Ashleigh introduces Build A Bear Workshop

Build A Bear Workshops are a lot of fun. The monkey on the left is Chelsea. Riley built her at the store in Eugene a few years ago for her Christmas present. She has some clothes and also a little heart inside. She also has a special box in her arm that makes monkey noises. Riley got to be there for her "birth" process, from stuffing to the birth certificate. The white & pink bear Michelle found at the thrift store, and Riley promptly claimed. The dinosaur was also found at the thrift store & will be going to live with Michelle's great-nephew Skylar today. The bear on the right is Michelle's bear. She ordered her online last year. Michelle picked out her shirt and also had a box w/Brahm's Lullaby installed. Build A Bears have a wide range in price. Chelsea was fairly expensive, but was worth it for the whole experience. The two found at the thrift store were less than $2 each. The bear Michelle had done on line was only about $15 after coupons were used and half of that was shipping. So if you want to do something extra special I would recommend taking them to Build A Bear for Christmas or birthdays. Chelsea is still very special to Riley, even more than two years later.

Ashleigh Introduces Russ Teddy Town

Russ Teddy Town are cute little vinyl and porcelain jointed bears that are dressed in several different types of outfits. They also come in a variety of professions. These are the three that Michelle has found-all at thrift stores, as they don't make them anymore-and there are tons of them on eBay at any given time. Mostly they are still affordable. I really like the one dressed in her gardening outfit.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope everyone is having a Happy Valentine's Day!

Riley in The King and I

Opening night went really well! The play is great and the entire cast is very talented. This is night 2, Michelle is playing the role of greenroom mom...which means she's gotta try to keep the kids reasonably quiet & make sure they are in the wings & ready to go on their que. Not as easy as it sounds turns out. Here is Riley in complete costume...with all that make-up it doesn't even look like Riley does it!

Here's a close-up of the wild eye makeup...they also have to darken all skin that shows & her eyebrows.

This is Brianna, one of Riley's friends who is also a princess in the play. Don't they look cute together!

Winter came back!

Looks like the groundhogs were right, winter has returned with a vengeance. It started raining yesterday afternoon after being overcast & threatening all morning. Today the wind has started...it's even dried up the roads. Although it looks like it will start raining again anytime. The wind even knocked down the fairy windchime. Michelle will hang it back up after the weather settles down some. Tonight is Riley's opening night for the play that she is in. I'm talking Michelle into taking me...that should cheer me right up.

Groundhogs Day!

Michelle loves Groundhog's Day! So late this morning we went out looking for groundhogs, hoping to hide their shadows from them. We found Phil here out by the apple tree...no shadow to be seen!

Here are SOME of Michelle's other Phils. She's got four more not pictured if you can imagine. (Told you she loved Groundhog's Day) Unfortunately, the real Phil saw his shadow today, so despite Michelle declaring winter over, we now have evidence of at least 6 more weeks of the season, sigh.

My Llama's Name is Artichoke

The poll is closed and the winning name for my Llama is Artichoke! Today is a nice bright, sunny, not freezing day so we took a spin around the yard. Artichoke is a very friendly llama & so very soft.

Isn't Artichoke a pretty llama. She makes a great pet & is already house broken!