Hoppy

Two years ago, when Spencer was in 2nd grade, he learned about tree frogs.  He would come home from school each day and fill us in on the various facts and details surrounding the fascinating life of frogs.  He decided that this would be the ultimate pet and proceeded to save all his money to get one.  Finally, shortly after school ended for the Summer, we made a trek to the pet store and left with a 10-gallon tank, water dish, wood chips, a couple dozen live crickets, and “Hoppy”.

Hoppy was a female tree frog.  Spencer informed us that you could tell gender by the size of the ear spots next to their eyes.  Hoppy’s were large which meant girl.

We quickly settled into a routine of spraying down her tank two or three times a day, feeding her 3 or 4 live crickets each night (tree frogs are nocturnal), and making sure she had water in her dish.  We put in a few live plants which thrived in the terrarium-like conditions.  In the Winter, we put a heater on the side of the tank and eventually got a heat lamp to keep her warm enough.  The crickets were my least favorite part.  We kept them in our old one-gallon fish tank and they required carrots or apples to keep them hydrated and fed.  And Hoppy would only eat them if they were alive.  This got particularly exciting on those occasions when someone accidentally knocked the cricket cage to the floor and we’d still be finding crickets several days later.

Sometimes Spencer would put Hoppy in the tub for a swim.  Or he’d take her outside to play and let her crawl through the grass or he’d just carry her around and let her climb on his hands, quick to grab her when she hopped away.  One day last Summer, the kids found 2 small toads when Jeff was mowing the lawn.  Spencer brought Hoppy out to enjoy some company and the kids had a great time with their amphibious friends.  But since frogs don’t particularly enjoy being handled, Hoppy spent most of her days asleep in her tank.

On Friday, I couldn’t see Hoppy in her tank.  Spencer is great at finding her so I called him down.  He looked for a while and then pointed out that she was crouched behind the flower pot in the back corner where she has hung out before.   But as I looked closer, something was different.  I turned the tank around to get a closer look and she wasn’t suctioned to the glass as she usually was.  I knew there was something wrong when I saw that her neck wasn’t going in and out as it always did.  When the realization that Hoppy was dead sunk in, Spencer melted into tears.  As each of the children were made aware, they also cried and cried.  It was one sad evening in the Stowell home.  Spencer wrote in his journal that he’ll never forget Hoppy and that she was his only true best friend.  (That was the saddest part for me!)

Jeff buried Hoppy in front of our rose bush and Sterling drew this sweet picture for Spencer.

We’ll miss you, Hoppy.  Thanks for being a part of our family.

Food For Thought

An Engaging Proposal

Fourteen years ago today, in a sealing room in the Manti temple, Jeff proposed.

Still on crutches from his farming accident just 6 months earlier, he got down on his good knee and asked me to marry him.  It dawned on me shortly after I accepted that I actually had a date that night with someone else.  See, Jeff and I had only been dating for 4 weeks.  This might sound alarming to some, but we had actually known each other for 6 1/2 years, having dated some during my first (his 2nd) year of college.  In and out of touch over the next several years, we finally figured out that we really liked being together this time around.  But we never had the “let’s only date each other” discussion.  I figured out pretty quickly that I preferred spending my time with Jeff, but we were only a couple of weeks into our new relationship when my brother’s friend asked me to his community college’s Valentine’s dance.  So when I blurted out, “I have a date tonight!”, Jeff said, “I know.  You can go.”  Yeah, right.  I didn’t go.

My Dad jokes that I finally caught someone because – with his injury – Jeff couldn’t run fast enough.

Whatever the reason, I’m glad Jeff puts up with me.  I think we make a good team.  Love you, babe.

I know this isn’t the best picture of me or the kids, but Jeff looks hot!

(I got the best one.  Wahoo!)

Happy Ending

You may remember the letter Sterling wrote to Lego a couple of weeks ago.  (See How Can They Refuse.)

I am happy to report that Anakin Skywalker is now sporting a new blue lightsaber.  Sterling was beaming.  Three cheers for Lego.

House Guest

I went down to the storage room today to find an after-school snack for the kids.  Reaching for something on the shelf, I discovered this:

While other tell-tale signs (a.k.a. droppings) are missing, Jeff thinks it’s a mouse.  This is not good news.  We had one other mouse incident several years ago and I’m still traumatized by it.  Jeff said, “I’ll take care of it.”  To that I say, “Be my guest!”  I’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE (2.5 hours later):

Well, that didn’t take long.  Our little brown mouse is in a better place.  Better than my storage room, that’s for sure!

UPDATE (2 days later):

Jeff left another trap out just in case Mr. Brown Mouse had friends.  This morning we learned that he had at least one and they are now reunited in heaven.

Room to Grow

A few weeks ago, Jeff and I moved a bunch of stuff around and redecorated a couple of rooms in the basement.  I will post some before and after pictures later, but I did want to show a few photos of a project I just finished up in my new office.  When we painted the family room back in November, we had to paint over all the kids’ measurements that were on the wall at the top of the stairs.   I copied everything down before it was gone and have been meaning to find a new spot for keeping track.  Here’s what I came up with:

I decided to record the measurements on the door trim so that if we ever move, I can take it with me.  :)  I’m happy with how turned out and am now wishing that I chose a more visible spot for this project instead of somewhat hidden behind a door.  Oh well.  I still love it!

Book Recommendation

I just wanted to give a thumbs up to this book.  I didn’t want it to end.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Here’s a description of the book from Goodreads:

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb.

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society–born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island–boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of the most delightful books I’ve read. I will admit that about 12 pages from the end, I peeked at the last page because I just couldn’t stand it anymore and had to know what was going to happen. I loved the way it was written, as a series of letters, and find myself wanting to be witty and charming and take up letter writing myself. Loved it!

View all my reviews.