Last night we ran out of water. There were many signs that things were not quite right leading up to the catastrophic event. Like hot water flowing periodically from both the hot and cold taps, the toilet cistern filling up with hot water, the green slimy bits in the bath water....

So today we had a load of water delivered. Quite surreal considering it has rained at least every second day since we arrived here. 

Charlie was very interested in trying to figure out how he could climb up onto the tank like Daddy.

They both loved the hose, which had tiny holes in it, creating a series of sprinklers which they splashed about in.

And then Tony told Grace that once he had lifted the lid on a tank he had to fill and discovered a dead sheep floating in it. Grace was suitably grossed out. I'm guessing the owner of that particular tank had issues with his neighbour.

After arriving too early at Dunedin Airport this afternoon to pick up Bern after his very long month in Canberra finishing off at the Bureau of Meteorology, the kids and I needed to kill some time. Thankfully, the Dunedin Museum had an exhibition upstairs that included butterflies, fossils, all manner of stuffed birds, and a skeleton of the extinct Moa, commonly known in our household as the Lawn Mower Bird.

Then, after stretching out a visit to the airport's indoor playground and bribery with the biggest chocolate coin you have ever seen, (I was getting desperate) it was finally time to head downstairs to International Arrivals. Where we sat, waiting, while customs processed everyone from Bern's flight as slowly as humanly possible. During which time Charlie entertained himself trying to run people over with a luggage trolley.

And Grace sang every nursery rhyme I know. Twice. Even an elderly gentlemen waiting in the row behind us joined in now and then. Finally, almost an hour after his flight landed, Bern walked through the doors. And we got to leave the airport.

And Grace finally got to have that chocolate coin.

Our last 'big' caterpillar is now a chrysalis, taking the total to six. Grace is fascinated with how different the chrysalises look, and was very excited to discover that the 'oldest' one has become so translucent that you can now make out the butterfly's wings inside. 

Today's chrysalis (below) was still wriggling when the photos was taken, not to mention really soft. Even though she's careful, Grace made me just a little nervous with her hands-on approach with our latest changeling. 

Then this afternoon, our 'baby' caterpillar (he was only an egg when we bought him home) shed his first skin. Since the other caterpillars  were all large when we got them, we haven't had a chance to see the early stages. 

Kind of icky. But pretty damn cool too.

When your children start to do things like this after being stuck indoors all day, you know it's time to get out of the house. Rain or no rain.

 

And please excuse Grace's tattoos. Which I hate. So of course she loves them even more.  

Despite the wet weather, it was actually quite warm, but Grace insisted they both wear their raincoats, horrified by my suggestion of going out for a nudie run. Which, coming from the girl who sheds her clothes at every available opportunity, was rather surprising. And a little frustrating. When I need her to wear clothes she won't, yet when I suggest she enjoy a good old naked frolic in the rain, she flatly refuses.

So they waved at the passing traffic (two cars and a stock truck), jumped in every puddle they could find, had sword fights with dried agapanthus stalks, crash tackled each other, and generally had a marvellous time.

 

And made me wonder for the umpteenth time why we waited so long to make the move.  

Today we made the most of the early morning sunshine and went beach combing. Grace made some wonderful discoveries,  including a dead crab, stinky seaweed, and a shelter made from drift wood that had been built by previous explorers.

She also collected all manner of flotsam and jetsam, which were stored in the rolled up cuffs of her pants. Unfortunately, while occupied with drawing in the sand, the aforementioned cuffs fell down, unobserved. And Charlie, following hot on her heels, threw all of her treasures into the water.

And was quite pleased with his efforts.

Until his sister discovered what he had done and chased him up the beach with a stick. 

Since Charlie loves helping me vacuum the house, I couldn't resist  buying him this while we were in town today. 

 

Unlike Mummy, however, Charlie vacuums in reverse. Starkers.

Whatever gets the job done,  I suppose.

At this time of year, you can wander into most garden centres around here and buy one of these. 

Until yesterday, when I saw some at Grace's preschool on the nature table, I had never heard of them. But they are amazing. Why, you may well ask? 

Because each plant comes with some of these little guys. 

Each plant includes eggs, varying-sized caterpillars and, if you're lucky, a chrysalis of the Monarch Butterfly. All for the grand total of $5.95.

Grace and Charlie are captivated by them. Tonight we watered the plants and had a look at this one getting ready to change (you can tell it's getting close when they curl up). 

Fifteen minutes and one bath later, Grace had another look at the caterpillar in question and it had turned into a chrysalis. Just like that. 

As you can probably tell, these little critters are remarkably tolerant. But not infallible. Apparently last week in the preschool room one of the children squeezed a chrysalis to see what was inside (a whole lot of green goo apparently). 

So let's not tempt fate.