getChildAt() only grabbing every other sprite....?

programming flash
1

The following function is in the child class of the parent class accessing the function:

public function cloneBack():Sprite
{
var returnSprite:Sprite = new Sprite();

        for(var i=0;i<**objects.numChildren**;i++)
        {
            returnSprite.addChild(**objects.getChildAt(i)**);
        }
        return returnSprite as Sprite;
    }

So the returned sprite only returns every other sprite within the parent sprite **objects. **The weird thing is that whenever i access the children using getChildAt(1,2,3,4,etc.) as opposed to using the loop, it does fine. Why would this happen? thanks.