Strawberries and Caterpillars

On the Saturday before Hailey's birthday, Stan, Amy, Makayla, Hailey, and I went to the Strawberry Festival. This is an annual event in Billings, and I think this is only the second time I've gone.

It's basically a craft fair with lots of free activities for kids.

We got there relatively early, before the crowds got ridiculous.

Amy and I couldn't help but notice EVERY SINGLE FEMALE in attendance was pregnant.

 Except us.

In addition to crafts, there were an abundance of nutritious and inexpensive food booths. Not. 

 

The odd thing about our Strawberry Festival is that Montana strawberries won't be ripening for several weeks. Other than this uncomfortable-looking berry, the only strawberries we saw were straight from Costco.

 

Between festivals and Hailey's birthday parties, Hailey, Makayla, and I read this classic tale:

When I told the girls the plan for the day, I mentioned we would be eating a caterpillar. Hailey:

"Yuck! I'm not a vampire you know!"

After we read the story and I got out their food, Hailey was a little happier. She even tried the cucumbers

I shamelessly copied borrowed this lovely snack idea from La Fuji Mama in my ongoing quest to link our summer reading to food/art/adventure.

 

 I had to improvise a bit--

I didn't have a flower cutter, and here in Montana we don't know what seaweed is. 

I used stevia leaves for mouths, antennae, and eyes.

After our fine dining, we made caterpillars using limes cut in half and dipped in paint.

They were pretty cute.

 

 Then the girls went into the backyard to take pictures of places they thought butterflies would like.

I've gotten a bit behind in blogging and don't remember which girl took which picture, but trust me, taking pictures has quickly become their favorite activity.

Makayla has taking a real shine to flowers and now points out patches of wildflowers/weeds when we are out and about.

This is not a weed patch, it's my lovely Siberian iris.

Lots of blooms in the June garden--lots of places for caterpillars and butterflies to hide. In fact, they hid so well we didn't see any.

We did, however, spot this well-concealed robin's nest in my tree. If I were the suspicious sort, I'd say the mother robin is feeding her very hungry babies all of the caterpillars and butterflies we are not finding.

Now that it's summer and the sun doesn't set until nearly 9 pm, I've taken to walking the girls home. We walk the grueling 1/3 mile between our houses by cutting through the Castlerock school parking lot.

Of course that means we have to pause and soak up some Montana sun

and re-establish ourselves as Queens of the Castlerocks.