I’m buying my lunch today!! Second-to-last day at the hospital, so I’m treating myself 🙂 Plus, this hospital has pretty good food! Especially the organic cafe downstairs and elaborate salad bar.
In the meantime, here’s a little Beartainment for you.
***
Bear History
For those of you who don’t know, The Bears are just an inside joke between Matt and me that has transcended to the internet. I used to hate stuffed bears. I always told my boyfriends (and then Matt) that if they got me one for Valentine’s Day that I would shred it to pieces. Harsh, I know. I don’t really know why I didn’t like them! But alas, my distaste for bears turned into a big piece of my life.
Bocker was the first to the family. I got Bocker as a birthday gift from a friend from the Davidson bookstore. Matt used to make him dance Freshman year of college (and I’m sorry to say Matt also used to strangle him and make him squeal!) Beaker came from Camp Seafarer where we both worked as counselor’s during college. He quickly joined Bocker in his animation.
Churton (the furry one!) was found on Churton Street in Hillsborough on the side of the road. My mom practically forced us to adpot him, but we are glad we did. 3 Bears are better than one.
The Bears appear in funny positions in our house – sometimes hidden in suitcases, sometimes appearing when you turn a corner in the morning.
Here are some old Bear-filled posts:
Here we are in Montana last year! Bocker was a stowaway –
And perhaps the most famous of the original bear posts (while I was in Africa):
Recently they traveled to their grandmother’s house and she (being a children’s book author) arranged for them to participate in an arts camp this week.
Here is her story.
Beaker
Kurt Vonnegut wrote: “The primary benefit of practicing any art, whether well or badly, is that it enables one’s soul to grow.” This is why I have insisted each of the bears study an art this summer. Beaker has enrolled in a poetry class. The young poets were asked to write an acrostic poem reflecting something important in their lives. Here’s Beaker’s poem, titled “Virginia.” He’s very proud of it and has read it to us pretty much non-stop since he finished it.
V Very
I Interesting state.
R Richmond is the capital.
G Guess who is moving there!
I I am moving there!
N Next month.
I I am going with my brothers
A And my mom and dad.
Bocker
Bocker tends to be so quiet, at least when he’s around me, that I was surprised and pleased when he chose drama camp for his summer arts experience. Just yesterday, the families were invited to see a series of short soliloquies put on by the students.
Here is Bocker in a hero’s role:Â The boy who saved Holland by putting his finger in the dike.
Here he is in a villain’s role:Â You’re a sly one, Mr. Grinch!
And here is one of the great tragic figures of the theater, Willy Loman, in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
And for his finale, Bocker came on stage and did a rousing bit of slapstick:Â He’s Shirley Temple and he brought down the house singing, “Animal Crackers in My Soup.”
We were all so proud and his brothers had their paws together the entire time, clapping and clapping. Bravo, bravo to Bocker, Smashing Star of the Summer Stage!
Happy Trails To You, Until We Meet Again!
Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies says
The bears are just too cute!!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
I’m so glad you explained the bear thing – I’ve been wondering what they were about for so long!! The world makes that bit more sense now 😀
Enjoy your lunch 🙂
Kaz says
I love the bears! Hah, the stories about them are adorable. 😀
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
HILARIOUS! this really made my day…i especially love the bears down the stairs shot…perfect!
courtney says
Your whole family is awesome! Tell your mom she did a great job of bear-sitting and providing blog entertainment 🙂 And have a great second-to-last day!!!!! Woo-hoo!!
Jenn (eating bender) says
Best post ever 🙂 Not sure if I’ve ever told you this, Kath, but you and I and Matt and Bobby (my fiance) share very much in common when it comes to stuffed animals. I’ve had a bear all my life and when I brought him to college, he “met” Bobby and similar stories unfolded…now we also have a stuffed bird and a penguin.
I’ve never told blogland about this before, but now it’s on your blog for the record and all to see 😉 Perhaps I’ll have to document it someday…but I just wanted to let you know that reading your bear posts ALWAYS make my day! And at least make me feel like Bobby and I aren’t crazy for considering them our “kids.” Haha!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Hahaha oh my gosh, I am LOL-ing!
Lauren says
This has changed my day, perhaps my week. Almost my life. It makes me want to go and hug all my stuffed animals that I have neglected since I moved to New York, then to Los Angeles. They spend too much time on the floor in the corner by my bedside table and not enough time reading Chaucer and Lord Byron and even Shel Silverstein! Bah!
Mom says
Lauren, Let me know how they do with the Chaucer, Barbara
Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales says
Awww, stuffed bears are too cute! I think if I had seen one on the side of the road I would have adopted it too. Good luck on your penultimate day at the hospital!
Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks says
Kath you are such a goofball! Love it.
Laura @ youngDCliving says
Hahaha, this is hilarious and yet, at the same time, so bizarre. In a good way 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
That’s pretty funny that it started out as a hate relationship! So you have a love hate relationship with the bears!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
So cute! I love it!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
your bear posts me of one of my favorite books growing up – the lonely doll series with the bears. have you ever read them?
Mom says
Lynn, Those are fun books. I felt like Dare Wright as I was working on the post. Barbara
JessicaR says
I think the bears need their own blog!
Emily says
Thank you for finally explaining “the” bears. 🙂 I, too, have no interested in stuffed animals. Loved the lunchtime entertainment.
