We're goin' on a bear hunt . . .

7/26/10 (July was busy for me.)

Dylan had participated in the "We're goin' on a bear hunt" chant at school that day.  I remembered it and think I did it with Chrissy and Lacey.  Not sure of that memory though.  We would rhythmically clap our thighs for the chorus.  Anyway, I thought it would be fun to go on a REAL bear hunt!  So, after looking up the lyrics and going over them with the kids with all of the actions:

(Leader)

We're going on a bear hunt!
(Group)
We're going on a bear hunt!
We're gonna catch a big one!
We're gonna catch a big one!
I'm not afraid!
I'm not afraid!
Are you?
Are you?
Not me!
Not me!

[then they go over mountains, slosh through mud, do the back stroke through a lake, go in a cave, etc]

Isaac got scared and started crying because he really got scared of the dark cave at the end!  He was so cute, and I had to cuddle and explain that we were looking for a soft small baby sweet bear.  We got up our excitement again, I gave them each an empty egg carton, and grabbed my camera. 

We were Goin' on a bear hunt of our own! 
I asked the boys to put small treasures in each compartment of the egg carton as they looked and hunted for the bear.  Isaac started with our flowers. 

 We crossed the street, and were off on our neighborhood adventure.

 Isaac liked to find sand to pour into his carton. 

"We're goin' through the tall grass."

 Dylan was a little more picky.

 "Hey look! There's a tree! Let's look around it."

 "We're goin' on a bear hunt, gunna catch a big one. I'm not afraid, are you?"

 "I'm not afraid, are you?" Dylan wanted me to hurry because I was just enjoying watching them discover on their own. 

 I said he had a sad face that I didn't like.  He likes to make me happy:)

 More sand.

 Hey look! There's a boulder! Let's lift it up and look under it.  (Or not.)

 And more sand.

 He closed the ashy sand right into Isaac's face like a big dry sneeze!

 Um Isaac, where are all of your treasures?  (AKA sand)

 "I don't know."

 I love Dylan's faces, questions, thoughts, dimples (everything).

 Good luck trying to get them to sit still for pictures.

 Inventory time.

 good lighting, but wiggly silly boys.  stand still, look normal, you guys are so silly! 

 Ok hug, that'll keep you still. 

 It worked!  I printed some of these, gave one to my mom, and she asked where the engagement ring was.  She told me it looks like an engagement picture. 

 I don't care, they're my sweet sweaty dirty Rays shorts-wearing loving babies. 
Time to head home.

 I usually hold their hands, or have them hold my pockets, but I couldn't resist the big brother moment here. 

 And this is what they found. 

 With these dirty little hands. 

 They had almost forgotten about the bear for which they were hunting, 'til I told them we were NOT done.  We should go to our back yard and should keep looking.  After all, we were Goin' on a bear hunt and were gunna catch a big one! 
Isaac found him - the bear [from the bottom of the stuffed animal toy box.] 

 What a happy day!  There's nothing to be afraid of.  "I'm not afraid, are you?  Not I."

 He's a cuddly cute teddy bear! 

 And we all lived happily ever after, thanks to our pool:)