Caterpillars and Butterflies

I saw this kit a couple years ago and have been wanting to do it ever since! Drew's school does it every spring in each class and my parents got it for us for Christmas. It's a kit where you can house caterpillars, watch them morph into butterflies and then release them! Oh, and bonus, you can order caterpillars over and over again assuming the weather is nice enough.

We got our caterpillars a couple weeks ago and had been watching them morph daily.

Last week they all emerged as butterflies and we enjoyed them for a few days before releasing them this weekend. I have to say, the squeals that came from Drew just justified ordering more caterpillars a few more times this summer. He LOVED helping them come out of the habitat and was so excited when one stuck to his hand and wouldn't fly away.

Someone else enjoyed the weather with us on her blanket while we set the butterflies free.
Hello eyelashes.

You can order your butterfly kit here!

Grandparents Recap #3

I realize that this week the posts will be picture-heavy and pretty pointless. But sometimes that's how I like it. Just simple and quick. It's a fast and fun way to share recap pictures with our friends and family who live far away.

Back to the recap post.

On Friday, we took Derek's parents to Put-In-Bay Island out here on Lake Erie, but made a pit stop on the way to drive through the Kalahari Safari. Considering cars go about 3 mph, we let Drew out of his seat to experience all of the animals!

Then it was across the fairy and to our first stop on the island; a Butterfly house.

It was disgustingly hot, but was worth it. I've never seen so many butterflies in one big area and Drew loved chasing them around! I think we all had a butterfly land on us at some point or another. 

As we began to sweat from every part of our bodies, I cut back on pictures, but I couldn't resist sharing this particular progression. Drew has been on carousels before, but the heat must have made for a bad ride on the island. He hadn't even made it the first whole rotation before giving the lip and jumping into daddy's arms. Thankfully, there was a bench that he enjoyed sitting on and watching us each time he went by. Can you see the beginning of a major upset face in the first picture?? And the leaping onto Derek in the 2nd picture? 

All in all, we had so much fun on our 'island retreat' with Mimi and Grandpa! Thanks again for the delicious food and treats while there! 

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Instagram dump:

Texas Discovery Gardens & Butterfly House

This past week we had an empty Saturday and decided to do something fun as a family. It was chilly so we head to a butterfly house and gardens to just walk around and look! While the butterflies weren't high in numbers, the quails in the exhibit were a HUGE hit for Will and they all, of course, loved running amuck in the gardens. :)

 

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Although the Botanical Gardens here in Cleveland have nothing on those in Missouri, we still enjoyed traipsing through the colors and smells this week with Grandma and Papa in tow. There were TONS of butterflies in the 'Costa Rica' display and Drew enjoyed touching some of the plants as well.

Catching Up

Derek and I were invited to an awesome housewarming party complete with bartenders, poker tables, a photo booth and so much food! It's always nice to get dressed up once in a while!

One of the last soccer games quickly turned FREEZING and we weren't prepared! Will at least was warm on Gramma's lap. 

She's mostly a pain in the rear but she's a good dog and loves her kids. 

And a freezing golf tournament too...

DREW GOT SECOND!

Kinder roundup for my smallest! Can't believe he'll be in kinder next year!

My girl became the first kiddo in our family to earn Top Dog! The kiddos have to show 10 characteristics and she did it! We are SO SO proud of our girl! 

Will and one of his favorite little buddies, Caden.

Dance conventions are loooooooong, often having the girls dance for 8 hours but man do they love them and learn so much!

He's just cute...

6th grade award ceremony and Drew got the A Honor Roll again! But also I just love his smile and how handsome he is...

Releasing the butterflies...

Muffins with Mom Part 1...

'Have Lunch With Your Middle Schooler' day...

Muffins with Mom part 2

Mother's Day dinner...

This keeper got to play the field at an indoor game and got his first Hat Trick! (3 goals)

Ady advanced to the final stage of the 'Amazing Shake'. It's a manners type event where they have to build each other up, use manners, not interrupt, be a team player, etc. So proud of her!

Her little biking buddy...

Final choir concert for these studs...

Poppa doing his thing...

Love my little creature lover. We had this huge toad in the backyard and he loved carrying him around!

 

Metropark Walk

We ventured out with Mimi on Sunday to our Metropark for an hour and a half walk on a trail. Cleveland is known for the 60 miles of paved trails winding throughout the lush, green area, and. They are really amazing, gorgeous parks and we found a completely new area Sunday complete with wetlands, turtles, butterflies, herons and bullfrogs! The weather was perfect and Drew enjoyed every minute on the trail.
We even got Mimi to jog with our stroller for a bit!

We definitely will be back to our newly discovered trail in our wonderful Metropark!

 

Home for the Holidays

As I think I've mentioned on here several times, the Holidays are my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving comes in a close second to Christmas, but both make me warm and fuzzy. Those feelings have significantly increased now with the expansion of our family and I look forward to more. The extra holiday activities in December, the toys all wrapped up under the tree and watching our families interact with Drew is my new heaven on earth. I start to feel the butterflies around October each year as the holiday music begins but am a bit sad that I have to wait another 11 months for it all to start over.

Our week at home over Christmas this year did not disappoint. Although we were non-stop moving between both sides ensuring everyone got ample time with our snowflake, it just felt good. The familiarity of both of our childhood homes and the holiday traditions that ensue there makes us smile.

Sure we went to see the Union Stations trains and feasted on some food we miss while living up here, but what made us the most happy were the simplest of things.

... Knowing my angel was in the nursery during the Christmas Eve church service.

... Watching my family watch Drew open gifts eat wrapping paper.

... The smell of candles burning while the fireplace cracles under a mantle adorned with stockings.

... Being with family. Our families have molded us into who we are and the fact that we can be with them for the holidays is a wonderful feeling. They love us and Drew. Deeply. And for that, we are better people.

Despite the decorations being put away and the lights taken down, our pastor reminds us not to put the holidays away in a box to be taken out 11 months from now. We need to remember the story of what Christmas really is about all year and treasure the hope of Christmas every day of the year.

Thank you, God, for Christmas. It is magical.