Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly

We've enjoyed watching the miracle of Metamorphosis in our home the last few weeks. 

I used to do this when I taught Preschool at Weber State and I knew that Lydia would love the experience as well. 

She was so excited when live caterpillars arrived on our doorstep. 

I ordered them here. 

Every time something changed it was Lydia's task to draw a picture and tell me what she was observing. I have about 5 drawings. They are great. 

 We made sure to teach all of her little friends about caterpillars when they came over as well. 

 It took a good 10-12 days for all of them to finally spin into chrysalises.

They did this in the little jar and then we moved them into the butterfly garden.  

 A nice close up for you. 

 Lydia was into all this science. She was loving every stage. 

 Inside the box were our instructions and more information about these guys. They were girls actually....she named them, A for Ariel, B for Belle, C for Cinderella, D (poor D never got a name) and E for Elsa. 5 Princess butterflies in total. Is their a princess that starts with a D? Who knows!

 This stage was the most spectacular. 

Tyson and I were pretty sure that two of them wouldn't make it They were completed black and more so than the others but they pulled through. 

Another close up! 

 We made their butterfly garden beautiful and fed them orange slices and sugar water. 

 We kept them for about a little less than a week before Lydia was ready to set them free. 

 We let them go into my parents yard  where we would have more of an audience. Mom, Dad, Tyson and Courtney were also there. 

 They didn't fly right out all at the same time like the girls had anticipated. 

 So they reached in and picked them up one by one.

Courtney was nervous at first but after seeing Lydia do it she joined in.  

Bye, bye Butterflies.