The Conductor Mom

We had the most amazing getaway this past weekend...going back to a place my parents would take me as a child and a teen - Lancaster County!  Spending the first day in Amish Country, the second at the Strasburg Railroad aboard Thomas the Tank Engine himself and the last day in Sesame Place.  

We arrived!!!

Two of the many Amish people we saw (the Amish do not appreciate it when you photograph their faces!)

Horse and Buggy Ride

Peaceful...

Feeding the animals...

When in Lancaster...

My Little Train Conductor

Day out with Thomas

So many activities...

...meeting Sir Topham Ham...

...posing with Thomas...

...and Percy...

...riding the hand car...

...and playing with all the cool Thomas trains!

Thomas has arrived!!!

Finally, we've boarded!

Handing the conductor the tickets!

We even got a one-of-a-kind personalized track as a souvenir! 

Dinner was on a steamboat!!!

Look who was sleeping when we arrived!

Sleep didn't last long while we met his favorite characters!

And went on rides!

Went in the pool!

And saw all the shows!

Happy Father's Day to Big Daddy Lovebug!

The Parade

As a classroom teacher for 6 years, I would always order a shipment of Ladybug Larvae for my class during the spring, so we could watch their metamorphosis and let them go!  Since my position as music teacher doesn't really attribute to that sort of project, I went in a slightly different direction and ordered a "Cup of Caterpillars" for My Little Lovebug so we could watch them grow right at home!  

DAY 1 (May 31, 2103): 

We were very excited to arrive home to find a box in front of our house!  Little Lovebug and I quickly opened it!

It was a cup of caterpillars!

We counted 1-2-3 very teeny little caterpillars and observed them very closely. 

We read the pamphlet that came with our caterpillars.  The brown on the bottom is all the food and nourishment they require for the first few days of their life.  It will take about a week for the caterpillars to create their chrysalis. 

We learned that we need to treat them gently, that means "no shaking!"
There are holes in the top of the cup to allow them to breathe.  

Little Lovebug can't believe how small they are!
He loves the way they wiggle around!

 DAY 2 (June 1, 2103): 

We can't believe how much the caterpillars have grown already!  
They have shed (and eaten) their first layer of skin.

Benny kissing his caterpillars "good-night!"

DAY 3 (June 2, 2103): 

Little Lovebug takes out the butterfly net (home) every night! We can't wait to put our butterflies in it.
I think Little Lovebug thinks HE is a butterfly who belongs in the net!  

We did have a little incident today when Little Lovebug accidentally dropped the cup onto the floor!  The caterpillars seemed to be alright, but we had to remind him about treating them "gently!"

My how they are growing!

 DAY 4 (June 3, 2103): 

Little Lovebug demonstrating that the caterpillars are "SOO BIGGG!!!"

Squirmy Wormy Caterpillars!

DAY 5 (June 4, 2103): 

We got a little excited this morning, when we saw one of the caterpillars affix themselves on the "ceiling" of the cup!  False alarm though...by evening, he had joined the others on the "floor" once again!

Woah!!!  Check out our prickilyness!