Build-A-Bear & other tales...

Yesterday was the last "official" day of Christmas Break for our kids...next week it's back to school, back to the routine, back to the daily grind...oh how the break has flown by! We wanted to do something fun today & decided to surprise the kids with a trip to Build-A-Bear...to make a bear for our new baby boy due in just 3 months!

My midwife had actually given me the idea several months ago, back before my ultrasound. She mentioned that we could go to Build-A-Bear before the ultrasound & purchase one of their little recording devices to record the baby's heart-beat during the ultrasound! You then take the recording back to Build-A-Bear & they can insert it into your bear...so when you press the button, you hear the heart! The kids thought this was a great idea & so did we!

Well, my ultrasound was 2 months ago, and ever since the kids have been begging to go and make a bear!

So yesterday we got all loaded up in the car & surprised them with a trip to the mall to finally build a special Teddy Bear for their new baby brother! This was actually our very first trip to Build-A-Bear! Of course, we made it very clear that this bear is for the baby, so there would be no choosing what they liked best for themselves...they needed to pick a bear appropriate for the baby. We had also decided we would only do this one bear on this trip, so they would need to agree on picking it out, etc.

We stopped at the Food Court for a quick bite of lunch...everyone was excited & in good spirits! (Except for Darcy, who was just cranky...I think she didn't like going out in the rain today!)

Jack & Sophie both ate all of their Happy Meals & didn't argue a bit! (Which was a good thing because Darcy had enough attitude for everyone...see the Blog title...nothing is ever perfect!)

J & S playing & acting silly with a Happy Meal toy...
Darcy will not be party to any silliness...
Finally, at Build-A-Bear Jack & Sophie quickly agree on the best bear for our Baby Boy (sorry, we don't have a name for him yet...the baby or the bear! We're working on it!) They picked out a cute, blue, fluffy bear. Even with Hello Kitties & Dinosaurs around, they remained focused on the task at hand...praise God for small miracles! Here is Sophie loving on the bear... Darcy inspects all the bears & animals while we wait in the "stuffing" line. Listening to all of the various sounds you can have built into your bear...but we are all excited about our special heart-beat sound! Still waiting...did I mention the place was packed?
Playing with Daddy while we wait...Finally, OUR turn! Darcy picks out a heart for our bear.Kisses to fill up the bear's heart with love! Fluffing him up at the cleaning station!
And here is where the nice story starts to fall apart (reference the Blog Name again...) In trying to pick out an outfit for the bear, Jack became focused on the idea of getting a Panthers outfit for his own Build-A-Bear (a K graduation gift.) He would not let go of this idea/want...even though we reminded him this was a trip to pick something out for the baby...not shopping for ourselves...and so on...the situation deteriorates...we agreed that he could buy a $3 football for his bear today & we would also get one for the baby's bear, but he had to stop asking/pointing/whining for the Panther's outfit. He made a poor choice & continued to have a fit to get his way. At this point, Darcy was "shopping" the store & finding LOTS of outfits for the bear...like pink skirts, fishing hats & slippers.

So we needed to get out of the store before things got worse. Jeff, good man that he is, took Jack & Darcy out of the store...carrying a 7-year old & pushing a stroller. In the interest of time, it was decided that we will not purchase any outfits for any bears. Sophie & I wait in a long line to simply purchase our fluffy, blue bear & go. Thankfully, Sophie sweetly held the bear & waited patiently with me without asking for a single thing.
When we got out to the car, Jack was still crying & would not let up talking about the outfit the whole way home. He did feel a little remorse over the fact that his selfishness ended a fun afternoon & also affected others (namely, he didn't like that we didn't' get an outfit for the baby's bear either.) As a result of his choices, Jack will not get to ask for or buy anything for the next month...no candy at the store, no special treats or Dollar Spot items when we go to Target. And if he persists in asking, he will have further days added on to the time period.
We were able to talk with Jack later in the day when he was much more calm. He still felt bad about the baby not getting an outfit or football for the new bear, and he had taken money out of his bank to pay for a football for the baby the next time I go to the mall. We talked (once again) about not arguing & complaining when Daddy & Mommy say "no" or "not now" (Phil 2:14) And we talked (once again) about using self-control when we don't get our way...making the choice not to have a fit. And we did talk about how God doesn't expect us to have self-control all on our own...we can't do it alone, as humans we will make mistakes. That is why He gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us & give us His power to lean on (Acts 1:8)
Now Jack is generally our very generous child, always thinking of things he can give to others based on their likes & interests...but we are all human & bent towards selfishness at our core...and we all need to be reminded daily (hourly, minutely) to be self-controlled & make good choices.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”- Titus 2:11-12
(How's that for the random Verse of the Day today at http://www.biblegateway.com/.
I love the way God works! This will surely be one of the verses that I pray regularly for Jack in 2009...I'll post more on that later...but I've already made this post waaaay too long, forgive me & thanks for bearing with me!)