A butterfly is born!

Today was the day our first butterfly emerged from its chrysalis! We weren't able to set her free to fly yet as they need several hours for their wings to dry and sunlight to be able to fly for the first time. So we will keep her inside until tomorrow morning. Of course it happened at nap time and for the first time in awhile Callie was actually sleeping at nap time, so she missed watching it emerge. I saw and it was so cool!

We also went to the children's museum today and saw some of the new things they put in. The kids really enjoy going there. We may even go back tomorrow!

We will try to get a video of letting our butterfly free in the morning :)
Before bed we were outside playing on the playground. The kids were having so much fun playing together and their contagious laughter just makes my heart smile. It's these moments where they play so happily together that make having two kids so close together worth all the work. Let's hope they can continue to be buddies for a long time to come.

Pool party

Last night we went to a pool party with some friends and swam and danced the night away. They had a bouncy house and a dj with dance floor and lights. I didn't take any photos as I was in the water with the kids or chasing them around in the dark trying not to loose them. So I only have two photos Doris snapped for me.

We did some swimming today too at home.

My plumeria that was given to me by my mother in law a year ago has just bloomed it's very first flower! It's beautiful and so big! We should have a bunch more coming.

And today we had a BBQ at LuLus house.

Cooling off

Ahh the cooler weather has returned. A nice and sunny 84 today was a much needed break. I felt comfortable being outside in the sun today for the first time in a week. We went to the downtown water park to splash around and have a picnic.

Also today Callie put on her new real diamond earrings Grandma bought her. She felt so special like a little princess. I left them on for now but I'm too paranoid she's going to lose one so they will probably be a special occasion jewelry.

And we attempted to have a movie night outside in the tent with sleeping bags but it didn't last as they couldn't sit still and were fighting within the first 3 minutes. Yet another crazy thing I set up, take down and clean up, all of which takes more time than they actually play with it. No wonder I'm tired!

Swimming

It's been super hot! Of course I'd prefer to sit in the A/C but the kids prefer to be out in the water. Callies been getting brave putting her head back under water and she's even teaching Diego how to blow bubbles in the water now.

Chrysalis time!

We had a disappointing caterpillar death from our first caterpillar that I thought was getting ready to form his chrysalis. He had some crazy caterpillar virus called Black Death. We keep learning more and more! But now we have two successful chrysalis formed. This morning Callie and I got to witness it happening! It happens in just a few minutes and it wiggles and wiggles out of its skin as it turns into the green chrysalis. It's amazing! Watch it on YouTube if you want to see what it looks like. We had to relocate one chrysalis because it was dangling on a half dead leaf the other caterpillar was going to eat away. If it falls the butterfly will be injured and die. So we carefully moved the chrysalis and leaf to the top stick in the cage using some simple tape.

Callies also been quite the artist lately. Her skills are much improved and she can draw all kinds of different things. Today by herself she drew a garbage truck for her brother and our family on a boat. How cute!

Diego has been busy playing trains. GiJu brought lots of trains and bought him this track at ikea yesterday. He is really enjoying train time!

Saying goodbye to GiJu

10 days goes by fast when you are having fun! It's time for GiJu to go home already. We had fun and will miss her a lot until November.

Today we also have our first chrysalis from our monarch caterpillars. The last one ended up getting a virus and dying which was pretty gross and traumatic. So it was much better to see this one make a beautiful green chrysalis in its journey to butterfly.

Beat the heat by the beach

It was a hot day here so we went to the beach to stay cool. The kids built sand castles, moats, and walls. They played in the waves until they were so tired and hungry it was time to go. And the best thing about a day at the beach is that it leads to long naps :)