And the winner for, "The Comic Strip Artist Who Lives in My Life" goes too...

Brian Basset of Red and Rover.

Seriously. I swear that this man must have met Brother Bear and our dog.

I'm still laughing. Hope you are too!

Happy Monday!

Survival Techniques

Want to know the survival techniques I employ to make it through a week without Papa Bear?

Sugar. And LOTS of it.

For the bear cubs, of course.

Okay, maybe a wee bit for me too. Just a smidgen. I deserve it.

Right? RIGHT????

Answer to, "Why does all the toilet paper in your house hang from the ceiling?"

Sigh.

I forgot this stage. Probably my body's attempt at self preservation. My house was messy enough before Sugar Bear starting walking around like the Tazmanian Devil and tearing it to pieces. I spend a good ten minutes at the end of the day returning things to their rightful place. I'm not sure why I even try...

I'm thinking of moving out to escape the mess. Do you think anyone would notice?

One of her favorite things to do? Remove folded laundry from the basket and throw it across the living room. Probably because clean, folded laundry is a rare sight in this den - but that's another story.

Good thing she's cute.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Papa Bear!!

To the bear who swept me off my feet

and still loves me 12 years (and 2 bear cubs) later.

Who can't remember a single thing we discuss

but is still the best Papa Bear to our bear cubs.

Who joined me in life and parenthood

And believes in partnership and teamwork.

The hardest working bear I know

As well as the most giving.

Who is hardest on himself

And sometimes forgets to give himself grace.

The bear who is not afraid to take the path less traveled

Even when he has no earthly idea where it will lead.

I'm glad we're on this path together.

"Grow old with me,

The best is yet to be."

Happy Veterans' Day

Below is a project that Brother Bear did this weekend. I could tell you that I researched and planned for weeks in preparation for this project. Or, maybe - just maybe - I was looking for something to occupy Brother Bear whilst Papa Bear was on a 2 hour Saturday bike ride and Sugar Bear was being real grumpy pants.

Either way, the end result makes me smile. Thought it would for you too..

How long?

The question isn't how long do you leave your Christmas decorations up. The question is how long do you leave your rotting jack-o-lantern on your front porch.

Currently, we're at 12 days.

We have to wave off the flies as we wait for carpool. I hold my breath when I get the morning paper.

I refuse to touch it at this point. I have a delicate constitution...

Perhaps if I were some home-schooling genius I could turn this into a great science lesson. Or maybe, we could just start a compost pile right there on our front doorstep. I'll tell everyone we're "going green".

The Neighborhood Association Award for "Trashiest Neighbor" goes to....

The Four Bears!

Boo!

Hope you had a Halloween full of Happy Haunts. Here are a few happenings from our haunted house:

Sugar Bear Monkey

Sure, she should have been a bear. But that would require me to have it together enough to think about it in advance. Instead of throwing her in Brother Bear's former costume at the last minute. Oh, and yes, I'm letter her run amok in the street. Thanks for noticing the fabulous parenting.

Star Wars Clone Trooper

Scared yet? I am. I'm sk-uh-air-ed. Because we've officially entered "the age of Star Wars".

Super Mama Bear

The scariest costume of them all...