outside.

we've been spending as much time as possible outside lately - walks, happy hour/dinner outside on fridays, park time, etc.  first, both kids are just in a much better place when we're outside and they have fresh air and space to move their bodies around.  second, i am trying to get walks/runs in where possible so i can sort of pretend to get into some semblance of shape.  third, walks in our 'hood help assuage my guilt over being a bad dog mom.  fourth, it's really really really beautiful this time of year - stuff blooming everywhere, perfect weather, etc.  

the kids' school did a caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis lesson in each classroom.  they ordered caterpillars and watched them eat leaves and make their chrysalises and then emerge as butterflies to be released on the playground.  it was really cool to hear ek talk about it, and even the youngest kidlets (hollis's class) were fired up about watching the butterflies.  h's teacher sent a couple of pics of him on "release day".  we also found a butterfly weed in a neighbor's yard on our usual walking path that had about 16 big ol' caterpillars crawling on it.  ek was excited to count them all and i hope to take them for a walk again today so we can check on their transition into chrysalis.