“Mom, we have a surprise for you! But, first we need you to take us to the pet store!”
I had three faces eagerly looking up at me.
And watched as three bodies jumped up and down before me.
Ava then handed me a blue velvet jewelry box.
In it, was a fistful of crumpled up dollar bills. The kids had pulled together their money and stuffed it all inside the tiny box. They knew exactly what they wanted to buy with their earnings, but just needed a bit of help getting there.
Unfortunately, their daddy was away on a business trip, so they had to appeal to the only other driver in the house.
Over the past week, they have commented on what they want to buy with their money. Ava still wants an iPod Touch, but know she has a lonnnnnnggggg way to go. Garrett and Grady had their heart set on the Lego Atlantis Golden King’s Palace. They were only $2 short. But then, while we were up North, the kids put on a little Christmas Extravaganza with their cousins. Their papa, who served as producer, gave them each $2 when the show was over. That gave the boys what they needed to buy the one item Santa did not come through with!
I figured we’d be making a trip to Toys R Us this week, so the pet store thing left me wondering.
The night before I took the kids to PetSmart. The boys have wanted a hamster for quite a while. Ava has two guinea pigs and they wanted a pet that was “theirs” too. They have been so good and responsible and well…I just wanted to get them one. So, I said, “Yes.”
We purchased the cage, but the hamster won’t be in until tomorrow.
They are quite excited.
Since we had just been at the pet store, I knew they must have seen something else they thought I’d like. Lord only knows there was no way I’d go for a snake or a pet tarantula!
We piled into the minivan and set off again to PetSmart.
They grabbed my hands while in the parking lot and literally pulled me into the store.
They then let go and took off…
racing…
almost stepping on a dog who, with it’s owner, was walking toward the main entrance…
and made a beeline line right to…
the bird section.
“It’s still here! It’s still here!!” they cried out. As I approached them I remembered how, during our previous visit, they admired one bird in particular.
A little green parakeet.
“It’s your favorite color Mom! And now you can have something special to sing with too!!”
Yes and Yes.
So, we have another addition to our family and after we get the boys their hamster tomorrow we.are.done.
Hmmm…I think I may hold off on taking them to see “We Bought a Zoo.”
Anyhow, meet my new parakeet.
I haven’t named it yet, but it’s really sweet and seems to enjoy sitting on my hand. I have no idea if it’s a boy or a girl, and neither did the workers at PetSmart. The boys have decided that if their new hamster is a girl, then they’re naming it “Cupcake.” If it’s a boy, then they’ll call it “Crackers.”
So, I think I may wait until they name their pet and then go with the other name for mine. 
You know what?
I have some pretty fantastic kids.
Yes, you do have some pretty amazing kids. You and Adam have done a wonderful job parenting them. All the giving you and the kids did the 25 days before Christmas must have touched them. What a sweet surprise for them to think of you before the special gift they were hoping to get from Santa. Give all of them some hugs and kisses from us!
The bird is very cute and having the animals has been fun for all of us. However, I draw the line at snakes….no snakes.
Good….a monkey is still in the loop then!