Miscellany from July into August

Since Duke had two birthdays so close together, he thought more would be coming. He kept telling us he was going to have a birthday. One day I found him and Maisie with all these plastic wineglasses stacked up. Duke was "bwowing out da candohs on my buffday cake."

I bought some monarch caterpillars for the kids—one for each—to raise to launch us into school. We fed them milkweed leaves and then watched as they grew...

...and J-ed and then spun gorgeous caccoons of green and shiny gold...

...then we watched the caccoons fade...

...and then out they came! We let them loose as they hatched. Three caterpillars spun and hatched for us, but alas, poor Caleb's died as a caterpillar. 

Maisie and Duke hanging out in their favorite play place—the landing of the stairs. 

Babysitting Annalisa for Auntie La

Duke being his crazy ol' self! He sure keeps us laughing!

Braden hit up another Nationals game with Kevin & Isaac before we moved.