New Year's Eve 2006

The Seventh Day of Christmas

Just when we think the joyous moments of this holiday season are winding down me and Joan receive another gift from the Big Guy Upstairs. Two days from now my Number 1 Angel turns 10. I cannot digest that idea - not just yet. I'm sticking my head in the sand right now and treasuring those late-night feedings so I can toss aside for the moment that another decade of my life has passed.

For the second year in a row she chose a visit to Build A Bear at one of our local malls. If you are not familiar with this ingenious franchise then I suggest you Google the name to get more information. In a nutshell kids get to pick out the "skin" of a soon-to-be stuffed animal. They can select sounds to give to the critter and before the stuffage is complete a heart they've made a wish upon is placed into the stuffed innards of said beast.

After the stuffing you can purchase a zillion outfits for the newly birthed thing to spend more money on including and I'm not lying: roller skates, baseball outfit, football uniform, trout-fishing duds, tuxedos, prom dresses, every kind of shoe you can imagine, glasses, ice skates, skis, tutus, extra fish for the trout-fishing creel, NASCAR fire suits with helmet, girls clothing by The Limited complete with the copyright symbol, surfing duds, bathing suits, bikinis, and....get this...a WHEELCHAIR!

Fortunately we've been pretty much sane while visiting this Mecca of Money-Spending Evil. Jessie only has one outfit for each of her one dozen bears/cats/rabbits/dogs/iguanas. Ben actually has four characters. Cletus, the trout-fishing Black Bear; Kwally Koala; Dude, the like surfing Alligator (only available at Myrtle Beach, SC); and now we introduce Frankie Valli-tine.

"Man, this guy must talk as much as my sister!"

"I think I found a new friend!"

She may pretend to be grown up but this is still my little girl and Angel #1. In a few years she will hate the fact that she looks exactly like me. I'm ganna soak it up while I can.

Ben takes one last look at the other choices. Notice how he has put his hands in a position to block us from taking the bear "skin" without him knowing it.

Here's Ben's new friend. Pinstripe vest with a black tie and a kilt to boot. I think Ben selected wisely!