Ciara's Sewing Project

For her birthday, Grandma Mari and Aunt Cheryl took Ciara out to lunch and shopping.  They made a little stop at the fabric store.

 She picked out this fabric panel.

  She immediately jumped on the sewing machine to turn it into a skirt.

 Modeling her finished project.  

Her favorite kind of sewing project - no pattern cutting!

Somewhere over the Rainbow...

American Gothic in Lego

Riley's art teacher gave the class this cool assignment.  Reinterpret the painting  American Gothic in any way they would like.  I love what Riley came up with!

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Goodbye Beautiful Butterflies

Ella decided to release her butterflies today.

 She was very grown up about it.
She said it was such a beautiful day today.  

It was a perfect day for them to search for a new home. 

(Or, maybe this has something to do with the fact that when we were at the pet store buying cat food yesterday,
she was begging me for a hamster.)

Strangely enough they didn't leave right away like I though they would.
They seemed almost reluctant to go.
She fed them and showed them some dandelions
and told them to enjoy the sunshine.
She told them to come visit anytime.

The Very Grouchy Ladybug

Ella's teacher sends home these little bag buddies.  A tote bag with a stuffed animal of some kind and a book.  In the past we have had Sammy the snowman and Chomper the Dinosaur.  Our most recent visitor was Lucy the Ladybug.  She came with Eric Carle's Book:  The Very Grouchy Ladybug.  While they are with us, we are supposed to document what they did during their stay with us.  The kids can either draw something or we can take photos.

Ella just loves these bag buddies.  Sometimes she doesn't want to send them back!

 Riding home in the car

Shopping at Sam's Club

Sharing a Happy Meal

A ride in the wagon

With her friend The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

New interest in the butterflies!

This morning, I set the butterflies within their habitat, on the kitchen table so that I could replenish their food.  The phone rang so I left them there for a minute.  When I came back I found the butterflies had a new admirer..........

Our kitty Sarafina found them most interesting!

Butterfly Update

As of yesterday, all four caterpillars that made Chrysalides have transformed into beautiful butterflies.  Ella and I actually happened to catch one emerging.  I was soo transfixed, I forgot to grab my camera.

 Here they are feasting on some carnations dipped in sugar water and orange slices.  Grandma Clara thinks the food service is so good they won't want to leave!

Ella preparing their food.  Notice another critter in this picture?  

Eric Carles Very Grouchy Ladybug is helping.

The butterflies are a beautiful orange color.  Ella loves it when they spread their wings.

 

Meanwhile this guy is still hanging out in the cup.  I guess he hasn't heard that the food is much better over at the other place.  But maybe he likes having his pad all to himself.

This has been a really fun experience for Ella, and I have to admit I am enjoying it a lot too.  It's not only been fun to watch the transformation but educational too.  My four year old can now say the word "proboscis"  We read a book about butterflies before bed last night and she was fascinated that butterflies can use camouflage.  She has informed us that next she would like a ladybug lodge or an ant hill.