Once...

upon a time long, long ago (well, 14 years to be exact, but anyone who has a teenager will agree that it was at least a stone age ago when she/he innocently cooed and smiled at you) there was a mama bear.

The mama bear craved Rice Krispie treats.

The mama bear made Rice Krispie treats. (This delighted her sister bears very much.)

The mama bear ate Rice Krispie treats.

Soon a little cub was born.

As she grew, the little cub and her big sister would eat Rice Krispie treats too--soon a brother and little sister joined them.

The cubs grew and grew and grew.

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One day, when mama and her cubs were out shopping, mama bear noticed something familiar, "A vintage bag of Taco Doritios!"

The no-longer-little cub didn't even miss a beat, "But mama we can't eat those-- they are expired!"

Never-mind.

Then mama bear travelled down memory lane again a few weeks later, as she gazed at the Rice Krispies' promotional display. Several years had elapsed, but she piled six boxes of the cereal into the cart (which would also score the biggest savings) and tossed in a few bags of marshmallows for good measure.

Home again, the cubs noticed the potential treats immediately. As a matter of fact, the groceries weren't even put away before the no-longer-little cub was already mixing up the first batch. (This is one of the few pros of big cubs.)

Mama bear was delighted to have fresh Rice Krispie Treats--though she did have to do the dishes.

Then mama bear blinked and the treats were gone! The entire pan disappeared!

Luckily, there was more cereal and marshmallows...but night after night the treats disappeared and the dishes appeared.

This displeased mama bear greatly.

Now mama bear understands why notoriously protective mama bears chase their cubs away after a couple years.