The Three Bears ...

When the kids were young, we spent hours and hours at the various playgrounds around town. My mother-in-law was a firm believer in getting out and about with the kids starting from infancy. Since she was our child care -- and frankly spent as much or even more time with them then we did -- what she said went (within reason -- but I never found anything out of reason).

One of her favorite spots to take them was the Three Bears Playground in Central Park. When they were tiny she'd sit on a bench and read while they people watched or slept and later, she would follow them around as they navigated the bears and other equipment on toddling legs. Later on, she would sit reading a book while they bounced around on their own.

Yesterday, after services and lunch with friends, we decided to walk across Central Park. As we entered at 79th Street we greeted our friends, The Three Bears. And then the kids decided that they needed to get more intimate with them.

The following pictures just make me smile. I hope they do the same for you. (And I have no idea who the other kid is -- she was just enjoying the bears.)