For The Love of Ellie

Our Ellie loves reptiles. I think it all started when she was about two and came running to tell me that Silas had let her hold a worm. She was grinning from ear to ear and said it tickled her hand. From that day on, cold blooded animals have warmed her heart. Ellie once brought me a huge toad and told me it that it loved her because it looked right into her eyes and said, "Ribbit, ribbit." Another time, I caught Ellie and Karrigan sneaking a turtle upstairs in one of their pocketbooks. They had washed and shined it's shell! They've also killed a few frogs trying to love them and keep them as pets.

Oh, the things we will do for our children! I decided I didn't want any more dried out toads on our front porch; and since Ellie's love hasn't diminished for cold, slimy critters, that we should go purchase one and care for it properly. I did online research about the easiest breeds to have as pets. Ellie decided on a turtle. I walked into the pet shop confident that we could do this. Guess what. It's illegal to buy and sell turtles in Tennesse. But, that was OK , I also had done research on frogs. But did Ellie want a frog that day? No. She set her sights on a Leapord Gecko. I have to tell you that just being in that section of the store was a challenge. The snakes were RIGHT there. Well, the gecko was in the right price range, so I never thought it would be the case, but we have a lizard living inside our house. And oh the things we've learned. I know how to bathe one to help it remove it's unshed skin, have learned how to keep crickets alive with carrots, given up my heating pad to keep him warm and helped pack him up for a road trip. No, I've never touched him. Oh yes, you know how kids ask a hundred and one questions? Well, Friday two of our children wanted to know if lizards get car sick.

Meet Tigger, Ellie's second birthday gift.