What spoon?

Everett's weight has been hoovering at the 1% since he was born, but you wouldn't know it by the way he eats sometimes. Today I couldn't help but take a picture of him shoveling his afternoon snack into his already full mouth. The spoon must slow him down!

A tisket a tasket two brothers in a basket...

Out with the Larva, in with the Pupa

We watched in awe today as our very hungry caterpillar transformed into a chrysalis. It was amazing to see the transformation happen before our eyes, Ethan couldn't believe how green he was and how much he wiggled around after shedding his skin. I was amazed too and couldn't help but wonder what it looked like inside with all the thrashing and thrusting.

The total transformation from shedding the skin to chrysalis was around 15-20 minutes. We got a few pictures, but they don't do the live experience justice.

Go check out the milkweed near you home... you might just find a small caterpillar waiting to be observed!

Let the Metamorphosis Begin

Over the last few weeks, our little tiny caterpillar has been munching on milkweed leaves, pooping, and growing, growing, growing! I read today that the Monarch caterpillar grows 27,000 times its original size! WOW! Tonight he attached himself to the top of the container and is now in "J" formation. Tomorrow will be the big event! I can't wait!

Below are a few photos we have taken of his growth. He spent a few days with Grandma and Grandpa Huffey while Derrick and I were in Minnesota, and that is when he did the most growing of all! I couldn't believe how big he was when she gave him back to us!


Day 7 (almost 1.5cm long)


Day 15 (about 4cm long)


He is HUGE!

Blessed with Another Metamorphosis

Today, while sitting around our pond, drawing on the sidewalk with Ethan, I noticed something swimming in the water. Upon closer observation, I realized... WE HAVE TADPOLES!




Ethan and I couldn't have been more excited. We counted over 30. They are tiny, smaller than a pea right now. I can't wait to see them grow legs and turn into frogs!

I am so amazed by the creatures of God that we have the opportunity to observe when we take the time to sit and enjoy them.

How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

A Watched Pot Never Boils

Last year our praying mantis laid an egg case and we have been patiently waiting for the day it would hatch. It is an amazing thing that stays dormant over the winter and then when the temps reach above 70 degrees, it hatches hundreds of baby mantids.

Well, our patience started to run out about a week ago, and since we have been watching Mr. Monarch caterpillar, the container that was holding the egg case was needing a new purpose. So, I took the egg case, still attached to the stick, and sat it in the corner of our porch while I used the container it was in for Mr. Monarch caterpillar. I didn't dare bring the egg case inside, for fear that it could still hatch... so I figured outside was fine until I decided what to put it in to store it long term.

Today, while cleaning up outside... I thought I would find a home for the egg case, and when I picked it up, I noticed it had hatched!!



Ethan was sitting inside at the table, coloring a picture, and I yelled for him to come outside and see what I found. I was unsure if it was done hatching, so I didn't want to bring it inside, so we sat on the porch and examined the egg case. He was disappointed and a little upset with me that I removed it from the container, but just then something small caught my eye. Moving behind one of our planters, was a VERY small praying mantis. I had a glass jar sitting on the porch from releasing some sort of bug earlier that day, so I quickly scooped up the mantis (who was very quick and hard to catch) and brought it inside for observation.

I removed Mr. Monarch from the netted container, and dropped the mantis in so we could decide what to do with him.



Now, I had a lot going on over the next few weeks, and feeding a baby mantis was not in my schedule. Ethan and I discussed what to do with it, and although it would be fun to keep it and see it grow, we decided to let it go at our Nature Playdate with Polk County Conservation later in the week or even possibly donate it to their program if they had a need.

I am disappointed we didn't get to see the actual event of the mantis babies hatching, but I am very thankful that we got the opportunity to see one of the mantis babies! God sees me and my children!

The Life of a Caterpillar

This summer we are going to spend as much time outside exploring the world around us. Our calendar is packed full of activities dealing with nature! So, today we went on a Monarch Caterpillar hunt... and we found one right away!

Everett had fallen asleep in the van on the way to Yellow Banks Park, so once in the park, I pulled off the side of the road, left the van running with the doors open, and started our short hike to collect a caterpillar in the ditch near the van. Ethan wasn't too excited, since he really didn't know what to look for, but as soon as I found a small, white, almost unnoticeable caterpillar on a milkweed plant, his attitude changed. I snipped off the top of the plant with my scissors and carefully placed it into our jelly jar to take home for observation.

It was a very, very small caterpillar with only a black head to signify it was a Monarch. After discussion with my friend Miranda, we determined that it probably hatched that morning, since it didn't have any stripes.

We can't wait to see the change over the next few weeks!



Do you see the tiny little caterpillar in the second photo? I am still amazed that we even saw him. This photo was taken the day following his capture. See the tiny black stripes and his black head? That is how we know he is a Monarch.