Spring Break

Aiden's spring break was last week, and he was very excited to have a week off from school.  The rest of us were still at the daily grind, so you can't blame us for being slightly less excited than Aiden.  Haley was pretty psyched, actually, since Grandma Chris came up to babysit so we wouldn't have to take off work, which meant that she got some days home with Grandma too.  A special treat if ever there was one. Andy and I did take one day off too, and we all headed down to Mass to the butterfly conservatory to enjoy watching butterflies and moths fly around us and button quail scamper under our feet.  Aiden in particular was all about the button quail.  Button quail are only about the size of a squashed tennis ball, and one of the adults had a baby button quail trailing along beside it...I'm not sure any of us had ever seen a cuter living thing. A marble sized yellow fluff ball on legs.  The gigantic atlas moths that were newly hatched were our second favorite, though not exactly cute, they were amazing and as big as our heads.

Mommy and baby button quail

Atlas Moth 

Looking at the button quails

 After the butterflies we went to Kimball Farm for ice cream.  And arcades, and animals, and a driving range.  We didn't realize they had anything but ice cream until we got there, but it's a complete entertainment center, including mini golf and a batting cage too.  The ice cream was 'super sized' and delicious- about a pint I'd say on each 'kiddie' cone.

Other treats for the kids over break week included a movie each with grandma (Cinderella for Haley and Monkey Kingdom for Aiden), lunch and breakfast trips to Tucker's, and lots of outdoor play time.  Aiden has also started lacrosse, so he's had lots of practices and a game already.  With his Dad as a coach, he'll have to be on his toes!  

By last weekend the weather had finally started to warm up, and green things are popping up all over.  We celebrated by going on an owling walk at the Fells (where we were skunked by the barred owls but enjoyed many hermit thrush calls and peepers and wood frogs). We also had an outdoor bbq and camp fire, and constructed a pollinator hotel at spring ledge farm for fun.  The moth trap has been dusted off, and we've caught a few interesting early season moths as well.  Haley is jonesing for that first rosy maple moth, but I think it's a few weeks off yet.  Still, we are feeling excited for the return of anything green, winged, or crawling... Spring is upon us!