a birthday bear day with jack

Yesterday was Jack's 19th birthday...

what in the world??

these rotten kids keep growing on me...

Anyhow- we went to lunch jack, his dad & I at Apollo Burger- jack's choice.

Jack had the "Apollo" or pastrami burger & fries with root beer.

It's a good thing he's young.

Afterwards- jack & i went to build a bear to make his missionary bear.

Our time there went like this:
I would suggest something & jack would say
"You've gotta be kidding me"
or
"whoever started this store should be shot"


We picked out the closest thing we could find to a red head bear & started to work.


The hardest part was recording a phrase...
but we finally got one!
so funny
You'll have to come to my house to hear it.

The bear helper gave jack a heart & good luck shamrock

(since it was the day before St. Patrick's day) to put inside his bear.

But first...

he had to say a bunch of words-

kiss it,

wish it luck,

HOld it to his heart....

and all that good stuff- before she put it in.

He had her stuff it somewhere between to hard & to soft to make it

Just right.

Next we got him dressed.

In missionary attire!

Jack was so into it!

He was loving every moment & didn't want the time to end!!

WAH- LA

He filled out his

birth certificate & gave him a name

"Elder Jack Messer Bear"

then it was time to check out!

(bad picture... I'm really not this fat, i hope?)

Thanks for humoring me jack!

I love you

I hope someday you will be glad you made a missionary bear.

Even if your not, I'm glad you did!

When you are all married & grown your bear will sit next to brian's & your kids will love to play with them... I think?

Happy Birthday

xoxo

mom

Brian's Morning With Mom

Last Tuesday I spent my morning with Brian. It was a great time to for us to talk & listen before his big send off on Wednesday when he goes into the missionary training center. We went out to breakfast - he's a big eater- (just kidding this is both our breakfasts) then we went to Build A Bear to make a missionary bear.

I'll be honest Brian wasn't thrilled about making this bear. In fact he felt like his masculinity had been compromised, but hey... his mom really wanted one, so he gave in. All the laughter in the background is me. Just before he did his bear someone else was making one & he said there is no way I am doing that! So he melted under the build a bear pressure.

So in the next two years if you're in town you have to come by & squeeze both hands of the Elder Messer Bear. He recorded messages - another thing he didn't really want to do but mom insisted, I just really need to hear his voice now & then.

P.S. Brian says build a bear is a huge rip off on parents- I wonder how he'll feel about it when he has a three year old?