Butterflies release

Having these butterflies the last little while has been so fun! I worried that it was a project that Kate wasn't quite ready for, but it's been a little part of everyday to go check on then and see how they're doing.  We watched them go through each phase of the life cycle which we had read about in a book.  (I had primed her for the gift by buying a book about butterflies and reading it with her a week or two before her birthday.)  We were so excited to watch them eat, spin their web stuff, hang from the lid in the "J" shape, and then to wake up on 18 August and see that three had emerged from their chrysalis!  I have a cute video of Kate discovering them. 

We kept them all in the butterfly garden for two days waiting for the last butterfly to come out.  Then on 20 August we decided it was time to let them go.  Kate reeeealy wanted a butterfly to land on her finger when she released them.  I told her that they might be too excited to fly outside for the first time and not land on her finger.  She still hoped.

As soon as she opened the garden two of the butterflies flew out.  She watched them go and was excited to watch them fly.  

The other's were still in the garden, so we suggested she put her finger in and see if one would get on her finger.  While she tried to get one on her finger two more flew out.  But then... wait for it...

The last one climbed right onto her finger and stayed there for several seconds!  I was so surprised that my voice went up an octave!  She was very careful, watching for those brief moments before it flew off her finger.  She called out, "Bye little friend."  What a fun day!

Kate

Summer 2016

This little girl is just plain growing up!  She's got a lot of ideas and energy and emotion that is wonderful (and sometimes exhausting) to watch.  She's changed a lot in the last year.  This may be because - as she tells everyone - she is now 4, and 4 is big, but I also believe it is because she has a strong spirit in her that is anxious to learn and be a part of the world around her.  She is starting her second year of preschool, this time it is four days a week and it is at an elementary school.  I've been feeling some anxiety at this realization because I feel like once they are in school time is just a slippery slope and all of the sudden they are in Junior High and then High School and then off to college (which are all good things, great things...) it's just so fast and I waited so long.  Don't get me wrong, there are some days that I think it will be a nice break, but I just know that it will all slip by and I kinda want to hold onto this little person.  Here are some pictures from her this summer:

We had a Mama-Daughter date of sorts (it was a dentist appointment and then we ran to the store) that was fun.  We rarely, I realized, have time just the two of us.  When we went into Macey's they made an announcement that they were celebrating something and it was prize time!  So we had two minutes to find a number on the floor somewhere in the store and stand on it.  They would draw a number out and if you were on that number you won a prize.  We found the #6 and waited.  She was de-lighted when they called our number!  Our prize was this huge donut (perfect after just coming from the dentist ;)

 

 She cut her lip somehow and wanted to see it.  I was laughing as I watched her pulling out her lip and going cross eyed trying to see it.  I took this picture so she could see it.  I love her eyes.

 

This is her checking out the caterpillars she got for her birthday that eventually created their chrysalis and turned into painted lady butterflies.  It was awesome.

 

This was in the RV during our trip to Nauvoo.  She'd taken a shower and was brushing her hair.  Made me think of her as she gets older.  Her hair has gotten so long!

 

At an Owlz game with Matt's work.  

 

She's figured out how to take selfies.  I find dozens of pictures of the carpet and Daniel (she's always the photographer... he hasn't figured it out quite yet) and eventually she figured out how to do the front facing camera so she can take selfies.  Funny girl.  I love her all the time.

Cornish Family Reunion 2016 (part 3)

Carthage Jail.

 

 

Brothers.

Another day in Nauvoo. This was John Taylor's rocking horse.

The magical fan that actually helped in the muggy heat of Nauvoo in July.

 

 

Pioneer dressup and games.

 

A demonstration of how to make the famous red bricks of Nauvoo homes. 

I love this picture of all these cousins. Front row for a show: Luke S., Ashley H., Clara S., Kelly H., Clair B., and Jane B. And Rachel, John K., and Lisa in the back row.

We headed home with a few extra passengers. There were some engine struggles on the way home that Matt and Grandpa were able to eventually get figured out.  The RV traveling was great, Nauvoo was really amazing, wish we'd had more time with family. And that's a wrap!