Since Grace is probably the last doll I'm going to get (or will be allowed to get), I wanted to do something extra special to celebrate her arrival. I came up with this mini photo story series and I shot a lot of it today; I had to have a tooth yanked out by the dentist (it really hurt because it was wedged between other teeth and stuck). Ugh. It was painful afterwards, so I pretty much relaxed in my playroom and room and am still getting over it. XD Luckily, filming this series wasn't very tedious XD.
Some background on Part #1: The girls' parents got the dates wrong for Grace's arrival and were quite surprised when they got the call that she was arriving a week earlier than they expected. Now, on the day of her arrival, they are all hurriedly preparing.
Here is Part #1:
"This is under the 'French Fashionista' section. Do you think Grace will have anything like it in her wardrobe?" Payton asked Ivy as they flipped through the OG Outfitters Clothing Catalogue. The two girls were more consumed with trying to impress and make their guest feel like she was in Paris instead of cleaning up what was going to be Grace's family cabin and bedroom.
"I don't know," Ivy shook her head. "We better get our outfits ready, though - she'll be here in less than two hours. I wish we would've had time to go shopping."
"Well I'm glad I missed shopping," Payton, who didn't like shopping for clothes, said.
"You would be," Ivy rolled her eyes. Both girls laughed.
Molly walked by, carrying clean blankets, sheets, and towels to Grace's cabin.
"What are you two doing?" Molly asked them as they continued to giggle.
"We're," Ivy started, catching her breath from laughing, "We're deciding what outfits to wear for Grace's arrival."
"Don't make her feel bad or different, Ivy," Molly shook her head. Just because she is from Paris doesn't make her that much different or exotic. She's still just like us.
"Of course, of course," Ivy brushed Molly's words of wisdom off and Molly shrugged and walked away, hoping for the best.
The girls raided the closet in search of some Parisian clothing; which was pretty hard to find. Soon, all the possible outfits were set out in a huge wrinkly bunch on the bedroom floor.
"Come on, let's choose outfits!" Ivy clapped her hands excitedly and the girls both dove for the pile, trying to pick out their favorites before the other.
Payton still wasn't totally in to the idea, so she chose a simple pink skirt and an I <3 Paris shirt. Ivy, meanwhile, was still in the dressing room after 15 minutes.
"I'm all done," Payton called to her.
"What?" Ivy screeched, "Oh well, okay. I'm not done yet - don't forget your beret either!"
Payton grabbed a beret out of the pile, shrugged, and walked out of the room to see if Molly needed any help.
Ivy, a half hour later, exited the dressing room, looking "perfect" in a purple skirt, "I love you Paris" tee, a white jacket, and a pink beret. She quickly threw some pale pink ballet flats and a purple scarf on to complete the look and was off.
The two "Paris Fashionistas" took an "ussie" and texted it to Grace.
"Uh oh," Ivy bit her lip, "I think I texted her multiple times. Whoops."
Payton shrugged, "It's okay. I'm sure that she is just as excited as we are - she'll understand for sure."
Ivy began to prepare the other girls. She took Kirsten up to the loft and they began to practice some of the key words in French they had learned from the English-French dictionary. Or, more like Ivy had learned and tried to force it on the other girls. Kirsten had been pretty busy and was just getting her third lesson (the other girls had been through 5 lessons).
"Now how to do you say 'hello' in French?" Ivy asked her "student."
"Ummmm," Kirsten drew out a breath, trying to remember. She may or may not have had her Nintendo DS hidden in her coat during her last lesson and she hadn't been paying attention. "Hola?" Kirsten said, but it ended up sounding like a very uneducated question.
"I give up! It's impossible!" Ivy threw her hands in the air and left Kirsten alone in the tiny loft. Ivy sure had been on edge lately.
Ivy snuck up on Molly and scared her.
"What are you doing?" Ivy asked.
"I'm preparing a nice room for Grace and helping out - just like you should be," Molly sighed as she laid out a nice pair of pajamas for Grace just in case she didn't bring a pair.
"Why are you so worried about making up her room for her? With all our Paris talking, she'll barely be here. You're acting like she's going to be some recluse to her cabin or something," Ivy rolled her eyes.
Molly turned around and stared at Ivy seriously. "Her mother is sick and she is probably going to be jet lagged and tired. She may even be homesick or scared. If she does want to stay in her room, you'll have to understand. Ivy, you need to stop being so crazy."
Ivy smiled, "Well...Okay." She then left.
A little later the door bell rang. Ivy and Payton quickly sprang into action and nearly trampled each other trying to be the first to open it.
Grace smiled at them and hugged each of them and kissed both of their cheeks. Ivy knew about this custom and they nearly bumped noses both trying to do it at the same time. Both girls smiled and giggled nervously.
Then, Ivy tried to do a dance move that required a flip in the air and she landed smack on her face. Grace shifted from foot to foot nervously and eyed Ivy when she stood up.
"Hi Grace!" Ivy jumped up and down right in front of her.
"Hello," Grace smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet each of you, but I am rather tired. Will you be as kind as to show me my room? I think I will rest a bit for the afternoon, for I am rather jetlagged."
Molly quietly walked Grace to her room so that Ivy could calm herself. (XD)
Grace was happy to see her beautiful new bed and a nice quilt and pair of pajamas to go with it.
Soon after she had gotten in and was about to settle herself down to sleep, Kit came in.
"I thought I'd give you this," Kit placed a picture on Grace's bed and gestured towards it; a postcard of the Eiffel Tower. "It might make you feel more at home," Kit suggested.
Grace smiled politely. "Thank you, Margaret." Grace had gotten a picture and name guide of all the girls prior to her arrival and the parent who typed up the list must've forgotten to mention that Kit had a nickname; "Kit."
"Make yourself at home now," Kit smiled before dashing out of the room that had been swallowed in an uncomfortable silence.
Grace set the postcard gift on the shelf above the bed and sighed.
Then she set down her Playmobil doll.
This strange new place didn't feel like home yet, but there was no doubt in Grace's mind that this place could become her new home.
