The Butterfly Project

The last month or so, we have been watching caterpillars become butterflies!

For Christmas, Isadora got a butterfly kit. We had to send away for the caterpillars. I wish I had taken a picture of the caterpillars.  They came to us (5 of them) in a small jar full of food. They ate their way through the jar of food. Eventually, they crawled to the top of the jar and built cocoons for themselves. We moved the cocoons to their butterfly habitat. 

Here they are in cocoons. 

There is one missing because he fell down, but he was totally fine!

In about a week - 10 days, our first butterfly hatched!

We (aka Kirk) fed the butterflies flowers and sugar water. They survived just fine. Even though one might have broken his wing when he got stuck under the paper plate we put at the bottom of the habitat. 

We loved having them around!  So fun to watch them, maybe more for us than the kids, but really cool!

Today we said good-bye to our friendly butterflies. 

Isa was scared of the butterflies. I did get some better pictures with my actual camera, not this iPhone business!

We had so much with the butterflies!  I think we will send away for more for a round 2. :)

In other news, I got my rings stuck on my finger. Not my proudest moment. It went from this:

To this:

It happened when I put the rings on my middle finger while I was in the shower...then I couldn't get them off. I tried to "recreate the shower scene" by putting shampoo and conditioner on them. Nope. Butter?  Nope. Hand in ice water?  No go. Kirk was working and freaked out a little when I sent him the pictures. 

Long story short, he had to bring a ring cutter home from work and cut off my two gold bands he got me when each of the kids was born. Bummer...but I still have 10 fingers!

I know, this is such a "me" thing, right?

The Amazing-ness

I can't be the only mom who finds it hard to believe they're a mom. It's been almost a full 5 years now and yet I STILL have a hard time believing I'm the mother of two kids!

Kirk and I weren't sure if we wanted kids but Lincoln and Isadora will always be our greatest accomplishments in life. It's amazing how becoming a parent changed the way I look at the world. 

I'm amazed that in a room of a thousand people, it is my face these two would look for. 

It amazes me when I look at Lincoln, I see a little bit of Kirk and when I look at Isadora, I see myself. 

It's amazing how it doesn't feel that long ago when both kids were babies. Now they are walking, talking, funny, quirky, crazy, little people. 

I love the look on one of their faces when they see something new or do something they love. 

I secretly love it when it's me they look for when they've hurt themselves and collapse into me. Because sometimes the only thing that can make you feel better, are snuggles from your mama. 

I secretly love how they go to Kirk when they aren't feeling well. Because sometimes Daddy is the only one who can make them feel better. 

It's amazing how much I love watching the kids sleep. I love the peaceful look on their faces, I love they way they mumble "I love you" in their dreamy sleep. 

I love the unprompted I love yous, the hugs just because and the sweet kisses. 

I love the times when I hear myself in the kids; when they say something I didn't know they heard (or listened to) me say. 

I love all the pleases and thank yous and you're welcomes and the bless yous from the kids. 

I love watching them learn new things. 

I love seeing the world through their little eyes. 

I can't wait to see what kind of people Lincoln and Isadora become. What they choose to do with their lives. Where they will end up. If they will have kids. I'm not wishing the days, years or months away, but I do look forward to seeing them grow into themselves. 

It's not all roses and flowers and sunshine. Some days are hard. But these two will always be my greatest accomplishments. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mamas!  I hope your loves are taking care of you today!

PS: I'm also amazed how impossible it is to get a decent picture of or with these two. I mean, really?!