Callum, Jasmine and Maia Go Bear Hunting

We went over to Naomi's house this Saturday. Maia, Jasmine and Callum play really well together, leaving plenty time for Naomi and I to chat over lots of cups of tea.

All through lunchtime we had been talking about what kind of bear we would like to find on our Walk In The Woods. Jasmine wanted a pink one, Maia wanted a lilac one, I wanted a stripy one, Naomi a fluffy one, Callum a white one and Ian a grey one. In the end we decided we would look for a fluffy pink, white, lilac and grey striped bear. In Rotherham.

We bundled up warm, spent ages finding all the coats and hats and mitts we would need - then ages taking them all off again so that we could all have a pee. Finally we were off!

The walk to the woods took us along a busy road, so we spent a while sorting out Hand Holding. Gotta hold hands, and there is obviously Toddler Status bound up in who holds which parent's hands. Obviously, the value of holding the hand of a parent that doesn't belong to you is greater than holding one that does. Until, of course, you realise that someone else is holding your Mummy's hand, and then it becomes desirable again. So we swopped about a bit along the way.

We spent a very enjoyable hour or so leaf kicking, dog chasing, log balancing, shrieking, walking-like-a-mousing, stomping, running and laying in the leaves and looking up at the sky. Maia had an al fresco pee behind a tree (taking no chances, I stripped her bottom half completely, so she had a bit of a cold bum for that bit). And of course, bear hunting.

The kids were shattered by the time we finally made it back, and the brief bout of tiredness-induced moaning quickly disappeared as soon as the magic words 'Hot Chocolate' were mentioned.

We had tea, dunked the kids in the bath and drove home tired and happy. A really good day. Despite the lack of fluffy pink, white, lilac and grey striped bears.