Build - A - Bear

Ok. Right back to Regularly Scheduled Programming over here =)

Dave and I talked a bunch about it, and both feel alright with the safety precautions already in place here. 
While there may have been/may be some seriously weird stuff going on around here, that doesn't necessarily cross over to a direct threat to my family. As Beverly pointed out - sadly- the statistics say that the people you already know are more of a threat to you than a stranger. I knew this from my previous job, and it's why we don't make our children give hugs to anyone they don't want to, and often talk about our bodies and boundaries. While none of us have any guarantees in life for safety, we will do our best to educate ourselves and our children, and attempt to remain vigilant without crossing over into paranoid =).


So. Here's more about our days with Dave's parents visiting!!


Papa and Gaga took the twins to Build - A - Bear for their birthday!

We'd been over at Tina and David's for dinner a few weeks ago, and the kids were having so much fun playing with a Build - A - Bear Tina had from a birthday party. 

L and A have actually been to Build -A - Bear before, when they turned three, but they don't remember it =).

They LOVED the idea of getting to create their own Lovie and being able to accessorize it.
So to The Avenues Mall we went!

Four adults and two very excited kiddos...

Gaga looking at all the options with the twins...

Our son picked out a Darth Vader Bear (shocking) and our daughter a brown doggy.

They took them over to the big stuffer thingy machine, and set to work filling their new friends up...

Checking to see if he's got the right amount of fluff...

Sister's turn....

Making a wish over the heart you put inside your new friend...

After they were stuffed to perfection, it was time to give them an (air) bath and a good scrubbing...

Papa and Gaga got the kids their new animals and a few accessories for their birthday, and my mom and stepdad sent some money for the twins to pick out some extra outfits and such as well. The twins were in Build-A-Bear heaven! =)

Sister picked out a stroller for her new doggie, and then proceeded to stroll him around the mall...

We walked over to find some lunch, and stopped to admire the giant fish tank...

...I'm telling you, The Avenues is CRAZY impressive. 

The kids loved having their new buddies at lunch with us...

We showed Dave's parents all the real palm trees and plants around the inside of the mall...

...and the amazing architecture....

...and the interesting fashion...

The kids have both had SO much fun playing with their new buddies. If you've never been to Build-A-Bear, it's a pretty cute experience! The kids each made a "Birth Certificate" for their new buddies and each Lovie has a heartbeat sound chip and also another sound chip (Sister's barks when you press it's paw, and Brother's plays the "Star Wars" theme...awesome)

Our newest Lovies..."Darth Vadery" in his jedi attire, and "Itchy" in his sweater, hat and scart. 

Adorable!
Thanks Papa and Gaga! And you too Grammie and Bopbop!