How did I ever get so lucky?

Ya see, I was born innately girl. ALL. girl. I never played outdoors as a child. I was all about barbies and baby dolls. My siblings would ride bikes and run the neighborhood getting all sweaty while I was indoors organizing my shoes and playing house. Clean and tidy.

On rare occasions you may get a sneak peek of me minus my make-up if I'm working out or just waking up. But I am all about getting up and putting myself together, from head to toe. So you can imagine how excited I am after spending an hour on my hair and make-up to find out my kiddos want me to go frog hunting with them. It could entail anything from hiking through tall weeds to traipsing through creeks. Not exactly my idea of a swell time. But I try hard to encourage their interests and passions, however much I may dislike them.

This is one of those times.

See, a toad or frog is a coveted, prized possession in this home. (I'm still unclear what the differences are, but I'm sure the kids could give you a full report.)

The capture of such a creature can evoke jealousy or fits of rage, particularly if only one is found.

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Everywhere we go they are searching and listening. Always on the hunt.

"Mom, do you see that frog at the end of the log there?"
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"Mom, isn't this one cool?"
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"Mom, look what I can do."
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And Pokey wants in on the action just as much as Little Man. We recently were at a soccer tournament where she found a toad. You would have thought it was Christmas morning. Her excitement was at it's peak and becoming almost annoying as she frantically searched for a container to house the critter. After I refused her my water bottle and cooler she found a friend who had an empty large mouthed bottle and then proceeded to stuff him in. After the game she immediately wanted to share her find with little man.

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She finds inventive ways to entertain herself and the toads she captures. This is her taking "toady" for a stroll in her miniature doll house wagon. Not to worry, the toad was unharmed for the most part and was actually released back to the wild shortly after.

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Just this week Little Man went fishing with daddy. He caught a few fish, but it wasn't the fish he was excited about. No, it was this humongous bullfrog that looks almost as big as him.

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While other children are playing video games mine are on the internet researching "why toads shed" or "what toads eat" or "the lifecycle of frogs". I couldn't be more thrilled at their thirst for knowledge. But it doesn't stop there. Oh no.

Little Man has taken up a recent infatuation with the idea of breeding toads. As much as I would love to support him, I cannot have him housing them and producing mass quantities of them. Need I remind you they are stinky, nasty amphibians? He has already bought a small container and is constantly talking about buying bigger ones.

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HELP!! (I'm a bit outnumbered over here.)

I am getting pretty good at changing the subject when he brings this up, but I fear that it is not just a phase. He is doing a wonderful job of keeping his current one fed and watered. He catches his own crickets, beetles and/or grubs daily. He even cleans out the container without being asked, but I can't foresee that I could ever be excited about more than one of these living in my house.

So, I ask- how did I ever get so lucky as to have not one, but two children that love amphibious creatures?

AHHHHHhhhhhhhh.

23 comments

  1. How special. We have a toad/frog living in our mailbox. We can't figure out how he gets in there. We have removed him several times. The toad is about the size of 1/4 of a dollar bill, and mailbox is 4 feet off the ground.
    I think he's saying he wants to be our pet.
    from Oakley

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  2. Awwww...how very cute!!! The pic in the little wagon is just priceless!! LOL..way to go Mom, sounds like the kiddos had a fabulous time:)

    Statements in Fashion

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  3. LOL...I am just the opposite. I was a complete tomboy as a kid. Loved playing outside in the dirt with worms, frogs, etc. And I have two super girly girls. Kills me! You're a good sport putting up with it.

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  4. I do find frogs fascinating... as long as they are not within touching distance of me! I marvel at how the kids could actually catch them in the first place.

    You got a great series of shots here! :)

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  5. Good luck with the frog battle. I have 2 boys and a husband an I have drawn the line at snakes an spiders. I have to just put up with the rest. Good thing they don't make you hold it. LOL.

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  6. that's some serious frog catching! and i love that your daughter gets just as much into it!

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  7. Oh my stars...those are some huge toads!!

