Well, this one almost speaks for itself…but I find a little back-story is (always) necessary.
Barbies are ubiquitous at our house.
The Mermaids are always asking for one or the other and in all honesty, I can’t tell most of them apart. Especially in the dark…and The Mermaids can.
Tonight was bath night and one or more Barbies usually join The Mermaids for a bath. After a while Barbies hair starts to get, shall we say, ripe. So tonight was wash-Barbies-hair night.
When I saw them all together I thought it the opportune time to document the names (aka test the veracity of there actually being 19 names for 19 Barbies). I was also flabberstounded that there were actually 19 of them.
If I felt so inclined I could reference this document when Ariel, Jessica, BeachBarbie, Ariel, Erica, or Jessica is requested in the future. (You’ll see what I mean.)
Probably won’t…but I could…if I wanted to.
So, share a minute with me to study The Annotated Barbie (180KB).
* Please note, this is a family friendly blog and Barbies in our house regularly dress like this, not just on wash-Barbies-hair night. Maybe it is because they always want to be ready for a bath? Who knows. I guess I could ask The Mermaids, I suppose they know.
blief 
I’ll bet there were at least 19 matchbox cars in our household when you were that age. But I’ll admit you didn’t take them with you into the bathtub, or have individual names for them. They did show up in coat pockets, pants pockets, various locations in the car, and the bottom of the washing machine.
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Hey! What’s with the duplications! I counted two (2) “Purple Mermaid’s” and three (3) “Ariel’s”, although two of the Ariel’s had distinctive appelations (“Emma’s” and “Abby’s”).
If you ever become successful in identifying each them in the dark — or full daylight, I have to hand it to you!
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Have you modified your will yet?
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My Gosh Lief….I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time……you are cracking me up with the black lines over the private areas. I love your cute self.
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Cuter than cute. I’m with Margy, I alternate between laughing and thanking my lucky stars you are a good Dad to those darling little girls.
I don’t know why everyone is getting so worked up over duplicates, I have numerous friends that share the same name, usually Kathy or Linda, each generation has their own select name; and I can tell them all apart — geesh.
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Colette says: ” Is that Jessica Barbie named after me? I noticed a name change. Plus, um, it was very smart to put the black lines over the parts. I have a friend named Jessica. I hope I don’t drown in the water!! Ha ha!!”
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OK, so I am the only one to “get worked up” over duplicate names. But “Mom”, your friends with common names at least look different from each other.
But when I look at Ariel (no appellation) and Ariel (Abby’s) I can see no difference whatever!! It reminds me of a mother (or two) who insisted she could tell the difference between her identical twins! [In one case, the father — my Uncle — simply referred to them as “the Twins”.]
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Ariel (no appellation) and Ariel Abby’s Have completely different expressions and Ariel Abby’s has only one blackbelt.
Besides their personalities are undoubtedly very different. A girl knows.
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Barbies, cars, bikes, trikes, toys, trains……..love it all! I am amazed that they all seem to have their original hair still intact with hands that are normal! MIMI T. had to do have haircuts for all her barbies, and she chewed on their hands until I wasn’t sure what appendage it might have been (not going there)! HA! My amazement is at the cleanliness of the tub and bath mat! LOL This was totally too darling and Lief this is too cute and I love to get over here when I can and read your updates! Keep up the good work………thanks for triggering my memory, on second thought perhaps a nap is due, I am worn out just remembering the energy it all took……but oh soooooo worth it! 🙂
Aunt Lou
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