Leader hatches

I'm not sure if "hatches" is the right word.  I'm sure Parker knows, but if I ask her, she'll be hanging over my shoulder for the duration of this post, and then you won't have any words to read.  

A few days after Follower came out of his chrysalis, so did Leader.  He looks exactly like Follower, even though his chrysalis was green and not brown, so I guess he was either camouflaging himself, or he had just eaten a lot more parsley.  

Leader was a much friskier butterfly than Follower, so I don't have any pictures of him in captivity - I was afraid to open the lid.  He hatched first thing in the morning, but Parker insisted I keep him cooped up until after Bob go home to see him.  

Releasing Leader

He immediately flew up over the top of the roof, and I didn't get a good picture.  He looked just like his roommate though.  

Good closeup of Follower

Note to Aunt Norma - Thanks for noticing our Vitex - it is a Shoal Creek variety - we planted it last year and we are enjoying its color immensely this spring and summer!  It seems to bring out the color of all the other blooming plants. 

Another bird ID

These are some bird pics from the spring.  I had a lot of traffic here for a couple weeks when the cedar tree berries were just right.

This is some kind of woodpecker, right?


Him and his wife...

This might be a different bird.  They would hand upside down and get the berries at the ends of the branches.  

I loved this little guy.  Doesn't he look so fluffed up and cold?

He's noticed me.  Not amused by the attention I guess. 

Is this how a bird moons someone?

So lets see who ID's the woodpecker first.....my mom or my nephew.  On your mark, get set, go!

Last day of school

Ugh, none of my test printed. Trying again.

The last day of school (half day, actually) was one big party.  The teacher didn't even bother with desks.

Hanging with friends.  Parker's made a lot of new friends this year.



They did a little craft - glued their picture to construction paper and then collected each other's signatures.

Mazes and hidden pictures

Then they all lined the hallways for the 5th grade "walk".  It's a cute tradition:  the 5th graders all line up and do one final walk through the halls.  All the other grades have noisemakers (waterbottles filled with gravel) and construction paper flags and they cheer and give them high 5's.  Very chaotic and loud but they love it.