Crickets for Lunch

Today we went on a homeschool field trip to a cool reptile store. Store is an understatement. Although we viewed just a small fraction of the thousand-plus animals living there, we enjoyed learning interesting facts about some of God's fascinating creatures.

One astonishing observation--they are expensive! I spotted a Blue Tongue Skink selling for $1,499. And that doesn't count his room and board!

During the live demo, the kids were able to handle a few choice specimens. At first, Elizabeth and Daniel were content to watch their older brother interact with the creatures. Soon they decided to join in the fun.


A Bearded Dragon checks out the kids.


Elizabeth and Daniel bravely handle an Albino California
King Snake.


Hello, Mr. Salvator Water Monitor. Pleased to make
your aquaintance.

I spotted a box of genuine python eggshells selling for $4 each. Thinking he might want to observe one closely at home, I asked Jonathan, "Would you like to buy one of these?" He replied, "Mooommm, no way!" Instead, he bought a $2 bag of live crickets to feed the turtles in the pond.


Here...little turtle. Here...turtle, turtle, turtle!

As far as we can tell, the turtles thoroughly enjoyed their cricket lunch. I'm glad we went for sushi instead!

At bedtime we read one of our favorite reptile books, The Salamandar Room. It's a delightful story about a boy who creates a natural habitat for a salamandar in his bedroom. He invites crickets, frogs and birds to join his menagerie and plants trees next to his bed. Elizabeth thought a reptile habitat in her bedroom was an exciting possibility. As she nodded off to sleep, she decided to build one herself very soon.

"And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1: 25.