Toady

The one and only, Bow-and-arrow Frog

One of Mason's newest thrills is going toad hunting. The warm and humid Kansas Summers bring these little fellas out to play and Mason has a knack for spotting them hiding in the grass by Poppy's vet building (where we see all of our animals it seems). The only trouble is, the best time to go toad hunting is after the boy's bedtime, and James and I don't always feel like extending their day to accommodation his desire. Somehow Mason still wins out at least a couple times a week all the same.

The other night, while I was preparing dinner, Mason repeatedly asked James if they could go look for toads but each time the answer was the same. "No". Eventually Mason joined his brothers in the back yard while we continued to get things ready. At one point James and Mason's eyes met through the window and James mouthed, "I love you" to our oldest son. I was thinking, "Oh, how sweet! Mason probably ate that up!" But just as I was thinking that, Mason zipped inside the house and excitedly said, "What did you say, Poppy?" James repeated his sentiment and then Mason said, "Oh. I thought you said, Do you want to go toad hunting?" This boy has a one-track mind!

That night, while James was coming home from more studying on campus, he spotted a toad and decided to surprise Mason with a new little friend. Even though Mason was still half asleep, he was thrilled with his gift and kept saying, "I thought I was dreaming!" We let him introduce himself to his new little pet before he happily skipped/boogied himself back to bed.

 Mason and his toad

McCabe was pretty taken by the toad, too:

A goodnight smooch

Mason decided to name him, Bow and Arrow Frog, (which, incidentally, was exactly what I was thinking about naming him!) but we mostly called him Toady. We made a make-shift home and even went out and bought him crickets to snack on a time or two:

I would have wanted to keep him longer, but since we don't have a real aquarium, we felt a little bad for the guy. Don't worry though, we have since caught three more toads to hold us over. Today Mason found a cool feather but then he threw it in the water to see how it would float down a stream. When I cautioned him that he wouldn't get it back, he said, "That's okay. I have a toad. Toads are cooler than feathers."

 Since then we have let him go to save him from his doting owner and company. For a straight week, every chance they got, they would pull him out of his cage and play all sorts of games with him. Poor, good-natured, Toady. What a sport!

The boys were certain that when Toady would hop up on their shoulder, it meant that he was especially fond of them. That or he was willing to try anything to make a break for it!

 Brothers, bonded over a love for a toad. Mason was a sport to share him with Char as much as he did.

 The old, "Put the toad in your shirt" game never gets old!

Before we said good-bye, James even let them listen to his heartbeat with his cool new stethoscope!

 Mason wants to be a vet

McCabe's hair is in looking more and more like Moe's. I have to do something before he gets poked in the eyes!

We'll miss Toady, but I have a feeling that he is doing just fine without us!