Have you ever watched a caterpillar eating its way out of its egg? Â Audrey was examining this egg under a microscope when she noticed the caterpillar trying to get out. Â We watched it from the time it looked like an air bubble in the egg until the caterpillar was completely out and looking for food.
This is an Eastern Black Swallowtail on a piece of dill.
We were so excited to be able to stay at the Ashley Drake Inn again during Andrea’s tournament. Â It has been a few years since being there, but Kim Smith treated us as old friends and we enjoyed time to catch up some.
We stayed in the Heritage Room which was plenty big for the three of us. Â Kim still makes wonderful breakfasts and has a large selection of tea to chose from.
After Andrea’s tournament, we had hoped to explore. However, it started to rain, hard, and we stayed inside most of the afternoon relaxing. Â Just for fun, we experimented with my camera!
The Inn’s garden is just starting to bloom and I am sure it will be beautiful once all the flowers pop.  Kim sent us home with mint starters and some flowers for Audrey’s butterflies.  We are hoping that they all survived the trip!
Andrea played in a “final four” tournament this weekend. Â We knew it would be a very tough game, Allan had looked up stats before the tournament.
The girls played hard.  Andrea did a few things she rarely has the opportunity to do.  On one play, she ran the whole field, supporting the striker who had no one else keeping up with her.  I am not sure what she did for the other play, but I heard the other moms start chattering about Andrea. They excitedly talked about it for a long time!
Unfortunately, the tournament was a single elimination game and they lost by one point (0-1), due to a penalty shot. Both teams were so close in abilities, if they played again, they would probably win or tie. Since it was single elimination, it was not an accurate portrayal of who was the best of the four teams competing.
However, the girls played a great season and they made it to the finals.  I am proud of them.
Megan was given two dolls from a lady at church.  They are very old dolls.  The one’s eyes open and close and the dress is falling apart from age.  The other doll and dress is in better condition and the hair and eyes are painted on. I am guessing they are from the 1950’s because they look similar to a larger doll my mom owns.
This weekend, the kids were invited to go kayaking with a friend.  Poppa Wood volunteered to be their “trial guide”. My children have kayaked a little bit, but never for an extended time.  They learned quickly and enjoyed a morning on the river.
When they met up with us around noon, Allan took the younger two for a short “spin” around.  Then we spent the early afternoon talking and enjoying a picnic with the Woods.  It was a great way to spend a Saturday!
Audrey was invited out for lunch today. She was sweet enough to pose for a few pictures before she left with her friend.
This is one of the praying mantises we watched emerge from its ootheca in the post, “Have you Ever?
When Andrea was three, we went to Pakistan. She loved the dupattas that I wore while there and we got her a pink one that she used. The material has been used for many things since then. While it often is used as clothing, it has been a blanket, a tent ora sling for dollies.
Megan was playing with it and I asked if I could use her as a model. I told her just to play however she wanted. I think she was an excellent model!
We had five soccer games this weekend. Andrea, subbing for another team, played in three games. Friday’s game was good, but they lost 1-2. Saturday’s game was vicious. Andrea came home telling how mean the other team was. One of her team mates ended up with a bloody nose, one had a hurt leg and two were knocked out! Andrea said she played the whole game, but was considering asking for a sub because the other team started going after her and she was getting mad at them. 
Today’s game was a rough game because the other team was really good, but they played fair and it was fun to watch.
While Allan took Andrea to her game yesterday, Mark was the coach for Adrian’s team. Mark did a great job as coach. 
Adrian almost made a goal, the ball hit the goal frame and bounced back at him. The kids played hard and won 3-1!
Megan played well too. Audrey was her team’s main coach and tried to encourage the team to pass the ball and let the ones who had not made a goal yet, try for one. That is difficult since we have a “me! me! team”.
Megan almost made a goal, but she did not really care that she missed. She proved to me that she understood the reason for soccer the best on her team. She played hard and tried her best, and did not care about who made the goals. At the end of the game, she was excited about all the fun she had. 
We have no games over the holiday weekend. We are looking forward to a quiet soccer week.
Audrey discovered a bird’s nest in our Japanese Maple tree. She has been climbing the tree everyday watching the baby birds hatch and grow. Megan has been disappointed, because she wanted to see the babies too.
She has been trying hard to climb the tree with Audrey. If someone gives her a boost up, she has been comfortable sitting on a bottom branch. However; today, she really wanted to see the babies. So she managed to get over by Audrey and excitedly watched the birds for a few minutes.
Instead of hugging the tree coming down, she faced out. As she got to the last branch that someone needs to help her down at, she smiled big. Then she let go and jumped for me to catch her!
