Saturday, August 13, 2011

Impromptu nature study

Yesterday, we were chillin in the front room packing up dishes while watching Psych.  Sarah likes to be the one who waters the fruit trees in the backyard.  She went out, then came back screaming that there was a crocodile in the back yard.  Being covered with crumpled newspaper, I sent Annie out to look.  She came in screaming that there was a horrible hopping thing.  So I disentangled myself and went to find the monster.  I found a toad the size of a wiffle ball. 

Knowing that my girls are nature wimps, I set out to catch it.  They began screaming and locked me out of the house.  I caught him and stuck him in a bucket.  I tried asking them to get a big pickle jar to put him in, but all I got was more screaming.  Finally I persuaded them that our friends would like him and to give me the phone.  After confirming with the friends, the girls let me into the garage. 

We got the toad into the pickle jar eventually.  Then, while waiting for him to be picked up, Emma and Laura and Adam decided to look at the toad.  Emma sketched him.  Adam kept pointing and tapping the jar.  Laura was amazed at how he hopped.  Anne of course screamed that I better keep my hand on the top of the jar and she stayed in the house.   Emma eventually got up enough nerve to touch him.  By the time our friends came, Emma wanted to keep him.  She settled for cutting out the sketch and putting it in a jar.

I am guessing this is proof that the kids need to have a better relationship with the outdoors.

5 comments:

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

That's hilarious! I think my kids would have been chasing and poking the toad. Thankfully, I haven't seen one in our yard yet. :)

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

Oh, and I didn't have your email address, but I still wanted to answer your question to my locked-up toddler post. The keys were in the van. :)

CharlesMarkley said...

Rachel, Annie started the story to us about Sarah and the other kids were so scared of the Alligator. After she was quite into the story, Emma betrayed/accused her of crying and being just as scared. It was pretty funny to hear Anne concede the full truth.

Patty said...

I'm jealous...we just don't get the big toads (or even frogs) out here, and I miss seeing them!
I can just picture this scene playing out.. too funny!

Bec and Doug said...

Alex would have been out catching the toad while I somewhat freaked out in the house if said toad was found in our backyard.