Butterflies

For Sam's fifth birthday last year, he received a Live Butterfly Garden. Basically, it was just a collapsible mesh container and a coupon for butterflies. I ordered the caterpillars, paid $5 shipping and they arrived a couple days later. Last year, we got 3 tiny caterpillars and the boys very much enjoyed watching all three transform into butterflies. After we released them, I scrubbed out the container (butterflies poop a lot!), and stowed it away in the boys' closet.

For his sixth birthday last week, Sam requested more butterflies. I foolishly assumed this would be an inexpensive gift. We had the container for the butterflies, all we needed was a 'refill' of caterpillars. Well, this is where the company sucks you in. It's $5 for the first time you order butterflies. The next time, it's $16. Yikes.

But it's worth it. This year, we received five caterpillars and they grew from teeny tiny little things to five large caterpillars in just a few days. My least favorite part is when they make their cocoons. Then you have to take them out of their little container that they shipped in and move them into the mesh container. I won't do that part. I make Bill do it. It's icky.

This morning, some butterflies started emerging. So far, two are out of their chrysalis'. It's been fun watching the boys. Someone has been studying the butterflies all day and checking to se if we have any more. Unfortunately, Willoughby also discovered the butterflies, so we moved them to the Florida Room so he won't pounce on their container.

Here's TJ admiring the two butterflies. I love how it looks like they are sitting on his face. You can also see the three butterflies who have yet to emerge. Maybe tomorrow!