Actually, I totally lied: before I get to the server thing, I have a word to say about Sophia’s presents.
Barbie totally rules the roost. On Saturday morning, Sophia owned a total of zero Barbies. Saturday night, four Barbies (plus accoutrements). Four different Barbies, actually—evidently there must be a heck of a lot of Barbie flavors. I’m not a crazy Barbie hater—I actually got into Barbie fairly late (about age 10) and really enjoyed playing with them. I had the Barbie penthouse and everything. I never thought I was supposed to look like her—she had long straight blond hair and I had short curly brown hair, and that was just one point on which we differed. She was a doll, not a role model.
Darin is very unhappy about the Barbies. We’re going to keep an eye on Sophia’s attitude toward it.
Running a close second to Barbies in the gift category was Princesses. Specifically Disney Princesses. Which, in case you haven’t been sucked into a Disney store recently, are: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine. Two of the Barbies were Princesses: Princess Barbie and Cinderella Barbie. Disney Princess storybooks. I’m feeling the need to editorialize as I read these stories to her. (In “Aladdin,” the Sultan tells Jasmine she needs to get married so that she can have someone to take care of her. Use your own imagination as to what I told Sophia as I read that.)
Sophia also got building toys, like K’Nex and Tinkertoys. So not everyone thinks girls are all about fluffiness and gorgeous clothes.
For extra fun, plus the added excitement of plucking long strands of synthetic hair from food, clothing, etc., one really must get the Rapunzel Barbie and the equally hirsute Botticelli the horse.
Ok, we bought her drums but I saw the little princess backpack and couldn’t resist it because I’ve seen how much she liked playing with dolls. The drums went back – I’m sure you’re upset.
Personally, I’m with Darin. I keep asking my niece, Marissa, to let me burn her Barbies. I hear they melt really well. You might want to hide the matches when I come over.
Barbie is poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
p.s.
pooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo