Butterfly Release Day!

Last Sunday we left for New Jersey for the bat mitzvah of the daughter of one of my dearest friends. The day before we left I couldn't shake the feeling that I should find someone who could keep an eye on the chrysalises. I sent a quick text to our next door neighbor and she quickly replied they'd be happy to keep an eye on them. I brought them over, along with some butterfly life cycle books for her boys, and told them that there was a chance they may hatch while we were away.

Sure enough, Monday afternoon as we were on our way back from New Jersey, we learned that two butterflies had hatched! A plan was hatched (pardon the pun!) that we would gather the next day when the boys got home from preschool to release them together. The girls and I were super excited to share this magical moment with the boys! By the time we gathered in the yard, four butterflies had hatched. The first three flew away very quickly. The last one, stayed for a good long while and allowed each child to hold it several times. It was truly magical!

Oh, and interestingly enough, the last time we experienced the butterfly life cycle was five years ago. And, here we are, almost exactly five years to the day later, releasing butterflies once again! 

Good-bye Sweet Butterflies!

Yesterday, in addition to being Memorial Day, it was also Butterfly Release Day. The weather last week really hadn't allowed for us to release them any sooner. Since we had my side of our family here and since it was coming up on the week since they hatched we figured it was the perfect time to wish them well and watch them fly out into the big, wide world. With the exception of the wind the conditions were perfect. 

"Hi little butterfly. You are very sweet."

"Here you go, Em."

"It flew away, mama."

The wind was just too gusty and our first butterfly flew off before I could hand it to one of the girls. The second butterfly stayed longer and seemed to enjoy her time with Grace before spreading her wings and flying away. The third butterfly took off before Emma had a chance to have it sit on her finger but at least she got to visit with it a bit before it flew over to the flowers. Had it not been so windy I do believe that they would have stayed much, much longer than they did. As each one flew off I had a wee bit of a lump in my throat. It was as if I was watching my own girls leave the nest. Good luck, sweet butterflies! Enjoy your travels and please come back and visit us once in awhile!