We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're going on a bear hunt,
We're gonna catch a BIG one!

(pause music to the right before you view the video!)

Amanda, Claire and Melissa went to story time at the library last week, where the librarian had planned a Teddy Bear Picnic. I hadn't marked it on my calendar, so we forgot to bring our bears, but the librarian was planning for people like me, and had a collection of bears for the 'bear-less' to borrow from. The girls had fun making pom-pom teddy bears and then sat back to enjoy a few bear stories. If you've seen the girls out in public, you know they are very shy. They like to listen to the stories, but rarely do the motions or speak up. Well, now we know they were listening very attentively! After baths on Saturday, all on their own - Claire, Amanda, and Melissa went on a bear hunt...

Not to be left out, Meredith went on a bear hunt too, but was a little more adventurous...

In case you missed it, Meredith's bear hunt took her through the candy factory, while Claire, Amanda and Melissa's bear hunt went through tall grass, up a tree, and into a cave.

The girls love to read. Love it. I attended a workshop when I was a teacher/librarian (and it's pretty much common sense!) that kids who have more exposure to books have bigger vocabularies because books and the written word use a greater variety of words than the spoken word alone. Meredith began demonstrating her large vocabulary at a very young age, and the little ones are utilizing theirs now as well. Meredith searches for things instead of looks for them. Melissa woke up in the middle of the night and told me something had startled her awake. Claire told me the other day that she was going to race into her room and dart [here] and zip [there]. I realized a few months ago that if Meredith hears a word she doesn't know, she'll ask you what it means, and then attempt to use the word herself immediately. Gotta love that girl - getting a head start on practicing for her SAT's and her GRE. :)