Chasing Butterflies

We have been on a fun adventure this summer, we have taken to raising butterflies!

It started back in July when Mama found a lady in town who sells Monarch Chrysalises.  We got some pokey butterflies, but in the end all three came out on the same day while we were at the lake.

We all loved getting to hold them and set them free...

and we loved getting to see how beautiful they are up close.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Mama found some monarch eggs.  So far we haven't been too successful in raising them to maturity, but we are getting better and I have a great feeling about our last two!

Did you know that you can buy Painted Lady caterpillars on Amazon?  We were much more successful with those guys, but they weren't nearly as fun because we didn't have to do anything to feed them, and they really weren't that cute.  The worst part was that the chrysalises wiggle!!  Mama did NOT like that.

Meanwhile, outside, our fall flowering plants are blooming and the Painted Lady butterflies are LOVING those.  We got home from school the other day and there were DOZENS of butterflies on our flowers.  

Mama agreed to let me catch some and put them in our butterfly net if I could.  What she didn't know was that I was going to talk Daddy into helping me and he got home just in time.  We caught 8 butterflies!  Kitten REALLY loved playing with them, though I don't think they liked it much so we moved them away from him.

At the end of the night Mama insisted that we release them back outside where they belong.  I knew she was right, but I really wanted to keep them as pets.

Say a prayer for our last 2 monarchs.  We are trying really hard to help the monarchs out, I hope we can release these two so they can enjoy their migration down to Mexico.
Linden

Back to School - 2017

After 3 long months, school is back in session, and I couldn't be more excited!

Wednesday was meet the teacher day, and it was great.  I love getting to drop off all of my brand new school supplies, and I am so excited to have my own locker!

I was pretty nervous about meeting my teacher, Mrs. Schroepfner, because I hadn't heard of her before.  The minute I met her I knew that it was going to be a great year.  

The next morning was the big day.  I love the first day because Mama always curls my hair.  I ask for curls all the time, and we usually don't have time, but she always makes time on the first day.  After I got ready we had to take our annual pictures in front of the house.  A picture with my sign (it was only 47 degrees, brrr!)

A selfie with Mama...

And of course, Ellen wanted in on the action.  She was pretty bummed that she didn't get to go to first grade too.

Another first day tradition is getting breakfast at KwikTrip.  I wasn't thrilled that Ellen got to join us this year, but we had a great time and all enjoyed our doughnuts.

And lastly, a picture in front of the school sign.  If we compared to last year you would be amazed at how tall I have gotten.

The only complaint that I had about the first day was that it went by way too fast.  I can't wait for all of the fun things that are in store!
Linden

All I Want for Christmas...

It FINALLY happened!!!  I am pretty sure I am the last first grader to lose a tooth.  

The other day I noticed that my tooth was wiggly, and each day it got wigglier.  I really wanted it out, but I just wasn't sure what to do.  Well, after lots of wiggling it with my tongue, I decided to twist it, three times, and pop! Out it came!

It was so exciting, I couldn't wait for Mama and Daddy to get home so I could show them.  I was also so worried about losing it, the tooth fairy would be so disappointed.

Speaking of the tooth fairy, she came!!  She left me a sweet note saying that my tooth was extra clean and, she also left me a special two dollar bill!  It was covered in fairy dust and smelled amazing.

I hope I lose another one at school, I can't wait to go to the office and get a treasure box.

Have a great night, and don't forget to brush!
Linden

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Last week we went on a super fun adventure, we headed to Omaha!!

When Mama told me we were going to Nebraska I wasn't so sure what to think...I mean, nobody talks about going to Nebraska, but she promised me that we would have a great time.  I was skeptical after 5 hours of driving...

Day one we headed to the Omaha Zoo.  It started out a rainy day, but there were plenty of inside places to check out.  Within an hour the sun came out and it was a beautiful day!!  Unfortunately not all of the attractions were open because of the weather, but we made the best of it.

After walking around the entire zoo I think my favorite part was getting to touch the sting rays.  Ellen was pretty skeptical at first, but she warmed up quickly and pretty soon was soaked!!

Mama liked the silly monkeys and gorillas.  The zookeepers gave them newspaper and cardboard boxes and the monkeys and gorillas DESTROYED them!  Mama said that the mama monkeys must not be there today, because they would have made them clean up their room.

