Riley and Avery

So we all (minus Rudi) got in the car to take Riley to school yesterday and when we arrived at the abandoned school, I realize that it's spring break. Oh well...How come I never know these things? Like MLK Day when I took Riley to school and found it closed. Argh...and it's not like the school is just down the street. It's a 20+ minute drive.

Then we went to try and find some shoes for Avery that have hard soles for after it's rained and such. Well, the kid is a perfect size 4, and toddler shoes start at a size 5. So I was looking for a 5 and they were all so clunky. I wanted to go to the Stride-Rite store but they were closed on Mondays. So, no shoes yet. But Riley found a pair of light-up sandals that she likes as long as they're not on her feet. I don't think they're comfortable because her feet are so narrow, the velcro closures don't close tight enough.

Then we went home and Rudi was up and ready to go to Einstein Bros. Bagels, so I decided that we would all tag along and go with him, after which we went to the Humane Society to see if we could adopt a rabbit or guinea pig. They didn't have any guinea pigs at the moment, but they had four rabbits, none of which would really fit our family. They had an adorable mini lop, but it was male, and I've never owned a male rabbit (I hear they spray) and the lady said it was timid, so not really good for children. They had an ENORMOUS lop named Lola. I swear, if Avery curled up she would have been smaller than this rabbit. I didn't think we could find a cage large enough to house such a large rabbit. Riley said "rabbits are nice, but guinea pigs are more better!" So we left.

Then we went home for a while and then off again for Riley's dentist appointment. Riley was a real champ. And the hygenist was absolutely phenomenal with her. Riley sat in the dentists chair by herself and I sat in a chair by her feet. She didn't even look my way, she was so involved with the hygenist. They said that she has really deep grooves in her molars with a little discoloration, but no cavities.

Then we went to Petco and bought Riley a guinea pig. A little one with a white face, a black butt and brown in between. Really adorable and calm. Riley named her Rosie. I tried to persuade her to name her Freya, since that's pretty much my favorite name and somehow I didn't name either child Freya, but Riley just laughed. So maybe it's a strange name, so what? Avery absolutely adores her and is pretty gentle when she pets her, it's just the excited growling that Avery makes whenever she sees any animal, and the clamoring over me she does to get to the pig that makes me scared she'll crush her. So far I've been trying to limit the contact until the pig becomes more acclaimated to her new home. I've held her a few times while the girls petted her, and Riley held her once. She did a really great job holding her. So we finally have a pet again (no offense Roxy, but you're a lizard). I've always been a pet person...Oh, Riley loves this pig so much. Now I understand why parents sneek to replace a lost pet instead of telling children the truth. Knock on wood.

Speaking of Roxy, I think she's dying. Don't tell Rudi. She keeps shedding and shedding and shedding, but the old skin never comes off of her eyes, so her eyes are caked shut with months of failed shedding, so she can't see the crickets to eat, and only occasionally does one happen across her mouth for her to eat. I thought these lizards were supposed to live for a while, but I think she was already full grown when we got her almost five years ago. Hmmm...time will tell. I just hope she's not suffering.

The television debacle is over for now, and without buying a television. I really don't understand it. It's like Rudi isn't happy unless he's unhappy. He wants to play the martyr. So he resigned himself to not being able to afford the TV of his dreams, so I suggested taking Amy up on the offer of the 26" TV if Scott gets it. He says it would be too expensive to ship (duh-a lot less than buying one!) and it would probably get broken during shipping (does he think the TVs are made at Walmart and never shipped anywhere?). I told him we could insure the package and inspect it upon arrival and all would be well. But no, he wants to be nailed to the cross...then let me get the hammer.

Last night Avery was nursing to sleep when she suddenly rolls away from me and looks in the other direction and starts saying "me me me me me me" about two dozen times. Then when she finally got it right, she looked at me and said "mommy." It was so cute that she practiced it to herself and when she got it right, she said "mommy." She'd only said "ma" up to this point. How adorable. She just had to practice the second syllable.