tuesdays = a photo and a few words
(I’m putting the hamster alert up there because when I did my reader survey, one reader said she had to unfollow me on Instagram because there were too many hamster photos and hamsters squick her out. So, dear reader, wherever you are, stop reading today’s post now!)
As you know, Sonia and Zoe both got hamsters last year.
(after all those calculations)
Wilson, Sonia’s hamster, is still doing great. Sadly, Sheldon, Zoe’s hamster, got some sort of cold/respiratory bug, and he didn’t make it.
Sheldon was very possibly the most loved hamster in all of history, so this was pretty sad for Zoe.
Joshua helped her bury him (he always helps his sisters bury their pets), they made a slate gravestone with chalk letters, and Lisey said a few words about Sheldon when they buried him.
I love how kind they were to Zoe.
Even though no hamster will probably ever be quite as loved as Sheldon, we went out and helped Zoe pick out a cute new little hamster.
She named him Huckle, which seems like a perfect name for a hamster.
He’s been busy adjusting to his new surroundings these past few weeks, and he’s now getting tame enough for Zoe to pick him up and hold him. This is making her hamster-loving heart pretty happy.
And I think eventually she might come to love him almost as much as she loved Sheldon.
Allison
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
I love the name Huckle for a Hampster. When I was about their age I received a hampster for Christmas and on that morning I actually ended up with 11 hampsters. Good news was I was able to take most of them back to the pet store and get food/shavings in return. Her name was Brownie. My mom always wondered how she managed to pick out the one pregnant one out of the whole lot.
Kristen
Wednesday 23rd of December 2015
Oh, wow! I'm going to have to tell my girls about this...they'll love your story.
jenny_o
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
I love your older kids' compassion for their little sister and your younger girls' compassion for their pets! You are raising wonderful people.
Emily M
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
Too sweet. I had a hamster when I was younger and, get this for terrible parenting, I kinda sorta forgot about him. Like I forgot that I had him and didn't take care of him for a few days. Found him all curled up dead in his cage - I still feel guilty over causing such cruelty to an animal! Hopefully he didn't last too long or suffer too much...
Kristen
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
You know, that happened to one of our hermit crabs once (forgetting about him), except, somehow he survived! We thought for sure he was dead, but nope, he was still kicking.
Jennifer
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
I had a hamster as a child so this brings back memories. I sometimes would hold him and get freaked out all of the sudden. He was too much like a mouse and I had to quickly get him off of me, weird I know. His name was Hampy, not very original. We went to the beach one weekend, came home and Hampy was hard as a rock when I picked him up out of his cage. Grave yard dead, that really freaked me out! RIP Sheldon and Hampy. FYI if your hamster hasn't moved for awhile poke him softly with something because picking up a dead hard hamster leaves an impression for a lifetime, as I am 37 and still weirded out. Good luck with Huckle!
Kristen
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
So true. I think Joshua just scooped him up and put him in a box before he buried Sheldon.
Zoe and Sonia NEVER feel like they want to put their hamsters back in the cage. Heh. They are serious hamster-lovers.
priskill
Tuesday 22nd of December 2015
Aww, Huckle is adorable and your kids are so great. Very happy for Zoe! And love the Hamster trigger -- so thoughtful!