we have done it!  we actually raised 5 butterflies this year!  it was so much fun.

my sweet mom ordered this great kit for Josiah.  it came with what would soon be the butterflies home.  Then you got this small container with 5 caterpillars and their food.  we watched them eat and eat.  they began spinning silk.  then after about a week, they all began to make their way to the top.  the chrysalis were spun.  it was amazing.  these things would shake vigorously!  i really don’t see how they stayed attached!

after they had all formed, we then moved the piece of paper they were all attached to to their new home.  it was a larger, mesh container with plastic lid.  then we waited another week or so.  and then…. the glorious day when our first butterfly broke through!  how excited were we?  the first day we had just one.  then 2 the next morning and 2 the third.  it was a beautiful thing to watch.

i honestly don’t know who had more fun with it- Gabe & me or the boys!  i have never gotten to watch it before and it was remarkable!  you should so do this with your kids!

we watched them for several days and then once my mom came to visit- we decided to let them go!  we let Josiah do it.  and one of the butterflies actually landed on his finger and stayed there a while.  he seemed to have a little trouble at first getting flying, so Josiah helped him a bit.  it was a beautiful thing to watch.  there is just something so sweet about watching my kids discover and experience God’s creations!

here are some pics: