The Butterfly Palace, Branson MO

*This was NOT a paid nor compensated post in any form.

  My heart was fluttering when I got tell my boys that we would officially be taking a trip to Branson, Missouri to The Butterfly Palace!  To them, it was like telling them they were getting to go to Lego Land or something.  Typically, you wouldn't think BOYS ages 7, 11 and 13 years old...would be so excited over Butterflies.  Maybe it's because we homeschool and they were not taught butterflies were girly, but crawling insects that magically transform?  I don't know, but it's the one thing as a woman raising young men - I'm so glad we share the same love for butterflies {and Stan Lee}.  Before I start, I have to tell you that my boys and I spent 4 HOURS inside!!  We did our guided tour with the group, then the lovely staff at the gift shop said we didn't have to go when checking out while my son stood beside me when it was time to go.  Also note, Kingston is usually the first to want to leave anywhere we go.  But she said we paid full admission, so we were allowed to stay all day if we wanted, and if it wasn't for hungry bellies...they probably would have too!  

The gift shop!

The gift shop!!

  In an earlier post, I shared with you our own butterfly habitat observation and discoveries.  We completed a whole unit on the Butterfly Life Cycle and different species and extinction.

  But if YOU love these transforming insects as much as our family does...There is no place to visit like The Butterfly Palace!  It was simply breathtaking.  The building itself set a grand stage with an open lofty gift shop {that we could have spent all day in!}.  If we lived closer - we would take to the comfy chairs there for reading time, no doubt!

  Our group included other local homeschooling families and friends.  After we all arrived - our Educational Hands-On Adventure started with watching a short 3-D movie about the incredible life of a butterfly.

  The Butterfly Aviary.  My middle son demanded it should be renamed to The Butterfly Sanctuary, (I told him to put that in the suggestion box as we left).  We weren't allowed to catch the butterflies, which wasn't a problem - because if you go with a brightly colored shirt...they will catch YOU!    All the children got to gather around the instructor and they gently opened the lid, releasing their butterfly for the first time into the aviary from the hatchery.  It was so adorable to see some spring forward, while most took to the children while they stretched their wings prior to taking flight.

Below is a collection of my videos ~ Enjoy!

• The Butterfly Aviary.    

• The Living Rainforest Science Center

• The Emerald Forest Mirror Maze

By far, my boys could have spent all day running this mirror maze.  I went through it with them a few times and was thoroughly impressed by the attention to detail, and the clever layout design too.  This made the ultimate tag arena for my boys!  We can't wait to go back again.

Malachi

Vaughn

The Mirrors made for great trickery!!!  

• Banyan Tree Bungee Adventure!

This is beaded butterfly art on a stand - we tried to count how many butterflies were inside but there are soooo many!

The walls were filled with these beauties.  You can purchase them in the display case with a large range of species inside.

We love you Butterfly Palace!  The boys got chocolate butterfly lollipops to go (in addition to spending all their savings in the gift shop!  lol)

Weighted Neck Wrap

  Most people think it's odd to see a child walk around with a 'neck wrap' in a grocery store, or out and about.  Especially when they ask your child, "What's that?" and he replies with, "My Melson!".   

Look at his smile!  Thank you Nana! 

  My son Vaughn was initially diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Displacement Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified), and noncompliance, as well as what seemed like a grocery list of other axis diagnosis.  Later, that changed to Autism and Mild Mental Retardation.  HE is our little warrior.  We still work on his 'coping skills' when he's angry, but he's come a loooooong way.

   He wasn't given a diagnose till he was four 4 years old.  From the time he was 11 months old, he repeatedly banged his head on any hard surfaces till he had goose eggs, and built up scar tissue on his forehead, but never would cry.  I knew there was something wrong, but it took 4 years of telling his pediatrician that Vaughn was still non-verbal, refused to go to anyone but me, and refused to be near other kids.  When he was near other kids he would bite them till they moved away.  Two separate daycare facilities were telling me he needed to be tested and get help otherwise we would have to find a new center for him.  After the 2nd daycare, I asked them to put it in writing to take to his doctor.  It was a long four years before I got services started for him.  As a parent, you truly are you're child's only advocate.  It is so important to not give up when reaching road blocks.

  While my husband and I were learning about all the different faces of Autism, and specifically - how to help our son with with his needs, we found that pressure therapy worked best for him.  Every night he wrapped himself like a tight burrito with his blanket to sleep.  All the signs were there - but until I dove into researching I didn't know about Autism or what signs to look for.  

  Then one day, a beautiful angel {a.k.a. my mother-in-law} made him a gift when he was 9.  I wanted to buy him a weighted lap pad, vest, or blanket...but couldn't afford one as pricey as they are.  So she made him his own version.

