ducks

I had all the boys gathered up and we were heading for the recovery center to see granny. I went back in the house to get my phone and I hear quacking. The neighbors have ducks, so it's a normal noise. Then I hear, I've got him followed by angry squawking. In the time it took me to go in grab my phone and come out, the boys had managed to catch the neighborhood ducks. They were happy with there catch and was parading them around the yard. Just as I am instructing the two knuckleheads to put down their fowl friends before they get dirty, Brock's duck craps down the front of him. From shoulder to toe. He loves animals but hates poop. Anytime he even thinks about poop he gags. Ridge of course knows this and proceeds to start mock gagging. Brock then throws up. So instead of jumping in the van, Brock jumps in the shower, again. After a 15 minute cleanup detour we load up in the van and head to IF. Clean of feathers and poop. I think this was my fault for forgetting my phone.

Right of Passage

It took about 36 hours of class time, 3 hours at a time. During allstar basketball. Which meant Ridge went from school to basketball to class to bed for about a month. But he did it, and survived. He received his hunters education certificate. He shot a perfect score on his final. 4 out of 4 in the center. Bullseye baby!. He is so happy and so relieved. That was a hard test for a 4th grader. Nice job buddy!

RUS

Ridge wanted a dog for his birthday. He knew he couldn't get one but he at least gave it a good try. When he finally came to grips with the fact that there was no puppy in his future he started making a list of alternates. beaver, badger, bear, bobcat, buffalo no, no ,no, no. After being shut down with each request as he went down his list, he came up with a hamster. I don't know how we decided this was OK but the second he could see there might be hope, he jumped on the train to easy street. Which means, Grandma. When ever the two words Grandma and birthday come together, there's going to be trouble, for me. Grandma was excited to get this for Ridge. She sometimes goes a little overboard though. She new if she just brought one, 3 others would be sad. If she bought 2, 2happy, 2sad. I don't need to keep doing the math, just know that I am now the care taker of 4 rodents of unusual size. What?! Exactly what I was thinking. The boys of course were so happy. They love them. I love them too. I love listening to the little wheel they're spinning in from about 10 pm to 8 am. of course the little buggers are nocturnal. They don't stop. If you get up anytime between 10pm and 8 am, that little wheel is going. I hope it doesn't create to much friction, I'm waiting for the fire alarm to go off because they spin it to the point of combustion. Not only are they nocturnal, they are biters, and they draw blood. Caleb won't touch them now (which is nice), the last time he did, he had one dangling from his finger. Mommy take it off, it's biting me. You can't just take one off btw, they have to release, even if you shake it a lot. I also love the fact that they are easy to find, not! Before Caleb was bitten, he kept setting one free. I would have to do a head count about every 30 minutes. 1, 2, 3, where is it? And then a pursing squirrel hunt. I have now hoened my cat instincts. I can sniff one of those fluff balls out anywhere. I learned that I can go on a total lock down in about 30 seconds. I also love that they smell. 4 hamsters create a lot of mess. 4 boys can't keep up with it. I love cleaning up cages every day. I keep one thought in my head now. The life span of hamsters is only about 12 months, I figure they are already about 6 months old, I love that.