Johanna and Katriel enjoy bedtime stories. Johanna enjoys them much more than Katriel does, but we can usually get Katriel to at least join us.
In one way or another…
We would NEVER have let the other kids do this…. she is clearly the youngest child of aging parents.
How do bats help pollinate the saguaro cactuses of the deserts?
Like this!
We traced the edge of the cup onto a coffee filter
And cut it out [to be petals]
We made a circle of corn syrup and cut straws shorter than
the cups [to make the pollen stick and to mimic the proboscises of the bats]
And then dipped them in colored sugar [the pollen]
And poured a small amount of Coca-cola in the bottom of the cups [to mimic nectar]
And used our straws [proboscises] to drink out the pop [nectar]
The kids [bats] really had to smush their faces into the
rims of the cups [cactuses] to enjoy the pop [nectar]
This resulted in sugary [polleny] faces
and if they moved on to their neighbor’s cup [cactus] they would
have left behind remnants of sugar [pollen]
and helped to make new flowers!
did not think of this myself – all the credit goes
to Carrie Austin at Heart of Dakota Publishing.
DO TRY THIS AT HOME!
AND- if you think this sounds familiar…
(This is why our cords always die, huh?)
Katriel and I were driving in the car this morning chatting away. There was a few moments of silence, then Katriel asked, “Where are we going, again, Mom?”
”To Aldi. To get groceries,” I answered.
”Oh,” she replied, sounding sad and deflated. “I wanted to go to Disney World.”
Me too, kid. Me too.
She helped me shop, nonetheless.
I had a few minutes at the end of the day. We headed outside and I planned to look through the new Avon catalog. Then these little dolls asked me to push them on the swings. I put the catalog away for another time.
My big kids don’t ask me to push them on the swings any more. Too soon these ladies won’t be asking me anymore either.
Marie mowed a bit and when she was done she brought some milkweed over to show them how to peel it and what was inside.
It might be right next door, but we always seem to forget about Lollypop Farm being a nice place to stop. The girls and I took a quick visit in. The pigs were a lot of fun.
In the middle of the night she came. As is always the way with this little one we could hear here before we could see her. On the very rare occasion she needs us at night she CHARGES from her room at the distant end of the hall down to ours. She bursts through the doors and the footsteps ring out heavily.
John was already up ready to swoop her into his arms. He softly shushed her and led her back to her room. Soft words, gentle reminders, and a snuggle and kiss were not enough this time. The tears were different and flowed unceasingly. He made the quick decision to let her sleep between us; a decidedly rare event.
When his alarm went off at 4:15 AM she stirred. He offered her to return to her own bed. She took him up on it.
A few hours later when she and Johanna descended the stairs in search of resuming the princess play they’d left the night before, I saw her sweet face.
Ouch.
She had fallen out of bed. Through tears she couldn’t explain it, and in the dark John never saw it.
And don’t you love those EYES?
Sure – right after I find that needle in that haystack!
The younger girls and I were invited to a tea party at Mrs. Mrs. Fuhrman’s house. When we arrived, both girls were presented with crowns, necklaces, and bracelets; and were invited to help serve some of the “guests” at the tea party table in the living room.
Our dear friend, Mrs. Hedgepeth was also invited. 
Mrs. Mrs. Fuhrman had a number of tea party books from the library for the girls to look at, as well. 
We moved into the elegantly decorated dining room for our lunch. The table was beautifully outfitted and the girls were delighted to see the pretty food and dishes.
Both girls used their manners as best as they could given their ages. 
And Mrs. Mrs. Fuhrman read to them.
Sadly, we left earlier than I would have had I realized the clock I had referred to on the wall had stopped. It worked out, however, as we were able to beat traffic as we took Mrs. Hedgepeth back to her house out past our own home.
It was a day I hope the girls never forget.
Dayspring Disciples 