Cuteness in a Cage

okay I'm starting this one way off track. Every time I start a new entry I usually start by typing "Isn't it funny" .. no joke, I type that almost every time and I am not sure why. I always end up deleting it and starting over because I quickly read "isn't it funny" and think about what I want to write next and it isn't funny, I don't even type it to say it like "isn't it funny when you snort milk out of your nose?" its more like a "isn't it funny the things we take for advantage". But for that to really stick as an impact statement then it isn't funny. Isn't it funny the silly little habits we have that half of the time we don't even notice?

Sparky and Cutie, that is their names. My first meeting with them was because as a single parent working full time I wanted to feel involved in my children's class at some level. At first my intentions were solely to not look like a flake parent, but I love them, they are family. Sparky and Cutie are gerbil's. Pets to Mrs. Russel's 1st/2nd grade class. Mrs. Russel is an awesome, awesome teacher. Her husband is not a fan of little creatures so come the holidays and breaks through out school Mrs. Russel looks for volunteers to take care of Sparky and Cutie. Our first time volunteering was last summer. I wasn't sure what I was suppose to do with these guys, but just like being a mom for the first time... it comes to you.
Last summer I was sent home with a phone number and a warning. Gerbil life expectancy is not a long one at all, and they could potentially pass away, if that was to happen I would call her and she would go to the pet store with my boys and they would pick out a new sparky and cutie. Well guess what, we still have the original version and now that we are in our 2nd year of bringing them into our home, watching, feeding and playing with them... I am going to be devastated if anything happens to them. I am already dreading that they will be going back to class and wont be there when I come through my front door. Almost every night I go home and open up their cage door, they peek their heads out and I usually dote a treat, they sniff my hand and outside the cage door like it is a different world. They are the cutest little guys ever and have found a place in my heart. I love their personalities.
I went to the pet store last night to pick up more food for my furry friends and left my mom and boys in the car, because I was going to make a quick trip in and out...and while I had a hard time locating the food. I admittingly took a little bit longer because I was looking at the birds, fish and other animals. It would be so fun to have some of those too. I don't want to go crazy with pets in my house, but they are just cool creatures.
If you have a child that is asking for a pet...start small. Gerbils are inexpensive, they really are not difficult to take care of and feed them your empty toilet paper rolls and watch. It is so cute to watch them turn it into bedding!