Ladybug Fest and Other Adventures

On Saturday morning, Daybreak held their annual Ladybug Fest. This was our second year attending, and since the event is very much geared toward kids, it was fun to experience it again with Madeline a little bit older. She loved it, and it was so fun watching her explore, learn, and really take everything in.

This year they moved Ladybug Fest so that it was right across the bridge from us, which was very convenient. It had rained all night and most of the morning, pretty much right up until the festival was about to start. Then, almost perfectly, the rain stopped and the sun even started to peek out. The timing could not have been better.

We walked over and headed straight for the butterfly tent. Inside the tent, there were butterflies everywhere, and you could hold them if they landed on you. Madeline held one for a few minutes, which was very cute, but then it moved and she got nervous. From that point on, she was perfectly happy to watch Mom or Dad hold the butterflies instead. She was still completely fascinated by them, just from a slightly safer distance.

After the butterfly tent, we walked around the festival and enjoyed the different exhibits. There were plenty of bug-focused booths, and Mads was having a great time checking everything out. At one point, we ran into a fairy who gifted her a flower. Mads was thrilled with the whole experience and proudly carried the flower with her around the festival.

Then they announced that, for the first time ever, they were having a bird show in Daybreak. We love birds, so of course we headed right over. Madeline sat in my lap for the entire show, totally enthralled. She especially loved watching the barn owls fly from stump to stump, and she thought it was very funny when the Harris hawk flew away. Thankfully, it did come back eventually. She was also very impressed with the eagle owl’s wingspan. It was a great show.

Afterward, we went up to meet some of the birds. Madeline gave their raven a tip, and he put it into the tip box, which was a very cool trick. She also got to pet their chicken, Marshmallow. The bird show ended up being a real hit and probably our favorite part of the festival.

We also ran into the ladybug mascot, and of course we had to meet them and get a picture. It wouldn’t be Ladybug Fest without the ladybug mascot.

There was also a fun kids play area where Madeline enjoyed riding a little kid roller coaster ride. We also painted rocks. I painted one to look like a ladybug, and Madeline brought it home with her.

All in all, it was a great event. It is crazy how much more fun Madeline has at something like this now that she is just a little bit bigger. She notices more. She wants to participate more. She understands just enough to be excited by everything, whether it is a butterfly, a bird, a fairy, or a tiny roller coaster. I love showing her the world, and it is pretty great that we have events like this right in our own backyard.

In the afternoon, we headed over to my mom’s house for a retirement party. They had pizza, and Luke’s kids were there. My siblings weren’t able to make it, so we missed seeing them, but it was still nice to spend a few hours together celebrating my mom.

My mom and Luke ordered pizza, and Alison made a cake. The cake was bomb. It was Cake by Courtney’s Butternut Squash Gingersnap Cake with Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting. The flavor and texture were amazing, but it was very, very rich. It seemed like a hit, though, since most of the cake was eaten.

We also brought my mom a retirement gift. We gave her a Tiffany clear crystal apple paperweight, which felt like a perfect gift for someone retiring after a career in education. We were really excited to celebrate this milestone with her. Teaching special education for so many years is a big deal, and I am glad we were able to mark the occasion.

After visiting my mom, we stopped by my grandparents’ house. My grandpa had grown some lettuce he wanted to share with us, and they had a few questions about their cruise. We got them all sorted out, and it was good to see them. While we were there, Madeline was bouncing off the walls. She was on a sugar high from the cake, and it was delightful and a bit crazy.

Then we came home, and Blake and Debbie came over. They wanted to see Mads before Blake headed to Boca for the week. We all hung out in the loft while Madeline played. It was very sweet because she kept bringing books over for Papa to read to her. She would pick one out, bring it to him, sit down, and then repeat the process. It is one of her favorite things right now, and it was fun watching her pull him into her little routine.

It was a very full day of family, which is the best kind of full day. We started the morning with bugs, butterflies, birds, and a ladybug mascot, then spent the rest of the day bouncing between people we love. It was busy, and by the end we were all tired, but in a good way. Some days feel packed from start to finish, and this was definitely one of them. But it was also the kind of day that reminds me how lucky we are to have so many good things close by, from fun neighborhood events to grandparents and family who want to spend time with Mads.