great seat. Skaters can sit to lace up skates, or like me they can rest and try to warm up!
The other mini-human snuck a Felicity book in the bag, which she attempted to read to me but the sound of music and shouting and scraping ice drowned out her tiny little voice.

Here I am attempting to climb in the bag to get warm!

After her 30 minute lesson I was strapped into the warm car once again and you can tell by the smile on my face that I was pretty happy. Next time I'm packing a warm coat and gloves!

Love,
Lucie