My friend and her family came up from Florida to visit us this summer.  It is always incredible when we get together, because she's like a sister minus the sibling rivalry, and our children are like cousins. So what do two home schooling moms do with their families on vacation? Go on a field trip, of course. We climbed Indian mounds that have been in existence longer than plastic, and just enjoyed being together. While strolling to the last mound, I spied a beautiful insect creature: lush velvet, a drop of scarlet in the green grass. 

 Faster than I could say, "What is THAT!"  my friend was in action. Amid our collective children, this is a teaching moment.  Actually, everything is a teaching moment to some one who teaches as naturally as she breathes.  And she does.  While her children write reports about ducks and recite "12 times 12 is 144", mine eat Cheerios off the floor and count how many times their mom has said "I can't find my Brain."(AKA my Daytimer)   I was still standing there in the grass, gaping, and she has already used her superpowers to produce a viewing cage for the specimen. OK, so it looked like a big Tic-Tac container, but I bet they will be selling them at Rainbow next week.   Then she caught it.  

 I mean, she actually caught the Thing in the Thing. (See why my children don't write?)  And I thought Mrs. Incredible was flexible.   I was so impressed. She even knew what it was, a Red Velvet Ant.  I was speechless. But her daughter wasn't.

"But, MOM! Where are the Tic-Tacs?"!!!

Now that sounds like something MY child would say!

(You can get your bug box at Wal-Mart. Free candy with purchase.)