turtle, turtle

A month ago Ashtyn turned 9 and Brandon and I wanted to do something extra special for him this year. I had taken Ash with me a few weeks prior to his birthday to run some errands and one of those errands was to go to Petsmart and get some new filters for the fish tank. While we were there we looked around at the animals and noticed that they had some turtles in stock! They NEVER have turtles! They sell out quick! When I saw how entranced Ash was with the turtles (he's been asking for one for years!) I had the bright idea that maybe we should get him a turtle for his birthday! As Ashtyn's birthday came closer I mentioned my idea to Brandon and, to my surprise, he was even more excited than me! He took my idea and ran with it!

Just a couple of days before Ash's birthday, while the boys were at school, Brandon and I drove to two different Petsmart locations to get the perfect turtle and a home for him! We set up the tank in the boys' room and were ready and waiting to reveal our gift when the boys came home from school...

Brandon and I stood in front of the turtle's tank with cameras rolling and a sheet covering our special gift when Ash and Maddox came into their room. On the count of three we dropped the sheet revealing Ashtyn's 9th birthday gift from mom and dad!!!!

After much thought, Ash named his new pet "Crawler" and we've had him for just over a month now. It's probably a good thing I didn't know beforehand just how much work a turtle is but we love him anyway. He's already used to our family and has developed quite the personality. Crawler has a bit of an attitude! He hisses at me when I pick him up and begs for food when you walk by his tank. He's funny! I particularly love watching him sun himself. He stretches out under his heat lamp and snoozes for hours on end. Oh the life of a turtle!