THE BIRTH OF A BEAR

It's Christmas eve and many Christian parents would have already bought prezzies for their children. This year my nephew, Kris, got the privilege to choose his own Christmas gift. His mum decided to let him build his own toy from the Build-a-Bear store. Of course, his yee yee who happened to be around (aunt in Cantonese) also enjoyed the experience of seeing him come up with his Ox. He had initially wanted to choose a penguin but after discussing the matter with his mum, he chose an ox instead. This is significant for him as our young friend is born in the year of the Ox and next year this animal will start its reign beginning January 26.

The Bear Promise
The Ox without any fillings

Two built toys

A selection of shoes for the toys

A selection of animals to be built

The choices available

Choosing a sound for the animal (he decided against choosing a sound)

The stuffing

A store assistant stuffing the toy while Kris works the paddle

The Ox being stuffed with cotton wool

A selection of hearts of the soft toys

Kris holding a heart he had chosen and making a wish for his toy

Placing the heart into the soft toy

Sewing up the Ox

Dry cleaning the Ox

Fluffing up the Ox

Trying on clothes for his Ox

A selection of clothes and shoes for the toys

More clothes and shoes

Trying on a tee-shirt for the Ox

Trying on another costume for the Ox

Tada! The Ox in cager gear

Filling in information for the Ox's birth certificate

The birth certificate of Kristofer's Ox