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
LOVE the bears! 🙂 You make me feel better about still have a small collection of stuffed animals even though I should technically be an adult — whatever THAT means! 😉
And my husband made my bears dance in college too! Ha! Must be a guy thing!
Julie says
Your family is so creative! Thanks for the fun read.
Emilie @ One Mom in Maine says
I think somebody needs some grandchildren! 🙂
Carolyn @ lovinlosing says
LOL Love “Bears Down the Stairs”
Carrie H says
It is easy to see why your mom is a children’s book author! She should write another book about your three bears. She has a talent for sure!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
“Poetry from A to Z”– I need that book for the creative writing class I’m teaching in the fall, ha!
Jenny says
Soooo cute! I love the one on the stairs!
Alison says
Too cute! You’re going to have three very cultured bears on your hands when you’re reunited. My dad has a stuffed penguin that we would hang from the ceiling fan or put in the freezer just to make things fun.
Veronica says
So cute! Your mom is doing a wonderful job nurturing those bears. She’s obviously very talented, and we can see where you get some of your creativity : )
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
It is no surprise where you get your spunk and imagination! I wish I had your mom’s books to read growing up 🙂 I love that these bears really look like they are doing something…i.e. Bocker pushing his sibs down the stairs.
Your LAST hump day as an internnnnnnn. Hump hump!
Wei-Wei says
Oh my gosh I could just about die from cuteness! I love how you guys personify the bears – our family has five dolls as well (rabbit, sheep, flower suit, santa suit, and monkey) all from the same japanese cartoon series, and they’re very involved with our family. Outsiders often think we’re weird when we talk and coo to them like babies… it’s a lot of fun 😀
Wei-Wei
Ashley@thehungryscholar says
Haha so funny. I don’t have stuffed anything…so it was a nice treat to see your stuffed bear history!
emily says
I flipping love your mother, she is too funny! Your bears are very cultured, I’m sad to say we are not quite so high-brow with ours. Mostly we give them mini swords and stage face bitings 🙂
Ashley C says
hahaha great light-hearted post 🙂 I always like the bears, and it was fun to learn their story. I had no idea it came out of hating stuffed bears, but that’s hilarious! Do you guys plan on adopting any more or is 3 the magic number? I think you should go to Build a Bear and make one, then it’d be like making a baby 😛
Kath says
I think 3 is plenty!
Sarah R says
Oh my goodness! I just love the bear posts. Sometimes my mom will watch one of our dogs and she sends me emails written by the dog. They always crack me up!
Jennie says
I had no idea that your mother is a children book author! That is one of my secret dreams to be when I “grow up”. What is her name? I would love to check out her books.
Meg says
Hahaha oh my goodness, Kath, you made my day. Whenever I’m having a down day I’m totally coming back to this post – hilarious.
You are incredible. 🙂
Eileen says
My gosh, can you imagine what your mom will be like as a grandmother?
Not to pressure you or anything! 🙂
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I love it and that your mom participates in the fun!
I told all the guys I dated that I don’t like cut flowers because they die and that is depressing. I prefer potted plants. So for Valentines Day (shortly after Hunni and I started dating) he bought me a plastic potted plant “so it would never die.” I knew then I was in for a jokester and love it. The jokes keep coming and there is never a dull day.
erica says
this is the cutest thing ever!!!
Danielle (Runs on Green) says
haha I love the bears down the stairs pic
I’m not a fan of stuffed animals either…but a bear every now and then is fine 🙂
Kamaile says
Made my day, so cute and creative those bears are!
Sarah D. says
Thanks for making me giggle today! This was such a cute post. 🙂
Robyn says
I must say that I really enjoy the bears! And your mom is so great to play along.
Allie says
your family is goofy- in a fun way. love it!
Dorry says
This is hilarious! I love it. Thanks for sharing!
Allison K says
Seriously awesome.
my mom used to make us do stuff like that in the summer.–one summer she made us learn typing (this was prior to the internet, and the widespread use of PC’s)
Julz says
aw i love stuffed bears! i still cuddle with mine in bed every night 🙂
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
That’s funny and the pic with them about to go down the stairs is pretty funny.
Callie says
I love hearing about the bears. 🙂
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
hahaha waaaaaaay too cute! Love it!
Tracey says
Oh my goodness, how sweet, funny, and beautifully written. I loved it!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Such personalities!!! 😀
Shane says
OMG…I LOVED this post! The Shirley Temple bear photo pretty much made my day 🙂
Hannah says
I think I love the bears down the stairs the best! Love the history lesson, too 😀
Jo says
oh my lord!! Bocker is my Teddy’s brother!!! They are the same – or rather Bocker is what my Teddy looked like 28 years ago….! That’s amazing, I’ve never seen a teddy like mine. I was always faithful to Teddy – my dad brought it for me before I was born. I wasn’t very original and called it Teddy… still have Teddy though.
Marissa says
That’s unbelievably cute! :]
Anne says
TOOOO funny! 🙂
Brandi says
LOL! That was too cute… Seems like your mom is ready for some grandbabies, no? 🙂
Dee says
Oh my gosh! This has to be THE cutest thing I’ve ever seen posted! It absolutely made my day!
Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep says
I am laughing hysterically at Bocker as Shirley Temple. My boyfriend and I have stuffed kids, and I was so afraid we were the only ones who give them names, personalities, stories, and voices. Everyone says we should write books about them.
Love your stories about your bears!