Where is Amsterdam?

Nearly every day one of my children says something that is funny, shocking, awe-inspiring, or just plain . . . uh . . . well . . . dumb.  My middle child were talking about a book that she finished (which I recommended).  I was thrilled that she actually read something!  But then it came . . .

"I didn't know Amsterdam wasn't in the United States!"

Can you hear the crickets chirping in the shocked silence?!?!?

"Uh no, honey.  Have you ever heard of Anne Frank?  Tulips?  Windmills?  The Red Light District?  Anything?"  Our education dollars at its finest.

Butterfly House

Yesterday I took my youngest to the butterfly house at the nearby Dayton metro park:
http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/CoxArboretum/ButterflyHouse.aspx?id=banner

There were ten times the butterflies than last year.  Many of them flitted about our heads.  I always learn something every time we go; I hope my children do, too.  I learned that when the park is nearly empty, you can actually hear the caterpillars munching on the leaves.  I'll file this fact with the other useless trivia cluttering my brain.

The above caterpillar fascinates me.  They are so colorful, vibrant, and unusually shaped, they don't seem real.  My youngest likes them, too.  He, however, was more interested in the fruit gushers in the car that his friend had brought for them to eat when we were done. 

Lincoln Museum

My parents and my husband's family live about 250 miles apart.  One way to drive between the two goes right through Springfield, IL.  I grew up reading a bunch about our 16th president; the Springfield area is the place to visit for such interests.  A museum has been built in recent years, but we are always in a hurry to get from one grandparent to the other.  We have never stoppped.  Since my kids were staying with the Peoria family for a week--I used this opportunity to drive down to this much-touted museum:  http://www.alplm.com/education/home.html .

It was one of the most amazing places I've visited!  I could ramble on and on about the place, but for simplicity's sake--just visit it.  My father, daughters (12 & 13), son (6), and I all found elements we enjoyed.  The volunteers were top-notch.  It was spotless.  It was busy, but the ambiance was one of total respect--particularly in specific areas of the museum.  I read a free Kindle downloaded book about the president on our way to Illinois.  Now I cannot wait to read a quality book about him.