teach them...when you sit down...when you walk around (in flowers)

We figured it out. *insert laughter*  The whole age-appropriate vacation (and you still get to sleep in your own beds thing).  When they were at the baby/toddler stage we realized that a vacAtion was just a trip to the park that ended with dipped cones.  A little swim in the pool.   The beach swing set.  Short and sweet.  A date was a red box movie and perhaps Chinese take-out at approximately 8:32 pm (or as soon as  babies sleep).  We've come a long, looooooong way.   I was so excited.  Since the price of gas is doing its very own thing and it doesn't make sense to travel far...and since I got amazing, (one day only) FREE tickets to our lovely, local conservatory...well,

what could be more fun in this dreary, winter's done but spring has not come yet weather?! (updated to say...thank the Lord, the sun has currently made it's appearance).  So we did.  Right after a drive through fast food, because what is more happy to a kid than eating food of absolutely no nutritional value in the car on the way to...

"paradise"?!

all age-appropriate planning lost in the murmuring of

children shocked that anyone would consider

this a good time.

Little girls adjust.

Paradise just might be

found.

However all things planned are not necessarily met with joy expected.

"oh, (sigh of dismay)...it's a FLOWER PLACE?"

did quite rapidly turn to enthusiastic running

when at entrance the girls were handed

a pencil to "treasure hunt".

(Though the final "prize" turned out to be small and plastic,

God bless the woman who promised "reward". ☺)

 one of our favorites.

the girls took "turns"

controlling the fountain spray ☺

 yarn butterfly. check.

and she runs

around

and

around

and

we sit

and

sit

and enjoy

momentary "pause"

"snap"

and she's

running again ☺

we named it the "strawberry-banana"

garden fountains

surely

intended

for children

to walk

through...

see the

"growing"

bumble bee?

in between drips of rain

we discovered this outdoor play garden

 

smell

the

coffee!

it was evening as we entered

the most

magnificent

land of

butterflies

and

orchids.

Did I mention

that God's Creation

is

tremendous?!

you know that verse

pray with ceasing?

you can praise

worship

without stopping too!

sleepy butterflies

 
good night butterflies

 good night pineapple palm.

and good night 

beautiful darkening sky.