How Do Giraffes Sleep? (And Other Google-worthy Questions)

"Why do fish like worms?"

"How do giraffes sleep?"

 "Why does rain fall from the clouds?"

Inquiring minds want to know. At least, 4-year-old minds do.

I kept Google at the ready last week when Kinley and Brooke visited the farm for a few days. Brooke is talking more all the time, but I'm not getting rapid-fire interrogations from her - at least at this point.

Her sister more than makes up for it.

When I was noticeably pregnant with Jill at the Kansas State Fair many, many moons ago, an encyclopedia salesman who was angling for a sale asked me how I'd be able to answer my child's questions.

"How will you answer, 'Why is the sky blue?' " the intrepid salesman queried.

Who would have thought I'd be able to type a nonsensical question into my phone and come up with an answer in seconds. Not me.

Kinley's interests evolve as quickly as the questions, it seems. Because she's currently interested in space, we included a trip to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson. 

She says she wants to be an astronaut and a Mommy.  Maybe there will be a sister team in space, who knows?

On second thought, that rocket looked really, REALLY big, Kinley decided.

Maybe Grandpa could visit Kinley on the International Space Station. He might help out with the scary parts.

Astronauts have to be in good physical shape.

Kinley got in a workout at the Hutchinson Zoo's spider web, besides checking out the animals.

Or maybe we'll have a veterinarian in the family. Both she and Brooke liked the baby kittens. (Thankfully, Grandpa found the newest litter of kittens just the day before the girls arrived.)

But they liked the bigger cats, too. Brooke appeared to be figuring out the proper ratio of feed. Kinley liked getting reacquainted with her favorite cat, Cozy.

Zoos (like Rolling Hills Zoo near Salina) need veterinarians, too.

Little sister seemed more interested in the transportation field. She wanted to push the stroller - not ride in it.

In the meantime, Kinley watched a little family make their way across a pond. "Oh! They're so cute," was quickly followed by, "Where are they going? Why? Can those babies swim that far?"

I thought of the age-old "Why did the chicken cross the road?" But I did my best to answer.

Or maybe we'll have a chef or two ... or at least a couple of good cooks.

During this trip, we also visited the Hutchinson Public Library. I read a couple of Berenstein Bear books and two Amelia Bedelia tales multiple times. We also checked out a book on space and several others, too. Grandma is ALWAYS willing to read.

We made potholders for Mommy's Mother's Day gift and we decorated foam door hangers. We also decorated frames and included photos from the girls' trip to see Grandma and Grandpa.

The girls and I watched the guys round up some more mama cows and their babies, and Kinley helped deliver them to the pasture.

Little sister wouldn't get in the photo.

We took the short drive to Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. We gave wide berth to the wildlife there - a snake on the trail! And we also tried to keep away from the bird droppings.

We visited the Stafford Mercantile for ice cream after fishing. We played in the Stafford City Park, which is across the street from where the girls' great-great-grandparents lived when Randy was growing up.

You'll just have to take my word for it. I didn't get photos of everything. (Hard to believe, right?!)