weekend house guest

 
This is Puppy, Gus's class mascot.

 
He is spending a weekend with each family.

 
Theo loves Puppy!

 
We took him everywhere with us. Actually, I did. I probably would have had to feed him, too. Luckily it was not an issue.

long summer day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

another fish in the toilet

Root-tee Mooty Schoenfeld has passed away. He looked ill for a week. He was quite the fighter. This loss did not hit me as hard at TheoTheoTheo's passing. But I am hoping we are done with fish.

poor theotheo couscous

 
Root-ee Mooty Schoenfeld

Theo is not having luck with his fish. TheoTheo Couscous is no more. I discovered this too late for Jonathan to pick up a replacement, so he is going to break the news to the boys in the morning.

During his brief five days with us (one more than TheoTheoTheo!), Theo accepted him as his pet and started calling him TheoTheo. Gus continued to comment on his size. "Mum, I think TheoTheoTheo is shrinking!"

I did not bond with this new fish. In a letter Gus dictated to me today he commented that TheoTheoTheo was swimming funny and had stopped, and it didn't occur to me that something might be wrong. I thought he was talking about the old TheoTheoTheo. So confusing.

So for now it is just us and Root-ee. He seems pretty hardy. Knock on wood.

adieu, theotheotheo

 
TheoTheo Couscous

TheoTheoTheo, the beloved beta fish of Theo, bit the dust yesterday. He looked ill when we went down for breakfast, and I swear he was pleading for me to help him, but there was nothing I could do. It was awful.

Since we only had him for four days, I thought it better to just replace him than to explain to Theo that he died. I don't want them thinking when they get a pet it is going to die in a few days. So Jonathan picked up a new red beta on his way home from work. A very small, very red beta. It was the largest one they had. Jonathan felt sure the boys would know it was not the same fish. I was considering telling them it was a replacement. At dinner Gus did ask me if we cook Root-ee and TheoTheoTheo for supper some night, so he would probably be okay. But poor Theo. It was his namesake.

So this morning we go down to the kitchen, Theo walks over to his fish bowl and says, "Good morning TheoTheoTheo. Hey! That's not TheoTheoTheo!" Hmmmmm . . .

This evening while we were getting ready for supper Gus asked "Mum, how did Theo's fish get redder and smaller?"

And then Theo heard Gus calling the fish TheoTheoTheo, and he said "That's Couscous."

So Theo seems to have accepted that TheoTheoTheo has been mysteriously replaced by Couscous, but I am thinking we will have to come clean tomorrow before Gus starts worrying that he himself may shrink and change colors while sleeping. His imagination has been a little wild lately.

pets

A few weeks ago Gus said to Grandma, "I'm almost four and I don't have a pet." So pet options were discussed (actually I think only fish were discussed) and today two fish arrived, courtesy of Grandma and PopPop, just in time for Gus's 4th birthday party.

 
Gus admiring his blue beta fish, Root-ee Mooty Schoenfeld. ???

 
Theo named his red beta Theo-Theo-Theo. Glad to know Theo likes his name.

Thanks Grandma and PopPop!