Once each semester, I take my 7-year old nephew, Eli, and my 5-year old niece, Lucy out for their own afternoons with Uncle Michael (dubbed Eli Day and Lucy Day, respective to the child).  The goal is to find activities that they will find fun and/or interesting, and that I can do without the constant urge to jam a fork into my ear and bleed-out.

This is not always as easy as it sounds, and started with baby-steps, then grew.  For instance, Eli Day began as a visit to Toys R’ Us followed by a cone at Baskin-Robbins, but grew this season to involve the Marvel Superheroes exhibit at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, followed by Toys R’ Us and the Cheesecake Factory. 

Now, I know that once my niece is old enough to enjoy shopping, Lucy Day will be a snap; but as an outspoken kindergartener, who finds shopping for clothes and jewelry to be a drag, we’re not quite there, yet.  So, it was with more than a little excitement that I heard about the Build-a-Bear Workshop that had opened at Downtown Summerlin.

A few things surprised me.  First – it’s not just for kids (kinda…).  I decided to really get into it, and built my own, and chose a chimpanzee whom I dubbed “Mikey the Monkey” (yes, I know chimps are Great Apes – but I’m a sucker for alliteration; so sue me).  Second – the boys are into it as much as the girls.  On this note, Lucy would not build herself a bear (or in this case, a 40th Anniversary Hello Kitty) unless she could also build one for her brother (a street version of Toothless the Dragon).  Credit where it’s due, my brother and sister-in-law are raising two really amazing kids.

So, after picking-out our animals, the attendant took Lucy over to the Stuffing Machine, and had her step on the pedal to stuff each animal, then give it the Hug Test, whereupon she determined if the doll had the correct Squish Factor when being hugged (at which point they’d either sew-up the back, remove some stuffing or insert more).  The final step, before sewing-up the back, involved Lucy selecting a little satin heart, blowing on it, making a secret wish, kissing it, then handing it to the attendant, who then inserted it into the doll, before sewing-up its back.

Now, with our fully-stuffed dolls (a cat whose creators claim she’s an English schoolgirl, a baby dragon with wings, and a chimpanzee), it was time to dress and accessorize them.  A word about my niece – she loves bright colors, and things that sparkle and shine.  Yes, I know, that sounds like me, but it comes off more like the late Marsha P. Johnson; so it’s simultaneously amusing and shocking to see what she comes up with – and I have to keep telling myself that the “right” way is whatever makes her happy, while expressing herself.

So, “Kitty” ended up wearing a dress of magenta and purple sequins, pink satin panties, ruffled ankle-socks, pink satin Mary Jane heels, a magenta bow, and sits upon a big pink velvet sofa with silver sparkles in it.  “Toothless” wears a beanie with the Batman insignia, a monochromatic blue camouflage puffer-jacket (under his wings), and black Wellies.  And “Mikey the Monkey” (whom I accessorized) is wearing camouflage boxer-briefs, dark-wash skinny jeans, a red and grey baseball jacket with a hood, and black Converse high-tops.

After creating the Birth Certificates (the dolls also are registered with a bar-code, so that if lost, their “parents” can be contacted), we took our new friends to the register.  All of the attendants seemed shocked upon seeing “Mikey” could stand, upright (um – he’s a shoe-wearing primate…  Hello?).  I was more taken aback that they were so blasé about Kitty’s attire.  So I inquired, and was informed that invariably, kids dress their dolls rather garishly, and that it’s a sign of creativity and nonconformity – two characteristics I will always champion in Eli and Lucy, and all children, for that matter.

The Build-a-Bear Workshop is available for birthday parties, and I’ve gotta say, the next time I hear about one, I’m there.  Olaf from Frozen seems like he’d look great on a shelf in my room – tastefully attired, of course.  I wonder what shoes go best, with a carrot-nose…

Build-a-Bear Workshop
Downtown Summerlin
Click HERE for info

Get into it!