MONROE - They dress alike, they look alike, and nearly every little girl wants to be one of them.
They are the American Girl dolls series and their young owners.
American Girl dolls come special-ordered. Parents and grandparents, in particular, are ordering them, and they come looking just like the little girls in their lives and are dressed in clothes from an era gone by.
The Monroe Parks and Recreation Department set up its after-school activity Friday for an American Girl Tea Party.
"American Girl parties have come at different times of the year," Rec Supervisor Barb Moser said. "But this is the first time we've had one in the spring."
Dressed up in spring fashions, 25 girls attended, bringing their dolls, American Girl or otherwise.
Junior high and senior high girls staffed stations throughout the Community Center, helping the girls do their hair, apply make-up, polish their nails and make purses, crowns and bead jewelry. Afterward, the girls had tea, and watched "High School Musical," a "G" rated movie with dancing scenes.
Friends Sydney Mathiason, 8, brought her American Girl doll, Jasmine, and Kaylee Conway, 7, brought Nicky. The girls said their dolls were recent Christmas presents from their grandmothers.
Conway said girls want the dolls because "other people have them."
"But I like how they dress and how they look. They're pretty," she said.
Mathiason has two American Girl dolls. Her other one, Samantha, with blue eyes and blond hair and dressed in blue jeans, was left at home for the afternoon.
Mathiason gave no reason for choosing the newer doll to bring to the party. But Conway said she believes it was to show it to her. The doll Jasmine bears a striking resemblance to Conway.
Lunch was served on genuine American Girl pink, blue, green and yellow plastic "china." Each place setting came with a child-sized and a doll-sized luncheon plate and tea cup.
The Whitewater Recreation Department loaned the snackware to Monroe for the event.
On the afternoon menu were regular and mini-sized Oreo cookies and Ritz cracker cheese sandwiches, with pink lemonade for the little ladies and root beer for their smaller counterparts. Snacks were provided by the girls' parents.
Parks and Rec's afterschool programs always are 1 to 4 p.m., whenever there is an early release. The program includes a snack, and each has a different theme. May 12 will be bowling at Turner Hall.
They are the American Girl dolls series and their young owners.
American Girl dolls come special-ordered. Parents and grandparents, in particular, are ordering them, and they come looking just like the little girls in their lives and are dressed in clothes from an era gone by.
The Monroe Parks and Recreation Department set up its after-school activity Friday for an American Girl Tea Party.
"American Girl parties have come at different times of the year," Rec Supervisor Barb Moser said. "But this is the first time we've had one in the spring."
Dressed up in spring fashions, 25 girls attended, bringing their dolls, American Girl or otherwise.
Junior high and senior high girls staffed stations throughout the Community Center, helping the girls do their hair, apply make-up, polish their nails and make purses, crowns and bead jewelry. Afterward, the girls had tea, and watched "High School Musical," a "G" rated movie with dancing scenes.
Friends Sydney Mathiason, 8, brought her American Girl doll, Jasmine, and Kaylee Conway, 7, brought Nicky. The girls said their dolls were recent Christmas presents from their grandmothers.
Conway said girls want the dolls because "other people have them."
"But I like how they dress and how they look. They're pretty," she said.
Mathiason has two American Girl dolls. Her other one, Samantha, with blue eyes and blond hair and dressed in blue jeans, was left at home for the afternoon.
Mathiason gave no reason for choosing the newer doll to bring to the party. But Conway said she believes it was to show it to her. The doll Jasmine bears a striking resemblance to Conway.
Lunch was served on genuine American Girl pink, blue, green and yellow plastic "china." Each place setting came with a child-sized and a doll-sized luncheon plate and tea cup.
The Whitewater Recreation Department loaned the snackware to Monroe for the event.
On the afternoon menu were regular and mini-sized Oreo cookies and Ritz cracker cheese sandwiches, with pink lemonade for the little ladies and root beer for their smaller counterparts. Snacks were provided by the girls' parents.
Parks and Rec's afterschool programs always are 1 to 4 p.m., whenever there is an early release. The program includes a snack, and each has a different theme. May 12 will be bowling at Turner Hall.