When Jackie turned four she got some birthday money in the mail. I let her decide what she wanted to buy with it, and she decided that she wanted a PET. Now I am not a pet person. I have nothing against animals, and I can enjoy them at other peoples house, but not in my house. So I gently encouraged her toward getting FISH. So we headed to the store to check out the fish. She found an amazing underwater swimming frog that she liked. PERFECT! We got the frog and the bowl and the food and we were set for our first pet. Shortly thereafter she came up with his name - Ribbity, although we never actually heard him croak. She enjoyed her frog and fed him occasionally, when reminded. Usually Mom ended up feeding him and changing the water, which really was o.k. with me. He was a great pet. Now to the climax of the story....I was changing his water the other day while Jackie and Dallin were both at school. I had put Ribbity in a little bowl of water on the counter while I cleaned out his big bowl. I was watching him closely, just in case he decided to hop out (which he never had before). Then Alyssa started fussing so I picked her up, went upstairs to change her diaper, got sidetracked (which happens often to me). An hour later I returned to the kitchen and saw the half finished job I had started. I quickly checked the small bowl where Ribbity was left and all I found was clear water....no frog in sight. I panicked and started searching the kitchen for a small frog. I even summoned Breas help and we searched and searched to no avail. I was sick, I knew Jackie was going to be so sad when she got home.
Dallin is in half day Kindergarten so when he came home I summoned his help as well. He was determined to find Ribbity, but after about 10 minutes gave up the search. The time came that Jackie got home and I had to tell her the disappointing news. You would of thought I told her that Grandma was missing, the color went out of her face and she was so sad. She began her own search, which was also short lived. So she did the next best thing she knew how, she said a prayer. It was so sweet and pure. She prayed that Ribbity would not be dead when we found him.
Well about an hour later Dallin was playing outside and ran in (he usually is running, never can just walk). Unfortunately his foot happened to land right on top of something squishy. He tuned his foot around and screamed "Mom, I just stepped on Ribbity". Jackie and I ran downstairs to see if he truly had, and yes he had. It was not a pretty sight, and poor Jackie burst into tears. I did my best to console her and promised that we could get a new pet, and that I was so sorry for letting him get out. As she was still in tears, her sweet brother Dallin came downstairs with a crayon colored Red Heart, he gave it to her and hugged her. It was so precious. I love to see my children being kind, without any prodding on my part. (It doesn't always happen that way, so when it does it is a special moment).
We are now on the hunt for a new pet. Jackie would prefer a kitty, but I think I would rather wait on that until our children our a bit bigger and more responsible. We are toying with the idea of a bunny, but haven't quite decided. If anyone has any experience with bunnies and small children please let me know. I wanted to replace Ribbity with a new frog, but Jackie said "No, I want something that doesn't have to be in water, in case he gets out sometime he won't die." Hopefully that philosophy will keep the next pet around a bit longer. I was pretty proud of our year and a half with an underwater swimming frog.
Here is Jackie trying to dry her tears, with the picture Dallin made for her.
I am so grateful for my family, and the four beautiful children we have been blessed with. Alyssa looked so sweet in her white dress and dark hair. Jeff was able to give her a name and blessing, with both Grandpas in the circle and lots of love from family and friends in attendance. 
Jackie and 
