Days with the Dorans

I had been looking forward to my niece Maddy's 3rd birthday for a while.  I remember when Ali turned three, her Auntie Jodi and Eric took her to  make her very own Build-a-Bear!  It was such fun and she still loves "Ruby" ( which of course I did a blog about way back when she was three! ) .  Ali made another bear (named Natalie) at her friend Natalie's birthday party and those bears have really been favorites for her.  The experience of making the bears is what is the best.  Steph was originally going to come and we were going to make it a girl's day but she had to work out of town so my mom came and snapped pictures which was wonderful because of course I had to document the day. When we got to Build-a-Bear Maddy found a pink bear that she wanted almost immediately.  There was a bit of a line, so my mom kept our place while the girls and I shopped for the perfect outfit for Maddy's bear.  She liked just about everything but when we got to...

Three years ago, Ali Jane built a bear named "Ruby." Recently she has been playing with Ruby so much more- changing her little outfits and making sure that she and Ruby are dressed alike. She decided her brothers NEEDED bears too- and after some discussion with his sis, Joe said it was time for us make the trek to the mall to create some bears for the boys... And so started our adventure. I was a bit hesitant because after I told the kids- Friday would be the day (Build-a-Bear on a weekend sounds like suicide to me...) I realized that Jeff was leading worship and would be unavailable to come with me to the mall. Four kids solo in a Build-a-Bear is even worse that suicide... My friends suggested telling the kids that there was a flood in Build-a-Bear... that they were closed... but in the end I called Nana and invited her (and her camera) to come with us, and she agreed! Even before we looked at any of the possible animals, Joe had it in his head he would have ...

Introducing Ali Jane's new friend, Ruby who was born on her birthday, 2007! She joins the other new additions from Christmas: Princess, Lisa & Emma. For Ali Jane's birthday, her God-Parents, Auntie Jodi and Uncle Eric took her to Build-a-Bear. Auntie Jodi thought that mom should come along too because you never know which "Ali Jane" you will get. Al was a little overwhelmed with all of the things at the store, but after looking at two dogs, Ali Jane settled on making herself a pink bear She stuffed the bear, gave it a heart and then combed and washed her. Her Godparents let Ali Jane pick out a special outfit for her bear, and of course she went for the 'girly' outfit with the ruby red slippers. When choosing a name for her new bear, Auntie Jodi suggested "Ruby" and it stuck. Ruby got a birth-certificate and everything and we think it is special that they share the same birthday. It was an exhausting day though...