Sandbox!!

Carolyn got a sandbox! It was a big team project for us! Grampap (Diane's dad) designed a 4x6 sandbox with corner seats and cut all the wood, making a "kit" for Zach to put together for Carolyn.

Zach and Carolyn worked hard to put the sandbox together. Carolyn was really excited about the project and wanted to be involved in every step.



After it was built, Diane and Carolyn stained the sandbox red to help protect it outside. Carolyn was really an excellent painter and painted very carefully!

We put the sandbox outside in the backyard and loaded it up with sand this afternoon. Carolyn helped dump the sand in and rake it to even it out in the box. Then she used her little wagon to bring all of her sand toys to the back yard. We're looking forward to a lot of outside fun this summer!!

Carolyn's Butterfly Project!

Last year friends of ours raised caterpillars into butterflies and I thought Carolyn would really enjoy doing that this year. So, we bought a kit that comes with a butterfly mesh house and a voucher to send away for the butterfly larvae (small caterpillars). Carolyn was very excited about the project and we got books out of the library and learned more about butterflies than I knew there was to learn! It's been a lot of fun for Zach and I to watch Carolyn's excitement as she learns about butterflies!

First, a jar of caterpillars arrives in the mail. There are 3 caterpillars and 2 are guaranteed to make the transformation to a healthy butterfly. Our first round was a no go - the caterpillars were "sick," but the company mailed out new ones right away and we experienced success the second time around! After a few days in the jar, the caterpillars climb to the ceiling and form their chrysalises. Here they are in their chrysalises in the left jar.

After they are secure in their chrysalis, it's time to transfer them to the butterfly mesh house. Zach and Carolyn carefully transferred them in and we waited for them to emerge as butterflies!

Eight days later, the first butterfly came out of her chrysalis. Carolyn named this butterfly "Dora." At first they are very sluggish and can't even fly until their wings dry, but within a few days they were flying around like crazy.

The next morning, Carolyn's second butterfly came out and we actually got to see him coming out of his chrysalis! She named him "proboscis" which is the name for a butterfly's tongue because when he came out he was twirling and un-twirling his long tongue!

The butterflies are supposed to live for 2-4 weeks and can be released outside anytime the temperature is about 55. We are feeding them sugar water on flowers and wadded up tissues and plan to enjoy them just a few days longer before setting them free!

Some Pictures!

I can't believe how long it's been since we updated again! Oooooops! We've been busy and mom has been extra tired (37+ week belly picture coming soon!). Zach had a business trip to England and life has just been "full" for us lately..... Things are coming together for the baby's arrival (barring the fact that the poor thing still has no name!) and the to-do list is getting shorter (or staying the same length as I add things as soon as Zach crosses them off!)

Enjoy some pictures and I'll post more of an update of our last 3 weeks within the next few days - Carolyn's butterflies have hatched and she is enjoying them tremendously so we'll need to post about that!