Today, Henry, Sadie and Lily went to the Build-a-Bear shop in the King of Prussia Plaza. We went to build some bears for the Schuylkill Township Police Department to take to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to be distributed to children who have to be in the hospital for Christmas. Henry, Sadie and Lily each selected and outfitted a "bear", actually, reindeers, Peek-a-choos and My Little Ponies, for the kids at CHOP. They each got to build a bear for themselves as well.
The process was quite cute. Select your "bear" then watch as the assistant fills the bear with fluffy feathers. Before the bear is closed up, select a heart, then follow instructions to clap on the heart to start it beating, hold it to yourself, close your eyes and make a wish, swish it about over your head to gather all good wishes, then shake it down to lose all of the bad stuff. Finally, a big kiss, then into your bear goes his/her heart. Then, the bear is closed up and it's time for a bath and scrub in the air-blast bath tub. Then your bear is ready for some clothes; a hoodie for the Peek-a-Choos; capes for the reindeer and ponies. Finally, a birth certificate is printed for each bear and they're boxed in their "house" for travel home.
We then delivered the bears headed for CHOP to officer Chris at the Schuylkill Township Police Department so they'll be ready to go to CHOP for Christmas.
Day Two at Build-a-Bear, Emma and Ella's turns to Build-a-Bear for CHOP. We got there a few minutes after the store opened but there was already a group in front of us. Our helper the day before had warned us, "no school tomorrow, better get here early. There will be a huge line." We were there early enough to avoid the long line which eventually developed. The group behind us, with about six kids, tramped in just a minute behind us. This was thanks to my adept observation in the parking lot that, "They look like Build-a-Bear people." They got a little lost in the mall allowing Grammy, Ella and Emma to blitz ahead to the store, with me trailing behind.
Pics of Ella and Emma in line, programming the sounds into their "bears" (actually trolls), stuffing the trolls, and a Chewbacca that I added because the boys seemed disproportionately missing from the selections so far, are in the link below. Same drill as yesterday; pick a heart for each of your bears, follow the ceremony to ward off bad thoughts, gather good thoughts a make a wish on your heart before placing in your bear. Finish stuffing with a big hug. Both Emma and Ella got a chance to step on the switch that controlled the filling machine. A little odd seeing and empty troll staring up at you from the basket. EEK!
It seems pink hair became the handle of choice for the girls; very convenient. Time for an air bath in the tub to clean off all of the fuzz. Then we picked out dresses, different dresses per Mommy's suggestion (avoid later conflicts). Chewbacca got a light saber (free too!) Store folks helped dress the trolls and Chewy and they were carefully packed in their cardboard "houses" for the trip home and to the hospital.
As usual, photos were taken to excess; I plead the grandparent right of photography. Pics aren't the best quality as both days I used my trusty iPhone as lugging a large pro SLR would have been impossible and possibly dangerous.
A brief snack and rest and we were off to the Schuylkill Two Police Department to pass our donation bears to the officers for distribution. Who comes to greet us but Officer Chris from yesterday! Officer Chris says there's another officer who wants to be a part of the fun and asks us to wait for him (sadly, didn't get his name). The officer arrived, we delivered the bears to smiles everywhere.
Hope our six bears bring a little joy to the kids at CHOP for Christmas. And, hope we get a chance to do this again next year, with TWO MORE grandkids!
Pics in the Photos section. There are a few videos below, too.