Play Date, Anyone?

We certainly did luck out this Christmas season amidst the horror stricken panic strangling the minds of parents everywhere over the lead-paint recalls and what to do for Christmas. It turns out that the Princess had one very simple gift request on her list: a dollhouse! “Terrific!” we thought, “all wood, fantastically worry free and anti-China!” I was especially pleased, since a dollhouse was on the top of my list of age-appropriate toys as well. I hesitated for a bit, as I just wasn’t sure if she would be interested. Leave it to me to doubt the experts! Duh!

A few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon as I lay lazily napping, Princess burst into my room with a catalog in hand (she may look like Dad, but she’s mama through and through).  “Mama, wake up! Maaaamaaa! This is what I want Saint Nicholas to bring me for Christmas!” (Shoving the catalog so close to my face that I couldn’t even focus) “This! Look!”  Now, could it get any easier for us than that? So purchase the dollhouse we did and carefully hid it away.

Tonight, I spent yet another evening alone, as Hubby is out until some ungodly hour, for the umpteenth time in the last month, fixing the problems of his whiny and bitchy “we-want-this-done before the holiday” clients. Being the one and only official “assembly professional” in our household anyway, I decided to tackle the dollhouse job. I need not remind you, Hubby and directions do not mix. Contractor or not he is a “no assembly required” kind of guy when it comes to everything at home. So before I found myself putting together this wonderful childhood treasure at 1:30am on Christmas Morning after returning from Midnight Mass, I nestled the kiddies all snug in their beds and whipped out the toolbox.

I absolutely love this dollhouse so much that upon finishing the assembly and unpacking all the rooms of furniture I promptly ran for my camera and tripod! Ha! Now, granted it’s no great shakes compared to some of the upscale miniatures, but this is darn-tooting nice for a small child, and decidedly NOT plastic!  While not all that pleased with the wallpaper, I was quite impressed by the appointments and darn it if I didn’t want to sit down and play! So here’s The Princess’ new digs that I soooo dig! I can’t wait to see the expression on her face when she unwraps it!

Front view with what I have dubbed “The Frump Family” for lack of a better name. 

Turns out they don’t live quite that frumpily, however. Their bedroom is uber-modern.

My favorite is the bathroom shower stall and its removable hand-held sprayer! And yes the commode actually opens!

Now you simply must go gaga over the open floor plan in their living room! Unfortunately I purchased too much furniture for it. Whoops! Probably just compensating for the lack of decent furniture in my own!

The front doors slide open and voila’ you are in the dining room!

Last but not least there’s the kitchen, complete with island and an endless supply of milk! No last minute trips to the store for that! 

That done, I have just one more thing to say about it:  “Play date, anyone?”