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Something special happened at the Sielski’s earlier this week.  I was outside with the kids and we found a butterfly fluttering on the grass.  It was clear that it was injured and the kids wanted to help it.  So I got a shoebox and Beth, Ben and Jeremy fetched some twigs and grass.  I scooted the butterfly into the box, its new temporary home.  Then I ran into the house to get it an apple and a carrot stick since we figured it was probably hungry.  Bethany reminded me that it was probably thirsty as well so I ran back in to get a small container of water and placed it in the box.

Well, the kids became really attached to our new found pet.  Bethany decided it was a girl and Ben named her “Buttercup.”  It was so cute.    We placed the box out on our deck.  Beth went out every few minutes to check on her.  Buttercup appeared to be doing ok, even though we knew she couldn’t fly.  But she sat perched on the branch inside the box.  We even saw her get onto the apple.  But just before nightfall, Bethany made one last check and it wasn’t looking good.  Buttercup was barely moving.  I had read on the internet that butterflies like to flock to puddles of water so we poured some water in the corner of the box.  Daddy picked up Buttercup and gently placed her in the puddle so she could drink.  Things seemed to be ok, but before Bethany went to bed, she checked on Buttercup and came running back into the house, tears streaming down her face.  She said she thought Buttercup was dead because she was laying on her side and not moving.

We covered the box for the night but unfortunately she didn’t make it.

Bethany was absolutely heartbroken.  She has such a tender, sweet heart.  It’s one of her greatest traits.  In hopes of making her feel a little better, I told her that buttercup was a gift to us.  She came into our lives, even just for one day, so that we could take care of her and love her.  This helped a little but Bethany asked me not to throw out the box so that we could bury Buttercup.

And so we did.  Daddy took one of our old landscaping stones for her grave.  And Bethany “engraved” it.

In case you can’t read it, it says, “Best Butterfly, ButterCup.”  And right next to it is the shoebox home she lived in for the day.

Bethany, mom is so proud of you.  I love you so much.  If there were more people in the world like you, it would be a much better place.  You’ve taught me how to be a better person.  May you never lose that great, big, giant heart of yours!

Our local Fisher Price branch does modeling and Ben had his first gig yesterday.  The set up is pretty cool.  We go in, they give him clothes to wear, then they do his hair.  After a few minutes of waiting (and playing with a ton of toys in the waiting room) we are ushered to the back of a set.  Ben then got to play with a pretty cool helicopter while they snapped his picture.  The photographer commented on how many great shots they got.  The good news is, he could make it onto the box of this toy.  The bad news is, they won’t contact you if he does.  So we just have to keep going to back to check.  And what does he get for all this?  $25 gift card to their toy store.  Not too shabby for 10 minutes of work!  I wish I made that kind of money.

Some of you might remember that Bethany did the toy modeling as well.  I’m telling ya, a lot of the toys in our house she earned herself!  It’s a pretty sweet deal.  And no worries, the kids really like doing it. 

Today we went to check out Ben’s preschool.  WAH!!!  Mommy is not ready for this!  One part of me knows that he is ready to go.  But then the other side says, NO WAY!  HE’S MY BABY!  Still, it’s time for mom to let go a bit.  And it helps that he was happy about starting “Benny’s School.”  He really liked the playground and the little “Benny sized” potties.  That’s our boy!

He’ll most likely go half days, Monday and Wednesday for the entire summer.  He will start after we get back from our PA vacation with Gramma and Grampa.   I’ll be sure to take pictures of his first day!

Are these not the cutest kids you’ve ever seen?  Ok, I’m a little biased, but they are CUTE. 

The Sielskis and the Carminas went out to dinner last night and then back to our house to hang out.  The kids were so cute together!  Afterwards, we went to Pete and Kelly’s and roasted marshmellows in their fire pit.  It was so fun!  I didn’t get a picture, but Kris enjoyed his smores WAY too much.

And then, In a matter of minutes, Bethany and Ben managed to show JP how to climb up his slide and go down backwards AND climb down the playset the SCARY way.  I think they gave poor Aunt Kelly a heart attack.  Their goes our invitation to Jonathan’s birthday party!

Bethany joined t-ball this year!  She’s soo cute.  The games are pretty funny to watch actually.  Total CHAOS!  

Here she is in the field.  That’s her coach to the right.  He’s a pretty cool guy.

At bat!

We’re so proud of her!  She’s doing great so far.  I’m really impressed with that arm of hers.  Perhaps she’ll take after dad and play 3rd base?