"Build-a-Bear Workshop is the Best Place in the Mall!"

This morning I decided it was finally time to use the Build-a-Bear Workshop cards that Alex and Jane got in their stockings at Christmas.  Mostly because I didn't want the morning to be wasted away in another "screen time" fest for the little ones.  Because unfortunately, that's been happening WAY too frequently these days.  Getting out of the house and doing something fun was the best thing for ALL of us this morning.  :)



Of course, they were so antsy to get going that we ended up arriving before any stores were open for the day, and we had a good 15 minutes to kill by walking around and window shopping.  Not exactly the funnest thing for a 5 year old and a 3 year old.  Hahaha.  We managed one full lap of the mall before stores started opening and then we rushed back to Build-a-Bear to get our building on.  :)  Jane wound up glomming on to the most visually assaulting option of the bunch as soon as we walked into the place, and Alex, meanwhile, opted for one of the half dozen superhero-themed options -- The Hulk.  Hahahaha.  It took awhile to get them corralled over to the "stuffing station," but once there, the magic began.  They were so excited to fill their animals and then equally excited and serious when it came time to jump start the heart that would go inside their pick.  The "air bath" station was also very fun, and choosing an outfit pretty much sent them through the roof.  Alex was insistent on getting an Ironman costume for The Hulk, and Jane found the perfect outfit for her multi-colored junk.  Hahaha.

 And yes -- he HAS been rocking this entire jammie concoction for the whole week.  He's only changed out of it for preschool, and then changes right back into it when he gets home.  Hahahahaha.  What can I say?  He likes to be comfy, and since I can't blame him, I like to choose my battles.  :)

 "Warming up" the hearts to fill them with love before stuffing them inside their animals.

 And then stuffing away.

 Rainbow the Brite.  Hahahahaha.

Fluffy, The Hulk Ironman.

When it came time to name their animals and print out their "birth certificates," Jane went with the apt moniker "Rainbow," while Alex went rogue and decided to call his "Fluffy."  In the end I let them each pick out one more outfit -- a Daisy Girl Scout ensemble for Rainbow, and a Thor costume for Fluffy -- and we were on our way!  The kids couldn't even wait to get home before digging into their boxes and playing with their junks in transit.  It was a successful morning.  :)

Of course, once Grace -- our resident junk-lover -- got home, she quickly rounded up ALL the Build-a-Bear animals we've collected over the years and helped Alex and Jane get them all dressed.  :)  I was worried for a second that she might commandeer their stuff from them -- as she's wont to do -- but she didn't.  So I'm really proud of her.  Hahahahaha.