When we got up the very first morning, one butterfly had emerged and the other was on the verge.

By the time Abram (4 years old) and Lucy (2 years) woke up from their afternoon naps, both monarchs' wings were dry and they were ready to be released.

I love it how their other pointer finger is pointing too!  So cute!

Mommy Kara...

...and Gramaw had a little monarch action too!

I love sharing wildlife experiences with my grandbabies!  I want them to appreciate the amazing and beautiful world God has created for their earthly home!

After considerable (but surprisingly very gentle) holding, we released a male and female monarch behind their home.  And the next couple of days we saw them flying around several times.

Perhaps this doesn't count as a wildlife encounter, but how shocking to see this HUGE white rabbit hopping around just outside their kitchen window!

As it turns out, it is their next door neighbor's pet rabbit that somehow escaped its hutch and was enjoying a few brief minutes of freedom...

...until Kara spoiled its fun and informed the babysitter, who captured the escapee.

I had brought some binoculars, but our plan to visit a nearby wildlife refuge/park was nixed by the extremely hot and humid temperatures.  So instead we checked out a nature area behind their housing development.

My little fellow explorer practiced his binocular skills by spying on the neighbors...

Our fearless leaders were off on their scooters!

Yep...Gramaw and Mommy pushing Daniel's stroller are slow.....

Read this sign carefully.

PLEASE APPROACH QUIETLY.

Riiiight............  Have you ever been around these three kiddos???!!!  "Quiet" may be the ONLY word that is not in their vocabulary!

There is a beautiful wetlands area back there...very lush and green, a water-lily-filled pond surrounded by acres of cattails.

"I don't see nuffing."

I'm blaming it on the extreme heat...

...but the only real WILD LIFE we encountered were of the 4- and 2-year-old human variety.

What adorable, perfect specimens they are!

We did see several big pretty dragonflies...

...and butterflies. 

For your Friday trivia:  Name that butterfly.  

It's an Anglewing butterfly.

I want to go back this fall, early in the morning when the weather is cooler and the foliage has died back some.  

It is a very neat place!  

Even if we didn't "see anyfing'," it was still a fun experience shared with some of my very favorite people!

Love me some...

....wildlife encounters.