March 2

We took the kids to the Butterfly House this morning for their March Morpho Madness - an influx of thousands of blue Morpho butterflies. Caleb was excited, but then grew apprehensive. He said, "I don't want the butterflies to bite me!" It took a lot of persuasion to convince him that butterflies don't bite or sting or harm in any way. Luckily, most of that persuading happened on the walk in to the Butterfly House, so he didn't have a major freak-out when we entered the butterfly area.

But that didn't mean he wasn't still terrified.

Luckily, once he saw the pond and waterfall, he was willing to walk on his own. This boy loves waterfalls!

Daisy was a bit harder to persuade. She prefers to be carried in public, anyway (I'm going to have to break her of that habit before this baby comes, or the baby will break it for her!), but when there are winged swoopy things involved, she definitely wants to be carried.

(Side note: Girl insisted on wearing her snow boots to the Butterfly House. There was a major meltdown when Chris even suggested other shoes.)

Progress! Sitting next to Daddy on a bench, but still holding his hand.

And then the butterflies attacked. 

Kidding. There was no attacking, but you wouldn't know it from the kids reactions. See the Blue Morpho flying in front of Chris? See how afraid Caleb is? He did grow less and less concerned the longer we stayed, though.

He was curious about the butterfly on the orange flower, and it obliged by staying put for a while so that he could inspect it.

But the butterfly stayed put for a suspiciously long while... it may have been so cooperative because it was deceased. But we're not picky butterfly watchers.

Neither Chris nor Daisy were aware of it, but one butterfly took a particular liking to Daisy's snow boots! Caleb and I thought it was pretty funny.

And then, a little butterfly decided that Chris' curls were a great place to rest.

Caleb and Daisy were delighted!

OK, maybe Daisy was a little suspicious. But that girl is suspicious about most things.

She's not suspicious about me, though!

My darlings.

After we left the butterfly area, there were still plenty of bugs to see. This bubble display of cockroaches was pretty exciting.

Even Daisy and Chris enjoyed it!

On another topic entirely: 

Tonight at dinner, we had this conversation with Caleb:

Chris: Caleb, do you know that I love your mommy very, very much?

Me: Someday you'll find a girl that you'll love as much as you love Mommy, and then you can marry her and you can snuggle and hold hands and cuddle.

Caleb: And have children!

We all laugh.

Caleb: Yes. I'll marry her and she'll be my princess. And I'll have a baby in my belly... a baby... I want my princess to have a baby in her belly just like Mommy's. And we'll call it Baby Donald Duck and my princess and I and Baby Donald Duck will all play in the snow. And Daisy can play with us!