It's Just a Frog

A couple weeks ago we were shopping for a birthday present (I'm sure you might remember our pre-party fiasco I blogged about recently) and ran across a $20 kit to raise a tadpole. Being the sucker parents we are, we purchased one for Grayson and were planning to order our "free tadpole" the next day. What we failed to realize was that they do not ship tadpoles when the weather is hot. This meant, no tadpole until November. We had already told Grayson about the tadpole and he seemed excited. Easy fix: visit the local pet shops to find a tadpole.


Lesson #1: Pet stores do not sell tadpoles (unless they accidentally get mixed in with the goldfish?? How that happens I'm not sure)
Lesson#2: Grayson could care less about the tadpole. He is a boy. He wants a frog. Not just any frog. A BIG FROG.
Lesson #3: There are a lot of things you have to do to keep a frog alive in captivity (or so the salesman says)

When we got to petco we found the perfect frog. A fire-bellied toad. Grayson was drawn to him. We talked with one of the salesmen about purchasing a frog and what all we had in our kit. He told us all of the stuff you have to do. Including a weekly run to purchase crickets (yuck). We decided to wait a few days and see if we were really up to adding to the petting zoo.

All week Grayson is asking about getting his frog. Damn. What did we start. So we decide we'll get him the stupid frog. It can't be that bad right? We convince him that he needs to cooperate on our morning errands in order to go get his frog. He even comes up with a name over lunch (dad helped him in this endeavor).

Grayson "We should name him Pito"
Dad " I think Cheeto would be a good name" (think of his orange belly)
Grayson "Well.... Captain Cheeto would work. He is an Avenger" (Of course he is!)

So here we are with a super excited kid who already has plans for his new pet. We go to the store and pick out the frog.

After our discussions about the frog and his size, we opt to purchase the $40 kit they had at Petco that comes with a living space, shredded coconut something or other and moss for the base, vitamins (WTF? For a frog? Even my dogs don't take vitamins), and a vine for him to climb on. We knew we had to buy him a swimming bowl. No big deal. Then as we are talking to the guy we learn that we need a tank heater, UV lighted cover, humidity and temperature gauges. Of course the frog has humidity needs that don't meet human standards. What were we thinking??? His solution to our frequent cricket purchases... buy a cricket keeper and feed hundreds of them at a time with special vitamin enhanced food so they are good for the frog. We veto the cricket farming. Chances of 1 cricket escaping in Grayson's bedroom are high enough. We can't risk an entire colony of them on the loose... our cats are domesticated!

We approach the checkout register feeling good about our purchase. Grayson has his frog in the carrier box and is talking to him "Its okay. We are on the way home. You can get out soon. Don't be scared".... our hearts are smiling he is so happy.

Grand total: $110.
Excuse me? Can you repeat that? We didn't even buy all the stuff he recommended. Ugh. So we buy all the stuff. How can you not at this point? How do you rationalize with a 4 year old that his $6 frog is not worth the $104 worth of stuff he comes with?

Of course... a week later.... we are laughing at ourselves and I firmly believe that Captain Cheeto probably could live without all the extra comforts the salesman suggested, but how do you argue with the amphibian specialist who can probably make the frog live for 10 years. (This last though scares me. I am very convinced that Grayson will lose interest before he turns 14) Captain Cheeto is comfy in his new home. We have to read him books for bedtime and Grayson requests bedtime stories about him. Of course he does....making up stories about a frog who is an Avenger can't be that hard can it? Ha!

Its Just a kids Party....No Stress

Saturday morning started off like every other normal Saturday when you have a kids birthday party to attend.... and you waited until the last minute to decide if you were going (we RSVP'd at 10:00 the night before): We got up early and rushed around to get everyone bathed and presentable.

This particular party was CARS 2 themed and the invitation said "Bring your Power Wheels for Racing Fun". Well, I wasn't really excited about this to begin with. For starters, Grayson has only wanted to ride his Firetruck we got him for Christmas a couple years ago a few times and each time was probably less than 15 minutes. A lot of work to get it out of its spot in the garage for not a lot of playtime. The other reason, packing it and dragging it to the party. I figured that several kids would bring them and they usually have 2 seats. Maybe this was just a lazy parent thought. Gray's Firetruck also does not easily fit inside our vehicle. The rear seats need to be down and this leaves no room for the most important part of our party plans...taking the kids. The kicker though, Devin's (Grayson's best friend) parents couldn't fit his in their car either. Then we offered. We can take both of them on our utility trailer. No big deal.

