Monarch Butterflies!

My Mom, the science teacher, brought us several monarch caterpillars and a supply of milkweed. The caterpillars ate and ate and ate and became very fat caterpillars. Then they climbed to the top of their container and hung by a 'j' shape. Next, they each formed their bright green and gold chrysalis. After two weeks they emerged from their chrysalis as beautiful butterflies. We all enjoyed watching this amazing process. Thank you Mimi!

Birthday Suprises!

Birthday Week 2008

Whew...we made it through another fun filled birthday week! We started with a Build-a-bear party for Emma! She choose six friends to join her in some bear building fun. After the build-a-bear festivities we gathered out in the mall for some cupcakes, cheetos and caffeine free coke & rootbeer. I think our sweet little six year old had a super fun party with her family and friends!

The next morning (Emma's actual birthday) Sam and I had a HUGE surprise for the kids! We had secretly planned and packed for a mini vacation to Atlanta. After church we went out to eat like normal. As we pulled out of the parking lot Josiah immediately noticed we were going the wrong way! Sam simply explained that he needed to get gas and go by the bank. That satisfied him. It was not until almost 50 miles later that Josiah ask,"When are we ever going to be home?" Sam responded,"Tuesday." Josiah thought he was kidding. It was so funny! The kids were so excited to find out that we were going to spend two nights in a hotel, go the Georgia Aquarium and the Coke Museum! Eliott's reaction was the best! He woke up when we were downtown Atlanta. We were explaining to him what we were doing and he said,"Oh WOW, that is AWESOME!"

We had a fabulous time looking at all the old Coke memorabilia, but the highlight of the Coke museum was tasting Coke products from around the world. We don't let our kids drink many sweet drinks, so they loved the endless sampling! After a quick lunch of peanut butter crackers and bananas, we headed into the Georgia Aquarium. Wow...it was amazing! It was a perfect day to be at the Aquarium...no crowds. Josiah still says that was the best day he has ever had!

Tuesday the kids thought we were packing up and heading straight home. Little did they know that we were going to a ....Lego Store!! When we pulled into the mall parking lot the kids were not excited about shopping. Their attitude change when they learned that they were going to be able to spend their birthday money. The boys were in heaven in the Lego store and Emma enjoyed making a purchase at Hello Kitty. Tuesday was Eliott's birthday so on the way home we bought some cupcakes from Publix. We enjoyed cupcakes on the deck after dinner.

Saturday, Josiah's birthday, was a crazy busy day...soccer game...family pictures...wedding (that Sam was in.) Josiah's team tied their game and Josiah scored one of the three goals. We met sweet Adria downtown on Morris Avenue for school pictures. Yes, school pictures by a professional photographer / fellow homeschool mom. Next, over to the Alabama Theater for Jarrod and Susie Beth's wedding. Needless to say, we did not get to do anything special for Josiah on his birthday, so Sunday he got to pick a restaurant to eat lunch at. He chose Tomatopie...yummy! Since we had eaten a bunch of cake already that week we ordered a dessert pizza and stuck eight candles in it...perfect. And thus the end of an exciting, fun, busy and exhausting birthday week!