Pet Deja Vu

This morning began like any other morning. I had the two littlest ones in the car as we set off for IKEA. When I drove four houses down the road and turned right, what do you think I saw steadily crossing the road?

An Eastern box turtle!

Going the wrong direction?

This isn't Boxer, whom we haven't seen since he was let go in the woods by one of our children. This turtle is smaller (which means, younger), has eyes less red, and is possibly a female.

We've lived in this home for five years and have seen a box turtle exactly twice: when we found Boxer last May and this little one today. After a quick call home to my husband, I had the green light to bring home a new pet to the children.

Good thing I organizer my car detritus in an old Lego bin: it proved handy for transporting a turtle!

Introducing the children to their new turtle

We had a talk with the children about how I found this turtle and nobody had better let envy get the best of them and set this one free without permission!

A quick introduction into the turtle's new home before the children bustled about freshening the water and feeding the turtle.

I need to examine the turtle more at length to declare whether it is a male or female and then we will choose a name. The brainstorming of names has already begun!