We took a short break from all the activities this past Wednesday and Thursday to catch our breath and assess the finances. :) Well, okay, the break was really to wallow in self-pity because my family went back to South Dakota to get on with their lives. Sniff, sniff. I'm somewhat over it now, so we've started up again with a vengeance!
Yesterday we went on a family trip to Denver. Our first stop was the Butterfly Pavilion. We've had that place on our "To Go To" list for what seems like forever, but for many strange and vague reasons we never actually went. We had no idea we were missing such a fun time! I loved it! John and Taylor were slightly less enthusiastic than I was, but Taylor enjoyed playing in the giant mechanical "insects" part of the place and John got some great photo opportunities there.
There was so much to see! Insects of all kinds, tarantulas (yes, plural! *gulp*), a coastal habitat and of course the butterflies. We captured a lot of neat pics--here are a few of my favorites.
I actually thought Rosie was kind of cute...
and she felt like the leaves of an African Violet plant.
There was so much to see! Insects of all kinds, tarantulas (yes, plural! *gulp*), a coastal habitat and of course the butterflies. We captured a lot of neat pics--here are a few of my favorites.
I held Rosie! Funny thing because if I get close enough to
a 'house' spider to see what color it is, I get a huge
case of the heebie-jeebies.
a 'house' spider to see what color it is, I get a huge
case of the heebie-jeebies.
I actually thought Rosie was kind of cute...and she felt like the leaves of an African Violet plant.
This Mexican Red-Kneed tarantula was busy in his cage.
VERY interesting.
VERY interesting.
A Venezuelan Greenbottle Blue tarantula stands like a queen
on her intricate burrow webbing.
on her intricate burrow webbing.
A Green Banded Peacock Swallowtail butterfly.
Absolutely stunning!
A close-up look at a Paper Kite butterfly.
The Paper Kite butterflies were John's favorite.
We still don't know the name of this butterfly species.
This butterfly was Taylor's favorite.
My favorite butterfly was this one--the Common Morpho.
The vibrant blue wings would be reason enough, but
the underside of the wings are a muted tapestry
of browns and golds that is beautiful!
While we were wandering around the Pavilion, oohing and aahing over the beautiful butterflies, Taylor was busy keeping this guy in her sights. For her, the tortoise roaming around the 'jungle' was the fascinating find of the day. The powers that be at the Butterfly Pavilion repeatedly told the patrons to NOT touch any of the animals, turtle included. I'm sure you can figure out for yourselves exactly how long it took the average kid blow that right out of the water. Still, the tortoise didn't seem too traumatized and I didn't see any butterfly carcasses being swept away...
Tay and the turtle.
Tay and the turtle.
Well, enough for the time being! We've got a busy day planned for today, because a certain someone is seven years old today. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our day in Denver, as well as the birthday updates.
Kristin