The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Last Saturday, Uncle Paul was nice enough to tell us that we had a caterpillar hanging from a leaf that was going to turn into a chrysalis.  We all trekked out and found this caterpillar hanging in the J shape as they do before becoming a chrysalis.

The very next day we checked and the caterpillar had turned into a chrysalis.  Now we just have to wait until it turns into a butterfly.  Whoever comes over is shown the chrysalis.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel

For Father's Day we ventured down to Navy Pier.  We didn't get there until 10:45 or so which was not ideal but since N2 haven't napped recently we figured why not?  We started by going on the Ferris Wheel.  We wanted to look in the conservatory with the cool fountains inside but that area was closed for a private event.  Nothing was going on yet nor was there really any set up so maybe we could have explored a little bit but we heeded the signs.  N2 loved the Ferris wheel but then they also wanted to ride on all the other rides!

 This is what we spent most of the time doing on the Ferris wheel (that and keeping Noah from sticking his head out the arches of the door).

The view

What Not to Wear

Here's the N2 version of What Not to Wear. 

 Noah was cold and wanted a sweater-not sure why he picked a sweater with no sleeves but he loves sweater vests!

Strawberry picking

After Marcie told us that her strawberries were just about done, I figured I should check out Stade's Farm by me.  It sounded like they had just started picking but once we got there they said they had been picking for a week or two.  There were plenty of strawberries there but not as abundant as last year.  We had to search a little more for the strawberries but they were ripe and delicious!  Noah decided to eat more than he picked.  Every time I looked at him, he was eating a strawberry.  Brian commented that his basket seemed to get more empty as Brian picked rather than more full!

Noah the artist

Noah loves to draw and color.  Often times you will see him sitting at their little table surrounded by markers, crayons and paper.  Here is his latest drawing.  He made it for Great Grandma and it's a picture of Brian.

 This next one Noah made a week or two ago.  This one is Noah's ark.  I assume the yellow is the ark.  Noah explained the whole story of Noah's ark to me and told me why the rainbows are in the sky although he did say they are there because God said was going to rain for 40 days and 40 nights.

On the topic of napping...

We have reached the point where N2 don't need a nap everyday.  I learned on Thursday that they do still need some sort of rest period or else they are cranky!  One day last week during nap, Brian went up to discover this in Natalie's bed.  I had to go up and take pictures!

Each animal on her bed (and she has lots!) had a book to read.  Every single animal, no matter how small, was sitting on a book.  So cute!  Needless to say, she did not nap that day.

To nap or not to nap

Here are some pictures from the end of April.  Note all the books.  Natalie takes forever to fall asleep but back then she would still sleep.  I took this picture when I went in to wake her up one day after it took her a long time to fall asleep.  She's really tough to wake up!  Now Natalie doesn't necessarily fall asleep unless I go up and sleep with her (or lay with her until she falls asleep).  Normally that only takes about 5 minutes which is why I'm not ready to give up on naps yet.  But I think she's almost there.  Noah at least still naps.

Need a handyman?

Call Mr. N.  He'll come with his gold chains, his paintbrush and other handy tools.

Fairy Garden

We have a new addition to our fairy garden.  I found an alligator at Joanns that I thought would be nice.  This is what happened.

Natalie decided to put all the animals into the one corner to escape from the alligator-so the alligator wouldn't eat them.  I guess the elephant squirt guns weren't in jeopardy of being eaten!

Here's just a random picture of my bonsai tree (well my dead bonsai tree).  I have never, ever planted pansies in any of my gardens and then all of a sudden a pansy starts growing and blooming amidst my dead bonsai tree.

Favorites

Here are 2 favorite pictures from May.

Noah poses like this quite often.  I love the contemplative look of it.

ANTM the boy version?

Noah decided to do some posing as well.

Then we got one of them together.

ANTM?

Natalie decided to start posing while outside so Brian snapped some pictures.

Water Balloons

N2 spent their last $1 that they got from Great Aunt Elaine and Great Uncle Randy for their birthday at the Target $1 section.  I've been doling out the dollars ($1 from Valentine's Day and $3 from their birthday) since February.  This last time they both picked the same thing-water balloons.  The first time we used the water balloons, I was by myself so I didn't get any pictures.  This time Brian played with them so I was able to snap pictures.  All N2 do with water balloons is throw them at you so they will explode.  Water balloons only last a few minutes because they can throw balloons awfully quickly!  Now Noah is not fond of getting wet himself so you can't throw any at him.  We need to work on that!  Poor Brian got the majority of the water on him (or at least his feet).  He tried to catch them but N2 would throw them hard enough that they would pop when they were touched.

 (I love Natalie ducking in this one).

Stair Train

This happened after children were tucked into bed.  But it was too cute not to take a picture or two or three...

Walking the puppy

No we have not gotten a puppy.  Just take a look.

I at least convinced them that the "leash" does NOT go around their necks.  Natalie was a very willing puppy.  The following day Noah was the puppy and Natalie the pet owner.  The puppy kept escaping from its cage and Natalie kept going around saying "No puppy"  "Come back puppy"  "NO puppy" and then she would bring it food.