February 26, 2025

A Midweek Build-A-Bear Adventure: Gift Cards, Xmas Money, and Batting Eyelashes!

Family Photos, event photography, Homeschooling

Build-A-Bear Bliss: A Midweek Adventure


The post-Christmas glow is still lingering, and for my girls, that meant one thing: time to cash in those gift cards!  Add in the satisfying clink of their Christmas cash, and the reward of time off from school because they had finished their homeschool lessons early and did their chores, and we had the perfect recipe for a midweek adventure. Our destination?


Build-A-Bear, of course! Poppy, ever the amazing grandfather, volunteered to drive us to Towson Town. Excitement buzzed in the car as we discussed which furry friends would be joining our family. Priscilla was dreaming of a Valentine's Day bunny, and Grace, well, she was keeping her options open.


We arrived at the Towson Town Build-A-Bear, brimming with anticipation, only to be met with a disheartening sight: the stuffing machine was broken! Cue the deflated sighs. The girls had already picked out their potential pals, and their little hearts were set.


Never one to be deterred, I quickly called the Columbia Build-A-Bear to confirm their machine was working and they had the items the girls wanted. Thankfully, the answer was yes! But how to convince Poppy to drive us further? That’s where the expert-level batting of eyelashes and pouty lips came into play. And, as always, Poppy couldn’t resist.


Off we went to Columbia, and let me tell you, it was worth the extra drive! Not only did they have everything the girls wanted, but the selection was even better. It was like a Build-A-Bear wonderland!


The girls dove into the experience, carefully choosing their furry friends and all the adorable accessories. Priscilla's Valentine's Day bunny came to life, complete with a sound disk of her own voice saying "I love you" – melt my heart! Grace, to my surprise and delight, settled on a charming frog.


The best part of the day was seeing Grace break free from her usual tween moodiness. She was giggling, smiling, and genuinely enjoying herself. It was a reminder of the simple joys and the magic of childhood.

Stuffing their new friends was a highlight, of course. Watching them carefully insert the hearts and make their wishes was so precious. They meticulously picked out outfits and accessories, creating unique personalities for their new companions.

It was a wonderful midweek escape, a burst of joy on a cold winter day. Huge thanks to Poppy for being our chauffeur and making this special outing possible. It’s moments like these that create lasting memories, filled with laughter, love, and of course, adorable stuffed animals.

A parent and child hold colorful plush toys including a green frog and white bears while shopping in a toy store.
A young shopper wearing a white hair bow and cream sweater looks excited while holding a plush toy in a retail store.
A bright scene with someone in a purple sweater holding a plush green frog toy against a blue backdrop.
Two people stand at a retail counter with various plush toys and merchandise visible on shelves in the background.
At Build-A-Bear Workshop, a joyful child wearing a white bow and gray sweater holds stuffed animals at a workstation.
Young person with curly hair wearing a light beige sweatshirt and white hair bow looking to the side.
Child getting their face painted at a holiday event with blue walls and festive decorations in the background.
At a Build-A-Bear Workshop, a customer in white interacts with a store employee wearing a red apron on the shop floor.
Store employee in red overalls and nametag interacting with a customer in a retail setting with blue walls and displays.
Shopping at a toy store with pink plush animals and Valentine's decorations on display while wearing Crocs and white outfit.
A young customer holds a white plush toy while shopping at a store filled with colorful stuffed animals.
A happy shopper in a cream-colored sweater stands in front of a display of plush toys and Valentine's decorations.
Customers stand at a counter in a blue-lit shopping mall with a vibrant tie-dye shirt visible in the foreground.
Person in lavender sweater stands in front of Valentine's Day retail display with hearts and plush toys.
Happy shopper wearing purple sweater browses Valentine's Day gifts and plush toys at retail store display.
People interact at a colorful retail store with blue walls and bright lighting fixtures visible in the background.
People talk while standing near a mall food court with bright purple lighting in the background.
Children and adults participate in a hands-on learning activity inside a bright blue-walled educational space.
Person in purple sweater smiling while holding a bright green plush frog toy in a retail setting.
A child smiles while playing at a stuffed animal store with colorful plush toys displayed on shelves in the background.
A person holds plush toys including a green frog and pink animal while shopping in a retail store.
Stuffed bunny toys in red outfits displayed in front of colorful dresses at a retail store.
People browse inside a Build-A-Bear Workshop retail store with numbered stations and colorful plush toys on display.
Three people stand together holding stuffed animals inside a Build-A-Bear Workshop retail store.
BuildABear, Family, Children, Homeschool, Adventure, Valentines

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