build-a-bear

we've been going to dallas with lance on saturdays.  the kids and i usually hit up chick-fil-a and either target or the mall.  ethan has been checking out build-a-bear every time we've been to the mall (it is of course located on the path between the kids play area and the bathrooms for maximum exposure).  i told ethan that i'd take him and miles and we'd make a special day of it.  we were able to go this weekend, while lance took mollie to her first gun show.  divide and conquer.  according to lance mollie was a perfect angel and quite the hit at the gun show.  

we made it to the mall and got into build-a-bear without any tantrums.  a small feat since miles hadn't napped yet and it was about 2:30.  the boys were allowed to pick out whatever bear or animal they wanted.  after looking at all of the options (and wow, were there a lot!) ethan went right for a classic brown bear.  miles looked also and zero'd in on hello kitty and he decided he had to have it.  i tried to entice him with a wolf or owl or even a bunny, but there was no changing his mind.  so hello kitty is was.  

they happily carried them into the line and thankfully we only had one family in front of us.  it was pretty cute how the kids got to pick out the hearts for their bears and then put them in and help.  ethan especially loved it.  off to the bath and then to pick out clothes.  still holding strong, but i could tell miles was about to lose it at any moment.  well the birth certificate area did just that for us.  i have no idea why it really mattered...my boys could have cared less.  i should have just let it go, but i was going for the whole experience.  then wouldn't you know for whatever reason, miles' wouldn't print off so more time...

we did make it out, barely...and by barely i mean miles wasn't flailing on the floor yet, but he was doing plenty of screaming...for candy.  ahhh, we made quite a nice scene at the cash register.  but i'm sure we aren't the first!  

lessons learned: do not attempt build-a-bear while skipping naps and always have a containment option available (lance had the stroller with mollie).  but all in all it was a very fun trip and i would do it again!  and it was a lot cheaper than i had expected too, so that was a nice bonus.