  She told me about how much fun she had balancing the fabric while sewing a lavender/rice mix into each pocket.  I sure wish I could have gotten a picture of that!  Apparently it can get a little messy.  She also made the rice neck wrap 2 sleeves to slip it into like a pillow case.  He has Charlie Brown below, {he loves Charlie!} and the other is a tie-dye designed one.  It works great popping in the microwave for warming up, or leaving in the freezer for cooling/cleaning time.

  Our little sensory craver's face lit up when she gave it too him!  He was glowing with happiness!  He declared he was naming it Melson, and so he did.  Vaughn still gets infuriated if his little brother takes/hides his Melson.  I began to worry it may be a new forming bad habit, but so far he hasn't given anything else a human name.  It was also the first time ever that he named ANYTHING.  Not to mention an inanimate object!!!  For almost the past 2 years, he's toted 'Melson' around his neck almost all day and sleeps with him at night.  The weight from Melson truly helps sooth him.  We learned to never take a road trip (meaning more than 5 minutes) without bringing Melson along.    

  So, we deal with the curious stares, answer the same questions, and go with the flow with a smile on our faces.  If Melson {a weighted neck wrap} helps our son with self soothing so WE ALL can have a better day, I really don't care what other people think of it and so grateful to have this as part of our 'sensory tool box'.   

    

Close up of the pocket stitching.

Full length of 'Melson' 29.5" L x 8" W

Vaughn took 'Melson' with him to get his tonsils removed

  I hope this information can help someone else with sensory seekers!  Do you have any recommendations for other weighted or pressure devices that you don't need to refinance your home to buy?  If so, please share or leave a link below, Thanks!!

Environmentally Friendly Toilet Paper

  Call me nuts - but I'm not alone!  If you've never heard of cloth diapering - from this point out your are going to think I'm some kind of nut case...though this may be, I still would like to share with you another environmentally friendly concept that is by far not new.  Just forgotten perhaps.

   American's have been flushing money for decades now, but before that - what did they use for centuries?  REUSABLE TOILET PAPER.  This little bit of fabric can save you a lot of green over time, and leave you feeling cleaner with a softer wipe.  If you talk to a veteran cloth rump wiper, they will tell you how annoyed they get when going out in public and resort to the use of abrasive cheap paper.

Some call it family cloth, reusable wipes, reusable toilet paper...but no matter what you call it - it's such a cleaner and softer alternative.  I chose flannel for ours.  Yes, ours.  My sons' are hooked as well.  My middle son that the specialists' claimed would not make it to see his 1st birthday - is totally hooked.  He was diagnosed failure to thrive, and has severe Encopresis.  He is now 11.

  For less then $10, I was able to buy 3 yards of flannel.  (You can also use cotton, for hypo allergenic...they wash fine and you can sun dry them to remove any stains too).  With what I got, I made 55 TP sheets in the size of 4"x8".  I cut them down to this size with the idea that they would fit nicely in a thin baby wipe container to take with us on the go. {So we won't have to resort to unfriendly dry paper}.

Small pile in basket above the Toilet

  I also wash these by themselves rather then with our regular laundry.  After each use, I've a bin in each bathroom that has some vinegar water and there is NO SMELL.  Shocker rite!?!

  Sometimes they're used for #1, #2 or just for drying.  If you're not cracking up yet and still reading, here is a picture of the portable bidet I bought for cheap on Amazon.  And yes, it's used just like that!  As hygienic as we Americans are about washing hands and using harsh chemical hand sanitizers...you would think there would be more attention to detail when it comes to our valuable rumps., after all - it's our chair we take everywhere lol.  

  The first thing {I hope to purchase} when we buy a house is a bidet!  Or, at least modify our toilet with a bidet add-on kit.

Yep, it's used just like that!

  My first reaction was "Ewwww!  I could NEVER do that!"...but after trying it with an open mind, it's rather refreshing!  I think the thought was so appalling to me, I couldn't let it go.  Why did I get squeamish when thinking about my hygiene but wouldn't think twice about cloth diapering a baby?  For a #2, flush...and swish out your reusable TP and drop it in the bucket.  AND, if you have a healthy diet - #2 isn't greasy or messy to begin with.  I've taken so many measures to try to 'save our planet' and teach my children the same respect I have for it.  I started adding up all the money our family spends out monthly and yearly.  After talking to a few of my out of country pen-pals, this is normal.  You can find lots of sellers online making 'family cloth' rite now and check out their sold sections!  Aside from saving money, we're lessening our carbon footprint.  Except for my husband...he still refuses to try it.  So if you come to visit, don't worry - you have options ;)

*Also note, you don't have to run to the fabric store to buy new material.  You can up-cycle old flannel shirts, or flannel bed sheets.  From a fitted and flat sheet you can yield A LOT of TP.  *insert giggles, but have fun saving green - from your wallet to our planet!  Every small step helps.

  So what do you think?  Are you already a 'Cloth Wiper', would you consider it, or totally grossed out by the thought?  I can't wait to hear all your responses and check back for our giveaway for those interested in getting started with a sample pack!