kaleidoscoping chaos...: "Wand"ering Around & "Wing"ing it!

Humpday Hijinks Part 3! Except it is Friday. Just go with it OK.

Today's Theme: Butterflies!

Today's Adventure: Brookside Gardens' Flights of Fancy Butterfly Exhibit (see here and here) & Wheaton Regional Park Picnic Lunch (see here)

We met our buddies from My Adventures with Buster Yellow in the parking at 10am. We were ready and raring to go (except of course for the fact that my kids got up way too early again and were exhausted by 10am).

Editor's Note: If you want to go directly to Flights of Fancy - there seems to be a parking lot right outside the pavilion. Not sure how you get to that one but it makes sense to use it because then you can go directly to the butterflies. If you park at the main parking lot you need to walk through some of the gardens to get to the butterflies.

En route to the butterflies we walked through the Children's Garden. The kids had fun running in the one open green patch, checking out the little Gnome home and the tool shed. Then we were off to follow the "butterfly" signs to the pavilion. (you know just like on Dora, following the map! At least that is what Vera said when she saw the sign...)

We had to buy the tickets in the gift shop...

You know I love gift shops. BUT I was tired, it was tiny, I had both kids, we were with our buddies so that is one more kid... I was thinking in and out... quick and then to the butterflies!

But then Rebecca saw them. WINGS...

I saw them too, but I tried to look away. Fairy/Butterfly Sparkly little wings. Very very very cute... the perfect size for Vera. Rebecca insisted on buying these multicolored adorable wings for Vera. I secretly wanted them so how could I say no (although at the time I was thinking if I buy 1, I am going to have to buy 2...) SO we get the tickets, Rebecca buys Vera the wings. Then Jonah sees them and he is starts in with why Vera got them and he wants them too, and it is not fair... Remember the place is small and I really just wanted to get to see the stupid butterflies, so I bought him the wings. His wings came with a wand... By now, Vera is in the hall with Rebecca and she's got on her wings. Jonah gets on his wings... and what do you think happens next. Yep, now Josh wants wings too... so I think I am kaleidoscoping up a brilliant plan and pull out the wand and give it to Josh and say,"Josh you will be the king of the butterflies and Vera and Jonah will be royal butterflies..." Goodness what the heck was I thinking?!?!?! Now, Jonah starts screaming he wants to be the King!!! Josh wasn't so excited about the wand anyway, so somehow Rebecca gets Jonah to trade Jonah for the wand. Finally, we can go to see the butterflies.

The whole experience is sort of nice. Not necessarily geared for the 3 and under crowd (well maybe not my 3 and under crew...). You are supposed to be quiet, careful and look and not touch... We lasted about 10 minutes in the pavilion and then had to leave. Vera loved the butterflies but wanted to grab them and all of the flowers. Jonah kept telling me in the most desperate voice, "mommy I need to catch them and hold them and take them home..." And he kept trying to do so. Plus he threw a magnifying glass - that is when we were out of there. Buster Yellow managed to stay for a bit longer. We left and made a potty break and then met up with our buddies and walked through another garden and had juice and cereal bars.

Then it was off to Wheaton Regional Park for a picnic and some good old fashioned running around (with a craft and some books thrown in for good measure.)

We had a great picnic. Jonah was "poofing" everyone with his wand. Josh was flying around like a butterfly. We ate our butterfly snacks (I found this great idea on Pinterest here - and made a ton of them for our picnic) Rebecca brought a little butterfly craft. The boys were swinging, sliding, running and acting out some kind of butterfly scenario. The best part was that Rebecca and I were on our blanket and the boys were playing and Vera was just gossiping with us girls - now that is perfection.

Jonah did see the train and carousel. He was insisting that we should go. My kids were way too tired so we made a date to go back for another picnic and to really "do" Watkins Regional Park. Looking forward to it!!!

Here's to Wings and Wands and whatever else puts a smile on your face!

Happy Friday night & Shabbot Shalom!

hello Mr Toad

run!

everyone is running!

gnome home

It's a map!

we need another post on this... Jonah's bag... we bought it yesterday and he decided he had to take it with him today... and yes Buzz was in the car too... this is his camp bag... he starts on Monday - we will see how that goes...