Who wants a Guinea Pig???

So this morning my husband rolls over and says - "I think the boys would love a new pet. How about a turtle?" I can think of many other things I would want him to tell me first thing in the morning, but this was intriguing. All I could imagine was our rowdy bunch of boys dressing the poor turtle up in a blue bandana and jabbing it with plastic swords convinced if they fed it pizza and flushed it down the toilet it would become a Renaissance Mutant that could teach them karate.

Over breakfast the talk of a pet morphed into a different type of reptile...perhaps a lizard, frog, or newt. I hate all of the above members of the animal kingdom and again my overactive imagination pictured a lost lizard, frog, or newt somehow appearing in my bed, shoes, purse, or coffee mug.

On the drive to the library this discussion took a more tame turn as we thought about what fun a gerbil might be. But remembering my 4th grade experience where my friend Kim J. tucked Mrs. Shuff's gerbil into her front T-shirt pocket for safe keeping and then it peed all over her, I nixed that idea right away. Hamster was mentioned, rat was dismissed immediately by mommy, and then we thought GUINEA PIG!!!

So we headed to Petsmart to try out a guinea pig addition to the Strauch House. I gave many instructions about being gentle and holding them with soft hands. Little eager eyes peered into the glass case and little toddler hands reached for the furry critter. Colt demanded to hold it, but soon lost interest. Cade was more apprehensive and began to cry when its tiny little "claws" touched his skin. Off the hook!!!! Guinea pigs were a bust. But who can leave without touring all the animals?

Never will we have a bird or sneaky reptile pet. Did you know that turtles could live up to 35 years? No thanks!!! Off to a more civilized pet - a goldfish? While admiring the hundreds of fish cramped into the 20 gallon aquarium, Colt decided to try to catch one and stuck his arm inside the tank. Really Petsmart??? You put the goldfish in an open container on the ground level???? No fish for the Strauch House either.

After a momentary lapse of insanity we decided a kitten would not work either. In the end we settled for a look at all the dogs in the Pet Hotel and left empty handed (a minor miracle).

Three rowdy boys, two dogs, and one husband is enough for this mama.