Caterpillar in 'da twee"...

So, this is one of those posts that I just wish could stay at the top of my blog forever...LOL.   It's a bit long, but if I can put a smile on your face today while I am feeling all warm and fuzzy just typing this...then I'll be thrilled.

{{{Before I go on, PLEASE scroll down for another Earth LOVE Feature and also for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch challenge today!  THANK YOU SO MUCH for sticking with me! }}}


One of the games my kids and I always play is "Im the Peanut Butter, You're the Jelly"...ok , so I don't really think that's the actual NAME of this game...or if it even is a game?  But, it's something that we've done since my first was a wee tot.  Basically we just say things that go together to let each other know how much we love each other and how much one needs the other to do what we're supposed to!  Plus, it's also a really good exercise for the kids to have to come up with things that go together.    Here are some favorites:

Madelynn:  "I'm the milk and  you're the cookies"...."I'm the notebook, you're the pen"

Jack: "I'm the pirate, you're the ship" (lol!)..."I'm the pancake, you're the syrup"
Nicky: "I'm the butter, you're the popcorn"..."I'm the webkin, you're the computer" (I kid you not )...well, THEN there's Ava.


For a while, it was a bit harder for my then 2 year old (who is now almost 4) to comprehend this game, so we'd get things like "You're the pizza, I'm the french fry"....or, "you're the makeup, I'm the cherries".  SO random.  OMG I am cracking up just writing this.   Well, as time went on, my little baby wasn't such a baby anymore and  she started to get it..."I'm the cupcake...you're  the frosting".   There is something both happy and sad about the moment that a child "gets it".  It means there will be no more silly sayings like "I'm the blanket and you're the grapes" (true story, haha)...but it also means they're growing up and gaining sooo much insight and knowledge and it makes you feel good too...


Anyway, close to a year ago, we were sitting at Chili's.   It's ALWAYS a good time to play this game while the kids are waiting for their food...  However, the BEST part about this story was that we actually weren't playing it...when OUT of the blue, she SHOUTS (and I mean, shouts!)  "MOMMY!!!!!!!"  Shhhhhh!  lol "Yes Ava?"  


"I'm the Caterpillar...and you're the BUTTERFLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Clearly this was her LIGHT BULB moment.  She totally got it.  And um, HELLO could the kid have chosen anything more perfect?  Surely she knows how much I LOVE butterflies.  


From that point on, it stuck...we've been referring to her as "Caterpillar" ever since.   

When the Hannah Montana soundtrack came out (from the movie), my 9 year old said "Mom, you have to hear this song!  It's about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly and getting older and stuff"...that kid's insight AMAZES me, but that's a whole 'nother story....  The song makes me BAWL every time I hear it because as much as I know it's going to happen, I can't stand the thought of my babies not being babies anymore sometimes...  Here's one of my favorite lines of the song:

 "Caterpillar in the tree, how you wonder what you'll be, can't go far but you can always dream...."

Ok, sniff, enough....and if you're wondering about the title of this post, well..that's how little Miss Ave pronounces the song :)  LOVE that...another sign she's still my baby, right???

Anyway, I'm sure by now you can only IMAGINE how it took me all of oh, 30 SECONDS from when I saw this digistamp from Inktegrity on my friend Heather's blog to go buy it!  My friend and fellow Club Anya Guest DT Joni Wilson is actually the owner and illustrator of this image and she is awesome!


Today also happens to be the DieCuts R Us Challenge to create an "Earth Friendly and/or themed project."  Can you say PERFECT?     We would LOVE for you to play along this week, so be sure to check out the details HERE.  

I used Cosmo Cricket's awesome "Earth Love" DP paired with a Chipboard sticker of theirs and created this card on 70% recycled Kraft paper.  The caterpillar CRAWLS in the ground/earth..so that counts too, right?  ;)  The layout is from Jen Del Muro's SFYTT this week.  Click HERE to see it-its a great sketch!



I had to print out the verse from the song because...well, by now, if you've stuck with me, you know EXACTLY why.


Hope this makes you smile...have a good day, everyone...~Jess :)