There are many very special things about being a parent. But one of them is seeing the magic on your children’s faces when they experience something new and exciting for the first time. Those twinkly eyes dancing around, the happy smiles and the sheer wonder etched across their faces.
Blogging has brought me a great many things but last week I did something with my girls which truly was so simple yet so special. We went to make two very special new friends.
I have known about Build a Bear Workshop for a long time, in fact Mads has ‘Rosie Rabbit’, who one of our dear friends bought for her on the day LL was born. However we hadn’t been before, mainly due to the fact that I wanted to wait until they were old enough to understand. I was really excited to take them, and Mads was excited to go and ‘make a special friend’ too.
We arrived and were greeted by the two lovely members of staff who were helping us make our new friends.
There were lots of different animals to choose from but after careful consideration Mads decided she wanted a lamb and she wanted LL to have a bunny.
First up we were told to cuddle each animal to make sure that the cuddles were good. Mads thought the lamb was very cuddly!
It was then over to the sound machine to pick a sound for our new chums. Mads decided that her lamb would say ‘I love you’ and LL had to have One Direction ‘What makes you beautiful’ because she gets so excited and dances every time the song comes on.
The Build a Bear experience is so hands on for children, Mads was absolutely transfixed with everything that was going on and her smile was honestly so wide.
The next thing to do was give our friends some stuffing. Mads get to help do hers and LL’s by pressing on the foot pump. This was ‘the best thing ever.’
LL was in awe of everything and the staff were so lovely with her, telling us that she had made their day with her happy smiles. Auntie Annie doesn’t look so impressed!
Cuddling to make sure the stuffing was perfect.
Next we needed to give our friends a heart. We had to kiss it, shake it and rub it on our knees as our new friends would always ‘(k)need us.’ The staff were so great at making it an amazing experience.
His heart went in so he was ready to be stitched up.
LL loved to crawl round the shop and stand up to try all the things for herself.
Next up our new friends needed a bath and their fur brushing.
We then had to decide on outfits for the as yet named Lamb and Bunny. Mads decided the lamb was a boy and the bunny was a girl so we set about sorting out their new wardrobes.
As Mads is obsessed with Toy Story, it was entirely necessary to go for a Woody outfit. LL’s bunny was dressed in a pretty summer dress. We also bought them a pair of pj’s each as well.
Finally we needed to make our new friends a birth certificate. It was decided then that lamb would be ‘Woody’ (we are nothing but original) and bunny would be ‘Blossom’.
And that was it! We were given boxes to carry Blossom and Woody and sent home to enjoy our new friendships.
I can honestly say that since we brought them home, Mads hasn’t been too far away from her new friend Woody. She absolutely loves him, and the fact that she got to experience seeing him made has meant it is all the more special for her. She asks to put his PJ’s on every night, although this means bedtime takes twice as long. And LL loves to snuggle in close to her new bunny Blossom too.
The Build a Bear concept is simple, but we truly had such a special time there. The staff were amazing with the girls, and the whole experience is so special for children. Mads was at the perfect age to enjoy it and find it so magical, and LL just smiled and giggled non stop. I found it so wonderful watching them having such a great time, and I will remember it for a long time. There is something so lovely about watching your children’s innocence and child like wonder.
We can’t recommend Build a Bear highly enough, and I know that Woody and Blossom will be special for a very long time. In fact as I write this there are two little girls snuggled up in bed asleep with their arms tucked around their lovingly created new friends.
NB. We were invited to try out the Build a Bear experience and given two bears and some accessories (plus buying some too!) but all thoughts and opinions are my own, and we would have written about it anyway. It’s the most fun my girls have had in ages!
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They are gorgeous! I’ve read so much about this place but have never been myself. It’s such a great idea though and I bet kids love it! x
How lucky are Woody & Blossom to have two new friends that love them so much! We LOVE Build-a-Bear too and I think it’s so lovely how the staff turn it into such a fun & magical experience for the kids.
Great post & gorgeous photos as always. x
Oh I’m so glad that you all had a lovely time, it’s so exciting isn’t it? And completely magical for the kids. I love their two new friends, so cute. x
Awww, what a lovely post 🙂 Mads looks like she had a brilliant time. Syd loves her dog from Build a Bear, we often have to buy him new outfits 🙂
Miss C loves Build-a-Bear. It’s such a fun experience being able to make your own cuddly friend to bring home. Great choices girls! x
Awwww it looks like they both enjoyed their experience.
Safe to say, looking at these photos, that LL isn’t a baby anymore! Wow. xx
We took our two on Mother’s Day; it took Kitty a little while to warm up to the process but she just loved making her bunny all fluffy under the dryers and choosing her a pretty dress. H had a teddy from an old incarnation of something similar so Dully the Bunny now goes to bed in vintage stripy PJs! It was so much fun and it looks like your girls had just as wonderful a time!
So cute! I took F about 6 months ago and he loved it too – i admit i was a bit stressed he would choose something horrible, i always want to step in and take over! But he chose a teddy called Sam and dressed it like a fireman. Nothing but original here too 😉
Ahh lovely pics. I love Build a Bear, we did a mini one at Center Parcs but want to take H to the store when he’s understanding it a bit more. Love Mads’ converse! xxx
Ahhh, I may have shed a tear when GG got her first Build a Bear – it’s so magical for them
What a lovely experience! I love that Mads made woody haha! I can’t wait to take Amelia soon! x
I love build a bear. I have several. Yes me lol.
We are taking Addison for hers on her 3rd birthday. She has one we bought her as a baby.
The girls made good choices. Blossom is Addison’s middle name x
Such a fab review and a lovely post full of happy photos! We’ve yet to build a bear, though funnily enough, popped in to see what it was all about today. I’m sure we’ll be building soon!
You definitely should, it’s great fun!
I love the Woody outfit on the lamb! We’ve never been to Build a Bear, I’d love to take LP. Might try and go for her Birthday x
You definitely should LP would love it. x
We love build a bear! My daughter recently got vouchers for her birthday and we ended up spending a lot of extra in there too! We came out with Treasure an orange kitty who is Ariels friend. She has the Little Mermaid out fit 2 pairs of shoes and 2 pairs of skates! Fabulous review glad you all had a good time
Ah Treasure sounds very cute! x
Iain has been wanting to take John to Build A Bear for ages now but we’ve been putting it off until we’ve done a bit of saving. Simply because I know we’ll end up spending a fortune!
Looks like Mads & LL had a ball!
It’s magical for them but quite expensive when you buy accessories etc so it is definitely worth going when you can afford to indulge a little! 😉 x
I love the lamb! I need to go and make one! For Bob obviously! 😉 x
You definitely should, it’s such a magical experience for them. x
Awww the girls look so cute with their new friends and sounds like Woody and Blossom are in very capable hands. xxx
They certainly are! x
LOVE this post. We walk past the Build a Bear shop ALL the time and I drag mummy in EVERY time. I am so desperate for my own and I’m hoping this day will come on my 2nd Birthday. Watch this space xxx Ax
Good luck! x