We made out first visit to the Butterfly Biosphere this week.

We were running late, so when we got in, we were running. Mirah jumped right on this HUGE caterpillar.

Lucucs got busy looking at all the creepy critters, and this spider, his “favorite creature.”

Betsy, Judah, Asher, Rosie, and Ginger were waiting for us when we arrived.

When we met up, we headed right over to the tree house play area where the kids had a ball!

Lucas dressed as a bumble bee:

And Ginger was a lady bug holding a tarantula.

STATIC!

 

The other kids were excited to play with the air tunnel.

 

Judah throwing a yellow silk scarf.

We played there for a while and then we decided to visit the main event, the BIOSPHERE!

We took off all of our coats and scarves and gloves to head in.

You go into a chamber before you enter the main room, where they tell you the rules:

No touching butterflies!

 

An attempt to get a group shot as we got in, but the only one who would cooperate was Betsy.

There were huge beautiful butterflies everywhere.

It was quiet and warm and slow in there. I felt warmed to my center from the humidity. But the smell was clean and sweet.

I ran back to get identification books and magnifying glasses for the group. When I got back they were huddled together.

We got to work and quickly identified a Blue Morpho

 

Asher DESPERATELY wanted a butterfly to land on him. So we devised a plan to try and help them know we were a safe spot. We stretched out arms out and waited for them to land.

It was then an employee came and showed us a butterfly that had died, that we could touch and observe closely.

We spotted a Jazzy Leafwing…I think.

Then, right as we decided to leave, I noticed a butterfly had landed on Mirah!

I was excited, she was not that into it.

After trying to get it to fly with out touching it like we had been taught at the beginning the little guy just hung on tight. So I tired to get it to hop onto my finger, this lead it to fly…up onto the flower on Mirah’s head band. This FREAKED her out, and all the kids too. I eventually was able to get the headband off, and get someone to help us.

To leave we went through the mirror room. We checked ourselves for rouge butterflies.

Out to the main room again, we made dycut paper butterfly rings.

 

We played like butterflies in a jar.

We used magnifying glasses to get a closer look at those lovely wings.

My beautiful kids.

Asher wanted me to take a picture of him being smushed by caterpillar. The whole area was like a zoomed in under ground yard.

Back in the jar, where I couldn’t get the kids to cooperate for a picture.

It was time to go, so I tired one more time unsuccessfully.

We headed ti Chic Fil A for dinner and the kids had a blast, and also insisted on me taking this picture of them playing.

A really fun night with the cousins.