Build-a-Bear guilt free! What could be better?

She always asks and every time we pas the Build-a-Bear workshop in the mall, I say, "No". It's too expensive for a stuffed animal, experience or no experience. (yes, I also answer to Ebenezer Scrooge)

Well, Lucy's fantastic grandma, "Nana", sent her some birthday money. Lucy was all set to go to a toy store, until we happened to be walking through the mall and she yelled (yelled so all the other mall-goers had the opportunity to watch our little exchange and think I'm one of those mothers who does whatever my four year old tells me to), "No! I want to go there!" I happily escorted her in there and we had a lovely time picking the carcass, stuffing it,



washing it, brushing it,



buying panties with a hole in the back for the tail,

and buying a fairy outfit for it, complete with wings. I would have said "no" to the kitty (the boring brown bear is cheaper), the panties (can't we just cut a hole in a pair of yours, Lucy?), and the outfit had I been buying it. Since it was Lucy's money, though, she got everything exactly how she wanted it and had a fantastic time. Thanks Nana!
(I had to document this for my mother in law, but some of those same mothers who believed me to be controlled by my toddler saw me taking pictures of her building this thing and I saw some eye-rollin' going on.)