September 30

I sent Doug out to run a few errands for me today (I needed some chicken noodle soup to help with this cold I am coming down with) and he brought me these potted begonias.  He's so sweet.  Let's hope I don't kill them.  :)

September 29

After such a gray and gloomy day, God blessed us with this gorgeous sunset this evening.

September 28

I love it when he lets me take his picture instead of running away and hiding!

September 27

Keira's friend, Alexandria (aka Alex), and my Alex.  I think my Alex is in love.  :)

September 26

The sky looked so cool this evening!

September 25

Yeah, I missed a few days.  Too busy running to doctor's appointments to take any pics!

Here's the birthday girl blowing out her candles at her party.  I bought her cake this time since this past week has been so crazy ... what with doctor appointments and computer viruses and meetings and ...  I just didn't want to have to think about decorating a cake on top of it all.

September 21

Keira's 12th birthday!

September 20

This is Nick's scarecrow he painted.  Doug cut it out (before the accident) and Nick tied it to a stick and put it in our front yard.  It only stands about 2 1/2 feet tall.  But Nick is very proud of it.

September 19

Betcha can't guess who this is.  Since he is so cleverly disguised.  :)

He got these glasses from Preschool's Treasure Box!  He was so excited to get Treasure Box ... and I was excited he got Treasure Box already!  Five days of preschool and five stickers already!  It's gonna be a good year!

September 18

Butterfly #34.  Our last butterfly!

We weren't sure this tiny little beauty was going to make it.  It took 13 days for her to emerge from her chrysalis and then she seemed to have died hanging there this morning.  When I finally decided to go get her out (and throw her away), she had completely perked up and was fluttering her wings.  She even flew around the house a little before I caught her again and took her outside.  Nick came out and asked to hold her.  Once she climbed on his finger, she took off flying.  We're praying she will be okay!

September 17

Nick was showing me his scarecrow picture that he put inside our snowball bush when we happened upon this baby grasshopper.  

I'm completely cheating on this picture though, because it is from a few days ago. I did not take any pictures today.  Too many doctor's appointments and pharmacy visits.  Ugh!

September 16

He wasn't thrilled about me taking his picture in the hospital, but I did anyway.  He's telling me to hurry up and take the picture already.  

Doug with his injured fingers and broken middle finger.  The yellow foam thing is to help him keep it elevated.  The kids call it his "big cheese."  :)

September 15

Butterfly #33.  Not a good picture, I know, but here it is anyway.  He didn't cooperate during his photo shoot and then he flew away as soon as I tried to put him on my flower.  :(  Of course, he had been out of his chrysalis since first thing in the morning, and I didn't get him out of the container until after my morning run ... around 10:30.  He was more than ready to go.

September 14

Since Doug is on vacation this week, he has been working on a few projects around the house that need done.  One of which is preparing and installing some window frames and trim.  He has been wearing a mask while he saws so he doesn't breathe in the sawdust, and of course, Alex needed to wear one too since he has been "helping" his dad.  He puts the mask on then breathes hard so that he sounds like Darth Vader.  It is too cute!

September 13

Alex with an inch worm crawling on him.  I just love the look on his face!

September 12

Butterfly #32 was out early this morning.  
We set her free before we left for church, but she was still hanging on my flowers when we got home.  I think it was too chilly for her to fly away.  But the sun came out and must have warmed it up a little because the next time I looked out, she was gone.  
And then there were two.  :)

September 11

Butterfly #31.  We got home from the race this morning to find this beauty had emerged while we were gone.  She is a petite little thing, but just as gorgeous as the others.  Only 3 more to go!

September 10

This strange looking fellow is a Vapourer Moth Caterpillar.  Looks like he's having a bad hair day!

September 9

Butterfly #30!  I decided to try something different and photograph him on one of my artificial daisies.  He wasn't crazy about it though.

We have 4 chrysalis left.  Sadly, I had to remove one today (the 5th chrysalis) because it had the yucky disease.  And I just checked them and another one might have it also ... we'll have to wait and see.  :(

But looking on the bright side ... we've helped 30 caterpillars fulfill their destinies to become beautiful butterflies!  :)

Oh, and Happy Birthday Pap!

September 8b

Had to do a double post today since this beauty emerged this morning.  Isn't he gorgeous?!  He's #29.  He was out when we got home from preschool.  He was ready to fly when I took him out of the container, but thankfully he hung around a little while for his photo shoot.  As soon as I took him outside and placed him on my glads, he took off.  We saw him a couple more times today though ... fluttering around the yard.  Love it!  Looks like we'll have #30 tomorrow.

September 8a

Alex started Pre-Kindergarten today!  He was so excited.  

I wrote about it on my other blog in case you are interested.

September 7

You've heard of Last Man Standing ...

You've probably even heard of Last Comic Standing ...

Well this is the Last Caterpillar Standing.  :)

Although he's not "standing" any longer ... 

now he's hanging in his J form waiting to form his chrysalis.

Finally!  I no longer have to stop and pick milkweed leaves!

Now don't get me wrong ... I've enjoyed watching all of them.  

I'm just glad to be almost done.

September 6

Butterfly #28 emerged while we were at the Labor Day parade this morning.  Thankfully I brought the container that the chrysalis was in with us so we could enjoy her and she wouldn't be stuck in it all day.  And I got to photograph her on a different flower since we were at my in-laws this afternoon.  I think this is a trumpet flower.  What ever will I do when all the butterflies are gone?  :)

September 5

Butterflies #25, 26, and 27 emerged today.  Unfortunately #25 flew away before his photo shoot :), so I was only able to photograph 26 and 27.  But they are beautiful on my gladiolus, aren't they?

September 4

Butterfly #24!  

I can't believe we have successfully raised two dozen butterflies!  And we're not done yet.

This beauty came on a not-so-great weather day.  It is chilly (which is actually refreshing) but also a bit windy.  Just when I was about to take her outside to set her free, it started to rain.  So she hung out inside with me a little while longer.  The rain didn't last too long but the wind doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon.  She hung around on my iris gladiolus [I found out this evening from my MIL that they are gladioli not irises as Doug told me :)] for a while and then decided to brave the wind and flew away.

September 3

RAIN!  After a long stretch with none, this was a welcome occurrence.  Except that it started just before the kids were getting out of school for the long weekend.  And it passed through too quickly.  But it did bring in some cooler temps, which feel great compared to the 93 degree days we've been having this week.

September 2

Butterflies #22 and 23 emerged today!

September 1

Butterfly #20 ...

and Butterfly #21 appeared today!
And it looks like we might have a couple more tomorrow!