Fruit Flies!

We have a cool tank of frogs. They're awesome. The kids LOVE watching them (ok, so do I..) We quickly discovered that they get hungry and have to eat but are can't eat regular size crickets yet. Upon some research, flightless fruit flies are what these cute little froggies eat. We get some. THAT is fun to watch!

Now, most people figure out how to provide food for their new pets before they start down that path, but not us. So we have this big tank of an entire gaggle, herd, marsh.. (whatever) of frogs and have to figure out how to feed them a regular, steady diet of flightless fruit flies. Enter the jars of flies:

Each of these 5 containers has fruit flies and maggots. No, they can't get out - that would be gross. There is a food medium on the bottom and the sprout stuff is a filler so they have more room to climb about in the tub.

So, over the past few weeks we've been working on the life cycle of fruit flies. Because honestly, how many people study that? We do butterflies, frogs, and other pretty things. But flies? They're nasty little things, but have an interesting life cycle that is very, very similar to that of a butterfly. Well if you count *maggot* the same as caterpillar.  

If you look super duper close you should see tiny little specks. Those little specks are the fruit flies. They are surprisingly hard to photograph.

This was our first trial vial of fruit flies. They are just hatching out of their little cocoons from maggot to flies. Soon they will all be snack-a-doos for frogs.  And yes, it does sort of look like I have a few extra fingers, but I don't. It's just the awkward way I'm holding the vial so I don't drop it.

Terrible Tuesday..

I figured Terrible Tuesday was an apt name for a follow up to Bloody Sunday. I should have learned my lesson by now that *if* you take a kid to urgent care you WILL get sick. And TA DA.. Guess what has happened? The Sore Throat of Doom has descended upon me (as well as the facet nose, oozing eyes, and mucusy cough, but whatever). I should know better than to go into an Urgent Care well and come out well. Oy.

On Sunday afternoon I got bored (well not *bored* exactly, but close enough) and started clicker training the dogs. I must admit the theory sounds kind of bizarre, but oh my goodness! It's working! It's like lazy super fast dog training cool stuff. The dogs have always been fairly well mannered, but ever since Timmy (Yes, Killer the Beagle -  the thumb eater) I've been a bit afraid of the dog's mouth. It probably doesn't help the issue that I have to go to the hand specialist tomorrow to get the thumb looked at since I still can't grip with it.


This has led to a good amount of just flat out ignoring the dog. Not really on purpose, just... One of those things that happens when you have your thumb crunched by a dog and then you get paranoid of the dog, ignoring happens. So subsequently, some minor bad behaviors started creeping in - more outside barking, not coming as quickly when called. Things you might expect when you ignore a dog. (Go figure right?) Anyhow. Instead of just getting rid of the poor Beagle (who is really blameless in the thumb eating incident) figured I should just get over the paranoia instead. The Beagle, especially, LOVES it. He bolts to attention when he's called now. He can *almost* bark on command. (It's about 70% there, with the theory that if he does it on command he won't do it as much other times.) He pounces to the ground to down.He dives into his crate when asked to. But best, he's lost that *crazy* look he's been having, probably from being ignored too much. Not as much crazy look, not as much paranoia = more time out.

Bear, the actual puppy, is a bit more lazy about his approach than Beagle. He has picked a few things up, but he kinda sorta lopes places like a giant, black polar bear with nothing in particular to do. He *may* come hastily if the treat is super good, but mostly he'll amble over when he's ready. He's the laziest 7 month old puppy I have ever seen.

Hopefully I can get some pictures soon of them both doing something cool. We're working on Speak (barking on command), Leave It (ignoring whatever it is they are sniffing), Down (mostly for Bear because he's lazy and won't do it on purpose) and whatever other random things we can come up with. Maybe something like get your bowl or something useful.

As a follow up from Sunday, the Boy is no longer breathing like a Helicopter, but is instead a moody ball of steroid crying mess. He's not eating yet either (ie today he's had a cut up apple, half a banana, and 1/4 of a small slushee from Sonic - it's 3 pm.), which has me concerned because usually steroids make people eat like raving loons.


 The kids want to clicker train the cats, but we're tried a few treats and can't find anything they really want which is the first step of the battle so once we do it'll be easier. May try hot dogs next time we have some or something like that, but since we have so many cats, it may be a little harder.

Bloody Sunday..

Ok, it's not really all that bloody, but it IS Sunday. I am currently sitting on the edge of the bathtub with my foot in a roasting pan of soapy water soaking a bloody toe nail-less big toe while I use the new toilet paper roll stack as a laptop holder as I listen to the wee boy wheeze like a helicopter getting ready to crash. So I guess technically blood is involved.  As I sit here (bathrooms are really boring if you are sitting there for 15 minutes randomly) I ponder a vast number of completely none related things. Surprising, I know.

1. 3 cats DO NOT fit comfortable in my cupboard.  They tried. They failed.

2. The edge of the bathtub, really uncomfortable.

3. The tile in this bathroom is hideous. It's even worse when it's dirty.

4. The boy really does sound like a helicopter even after his breathing treatment. I know where *I* am gonna be later.. And it's not in my bed asleep..

5. I really need to reculk the tub. Eww.

6. People get really freaky about their dogs. Almost more so than their kids. It's a dog, there is no *right* or *wrong* (as long as you aren't actually beating it) way like kids so get over it and don't be so darn weird about it. (This is about some odd interaction I saw at PetsMart where someone was talking to a lady about adopting a dog and then walked off because they weren't *doing something right*. The lady was pissed.)  It's a dog. If you want to spoil it, go for it. *I* treat mine like dogs, but I have plenty of ALL day issues to work around and don't pander around to a dog too much.

7. Don't get toenails removed. It is very effective torture.

Assessments

     I'm always at a loss at what testing I should do, if any, (school wise this is) for the kids since it isn't required by the state. The curiosity finally killed the cat and I found some free printable "previous years" tests - mostly for the girly - because I want to know where she is and what we still need to focus on and what her weaker points on before she moves on. While I was printing these 9000 pages, Boy is watching the printer (because it does that nifty pull the paper back in and print on the back thing) and starts getting mad. He explains that HE wants one too. The boy is mad because I wasn't going to make him take a several subject assessment test. Guess who is now..?? Eh.. It's really all the same, I just don't understand the desire. He's still over eying the one I've already printed.


   Oh, the other day when I turned the frogs light on, several were out just playing in the water!

Because some days we sit around and watch frogs all day. *shrug* What can I say..

Sunday, Sunday...Oh what a daaaaay...

    Anyhow. Turns out we have a grand total of 12 to 13 frogs from our tadpoles! Considering they arrived via USPS in a tiny little box, sealed tight in a baggie, with 2 already eaten, we think this is a HUGE success! I'll see if I can get some pictures of the cute little buggers this week. They are surprisingly agile. The other day we got them some tiny little crickets when we went to the local pet store (no, not the kind that sell the mill puppies.. The kind that just sell dog food you silly people. We just buy frogs in zip lock bags, not dogs too.) Several of these eensy tiny little frogs ate these crickets the same size as themselves. It was awesomely hilarious, especially the one that laid wedged down in the rocks and you could almost hear him grunting the *I'm so fullllll I'm soooo fuuuuuulllll* Um.. not that we sat and watched this on a Saturday as our primary entertainment. Nope. NEVER. Next time, I'll get the wingless fruit-flies the guy said they also have sometimes so hopefully Hoppy won't be so bloaty.

So this Co-op thing. Turns out if you put more than 10 women is 1 place all havoc breaks out. So. Instead of 1 big group, it's splitting into what appears to be 3. The original group, a group of slightly older kids, and a group branch that the gal described as "unschoolers". Since the original group was a little too original for me and we are SO not "unschoolers" in any fashion, I got in touch with the gal who is going to be doing the organization for the older kids. (Not teenagers, but not so young they aren't even in school yet. You know, kids of homeschool age.) Anyhow, I talked with her and while there are many details to be worked out yet (small details like: times, places, people, events.. You know.. Small tiny details..) these items aren't fixed like they are with the "original" group which is nice in some ways too. I'm honestly not sure what kind of odd Drama broke out after that first meeting the other day. But I do want to point out *I* had nothing to do with it! Nothing AT ALL. Ok. Probably anyhow.  Most likely. Yeah. I was quiet the WHOLE meeting for the most part. See I can behave myself!


