Build a Bear giveaways!

I just wanted to let you guys know about some Build a Bear giveaways I've run across. I know some of you are huge fans of Build a Bear. It looks really cool but I've never been or taken the kids. Mallory has been often with her mom and loves it!

The first giveaway ends TODAY -NOVEMBER 30th. It is hosted by Mommies Angels - BuildaBear Review and Giveaway.

The second giveaway ends December 10th. It is hosted by 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires - Giveaway-Giveaway-BuildBear-Workshop-Fashions.

Good luck with the entries! I hope someone lucky I know wins even if I don't win myself! Happy Cyber Monday to everyone! (Husband did not know there was a Cyber Monday to Black Friday - wow! Had to explain that one this morning!)

St. James Fall pictures

I will post more things in the following days (I'm off for two whole days - hooray!). These are the highlights from Julia Grace's fall photos at her preschool. I'm amazed she sat still long enough for any of them! Enjoy!

Madeline doll giveaway

Anybody that knows our sweet Julia Grace knows she's really got some favorite characters and she's super attached. The Big Ones (in no particular order) are:

1. Curious George - one of her first words was "George".
2. Wonder Pets - this is a fairly recent one and she sings/hums their songs all the time.
3. Wiggles - we LOVE the Wiggles!
4. Blue's Clues - or in this house - " A clue a clue - I want to watch a CLUE!"
5. Madeline - forever she was known here as Mad-a-NINE! She is a favorite of my almost 10 year old stepdaughter, Mallory, too.
6. Elmo - of course!
7. Clifford
8. Veggie Tales
9. Bear in the Big Blue House
10. Thomas the Train

I know there isn't much girly material in there. Julia Grace likes what she likes I suppose. We love the classy, yet funny, antics and learning manners there are in the Madeline books and DVDs. Julia Grace really learns a lot from all of these shows though. She's learned so much just from Curious George and Blue's Clues. The Wiggles really stimulate her love of music and we all like the Wiggles in our house even if the grandparents aren't too keen on them! The Wonder Pets have become a recent favorite and she wakes up singing their songs and asking to watch "Won' Pets!" .

I've been given links to the following contests in the last few days and I wanted to share them with you if you like these characters too. One is an entry to win a talking Madeline doll designed for her 70th anniversary for Toys R Us by KidsPreferred. This giveaway is being offered by The Art of Being Mom .

Another giveaway is given by the crew at 5 minutes for mom which has always been a favorite of mine to read for reviews, giveaways, and just total - hey-I-identify-with-that-totally! :) Their link to the Wiggles giveaway for a "Wiggly Christmas" which is a WHOLE lot of Wiggles stuff is here: A Very Wiggly Christmas!

Go check them out and check out more than their giveaways while you're at it - you'll be pleasantly surprised. You might be hooked and come back as often as I do! Good luck on the giveaways!

Wordless Wednesday

The Nutcracker

Last year, I took Mallory to see the Nutcracker and Snow White performed by Ballet Spartanburg. We even got brave and took Julia Grace with us to see Peter and the Wolf in the Spring. Mallory was quite taken with the studio's performance right away with Snow White. She was even more excited by the time the Nutcracker rolled around because her friend, Madison, was a toy soldier in the production. I remember last year as we left Twichell Auditorium after the performance, Mallory said to me, "next year I am going to audition for that - it was AWESOME!". So, this year, she did audition, and I'm so proud of her because she won a part as a cherub as pictured in the photo near the bottom from a previous performance. She's super-duper excited and we are too! Congratulations Mallory! :)

Julia Grace's first day of school!

These were from Julia Grace's first day of 3 year old preschool at St. James in late August. She had a good day but was soooo sleepy afterwards. She really gets excited about going to school now and starts trying to head us out the door before we're ready to take her!

Wordless Wednesday

(It's almost time for another birthday party!!)