Caterpillars to Butterflies: The Real Truth

As usual, months later, I am still trying to get caught up! :) So here is the long story with lots of pics about our experience with the caterpillars. I am not a bug person AT ALL! I hate them, would rather they all be dead and never reproduce, however, I know God created them for a reason and I want my children to appreciate the wonder that is metamorphosis. So, since you don't ever have to touch them, I decided this was my best bet. They come in these cups with their food and it tells you not to open it so you don't contaminate their food! Best reason ever! So here they are on my cluttered counter the day we got them.

And then they grew and grew and frankly the food got gross looking:

Then they started hanging upside down to make their chrysalis. Let me just state that my only experience was with silk worms and they just wrap themselves into this cute little cocoon. That is NOT how this happened. They violently jerk and squeeze this waxy looking liquid that forms their shell. It is not sweet or magical, However, my girls didn't care, they still thought it was cool.

So we moved them to their butterfly garden tent and just waited.

They all started "hatching" and it was fun to keep watching to see when the next one would come out. It took about two days for all 10 of them. We had one that just didn't develop right and I kept thinking it would fix itself and it didn't.

(Now let me take a moment to say that I also didn't know that butterflies have meconium. Just like babies, they have a special newborn "poop" and it is disgusting. It looks like blood all down the netting. GROSS!)

So, since I wasn't sure that the abnormal one would make it overnight, we decided to let it go before all the others. We decided to let it go while the kids were asleep, but Hannah caught us! Here is Hannah with our special little butterfly.

Cindi and the boys were here when the butterflies hatched and were ready to be released. We tried to get them to do what we wanted, but with freedom, they didn't stick around long for pictures.

Hannah loved touching them, but Rachel wasn't too sure!

This was the last one that we let go and it just landed on our tree. They were really pretty and fun, but not as cute and sweet as I thought it would be! I still am glad that we did it! :)

Happy Birthday Rachel!

I can't believe it, yesterday our baby Rachel turned two years old! Here are some pics from her life:
In the hospital and her first days home-

 Age 2 months:

 Age 6 months: 

 Age 8 months:

 Age 11 months:

 First Birthday! :)

 Age 14 months: 

 Age 18 months:

 Age 20 months:

 Age 22 months:

Her second birthday!

 We love you Rachel and look forward to many more birthdays celebrating you!

Summer Update #2- Movie, Parade, and Rodeo!

We took the girls to go and see Rio in 3D at the movie theater. Rachel didn't quite have the attention span to make it through the movie, but Hannah loved it! She sat still and laughed and had a great time. Here they are modeling their glasses in the dark theater (not the best for phone pics).

 We also went to the Riverton Town Days Rodeo and I was so impressed with the girls. We got there early to make sure we got a good seat and they were able to pet some of the horses.

 We got some cotton candy (that they ate about three bites and were done with).

 But they made it through the whole rodeo with no whining, fits or asking to leave! The rodeo started at 8 which is their bedtime and didn't end until almost 11! We also did the Riverton Town Parade. We were lucky to get to have the Meyers in town with us! Here the kids are watching the parade.

Cole and Rachel were so cute together! :)

Crazy Busy Summer! :)

We have been having lots of fun marking things off our Summer Bucket List, but I will tell you, it makes for one tired momma! I can't believe it has been almost two months since I updated. Oh well, here goes! Lets start with the food stuff we have made:

We marked off the Watermelon Waffles and they tasted yummy!

 Mouth snack- Apple slices with peanut butter and marshmallows. Both girls ate two or three which really surprised me since they usually whine if I leave the peel on their apples.

 We made apple sandwiches- apple slices with peanut butter, marshmallows and chocolate chips.

Banana Ice Cream- made with frozen bananas and a small dash of milk. This is my new favorite thing to eat! I have been making smoothies with frozen bananas, blueberries and strawberries only. Its way better than adding yogurt, ice and other stuff! :)

The kids and I made what were supposed to be homemade pop tarts, but I didn't cut the crust small enough so it ended up being more like pie pockets instead.

We still have some things to mark off our list, but we are making some good progress and having fun while doing it!

Zoo day with the Poret's

Memorial Day weekend we went to the zoo with Glenn and Yolonda. The girls had a blast with them and it's always a treat for Michael and I because the girls adore them and it gives us a little break! Checking out the birds:

 Riding the carousel:

 They were brave and took the girls inside the small animal area. I HATE the small animal area because it is an enclosed building with all the stinky animal smell, it is hot, and most of the stuff the girls can't see in their glass cages. However, my girls love it so occasionally, I cave and go in, but this time, Grandma Yo and Grandpa Glenn took them and Michael and I stayed outside! It was awesome!

 We took our traditional picture with the gorilla:

 And anyone who knows my husband, this is not a shock to you:

Right now at the zoo, they have alot of things closed because of construction. Luckily to distract from that, they brought in a dinosaur exhibit. They are so realistic its crazy! They make noise, move and one set of them spits water at you. This video is terrible, but hopefully you get the idea...