Jared's business partner, Guillermo, gave Hannah a Butterfly Garden for her birthday.
(it's the #1 selling toy on Amazon)
This present totally rocked our world.
First we got the small and cute caterpillars in the mail.
Then they grew at an alarming rate. It was crazy how fast they changed.
After a week they began their pupal stage.
That's where they hang upside down and hold very still.
After a day they hardened into chrysalids.
Then we moved them into their butterfly net cage.
It only takes about a week for them to start popping out as butterflies!
It was insane!
All I could do for a whole day was watch them.
I couldn't function as a human being because watching them was so awesome.
Until they all emerged we fed them watermelon and orange slices.
They seemed to love it.
All 10 are out. Time to let them go.
Everyone got their turn to hold one.
Hannah and I watched this last pictured one emerge.
I almost cried as I watched him get stuck in his own shell and web and ruin his wings forever. His wings never straightened out. He can't fly.
We ended up keeping him.
Hannah re-names him about every 20 minutes. She could not be more thrilled about having a butterfly pet. He crawls all over her all day.
His current name is Stripy. This morning it was Crawly, then Crippled, and yesterday it was Spotty.
If you have a chance to, I highly highly recommend this family experience.
We just loved it!