Lauren was out sweeping the front porch when she found this huge Praying Mantis!  She freaked out and I thought it would be a great idea to catch it and keep it in the school room.  Living science. ya' know?  So after many loud screams (mostly from the girls, but a few from me too), I caught the little booger and put him in a container.

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As scared as the girls were at first, within just a short time they had named him "Herby".  (I know he was a he because males have 8 sections in their abdomens, females only have 6.  See I learned something already.)  Anyway, the girls took a liking to Herby and were worried about leaving him by himself in the dark schoolroom at night.  I convinced them that he is used to being by himself and he would really be ok.  Tatum thanked Jesus for Herby that night at bedtime.

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The next morning the girls woke and went right to Herby.  Lauren even was brave enough to try to hold him.  Shortly before lunch I walked in the schoolroom and noticed that Herby was not in his container.  Ack!!  I'm just fine with a contained Mantid in my house, I am not so ok with one that is walking freely and could, like, crawl on me when I'm not expecting it.  So we searched for him and could not find him anywhere.  And then about an hour later I saw him...

He was hiding in the blinds..

Yuck!  So the girls and I talked about the fact that he wants to go outside and we ended up letting him go.  Now for the saddest part of the story...  Lauren bawled her eyes out.  I mean sobbed.  But it wasn't just because of Herby, she just wants a pet.  We don't have any pets because honestly, Jeremy and I are just not animal people.  I don't like the thought of animals running around my house.  Some of our friends have animals and they are sweet and everything, we are just not into that.  BUT.. when my almost 8 year old daughter LOVES animals and has been begging for a pet it pulls at my heartstrings.  So we are now talking about getting them a pet.  My sister in law knows someone who is trying to give away a Guinea Pig that is supposed to be really sweet with children,  so that is a possibility.  We need to start small. :-) We of course haven't told the girls yet.  They would be so excited.  I will let you know.  Hopefully I can handle this...