Eight

 Have you heard that we Siegs now have eight animals? Yep, eight. There is no way around it; we are odd people. Clearly I can't stand up to the wiles of my menfolk. They ask me sweetly for a new pet and bat their handsome eyes and I catch myself thinking, "What's one more cage to clean?" I really am pathetic. But despite that, and despite how much I loath taking care of even more creatures than my own three boys, I do love seeing the grins that our pets bring to my menfolk's faces! Charlie thanks Heavenly Father in nearly every prayer for our oodles of pets, and hearing him always melts my cold heart. That being said, if we get another I am pretty sure I will crack and go absolutely batty!

And so it is my pleasure (but mostly a my shame) to announce our new pets....

Meet Miss Piggle Wiggle:

 Mason was so sad to lose his beloved rat, Typer, that I just couldn't say no when he wanted a guinea pig of his very own to sooth his poor heart. And when we found a cage for only a couple dollars, there was nothing else to do but scoot on over to the pet store and procure his little pet. He picked an adorable white one with tiny black spots on her head ad goony little ears. He is in love. So much so, that he doesn't even seem to mind when she mistakes his fingers for a carrot and gives him a little nibble every now and then.

 Beware, guinea pigs are SO loud!

Meet our birds:

Look at that happy face! How could I say no?! And really, I sort of knew what I was getting into when I married a man who wanted to be a vet so I take full responsibility,

 James loves birds and has wanted a pet bird for the longest time. Why anyone in their right mind would want to add more chaos and noise to an already loud home by buying an animal that nearly always squawks is besides me. However, I love this man and if this man likes birds, then so be it. Especially when they were found on craigslist for $10 each and saved from a probable meth house. So basically I am a saint. (A rather complaining saint.) 

 McCabe thought that since they are both parrots they should be named after a parrot in a pirate movie he likes, so they were both named Chickenbeard. However, James mostly calls them Evermore and Eleanor. Occasionally he even calls them Nicotine when they are especially and our neighbors are home. He considers it sweet revenge against the constant second-hand smoke and stink that we have to put up with. 

 James told me one day after he first got his birds that cleaning their cages and caring for them is a lot like gardening and is soothing in a way. I couldn't relate even a little bit but now I laughingly refer to my task of cleaning cages as "gardening."

Meet Fiona:

 Fiona was also found on craigslist for a song. James showed me her listing and wistfully said, "If I had a ferret, then I would better know how to take care of exotics when they come into my clinic someday." So really, buying her was just plain business savvy! The boys and I bought her when he was away at school and hid her in the bathroom for him to find when he got home. It was so much fun to actually pull one over on him! I have to say, she is a really cool pet! She is slinky and fun and hilarious. Like having a cat that is kept in a cage and has a really good personality.

 So there you have it. Now all my secrets are out in the open and you can judge me at will. But please don't too much! Pushovers like me should be pitied more than anything else.

Scout, before her summer haircut.