You Are My Sunshine...: Our first 2011 visit to the butterflies.

Today we were supposed to go to the Purdy's birthday party but with Adri and I being sick (and then both kids waking up with an abundance of snot and a little cough), I didn't think it would be very nice (or fair to the other Mommies!) to expose all the other little kids to whatever it is that we're suffering from. We sure did miss out on a ton of fun and wish we were there though!!!

But, we've been cooped up in our house all week with a sick Adri, so we needed to get OUT, especially with the snowstorm that's predicted to visit tomorrow and Monday.

What do you do when you don't want your friends to catch your germs? You call up Meijer Gardens and see if they have any butterflies yet. :) Then you pack up the kids, and make your way over there to give your germs to strangers you won't see again.

On our way we stopped to get a car wash. Adri and Sam were scared so badly that they screamed the entire time the car was being washed and then all the way to the Gardens. It was a great way to start our visit.

When I called the Gardens they told me there were a few that were fluttering around. When we got there we were surprised to see a lot as well as barely any visitors. The cocoon hatchery is up and running also. This might have been the most perfect time to visit because we didn't have to wade through the sea of people that are usually there. We visited at this time last year too with great success. It's hard to believe that at this time last year I was hugely pregnant and couldn't stand to be in the butterfly area for more than a few minutes without feeling nauseous and like I was going to pass out. It's also hard to believe that Sammy is now almost a year and was able to enjoy the butterflies!!!

Adri was in heaven when we walked in, circling around and pointing at the butterflies as she exclaimed "Look Mommy!!! Butterflies!!!". It always feels so magical to me to visit the butterflies and watch them fluttering around playing with one another in all the greenery. It's even more magical to watch my children enjoying them in all their wonder. I can promise that we will be visiting the butterflies at least once a week until they're gone, we have to enjoy them while we can!

From Winter 2011

Adri searching for butterflies:

From Winter 2011

Looking in the hatchery:

From Winter 2011

She wants so badly to touch one!

From Winter 2011

Just hatched:

From Winter 2011

Can I touch it? was Adri's mantra while we were there...

From Winter 2011

Hmmmm...Interesting. There's a lot of neat butterflies circling my head right now...

From Winter 2011

Yup...Don't mind me. I'm just waiting. Always waiting.

From Winter 2011

I can't believe I got stuck looking at these flowers while Adri and Daddy went outside to play...Grrrr! Wait! Who's that good looking little man in the striped shirt looking back at me?