Ordinary - July 3 - Turtles

Mistake.  And yes, we made it. 

Last summer in June while on vacation, the boys caught a couple of small, cute turtles and wanted to keep them.  We made them put them back after allowing them to play with them for a day or two.

Then this year we saw an add for free turtles...with tank, filter, pump, etc. and we decided to take them.  We didn't think to ask questions first, just jumped in with a YES, thinking they would be two ordinary and small turtles.  And then.  And then we went to pick them up.  There were two very large red ear sliders with four inch nails waiting for us.  They were massive and scary.  We had no idea what we were getting into.  The species lives for about 70 years.  The turtles are not native to Vermont, so can't be released into the wild here.  And they generate a lot of waste.  Which means the fifty gallon tank has to be cleaned out regularly.  This is complicated to say the least.  They are not particularly warm or fuzzy and the kids don't really care too much about them., but we are doing our very best to connect and keep them alive.  It's been four months now. 

But who's counting?