The first day of school was only an hour, and it was the first decently hot day this "summer," so I squelched down my guilt, played hooky from a thousand and twelve urgent tasks and we took the kids up Whistler mountain for a picnic hike.
On the way to our favorite picnic spot, this happened:
It was a magnificent gift. What struck me most, apart from the unbearable cuteness, was that Mama was the one who took the initiative to play, rolling about and gently dragging her cub into the tussle. Even when she judged it time to leave the lovely cool snow and get back to the serious business of eating (and it is a very serious business, with winter approaching on the heels of a lousy berry crop, and males hogging all the best territory, as usual) she let him push her over every few steps in what was clearly a "just one more minute, Mom!" ploy.
And they were off.
i freakin' love this series of pictures-great work!
Posted by: elaine | 08/09/2011 at 06:55 AM
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing it.
Posted by: PrairiePoppins | 08/09/2011 at 08:35 AM
Wonderful!
Posted by: Ros | 08/09/2011 at 09:41 AM
As usual, wonderful pics. Thanks.
Posted by: Gillian | 09/09/2011 at 11:10 AM
VERY cool pictures!! How lucky you guys were to get to see Mom and Cub playing...bet that doesn't happen very often! Happy Back-to-School!
Posted by: Kerri | 09/09/2011 at 03:22 PM
Your pictures are always wonderful! Such serious cuteness! How close do you get to the bears when taking the pictures? Thanks!
Posted by: unrvld | 11/09/2011 at 07:23 PM
What a neat group of pictures, how very privileged to have stumbled on the scene. And what memories for your kids. I am on a bear painting streak on my rocks right now, so enjoyed these especially. Mother bear looks like she has had a few years behind her. Nice old ones can still play ---
Posted by: Anna Lee | 15/09/2011 at 04:55 PM