Ellen liked the penguins.  We got there right as they were feeding them, and the Omaha Zoo has a special kid area right up by the glass so we could get a great view.  They also had a fun bubble that we could sit in and the penguins swam all around us.

After we had gotten as much zoo as we could handle we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep because we had a big day the next day.  On Monday we headed 90 minutes south to see the solar eclipse!!

Daddy found a workbook put together by the park that taught us all sorts of great things about the eclipse so Mama and I worked on it on the drive down.  We learned that it is VERY important to wear our special sunglasses and to NEVER look directly at the sun.

Ready Jet GO, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and a Scientist from NASA were at the park.  Everybody was kinda bummed because it was so cloudy, but God took care of us and moved the clouds for the main event.

Totality was SO COOL!  I wasn't sure what to expect, but when it got dark we were told we could take our glasses off and it was really neat.  We even got to see a planet during the day (we think it was Venus).  Our picture doesn't do it any justice, it was really amazing to see.

After the eclipse was over everybody headed to line up to get on the shuttles to go back to their car, instead we decided to explore the park.  We met the Park Rangers and handed in our homework and became Junior Park Rangers!

We also went on a quick hike to explore other parts of the park.

NASA had a really neat presentation where they showed us the globe and what Earth looks like from space.  We learned about how the continents moved a long time ago, and learned about how important it is that we take care of Earth.

We also got to do some fun crafts, I learned how to make a dolly out of corn husks like they did a long time ago.  It was fun, but I am glad to have my special dolls.

Of course, no matter how much fun we have on vacation, we have to make sure to get in plenty of pool time.  Ellen has decided that she wants to be a mermaid too, I think she needs to get her own tail.

 Hope you all have a great night,
Linden

Say Cheese!!

Hey Everybody!  Ellen Here!

I know we have neglected the blog this year, but I am going through this thing where I don't want to go to sleep, so I thought a blog post would be a perfect excuse to stay up even later!!  (Mom can't get too mad...right?)

Linden has some pretty exciting news, she finally has her first loose tooth!  She has been waiting for forever for this day.  Tonight I snuck downstairs and saw that the tooth fairy left her a special present to use when it actually falls out.  She is going to love it.

I wonder if the tooth fairy knows Tinkerbell?  Maybe next time I will see her and I will get to ask.

Have a great night,

Ellen

Tennis Love

 Last time I posted I mentioned that I have started Tennis!  I was really excited to get my new racket, but really bummed when my coach told Mama that it was a little too big and suggested that I use one of theirs.

None the less, I was ready!  I was really excited to be able to wear a tank top and shorts, and our coaches are really fun too.

In just a couple of weeks I have learned a ton, I know how to do a backhand, and forehand swing.  The hardest part about tennis is that I still don't know if I am right or left handed.  Well, I do know that when I write I am right handed, but with sports I am all sorts of confused!  

Tennis has been super fun, I can't wait until next week!

Linden

Spring into Sports

Happy Sunday!

Spring is here and that mean Spring Sports!  Last week my cousin Tyler had a Lacrosse game in Northfield so we made the trip to watch him play!  Mama said we were only going to stay for the first half, but because we were in such a great mood we got to stay for the whole game.

My favorite part was at the very end, after they won, when I got to go give my cousin a big hug!  I was worried that he wouldn't see us and come over, but Auntie Wendy said she knew he would come over if he could.

Ellen wasn't so sure about the black stuff on Tyler's cheeks, but she got a smooch from him anyways.

It might have been chilly, but it was a great night!

Tyler isn't the only one playing sports, soccer season has started in Owatonna!  I am on team HyVee and I am having a great time.  Coach Dan and Coach Tolle are a ton of fun and are making sure we learn a little bit about soccer too!

We have had two games so far.  Coach Tolle says that it isn't about winning so we don't keep score, so I don't know if we are winning, but we sure are having the most fun.

Coach Tolle also says that it is important to be a good sport.  That means that we make sure everybody has a chance to play, we make sure our teammates aren't hurt if they fall down, and after the game we give the other team high fives.

The best part of this season is that I get to be on the same team as my best friend Kaiya!  We have been on the same team two years in a row, I don't know if it will happen again, but it is pretty great.

The weather man says we are supposed to get a lot of snow tomorrow, here's hoping that he is wrong, but lucky me, Tennis is inside!

Linden