Thursday, September 24, 2009

I Bit the Bullet

Well, I succumbed. We did it, Dan is officially a Vet now and he can stop saying, “I don’t know if you knew this or not…but I’m a Vet.” He would always say that when we would argue about getting an animal. So, yes we got a pet. Five to be exact. Wandering around in Wal-Mart I took Dan to see the fishes. I didn’t know they had them there and found them yesterday. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. Five fish have now joined our family. Dan says if they are still alive by Christmas we are getting a dog. I told him no way, but really, if that’s the bet, I feel pretty safe in saying we still aren’t getting a dog. I also made it quite clear that while I would help the kids remember to feed the fish, I would in no way be responsible for changing the water and cleaning the tank. Dan agreed, and we’ll see how long this lasts. But I’m not cleaning it. Yuck. Anyway, it all went a little overboard. I thought we’d buy a glass bowl, buy the 14 cent gold fish and be on our merry way. Nope. A five gallon fish tank complete with all the fixing and five non-gold fish later we left the store. We did draw the line at a frog. It probably would have gotten eaten by the dragon fish. “Dragon fish,” you say “What is a Dragon Fish?” Well, it’s a pretty cool looking fish and that’s what started this whole thing.
The Dragon fish is Dan’s. He named it Mr. Wiggles. I elected to get a crab. His name is Siddy. Kember got a “stripey fish” that we couldn’t get a good picture of (look for the little fish under Caden's big one), and named it Kaycee (yes, after her Pullman friend) or Daughter. She said that she named it both names and can go by either. Okay then.
Caden got a Blue Gorami and named it Joey (yes, after his cousin…do you guys just feel so privileged?) No, it isn’t blue. It’s white with two dark spots.
Cole got a Raphael cat fish. I thought it was a sucker fish and I really wanted one to help keep the tank clean, but now I don’t think he is one. Ah well. Dan said it was still a bottom feeder so it’s okay. We named him Bob in honor of the other fish we had when we got married (which died not long after we got it…and had a black growth on it that was probably cancer), the horse Dan’s family has, and to any Bob’s we now know.
After convincing Caden he didn’t want a fish that looked just like Kember’s we moved on to the tank decorations. Kember wanted a hideous rainbow colored rock thing. We suggested something else instead. She finally got excited when she found the log that has pink flowers on it. Caden really wanted a bridge. I think he thought it was a slide for a while. Ehh, he could have chosen worse.
The kids were sooo excited. After we watched them for a while Dan and I were getting ready for bed and the kids would come running to our room to tell us something the fish did. They get worried that Bob is gone (he likes to hide in the log) and that Mr. Wiggles, which Kember calls Dragon, is going to eat the other fish. They both tell the fish constantly to be nice to each other.
We might have been a little too excited. After we put everything together and introduced the fish into their new home Dan started to read the instructions. Turns out we didn’t do much right. Well, we’re off to a great start. We’ll see how long the excitement lasts. I’ll admit I was very into this process and just as excited as the rest of them (though I will also admit that I harbor many doubts). In the mean time…we’re pet owners! Look at us go.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

This is definitely the way to go as far as pets are concerned. You don't have to walk them, groom them, play with them, clean up hair, deal with barking, howling, pooping in everyone else's yards, etc. I like the crab the best, I think. :)

michelle said...

We had Kiersten's gold fish for about 6 years until we moved from Minnesota and we gave it to a friend. Our neighbor was always nervous about watching our "old fish" when we went on vacation, because she was afraid it was going to die when she was watching it:)

Andrea said...

This post had me laughing. You crack me up. I think it's funny that you bothered to read the directions after you were finished. :)

Your house looks so cute in the background. You should post house pictures (I only saw the ones mom took before you painted). Yes, I will see it in November, but a house post would be fun.

Crystal said...

Awesome! Congrats. ANd I hate to say it but I highly doubt they will all be alive in December. For some reason we always have a few die off, then there are one that live forever. We are not fish people, no matter how many times we try. We recently "donated" a couple fish to the Sunnyside pond. Shhh. DOn't tell. It's illegal.

Loni said...

That picture of Dan is priceless. What a fun family activity, although I didn't get the info. as to who gets to clean the tank.
You guys went all out. Do you remember our fish?

Chelle said...

Awesome, Tarah! Your kids sound super excited. I definitely think fish are a good choice. I used to be a super big pet person but now I'm just reeeeeaaally not fond of fur all around. Luckily, fish don't shed much fur on your couches. Let us know how they all hold up. :)

Krystal said...

Tis the season, I guess! Yay for pets. Good luck! Love the names by the way.

Mrs.Goates said...

Awesome - I actually looked at fish the other day - I thought Elaine would like them... but then the whole upkeep thing got to me and I turned around and left.

Just beware- Catfish get really big and they eat other fish as I discovered in high school - and my fish kept disappearing and my catfish kept getting bigger and bigger. My poor Bala shark always had a bite or two out of him too. (but the catfish was a couple years old by then - so maybe you won't have the same problem)

Unknown said...

You crack me up! I thought I was the only vet wife not excited about pets...except that's supposed to be a secret...
Also, I know this is random, but how nice to not have white walls. Green, I love green walls. Some day. I'll live through you meanwhile! Seems like you guys are doing great:)!

Jer and Jules said...

That dragon fish is a little freaky, but how fun to have all those different kinds of fish! Your kids are getting so big too!

worth reading said...

I find pets are good in theory ... they're nice until you have to clean up after them (I cringe at the thought!) Sounds like you got a good deal though if you don't have to clean the tank!

Morley Fam said...

That is hilarious! Sounds like your going to have an adventure with them. Funny,in our family, scott is the one who doesnt want pets...oh well one day.I cant believe how grown up your kids look!wow! Tell dan hi for us.

Ma & Pa J. said...

Thanks for introducing us to your new family members. I was beginning to worry about you last week when you were making friends with all the bugs. I think this is a little more normal. Tee Hee Hee

Anonymous said...

That's awsome. I hope they all get along.

The Bott Family said...

Tarah, NO killing the fish on purpose just so you don't have to get a dog!!!!