Build a Bear

Yeah, it's been a while. Lots has happened. A fun vacation, a great holiday, a lost job. It hasn't always been easy but we have a lot to be thankful for.

We are very thankful for Ed and Cathy Gilmore. They live down the street from us and moved in just a few months after we did. It was destiny that we should be neighbors I think. They have three little girls (with one on the way). Jane is Bridget's age and they are best friends. They are in nursery together and will start in Sunbeams in just a few weeks.

Jane is about the sweetest child I've ever been in contact with. Her cute little smile lights up her face when she looks at you and has such a sweet disposition. We are so glad that she is friends with Bridget - I think they both have a lot to teach each other.

Cathy asked if Bridget wanted to come with Jane to Build a Bear yesterday (Dec. 4) to participate in an event that Shriner's Hospital was putting on for their patients. Bridget got to go with her BFF Jane and build a cute chocolaty brown bear she named Brownie. It was Jane's first time doing a bear and Bridget had so much fun helping her.

We picked out some cute clothes for the bears and it was fun to see what the girls picked out. Bridget decided her bear was a boy and she dressed him up like a soccer player. She said her Tiana bear needed a boyfriend. Oh boy, this is boggy territory. But its been all fun and we're grateful for the chance to spend time with the Gilmore's and for Jane and Bridget to be able to play together.

Jane chose a cream colored bear and loved it right from the start! After Cathy showed her how to push down the lever for the fluff, she did a great job!

Here she is putting in the heart, so cute!

Bridget is a pro at the filling part and she jumped right in!

Doing the squeeze test for softness - yep, it's done.

Next is time for the bear bath, a very necessary part before the
dressing of the bears.



The finished products! Cathy and I thought it was funny that the girls chose bears that match their hair! As you can tell, they weren't thrilled about having their pictures taken, but that's life! Mom's need the memories!

And if you notice a huge "soft" spot right in the middle of every picture, usually where someone is standing, that's an enormous smudge on my lens. Super happy about that.