Who knew homeschooling would be so educational?

We may have gotten a little over-zealous with our science experiments this semester. After all, we ARE doing biology.

When the tadpoles and butterfly chrysalis’ arrived, we were pumped! The kids even met the FedEx man at the doorstep. When we opened the box, we were bowled over by our rank-smelling new pets. I secretly hoped this wouldn’t last longer than a week or so before our stinky creatures could be released into the wild. Ho no! We can’t RELEASE these critters into the wild, it’s hibernation season! We have to wait until spring! But then there’s the potential to contaminate the local ecosystem bla bla bla. Why didn’t the science books tell us we will be raising croaking bull frogs and butterflies their full life cycle?! Perhaps Carolina Biological will take them back once our experiment is over.

I was more than happy to share our critters with the other family we homeschool with. You can imagine how happy Amy was to receive such stinky new house guests.

Upon opening the critter care package, we were greeted with dinosaur-sized bullfrog tadpoles. They are literally 4 inches in length, head to tail. Even the kids thought they were a little gross and stinky.

 We had to transfer them gradually into a clean environment and change out their water every few days.

 The butterfly chrysalis' needed to be glued to their habitat in their natural position. Thankfully Deane was creative and resourceful with double-stick tape! In 7-10 days they would hatch to become beautiful Pink Lady butterflies, who we would need to care for the rest of their natural lives b/c it's hibernation season. I'm just saying...

 As the days ticked by, we realized this would also be a lesson in Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection, as we only had 1 butterfly hatch.

 Rainbow emerging from her chrysalis

 Meet Swimmy, Wiggly, Big Fat Fatty, Princess and the others who all look alike. They haven't even started to grow hind legs.