Butterflies Everywhere

Here are some pictures from our trip to the Butterfly House at Callaway Gardens. They aren't actually in any specific order, except this first one is from the very beginning.



(Kira and Marisa at the entrance of the Butterfly House.)

(Marisa - inside the Butterfly House.)

(Marisa with her goody bag.)

(Kira - with her goody bag.)

(Marisa's bag is bigger than she is.)

(Marisa with our butterfly friend.)


(Kira with our butterfly friend.)


(If I close my eyes, the butterflies won't know I'm here and they'll come sit on me.)
(Kira with the first butterfly visit.)


(Marisa is trying to get the butterfly to crawl up on her finger.)

Look What Kira Can Do!!!

I asked Kira to sit back on a bench today and cross her legs. I expected her to pull her legs up under her like usual. Instead....

THIS is what she did.



To find out why THIS is such a BIG DEAL, check out the following articles.

When the News Is Not Good

Kira's Big Day

Cast Off

It's GONE!!!

Dear Mom

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Related Articles:

Dear Mom - March 31, 2008

Dear Mom - April 21, 2008

Dear Mom - January 27, 2009

Something to Think About

**I received this via email this morning. It reflects my current state of mind so I felt like sharing.**



Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3 year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children.. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.

45 minutes:
The musician played. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.


No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments .....




How many other things are we missing?

Happy Birthday, Gibson!

I just want to take a moment to tell my darling son Happy Birthday. He turned 15 years old today.

This, of course, is the end of life as I once new it. The sanctity of home life will now be disrupted by the arrival of the learner's permit - should he ever manage to actually study enough to pass the test. (Not that he failed that test just like I said he would if he didn't actually READ the manual.)

SIGH!

Perhaps I shall survive this particular phase in parenting. However, if you notice an unusual absence and/or silence from my realm of the universe, please take appropriate actions to insure my safety. After all, he'll be driving me around soon, and I want to be sure that somebody out there is looking out for me.

Dora

I'm sitting here today watching Dora the Explorer.

Well, I'm actually working and painting while Marisa is watching Dora the Explorer, but that's beside the point.

The episode we're watching has little Dora trying to become a True Princess. One of the tasks involves teaching rocks how to sing. Unfortunately the rocks are guarded by the grumpy giant. It turns out that the giant is grumpy because he's lost his puppy.

Dora offers to help the giant find his lost puppy so he won't be so grumpy anymore.

You may wonder why I'm talking about this - unless, of course, your name is Toni.

You see, my friend Toni is a bit obsessed with the injustices and neglect that poor Dora must suffer. You can visit her at The Mind of a Mom to see just what I mean.

Well, I'm listening to the episode while I'm in the bedroom painting and it occurs to me:

SOMEBODY REALLY SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT DORA NOT TO HELP STRANGERS WHO'VE LOST THEIR PUPPIES.

Isn't this what we tell our children. If a stranger approaches you and tells you they need help to find their lost puppy that the child should go find their grown up immediately?

So today - in honor of Dora and Toni - I would like to remind you to review the standard measures of safety with your children. Be sure to point out that cartoons and television programs are not exactly real.

Toni - I hope you've enjoyed your very own special post. I thought about you today. Your day is now complete.