Clay Central/Everly preschool students have been waiting as patiently as possible for their classroom chrysalis to turn into butterflies.

Last week the students' anxiousness turned to joy as butterflies emerged from their temporary homes. Preschool parents and guardians were invited to join the class Friday as they released their new butterflies into the Nature Learning Center to be free and start their annual migration.

Pictured here, preschoolers could barely contain their excitement as they "awwed" at the newly-emerged butterflies.