Days with the Dorans

I feel like I've messed with Norbert's "home" so much now... from different substrates (carpet, sand, tile) and now different locations. He went from Joey's room, to the dining room (which really is more like Jeff's office- or a game room) to now our bedroom. I actually love his new location. I have him right on the floor under the window so there is some natural light that comes in and I can open the door and he can just come out. I feel like I see him a lot more- his baths are easier (my bathroom sink) and he just seems a lot more active and happier. And... I think Marty likes being able to look in on him too. I got a really large old fish tank (donated) so I feel like now he'll have a better place when he comes to Room 119. I just need to get tile and accessories for him, but I know we'll get there! I just feel really happy with how he is and where he is.

It's official!! Norbert has been with us for a year! I'd say he's grown a bit. Happy Gotcha Day, Norbert!

 So the Bigs are big enough to stay home alone and they weren't getting up early to cheer on their youngest brother. While we were celebrating another win with donuts back at home the house almost burned down... Well- not BURNED down but definitely smoked out! We pulled up to the kids outside. I guess Z put in a hot pocket for 20 minutes instead of two! OH MY GOSH!!! Our entire house stunk! My first reaction was to save the animals! Thank goodness it was a nice day. Sigh. I think he won't be doing that again...

Just because... Norbert is getting bigger! He loves spending time with us. I'm not sure the old tank I have for him to spend time in Room 119 is big enough but we'll see! He's such a lovable guy!

Ok- So crazy me changed it up again!! The people on the "support group" that I have mentioned are pretty nutty and I got worried and sand was bad for Norbert- mostly because he eats crickets with his tongue and I didn't want him eating sand- and the carpet they said again can cause cuts for the same reason so.... everyone says TILE! I actually had some tile in my garage from our old kitchen and an old bathroom so I didn't have to waste anymore money on my crazy! I actually really like the new set up and he seems happy and spends more time out! The HUGE bonus is it's sooooo easy to clean now! I think this set-up will be staying for a while. I do have a bit of carpet on the right because I didn't have enough tile. Maybe one day I will get uniform tile for him but for now... WE'RE GOOD!

So just like I joined my "Bearded Support Group," I also joined a "Russian Tortoise Support Group" to be a better mom to Morty. I have been worried about his lack of appetite so took him to the vet where he got a beak trim, nail trim and I learned he had pinworms!! YIKES!! They said the worms weren't something to worry about and that they'd go away on their own so now I just wait I guess. In the meantime, I've been trying to take him to the lake (free of chemicals) for him to hang out and get some real rays! You'd be surprised how fast a tortoise can go! I also decided to finally get some new fish. I had a lone bottom feeder left and decided it was time to fill it up again. I love watching our tank so got these beauties!! And then there's Norbert... I had heard bad things about the carpet I put in there and someone said that sand was the way to go- so what did I do? Got plexiglass cut to the dimensions of his crib, made a ...

 I admit it... I'm a bit weird when it comes to my animals. I joined a "Bearded Dragon Support Group" (as I call it) on facebook and learned Norbert needed a bigger space. He's (or maybe he's a she- no idea) grown a lot since we first got him (those crickets must be fattening!). I think he likes his new space!! I'm hoping to use his old crib for Room 119 (but I'll have to check in with the support group to see if that's OK). I do think the kids will love him and he loves to hang (on you).

Just because he's getting bigger...  5 months since his "Gotcha" day.

We have had the CRAZIEST winter. Too cold, Too windy. Too snowy. Jeff's school (in particular) was closed so much it felt like there was a stretch where he never worked a full week. The worst was when strong winds knocked out our power. I wasn't so worried about us (we could layer up but I was REALLY worried about our animals. The reptiles need their heat lamps and the birds are in the coldest room of the house. I sent Jeff to the store to get a generator but when he came back the power was on. We agreed to leave it in the car in hopes we could return it. Well the power went out again in the middle of the night and so we got up and unboxed the generator. After we put the oil in and put the parts together we saw a warning not to put it too close to the house CO poisoning and don't put it in snow or rain because it can cause fire!! (There was snow EVERYWHERE!!!) With the threat of CO poisoning and/or fire, we decided dead animals (although awful) were bett...

Norbert is getting bigger...

 We try to include ALL the members in our family game nights! I have to say that the dumb crack in my phone (camera) is really starting to drive me nuts. I think Norbert is a bit of a cheat... I love that he comes out with us though!

I feel like every year I am blown away by the thoughtfulness of my students and their families and this year was certainly no different. I thought this was so sweet (and so cute) that I had to share it here too. One of my student's brother (a former first grader of mine) heard about my new bearded dragon, Norbert, and had to get this for me. I love it... and so does Norbert! (In case you didn't know, Norbert was named after Hagrid's Norwegian Ridgeback's dragon, Norbert, from the Harry Potter Series. That's Hagrid pictured below and the two Norberts above.)

 Norbert is growing and growing! He's eating lots of crickets (and I mean a lot... I feel like I'm going to the store every other day for him. We're trying to get him out a bit each day. He decided to help me address the Christmas cards (and then went for a little spin with Zach)!

So this is kind of a funny story but also kind of sums up how I do things... It's no secret that I am a lover of all animals. I save the spiders and even though flies are annoying, I'll try to trap them in the window or send them out through the door-wall instead of killing them. Really- mosquitos are the only living thing I feel no guilt about killing.  At a recent staff meeting I learned I was our school's "Teacher of the Year." My new principal (who I really like) read this super nice letter that was written about me and one of the things it said about me was that I had a pet I would bring to school and how special that was (gulp- that would be Little Blue who is flying with unclipped wings in the heavens right now). So I started to feel like I needed to get a class pet again. Mimic and Fredo aren't going anywhere but seem perfectly content at our house.  So I get out google and find that bearded dragons are GREAT class pets. So I research fo...