Build-a-"Baby"

I had never even heard of Build-a-Bear's "Pay Your Age" promotion. 

Then, last Wednesday afternoon, I got a call from my favorite 18 year old. He wanted to know if the boys like stuffed animals, told me about the deal, and asked if he could take the boys. I couldn't say "Yes" and "You are the greatest kid in the world" fast enough, so bright and early Thursday morning, the boys and I boarded "the Cat Car" (which Jones wants to rename "Elasti-girl's car," a change with which I am TOTALLY okay) and headed South. 

By the time we got to Haywood Mall - it was probably 11:30 or so - every Greenvillian under the age of 6 was standing in a line outside Build-a-Bear. In fact, they'd cut off the line just before we got there, which was a God-send. There was no debating whether or not to wait (I'd NEVER have waited in that line, by the way), AND we were handed vouchers for two free bears as soon as we arrived. 

I hadn't told the boys what we were doing. The surprise was Doodoo's to reveal, I thought. Plus, until Thursday, Jones and Freddie wouldn't have known the phrase "Build-a-Bear" from "biblical eschatology" (they've both built a bear before - with gift cards from Auntcy - but they were babies and certainly don't remember the experience), so they were pretty easy to pacify with, "We'll do it tomorrow" - especially after I confirmed that there were both bear-sized Spiderman AND Captain America costumes to be bought.

The bears even went to the
barber shop with us.

As a back-up plan, we went to Frankie's Fun Park. Camden bought the boys milkshakes at the on-site Johnny Rockets, and then the boys went swimming with Bobo at Mayme and Pop's house. They were as happy with Plan B as they'd have been with Plan A, though they did remind me at least 1000 times between then and bedtime that we'd be building a bear after their "long snooze."

And that's just what we did. 

We got to the Asheville Mall just after it opened. While we did have a little wait, it was more like a perfectly-palatable 20 minutes, as opposed to the 7.5 hours it'd have taken the day before. The way the boys have loved on and played with those bears ever since they brought them home, however, I'm kinda wondering if even the 7.5 hours would've even been worth it. 

Here are some pics and videos demonstrating the boys' fond affections for their precious "babies."

Mrs. Pressley gave the boys some old flip phones,
which they took with us on the outing, too.
Here's Jones "taking" Captain America's picture ... 

... and showing Captain America the picture he took.

Those phones haven't worked in five years.
Don't tell THEM that.

The bears joined us at Whole Foods,
which Freddie calls "the little buggy store,"
for obvious reasons. 

Dolly-days

There are precious few things in the world that I love more than I do a day at Dollywood with my babies - ALL of my babies, that is. Sissy and I took the Four I Adore Plus a Couple More to Pigeon Forge today, and we had an absolutely amazing day.

First off, because I know you're all wondering, Jones DID get to ride Pow Pow Bullseye - on his first try. Yes, Virginia. There IS a Santa Claus. Beyond that, we rode all of the usual suspects. I forced my boys on the River Rapids ride, thinking they'd like it. Jones screamed the ENTIRE time, and when we got back to the dock, he begged the worker, "Excuse me, Captain, can I please get off of this ship?"

After all of his screaming, I'm pretty sure he didn't have to ASK to get off. I honestly thought he'd settle in and enjoy it after the first rapid.

WRONG.

Not even Freddie liked it. He told Jeremy when we got back, "Pease don't ride dat boat again."

WHOOPS.

Anyway, they had a great time the rest of the day. So did I. I even got to ride most all of the rollercoasters - some of them more than once! - with the big kids, which made for a serious sense of "just like old times."

I was so grateful - and even more grateful that the boys didn't pitch a single fit (Jones's Rapid reaction notwithstanding). They missed their naps and CLOSED DOLLYWOOD DOWN, and they didn't so much as act a teensy bit "cross."

I think it's because they adore "my Four" as much as I do. In fact, as we drove away, Freddie said he wanted them all to come to OUR house.

And then he snored, LOUDLY, all the way home.