Butterflies

A few weeks ago we purchased a Painted Lady Butterfly kit for the kids from here. A few days after ordering online we received 6 small caterpillars in a jar and the butterfly house and feeding system. We watched the caterpillars for about 8 days as they ate and ate and grew and grew. It was amazing to see how huge they got from where they had started. The kids observed them and wrote in little booklets we had made each day. Finally, the caterpillars crawled to the top of the container, and hung upside down in a J shape. Overnight they became chrysalises. We watched for changes for about 9-10 more days as the chrysalises became darker and FINALLY, butterflies hatched. We happened to miss each of the hatchings unfortunately, but the kids didn't seem too disappointed. Five out of the six survived, although one had a very small wing that didn't allow him to fly (a Nemo of sorts). On Saturday we finally let the butterflies go. It was so fun to watch the whole process.

butterfly books

names the kids chose for their caterpillars, don't ask me where they came up with these names.

Emilio's observations

Gabi's final butterfly drawing. Can you tell she's a girl butterfly?

checking out the butterfly house

some of the Painted Ladies (p.s. the red stuff is leftover coloring/tissues from the metamorphosis, not blood).

being very gentle

the first two Gabi tried to take out instantly flew away. She was so pleased that this one was happy to sit on her finger for five minutes before it flew away. She truly believed it was her friend.

Gabi and her butterfly