Swimmy Wave Corner Asbell: Part 1

Evan has been begging us for a pet for about a year. John and I had dogs for 12 and 13 years. We were kind of enjoying the pet free home. Not that we don’t love animals, but we also love our pee-free carpet, no-vet bill budget, and dog hairless couch. Let’s just say I have had more success potty training two boys than house training animals.

Evan was in the right place at the right time this summer. There was one day…just one day, he had to come to work with me due to lack of childcare. He did great. Read books, played on the playground, enjoyed his time. Sometime mid afternoon, Mrs. Gano came to visit the lab to ask a question. She immediately grabs Evan to go get some toys. He comes back with legos and building items. He’s in heaven for a while. When he takes them back he looks around her room and notices her class pets, the frogs. Mrs. Gano realizes she hasn’t fed them (it had been a month, don’t call PETA just yet), and enlists Evan’s help. She sees how enamored Evan is with the frogs and asks him to take care of him the rest of the summer. All this takes place AWAY from me. All I know is when he comes back, he has a small frog tank with two frogs that we are taking home.

He names the frogs; Rocky and Crystal. Guess what two things were in the frogs’ tank besides the frogs themselves. Rocks and a crystal. It’s a black and white world, people. The frogs live on his nightstand. He prays for the frogs. He brings every single person that enters our house up to his room to ‘meet’ the frogs. The boy loved having a pet. We cried quite a bit when we had to give them back to the class.

Fast forward to Labor Day – We were discussing over dinner Sunday before Labor Day that we didn’t have to go to school because it was a holiday called Labor Day. Daddy and Mommy didn’t have to go to work and the boys got to stay home. Evan interrupted me and said, “And I get to go to the Delta Fair!!!” I did a double take to make sure I heard him right. I glance at John, who is looking at me just as confused as I am looking at him. I then say, “wait, what?” He proceeds to tell me he has a ticket and he is going to the fair on Labor Day. I am still looking at him like he has 4 heads.  I explain that we aren’t going to the fair because none of this was passed through me. He proceeds to melt down, say, “but I have a tiiiickeeeet!” and question why I am ‘in charge of the house’. (his words…not mine…but he’s not wrong).

The more time that passes, the more I think of what a horrible mom I am for not taking him AND Evan doesn’t let things go easily. So we decided if he could control his talking at school (something he comes by naturally...have you met his mom??) he could ‘earn’ the fair. I know, I know. He broke me. But really, have you seen those dimples. Jeez.

 On Thursday, the day we planned to go to the fair, a mom emailed me and invited him to go with their family. After talking it through we he made the decision to wait until the weekend and go with his friend. Despite a rain delay, the boys had a blast! And the mom sent me tons of pictures and videos. This was the last picture I received with the caption of “ummm….well….”

Part 2 coming....