Bat Watching

The girls have become increasingly interested in bats, and so we spent our evening in lawn chairs, watching for bats.  Ella lounged back, casually talking, casually looking for bats.  Virginia lounged back, shooing away mosquitoes, boasting that she was the first to spy the three quarter moon.  Jude jumped from Daniel's arms to mine, and back again.   He didn't care about the bats--wanted only to eat manure.  We were only outside for a minute or two before the bats were overhead, flapping their webbed little wings.  I forgot to wear my glasses and so had a hard time seeing the approaching bats, and though Daniel pointed them out, the hairy little monsters were but blurs to me.  Until one flew within a few feet of my face!  

And so bat watching was cut short. As a concession to the girls, I offered to read to them about bats.  Reading about bats led to a discussion about flying.  I told the girls to close their eyes and then narrated to them the flight of a winged creature (as well as I could, having never been winged myself).  When they opened their eyes, I asked them to describe their imaginings.  Here's what they said:

Ella:  At first, flying was scary, being up so high.  Then I learned what I was doing, and it was just normal and fun.  I liked it.

Virginia:  I want an ice cream.

Cathleen:  You wanted an ice cream as a bird?  While you were flying?

Virginia:  No, I want an ice cream as a girl.  Now.