Caterpillar Spring

"It's a caterpillar spring--a fiesta, a field day, a fling!

A fine time for stepping out, a fine time to wiggle about!"

(from Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood)

Thanks to Aunt Trisha, we are in the first days of a butterfly project at our house. Our Painted Lady caterpillars arrived a couple days ago. We will watch them over the next few weeks as they eat and grow, then wrap themselves up in chrysalises before emerging as butterflies. We will be sure to post updates as the weeks go on. If you are interested in having your own butterfly (or ant, or ladybug, or worm) project check out Insect Lore.

Another summery treat? Breakfast smoothies! I have finally reached the perfect combination of fruity thickness. The secret? Frozen fruit! It is much better than adding ice cubes, which really waters it down and ruins the nice smooth texture. For one adult size and one child size smoothie, I use about 1 1/2 cups of homemade kefir (though you could substitute any kind of milk or yogurt), a banana, and about a cup of frozen fruit. Put it all in the blender until it is nice and smooth. Today I also threw in some fresh strawberries. Yum! You don't even have to add a sweetener because it is naturally sweet and refreshing.

Finally, one cute baby picture.

Sweet baby Isaac is having a bit of a rough week. He does not want to be put down at all! I don't know if he is teething (those fists are constantly in his mouth) or is just in one of those in between stages where he wants to do something but can't quite do it so he needs to tell us all about it. He wants to be able to sit up really, really badly. "Enough of this lying on my back!" he says. Oh, and he is really good at telling Grandma all about it over the phone. He is going to give Noah some serious competition in the phone conversation department!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I will be at work...

~Jen