Great Wolf Lodge

Ben & I took the girls to Great Wolf Lodge for an overnight get away. It worked out perfectly that we were there for Ben's 33rd birthday! What a fun way to celebrate his birthday with all of us together on an adventure! We all had a wonderful time!!!

We got one of the Kids Cabin rooms. The area where they slept looked like a little cabin. It was so cute and the girls thought it was the best thing in the world!

Their little cabin!

Day 1 at the waterpark!

Claire wanted to go on every slide there! She had NO FEAR!

The birthday boy with his girls!

I think this face pretty much sums it up perfectly!!!

The girls watching the bedtime show!

Day 2 - More fun in the water!

Jumping the lily pads!

So proud of herself!

So much to do!

Although Anna was a little more hesitant, she quickly warmed up and loved all the water fun!

So tired at the end of our day. We ended up spending over 7 hours in the water over the two days we were there. We were all WIPED! It was a great family get away! We plan on making this a yearly trip!

Caterpillars & Chrysalises

For Easter Grammy gave the girls a 'Butterfly Garden'. She sent away for caterpillars and we got them in the mail a week or so later. When they first came they were tiny little caterpillars and they QUICKLY grew into huge, fat caterpillars. I wish I had taken pics of them when we first got them. Shoot! Anyway, it was amazing to watch the whole butterfly metamorphosis. From tiny caterpillars to chrysalises to beautiful butterflies all in a couple weeks times! We can all learn so much from nature by witnessing the miraculousness of the Lord's creation! The caterpillars came in this self contained cup with the food at the bottom. There was nothing we had to do, but watch as they grow and form the cocoons and then become a chrysalis. It was spectacular to watch!

When a caterpillar starts to become a chrysalis, it hangs upside down and then forms a cocoon with a silk like material. In this picture all but one of the caterpillars is now a chrysalis. The lone caterpillar is the one closest to the camera lens. He turned into a chrysalis the next day!

Once the chrysalis turns an iridescent color, it was time to remove them from the cup and pin the paper disk they hang from to the 'Butterfly Garden' net.

This is what it looked like. They stayed like this for several more days before releasing from their cocoons!

Grammy also bought a wonderful childrens book about the butterfly metamorphosis. The girls wanted to read it almost every night!

Very interested! They couldn't wait to see the "baby butterflies"!

Butterflies!

So, our butterflies all managed to release from their cocoons at different times, but always when we were sleeping or away. I was kind of sad we didn't actually witness that part of the process, but we did get to see one soon after her "birth" because she was flapping her wings constantly to "unruffle" them and dry them out. The girls and I loved watching and feeding the pretty butterflies! I let the girls make the butterfly food (just mixing sugar with water!). They loved it!

The girls using the dropper to feed their new pets!

Our butterfly garden!

They were very active, especially after we fed them!

After having the butterflies for almost a week after their "birth", we decided it was time to let them fly FREE! Claire was very worried about them because she still called them baby butterflies, but she ended up being okay with it. She did shed a few tears once they all flew off (she is definitely my daughter!). It was a gorgeous and sunny day out so it seemed like the perfect time to release them!

There is a butterfly by Ben's foot that Anna is looking at! Her face cracks me up!

What a beautiful Painted Lady Butterfly! They all flew off pretty quickly after their release, but this one stuck around and let us admire her a little longer! Thank you, butterflies, for teaching all of us that God can turn an ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. I think it's a wonderful analogy for the metamorphosis that can take place in the lives of sinners (which is ALL of us). Jesus, by His own blood, can turn the ugliest, foulest of sinners into a new creation, made in the image of Christ. Is there anything more beautiful? We are all able to be a beautiful butterfly through Christ!!!

2 Cor 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Grant & Olivia's Birthday Party

We went to a 2nd birthday party for our friends, Grant & Olivia. It was a Mickey/Minne Mouse theme and sooooo cute! We had so much fun celebrating two sweet friends! We love you Grant & Olivia! Happy 2nd Birthday!

Their birthday cake was so adorable and tasted delicious!

Grant - The Birthday Boy!

Olivia - The Birthday Girl!

Deanna made ears with the kids' names on them! So cute!

I had to post this silly picture of Landon! Cutie!!!

Singing 'Happy Birthday' to the Guests of Honor!

Little Cousins

The other day I babysat with my nieces, Caroline & Catherine. Claire & Anna LOVE their cousins and they had fun playing and being silly together! It's so sweet to see them interact!

Sweet Cat Cat!

Time for a snack after all that playing!

Circus

Claire & Anna went to the circus with Grammy & Papa. They are still talking about the animals, people swinging (trapeze) and the clowns! Grammy was able to get some cute photos of their time at the circus!!

Three ring circus!

The girls watching intently!


What's a circus without cotton candy?

...and glow wands!

So happy!

Fun times!!!

Anna is Fishing!

This isn't the first fishing adventure this year, but it's the first time Anna fished with her very own fishing rod! Daddy bought a rod for Anna for Easter and she was so excited to use it! My girls really do enjoy fishing with their Daddy & Papa! It's so sweet and I love that they have some experiences just with the men in their life!

I thought this picture was so funny! I wonder what they see?

Claire fishing and...

Anna FISHING!!! Look how big she looks!

They caught a fish!

Helping Daddy release the fish!

After fishing it was off to the park! These pictures are so sweet to me! I love that my girls have such an involved and loving father!