Butterflies

Cupcake LOVES butterflies! For her birthday Aunt Robyn and Uncle Carl gave her a butterfly kit. We had to mail off for baby caterpillars and over several weeks got to see them transform into butterflies. It was so much fun for all of us.

I didn't do a great job of taking pictures because we'd get so wrapped up in watching that I'd forget! We had a stool parked by the kitchen island and even Cutie Pie wanted to climb up every time we came in the kitchen to take a look.

Here are the 'pillars turning into chrysalis:

And 8 days later, they emerged:  

We fed them oranges and sugar water on flower petals:

Then we had to say goodbye:  

Cupcake was so gentle with her butterflies! They loved her and she loved these precious moments:

We let a few go in the backyard too: 

This picture melts me:

Thanks Aunt Robyn and Uncle Carl! This gift rocked!!!

First hair cut

You might have thought it was Cutie Pie who'd be getting her first hair cut but no....it is Cupcake! We made it 4 years and a couple of weeks without cutting her hair but it was time for a trim. I don't know who was more nervous...even Daddy insisted it would be just a trim because none of us are ready to see those baby girls go away. Cutie Pie, though a bit nervous, was also very very excited. 

About to go in....and NO we are not ear piercing!

Getting a wash: 

Of course she picked the pink car:

Here we go: 

All done: 

A manicure is included with the cut so Cupcake was thrilled for sparklers: 

Cupcake did great! She loved watching a movie while getting a cut and getting her nails done. I, on the other hand was very disappointed. If you are taking your first child for their first hair cut here are some tips that I wish I had thought about: 

1. Visit a few places before you take your child. Yelp reviews can not be counted on as they are as subjective as parenting styles. 

2. If the people cutting hair are wearing all black, do not smile, and do not appear to know how to talk to children....leave and don't get a cut there. 

3. If you are like us and end up at a place that does not do a good job explain to your child, after you get home, what was not "normal" so they don't come to expect it with haircuts. For example: "I'm sorry the lady who cut your hair did not talk to you and instead rudely told me what you needed to do. Next time Mommy will rip her earrings out ask her to treat you with respect."

With that behind us I am at least thankful that Cupcake's hair was not ruined and she, in fact, still has her luscious curls. Maybe in 4 more years we'll have the guts for cut number 2. 

Front facing

Since Cupcake turned 4 we decided to finally turn her around. Actually we wouldn't have except that Cutie Pie was ready to move to a bigger car seat and for everything to fit we needed Cupcake to turn around. People have been shocked that we made her face backwards for so long but the more I read the more I was convicted to choose the safest option. In fact, if it were feasible I'd have all backseat riders face backwards in my car. It's just safer.....anyway, Cupcake was thrilled with the whole new world of seeing out the front. 

Here she is getting so big: 

And Cutie pie in her new seat: 

Science day

I was so thankful that Grandma and Grandpa were still in town when Cupcake had Science day at school. They were willing to stay with Cutie Pie while I went to volunteer. Of course I got to snap lots of pictures of the fun too....

Cupcake and her best school friend feeling the effects of blubber: 

Crisco on your finger and then stick it in cold water

Making a tornado:  

There is goessssss:  

A volcano eruption:  

Homemade lava lamp: 

Static electricity: 

Planting a seed: (update: Mom killed it. awesome.) 

Cleaning a penny: 

Making lemonade: 

All done, back to class: 

I had so much fun helping but especially enjoyed seeing Cupcake experience her very first science day. She LOVES to figure out how things work so this was a super fun day for her.

Bluebonnets

Finally, a new top photo. Do you like it?

Since I've never wanted to pretend that we are some perfect family in a happy little home with a white picket fence here are what most of the pictures from that day look like:

And when I was about to give up, had lost my voice, and wanted to throw my camera I look up and see this: 

I guess more important than the most perfect bluebonnet picture is that these two really do love each other and when Mom is making them crazy in the bluebonnet patch they stick together and stick it out. Until next year when I get my hopes up again...that's a wrap on bluebonnets!

Easter in June

Yep...it's June and I've left the Easter blog hanging for sometime. Here goes.....what has happened to the good old fashioned Easter egg hunt? Here's Cupcake at our church's Easter egg hunt prior to our special Easter service:

Do you see a hunt? No....you see tons of eggs thrown in an open field and children running around trying to gather as many as they can. No hunting, no looking, no problem solving....just shoving towards the most eggs and...you got it....more sugar.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa our girls got to put their minds to work to have a REAL Easter egg hunt with NO candy filled eggs...just real live eggs we had dyed together in some sweet family time.

We went out to their lake condo for the day and enjoyed a yummy brunch with chocolate filled croissants, lemon muffin, and fruit salad. Then the girls hunted eggs, went swimming, and explored the beautiful courtyard with fountains they were particularly fond of.  We had a delicious pizza lunch and then while the girls napped we watched some U of L basketball. Winning! After nap Grandma made a FABULOUS fish dinner with yummy sides. We basically ate our way through the day...and loved it all. Here are a few pictures:

 Cutie pie wasn't too sure about the chaos at the "hunt" at church:

Yummy lemon brunch muffin!

And the remnants of a chocolate croissant: 

Grandma and Grandpa found these awesome handmade eggs at a local candy shop:

On the inside there are tiny little chocolate figurines!!

On the porch with Grandma: 

With the fun lion fountain: