The Frog Project Part 2

It was time to let the first frog free.

In the first video, I was trying to explain to Jason that I had read that water with even the tiniest bit of chlorine in it could kill a tadpole, and I wasn't sure about once they were grown frogs. To say the least, I confused the heck out of him, and resulted in the weirdest conversation ever.

This video reveals my prediction about Riley's reaction to holding a frog. She INSISTED she hold him before we set him free.

Our really creepy new friend on his way to a new home.

Was my prediction right? Did Riley scream??

Ok I admit.  He was pretty cool.

Setting the frog free and waving good-bye.

Where was Ethan in all this? Sitting about 30 feet away, with my creeped out sister, paying not the slightest bit of attention that I had accomplished my first attempt at "boy mom" stuff.  Boy mom accomplishment fail.  Coolest girl aunt accomplishment? Total win.

The Frog Project

One thing that has amazed my in our Frog Project is just how quickly they change!  We picked them up on a Friday evening, and they pretty much only looked like teeny, tiny little sperm tadpoles.

He already had very small legs when we picked him up.

                                

Within a week, his back legs had grown tremendously and even sprouted little front legs! He hopped out of the water for a split second and jumped right back in.  Within an hour, I could tell his tail was shrinking.  I never knew how quick the transformation was until speaking with the friend that started this whole mess.

Just after hopping out of the water.

Within an hour of hopping out.  Look how small his tail is now!

We left for a few hours to have lunch, run errands, and enjoy the sunshine.  We came home to THIS:

Creepy, but so cool at the same time! He was right on the edge of the bucket when we came home, and I'm so glad we had reinforced the clear cover over the bucket before leaving.  That creature would be missing in my house if we hadn't! Ew. 

Within about 10 minutes, it was time to release this guy into the wild. Well, not really the wild. But not in my house anymore. No way I was going to sleep another night under the roof of an escape artist.

A "Boy Mom"

My mom's neighbor is a mother of two extremely sweet little boys.  Her boys are rough and tumble, smart, inquisitive, adventerous, and all other things boy.  She's the neighbor that brought the baby ducks home for a few days so her boys could play with them. 

Her oldest son has a saltwater tank full of critters.  She brings home new surprises to put in the tank so they can watch and explore.  One of the most interesting creatures that lived in the tank for a few months was, get this, an octopus.  Seriously. 

She allows her boys to be daring, much more daring than I think I can could ever allow my children be.  She understands a boy's need for these types of things, and does what she can to make it happen.  Upon discovering Ethan would be a boy, I've consistently told her she was the "ultimate boy mom" and needed to use her influence to create fun and adventerous learning experiences for my own boy.

I really only know how to "do" girl.  I have no brothers and have only grown up around girls.  I have a couple male cousins close in age, but I don't count them because they have never really been a big part of my life.  My other boy cousins are much younger, and I was only recently introduced to nephews when I married Jason.  It has definitely been a huge learning experience to have a boy in the house, but I'm trying.

In fact, I've decided to try branching out a little.  A friend of mine recently found a bunch of tadpoles in a wading pond near her home.  She and her daughter have been feeding them and raising them into frogs.  She offered to give us a couple for Ethan to enjoy, and I had a momentary lapse in judgement and agreed.

So yes, there are FROGS in my house right now.  Hanging out in a mop bucket, growing little legs, just waiting to jump out and freak me the heck out. And I would say that watching Ethan enjoy them would make this totally worth it, but sadly, Ethan could care less about these frogs.

Oh, but Riley loves them.  She named them Riley and Taylor (after her BFF, of course) and loves coming over to feed them and watch them change daily.  I must admit that while these little things are creepy, it is pretty cool.

I'm finding it ironic that while I make efforts to become a better "boy" mom, the sweet little girl in my life has been what made it worth it.  Since Riley's school group are the Green Frogs, she's really enjoying telling her classmates about them and seeing how tadpoles become a frog.  Our plan is to grow them up to adult size and then set them free.  There's no way I'm buying live crickets to feed an adult frog.  Baby steps.  Maybe next time we will try a turtle.

Pictures and videos to come.

Vacation Recap

So we've totally been home from vacation for nearly a month now, but I have to share these photos with you all.  Ethan LOVED the beach, the ocean, and all things outside!  We headed to Gulf Shores, Alabama, which just so happens to be the place Jason and I met.  Talk about full circle.

He did not like the sand at first.  In fact, the first time we put him down, he cried and said "OFF! OFF!"  Thankfully the next attempt went well.  I think he was just tired from a long car ride.

                                

So, in pictures, here was our trip!

I DIE.  He's beautiful.

Out.  The waves relaxed him so much, he napped like this every day.  I covered him with every ounce of clothing I could find, but left it off just for the sake of the picture.

We took him to the zoo, which he LOVED.

He loves his Daddy.

Where's Ethan?!

Sleepy boy.

He found a girlfriend at dinner one night.  Talked to her the entire time.

My men.  My heart.

Obligatory beach family photos.

The happiest little thing.

My love.

I love this.  How cute is it that he went to sleep this way?!

CURLS.

I die.  I love this picture of him.

Um.  When did my baby become a kid?! He's so big!

Heading home, and my parents were heading down.  We are blessed that my grandparents own a condo in Gulf Shores, so we all try to use it when we can.  So we met at the halfway point to have lunch!

Truly, truly, a wonderful trip.