TIME 9:20 a.m. (Party starts at 10)
Our trailer is parked in the backyard (a subject I dislike and better a topic for another blog) which is sloped downhill. Usually, Dusty just gets the riding mower out and moves the trailer around where he needs it to avoid any tire tracks in our almost green grass. This particular morning though, the grass was wet. This made getting the trailer moved a little more difficult. It took effort to even get it positioned where you could pull it out from between the trees. The mower kept spinning wheels instead of getting a good run uphill. So I suggested we could move the trailer by our hands. We have done this before. Its not a large trailer. However, I didn't take into account the wet grass on a slope, Dusty wearing crocs, myself in flip flops, or the fact that if the lawnmower wasn't getting the job done... I probably wasn't much of a help. After several attempts and a few almost slips under the trailer, we move the trailer back downhill a bit to get a better start and the pulley thing on the trailer (whatever that's called) is hooked up and tightened down. Dusty lets me get on the mower and he is going to help give the trailer a "man-powered boost".

Grayson is patiently waiting on the side of the house just watching. Braxton is crying off to the side, tears and all. He is tired and wants to be held...and afraid of the lawnmower. For my daredevil this is amazing to me. He can climb on the bar, jump in the pool... but he can't stand noise. So I get Braxton in my lap so he will calm down and we attempt to move the trailer uphill again. This does not really help my driving skills, but it saves some sanity.

Now for those of you who haven't heard. Dusty is not a big fan of me mowing the yard. I did this one time when we lived in a duplex (only 1/2 a yard to mow mind you) and he wasn't pleased. He referenced the neighbors being unhappy with him making his wife mow, but I figure its really that I didn't go in the appropriate pattern and we weren't to that acceptance point in our relationship where you just let your spouse help despite it not looking quite like you would like. This all leads to me not really being skilled with the mower. I did get a brief refresher on the brake and gears before I started. Last time I got this lesson...probably about 2006 when he decided I should know how in case he ever broke his leg.

After several attempts, we finally get a good running start up the hill. Not a fast run, but a run. We move the trailer about 20 feet up hill when I hear him yell "Let Off". So I stop. Now I hear more clearly some words of frustration. Apparently I was supposed to hear "Don't let off". So now we are stalled and spinning wheels again. Back to manual assistance for moving the trailer, only to catch on the side of the fence gait. ...we can keep going and risk tearing the gait up (probably a rather expensive option) or we can nearly cry and finally get it arranged where we can hook up the Yukon to it.

TIME 10:00 a.m.
At this point I let Dusty take over controlling the trailer and getting it loaded with the Firetruck. I run inside to get the camera, diaper bag, and present all collected and ready. Braxton is following me around the house crying. I think he got louder with every new room we went in. Major tears were falling. We were already almost 15 minutes past the start time of the party and we hadn't even started to get to Devin's house to pick up his truck. I finally get back outside and get the boys in the car (unbuckled) so that I can get everything loaded. Next thing I know.... Braxton is standing in the middle console of the front seat holding an open can of coke..... upside down and over his car seat.

I believe my children heard the first time I have ever YELLED a curse word. Not a parent of the year action. I believe my next step was a prayer that neither one of them would repeat it.

TIME: 10:39
We get on the road to Devin's and pick up his truck. We get to the party right about 11 a.m. But we at least made it. By now....we are all laughing at the morning. And the kids had a blast. Although I wasn't excited that we went through all that effort for a stupid birthday party, I was happy to see all the kiddos have a great time. I only wish there were pictures for the above story so that you could all enjoy it even more.

FAST FORWARD: 36 hours later. Dusty is rolling the trailer back closer to the fence after dark and while medicated for allergies. He steps away to get a block to keep it from rolling into the fence. 5 steps: no more taillights on the trailer. Perfect Ending.