And So It Begins

As the mom of three boys, I just kind of figure I'm in for 25 years of "snips and snails and puppy dog tails..." plus the occasional lizard.

Adam and his cousin Colton caught this lizard when we were camping in the San Rafael Swell over Memorial weekend.  Adam begged and begged to get to keep a lizard, and Kirk and I debated whether it would be a good idea.

We finally decided to let him keep it under the following conditions:

1) He is completely responsible for it.  If he doesn't take care of it, it will die.  I am okay with that.
2) He must pay for everything lizard-related.  He paid for the cage and first set of crickets (for food) from money from his piggy bank.  He now has some simple chores he has to do to earn money for future crickets.

I should have included a few more conditions:

3) He must not talk incessantly about the stupid reptile ALL DAY LONG. 
4) He must not carry the lizard around constantly.
5) He MAY NOT leave his lizard on my bed.

Apparently, he didn't get much of his mom's creativity, since he named his blue-bellied lizard...

Blue Belly.

Welcome to my home, Blue Belly.  May I never find you in my covers.  May you die in your cage where I can easily dispose of you.  May you provide hours of enjoyment for my little boy.  May you not decide being mauled by a 5 year old is worse than being eaten by a bird.  Enjoy your stay.