I don't think I've posted since the Dog Bite. (It's such an even it gets capitol letters even!) Last Friday the 2 stupidest puppies ever, were out playing and the Great Pyrenees got it's lower jaw caught on the Beagle's collar.  Beagle got stuck. Very, Very stuck. As I was trying to unclip his collar, he bit my thumb. HARD. Clamp down, not let go, hard. C is there and he starts to pry the dog's jaw open (and his fingers got a wee bit nipped) so I can get it out and as soon as he does the stupid Beagle grabs on to my other arm and start biting it repeatedly.  I get the now bleeding hand around his mouth enough to pull it shut and hold it while C works on getting the collar unclipped (it was a buckle collar). Yeah. So a trip to the Urgent Care, 10 days of antibiotics, a Tetnus shot, and what now appears to be long term nerve damage in that thumb. Not to mention the nail is starting to get gross and shred because it's still bleeding underneath it (yes, still 9 days later). So the nail may still fall off. *sigh*

It's never boring here I tell ya, NEVER.

Back to School Time

    For public school anyhow. We do year round school. Back to school time means friends that go to "Big School" (public or private schools) are going to be sadly missing from weekday playdates. 1 & 2 are sad because we have a few staple friends we see regularly they adore and see less of and there's a lot less of the "Hey wanna play?" going on. The good news is Back to School clearance Sales in about a week. They LOVE those because I let them pick out pretty much as much art supplies, writing implements, markers, notebooks, clearance clothes and whatnots they want. 75% off! WOOT.. We also get the added benefit of having an Back to School party with them because we're all down with any reason to party.

This year I've found a new homeschool group. I'm also going to look into a new co-op I've found that meets 2 times per week and is free of fees except supplies when *I*  would be leading (which is - from my understanding 4 times per year with another person so.. 2 times a year? ) and parental involvement is wanted on the days you aren't leading which is more ideal that some other co-op setups (for these 2)  I've seen. I'm going to a "Mom's Planning Meeting" next week where I'll hopefully find more out about it, but the consistency of a group like that with the same people, a familiar routine but with new people teaching the kids new things *I* would never think of is somewhat appealing. People like that tend to do crafts and stuff that I abhor. I don't know if it's going to work out, but it has potential so I'm gonna give it a whirl. Plus, it may be a good way to find wee boy some more "boy" friends. He's a little too comfortable answering to the term "Hey, Girls! Stop!" whenever we go out with friends.

Girl Scouts starts again soon too. It wee girl has really enjoyed it so far. I think she's finally settling in with this group of girls even though she is by far the youngest and smallest. She's on par with reading, writing, and other academic skills and at the end of last year she told the girls she's got Aspergers - though I don't think any of them get it. (And really, why would they? The oldest girls are 9.) This year one of our *goals* is to ask for help. When she gets confused by what people say - which happens a lot - she tends to just stand there and be confused. So we've talked about how when she is confused about a game, a phrase, what's going on - to just ask. Maybe pick a friend or 2 (she's got a couple of good ones in there that are just fantastic girls) what something means. The other girls won't care, they're beginning to realize she's a little different and like most little girls when they've been around someone for a while, just ignore it.

The boy working on typing!

We turned the fish tank into a frog/tadpole tank. I ordered 15 tadpoles from Ebay (yeah, who would have thought??) and they arrived via Fedex a few days later. Oddly, only a couple got eaten and the rest have been turning into successful little frogs!

Our tadpole turning into a frog.

Ohhh Gerbils!

Well, Karma's going to make me eat my hat. I go and ponder stuffed gerbils and then the little fellas go and up and die! *I* didn't make them die - just to qualify. They seem to have just died of either old age or an unfortunate cleaning accident for a very eager cleaning 6 year old. We have switched to an all natural, completely nontoxic cleaner for the said enthusiastic child just in case. (He really REALLY likes to clean.) We said some nice kind words about their nice long life - because they HAD been alive for over 2 years - and gave them a semi - proper disposal. Well, at least they won't be dug up by the dogs and eaten. *Shudder*


Anyhow. Sorry Karma, I've learned my lesson. No more pondering stuffed rodents.

We have, however, filled their voided space with 2 tiny, cute hamsters. The hyper active cleaning boy is NOT allowed to clean anything near them - just in case.

The kids have named them Thing 1 and Thing 2 ironically enough. And while they aren't identical, they've agreed that the names can refer to either hamster. I'm frequently confused at the logic loops in this house.



R.I.P. Snow White and whatever the little Grey Gerbil was named.