butterfly in the sky

i can go twice as high!  take a look, it's in a book!  a reading rainbow!

how's that for quality children's programming???

if i were at some sort of conference, now everyone would clap enthusiastically... : )  (for the show, not me! : )  i remember that being a favorite.  there were special favorite episodes, too.  for me i loved the one where levar worked as a short order cook in the diner and he got confused by the names they had for things.  i also liked the story "meanwhile, back at the ranch."  i also remember "follow the drinking gourd" and an episode with storm chasers.  my favorite ending (can't remember anything else about the episode) was one where the guys with the steel drums play the theme song and you see the sunset.  but, you don't have to take my word for it : )


anyway, we've been doing a butterfly unit at school.  we've read books, poems, done art projects, etc.  a few weeks ago will was going to get dropped off at home so it was ok that my errands were taking a little longer than planned.  he beat me home by a few minutes, but when i was running into the grocery store for something on my last stop before home i saw he texted, "did you order live insects?"  i texted back, "no, but april did... they're caterpillars for school!!!"  by having them sent to our house it wouldn't really matter what day they arrived because then i could take them to the school easily.  it was perfect timing, though, because i was going back the next day.  the kids were so excited!  they made observation journals so we started right away drawing pictures and writing what we saw.

the last day before spring break (so THAT'S why she's blogging so much! : ) we got to see the caterpillars, who had grown from skinny little caterpillars into big fat caterpillars, build their chrysalises!  like, really, throughout the day we could see the changes happening!  it was so cool!!!!  there was one whose chrysalis was on the floor of the container and most kids (most boys) were convinced it was dead.  one girl in particular was convinced it WAS NOT dead.  by the time i carefully carried the container out with me at the end of the day 4 were in chrysalis with the last one attached to the ceiling/lid but not having done anything and not moving.  i worried that maybe he had lost his oomph and that was it for him... BUT throughout the course of the evening he did his thing!  that was cool that he pulled through and we could see the changes at home that evening!  i felt like a proud parent! : )

a few days ago i transferred the paper from the lid into the collapsible net thing and carefully put the one from the bottom onto the bottom of the enclosure on a paper towel (as the instructions said to do with any that had fallen).

then today after i returned home from my marathon meeting (not that kind of marathon! : ) and was talking with brett on the phone i passed it and saw something flutter!  the one on the floor of the enclosure had come out!  he wasn't dead!  he made it!!  how exciting!!!

THEN i was walking past for i don't even remember what and i saw that another one was coming out of its chrysalis that very moment!!!!  i saw nature happening!!!!  well.. kind of  : )  part of me wanted to grab the camera to take a picture for the kids, but there was no way that i could step away and stop watching.  i didn't want to miss it!  i watched his crumpled up wings get uncrumpled and slowly smooth out and stretch out.  i watched him open and close his little proboscis what seemed like 100 times.. uncurl, recurl, uncurl, recurl... i didn't want to miss the next ones so i stood there a loooong time just in case... and i've walked by the check on them 20some times! : )  hopefully i won't miss the others!  i texted will the good news and told him i've already named them as well: nicky and ricky : )  hahaha... it's just what came to mind...


throughout all of our butterfly studies i can't help but be so amazed by the metamorphosis that takes place from caterpillar to butterfly.  it's a testament to me of Heavenly Father's love for us in one of his simple (and yet so complex!), beautiful creations.  it's a nice symbol of spring, growth, and progression, not to mention so amazing that the little multi-leg creatures hide out in their cocoon for a week or so and while they're in there grow wings and all the other body parts, changing shape, etc!  there are so many amazing creations we've been blessed with!

i will consider your name suggestions for the remaining 3 if you are fast enough... : )  now it's time to go make my gluten free dinner!  i'll see ya next time! (doo doot doot : )