    My two oldest kids are girls, and so far, they're not terribly interested in creatures...yet...

    :P

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  8. Oh man....you certainly ARE outnumbered! And the size of those frogs/toads is amazing....the only little froggies we have around here are little.

    That whole breeding thing would have me running and screaming! Everything from having to explain the whole process to having that many little baby frogs around just makes me think "No!".

    Good luck!

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  9. This is so funny to me! Maybe because I was a total girly girl growing up but grew out of that as I got older but I know how you feel! I think you must be a great mom though to be so encouraging and so involved with your kids even when their hobbies are so unappealing to you! Good luck!

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  10. I love the pic of the tiny frog on Little Man's nose!

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  11. A couple of things: How did Little Man catch that awesome bullfrog? On his fishing pole? Also, Pokey pulling the frog in the little wagon might be the cutest thing I've ever heard.

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  12. Oh heavens...I was worried that that "log" was actually a crocodile.

    Cause, yes, I watch way too much tv.

    But I love the one with the wee froggy on the nose!

    Priceless!

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  13. LOL, I am in a very similar boat as you. Myles is obsessed with reptiles and we are constantly on the hunt for lizards LOL. He is only three and already anytime he finds change he is putting it away in his piggy bank so he can buy a corn snake! I don't mind snakes but I am not sure that I am ready to invest in such a pet. At least your son is old enough to care for his frog LOL! I feel your pain.

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  14. I love the frog in the wagon!!!! so funny.

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  15. I have been lucky that love for amphibious creatures has been kept to a minimum (and outside) at my house. The pictures are strangely kind of cute but still have that ewww factor for me.

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  16. wow...I do not envy you at all. I'm definitely a girly girl and all of those frogs are creeping me out. Especially that big bullfrog that little man is so excited over. But you're a good mom for putting up with that and encouraging them to learn more about them. KUDOS to you and your kids!

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  17. WOW...I love it! That 2nd capture in the post is AMAZING!

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  18. Those pictures are totally freaking me out!!! I can't believe your son put a frog on his nose!

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  19. I love the picture of the toad in the wagon! I am girlie, too, but I do love frogs and toads. Always have.

    My youngest girl is a creature of the Earth and she loves all creepy crawly things. The coolest thing happened to her yesterday. She was busy doing her usual, trolling the yard for critters when she came across 2 tiny eggs. As usual, she brought them in to show me. She had them in a little bowl and she'd put grass around them. She told me she was keeping them and I told her no, that they needed to stay in their natural habitat. I was busy explaining to her why when one of the eggs moved and the next thing you know, a tiny lizard popped out! A minute later, the other one hatched too. It was the coolest thing to witness! We did of course, put them back.

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  20. Your kids are so cute! That is funny how much they like frogs/toads. The picture with the little tree frog on your son's nose is hilarious =].

    My other half actually brought home a tree frog the other day from work, and I was so excited! I found an old pickle jar and went to work making an acceptable "home" for him. We had to let him go later because he hadn't moved for a couple hours and I thought he had offed himself. Needless to say when we have a few spare dollars we are going to the pet store to get me one =]. Haha.

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  21. It was turtles for me. My brother and I would always be turtle hunting. We usually had at least one in the house in some sort of makeshift turtle house.

    That is so cute that your kids are all into frogs like they are. Breeding them though? That may be a little much. Good luck with that! :)

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  22. How cute! I loved frogs as a kid and I have no idea why. Now they give me the skivvies. Your kids are so darn cute!

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  23. I cringed when I saw these photos in my email inbox. I'm not a frog/toad fan either! In fact, we've got tons of them here at the new house. Your kids are more than welcome to come on over and catch as many frogs as they'd like. I wouldn't miss those green slimey things one bit! lol
    It's so nice to be back in Bloggyland. I've sure missed you. Thought I've read every single post, I've been terrible about commenting on them. Well truth be told, I have commented on every single one of your posts in my head. lol In any case, I'm back and I'm ready to rock!

    Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud
    @TweetingMama

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