Dandy Day!
/The day began with an announcement from Karoline:
"Mama," said she, her fist full of dandelions for me to put into a tiny pitcher, "we have so many beautiful yellow flowers and the neighbors have none. I'm going to pick them all and scatter them in everyone's yard just like Miss Rumphius. Then, there will be beautiful yellow flowers everywhere."
As luck would have it, Catherine shared a recipe for Dandelion Syrup on Kind Conversation. So, we suggested that Karoline and her sisters and her friends gather the flowers for syrup making purposes.
They spent a glorious couple of hours making their fingers a lovely shade of yellow.
They stirred some "dandelion soup."
They measured until there was enough.
They brought it in to boil and steeped.
We read Miss Rumphius and Dandelions and The Dandelion Seed and Stars in the Grass at bedtime.
The next day, we added sugar and cooked and cooked.
Dandelion Syrup.
Brings sweet tea to a whole new place:-).
When I tucked Katie into bed that night she commented, "Some people call dandelions weeds. Don't they see the flowers? Everyone should have a girl to show her the flowers when all they see are the weeds."
Everyone should.
Little Miss Sunshine
/She hears we're going on an outing and she hurries up to get dressed. On goes a carefully considered T-shirt with a crocheted shrug over it, embroidered jeans, pretty socks and sparkly shoes. She pulls her curls up so that they cascade down the back of her neck. She checks the mirror and scampers into the van. We arrive at our destination just a few minutes later. With the baby on my hip and Nicholas following behind, we follow her into the office. "I'm here," she calls out to the receptionist, "but I'm not sick. Nicky's sick. And maybe Sarah Annie. I'm just visiting."
I think the nurse might burst out laughing, but she manages to stifle it. The receptionist gives in to the giggle. The children are weighed and measured and temperatures checked. The doctor arrives. He asks Karoline how she is and is met with a full report of the last week, including every cake baked, a full accounting of Cox Farms and the hayride, and the happy news of her trip to Red Robin, complete with a rendition of the birthday song. Now we're all smiling from ear to ear.
By the time we leave with $200 worth of prescriptions, it's confirmed that Karoline has an ear infection and a fever, among other things. She gathers her stickers (and a few extras for Katie).
"Good-bye. I'll see you later. Thanks for having me!"
I don't think the sun has ever shone so brightly in that office.
Ooh, that's harsh
/Katie and Gracie are struggling with the looming change in their relationship that's coming when Gracie moves at the end of this week. They've squabbled more than usual the last couple of days.
Today, playing Wii:
Gracie: No fair! You can't win all the time.
Katie: I can if I do. And I did.
Gracie: Then I'm not going to be your friend any more.
Katie: Fine. When you move, I'll delete your Mii.
Gracie (lip quivering): And then you'll never see me again.
Long week, this one.
I said, "Share!"
/In a desperate attempt to keep Karoline awake while I dropped off boys at soccer practice late in the afternoon, I bought Katie and Karoline a strawberry milkshake to share. They were sitting side-by-side in the back of our full-sized van. After several peaceful moments up front with Brad Paisley, I heard,
Karoline: MOM! Katie won't share!
Mom: Katie, I bought a big one for you both to drink. Please share with Karoline.
Katie: I really don't want to share.
This surprises me, but communicating is difficult for me from the front of the van, so far from them and unable to see faces. I press on.
Mom: Katie, really, you need to share with Karoline. Give her the drink.
Katie: She has the drink.
Mom: She does? (Now I'm utterly confused.)
Katie: I don't want anymore; she can have the rest.
huh?
Karoline: No, you have to have more. I'm sharing! I can't be a good friend if you don't have more. MOM, KATIE WON'T SHARE! MAKE HER SHARE! You all just won't let me be a good friend. I'm never going to get to heaven with a sister like this.
