Mr. Jingle - Just One of the Family

After our short, sad experience with Strawberry the Guinea pig, I was apprehensive about getting another pet. The kids, of course, had no apprehension whatsoever about getting a new pet.

Its now a little over 2 months since Mr. Jingle joined our family and I have to say I can't imagine life without him. 

Each week he gets more and more friendly and loves being with the family. This week his newest feat has been coming up on the couch and joining us while we are watching TV in the evening. Jingle is more characteristic of a cat or dog that a bunny.

The picture above was taken about 2 weeks ago. I love how he blends in with the table and looks like a statue. Up until this day, the only furniture Mr. Jingle had hopped up on has been the kids beds.  

Dave took this picture of Jingle when he was downstairs playing with the kids. There was no coffee in the cup but we are encouraging him to understand the importance of coffee to his adult family members.

Mr. Jingle was sulking in the corner after we took him to the pet store to have his nails clipped. He pouted for about a half hour. 

Hiding again! The kids and I searched the house for Mr. Jingle. It took us quite a while before we found him hiding behind the "welcome" plate.

I love this picture of Jingle. To me it is the epitome of him being like a little puppy laying by the side of the couch relaxing.  

As I type this post, Mr. Jingle is sitting next to Dave on the couch as we watch a movie.  Like I said this is no ordinary bunny and we love him even more because of it.  

Bunny Raid

Last week, we were able to start feeding Jingle veggies. He is now one very HAPPY bunny!!

The other night we were all upstairs for a quick moment leaving Jingle alone downstairs. Prior to our being upstairs, Dave had taken down a bowl of veggies he was going to Jingle and put it on the stairs just on the other side of our makeshift stair barrier.  Jingle loves climbing the stairs!!  

Well, that little bunny's nose when into overdrive smelling those sweet veggies. When Dave went to go downstairs, this is how he found Jingle. Jingle had knocked down the "barrier" to get to his yummy treat.  

One Happy Bunny

Jingle has been with us now for a month and we are loving our little pet.  

Yesterday, we finally were able to introduce fresh veggies to our little bunny.  Emily had the honor of feeding Jingle his first "petite" carrot. At first, he didn't seem interested but after that first taste he was hooked. Emily fed him for a little while but then we put the carrot on a skewer system where he could nibble the carrot at his liking. He liked it for sure!!! 

Tonight, he was given a little bit of baby spinach. Dave said he gobbled that  up faster than the carrot.  

So happy our little bunny is happy and healthy!!

Jingle is a great addition to our family. Oh, and I promise I won't post a picture of every new veggie he tries but you have to admit he is so cute eating his veggies!

One Happy Jingle

I would have to say that getting Jingle has been the best pet choice we've made. Okay, we've only made two pet choices and that includes Jingle but since he's come home we've so enjoyed him as an addition to the family.

Jingle will be with us 3 weeks tomorrow. In those 3 weeks, we have grown to love him and he is loving life as a Wessel. It was a little bit of an adjustment when the kids headed back to school after break but we've come up with a routine that seems to make everyone, but mostly Jingle, very happy.

In the morning, Jingle gets fed in his "home" cage which is in Emily's room. Around 9:30, I let Jingle out and he "tours" Emily and Matt's room under my supervision. I love watching him hopping around from room to room. The rest of his morning and afternoon are spent in his "home".  Then when the kids come home, he gets "free time" in the basement while the kids do their homework and veg for the night. We have a fence/corral system so we keep him from getting into any dangerous areas or places out of our reach.  

Jingle's favorite day is Saturday.  Today he has been downstairs most of the day hopping freely.  I took this picture a little while ago and you can see by his positioning he is one very relaxed bunny.

What is hilarious is that the basement ended up divided as the bunny area and the play area. The kid's play area turned into the bigger mess of the day.

When we first met Jingle at the pet store, they told us he was a very calm and personable bunny. We were praying that would stay true and it has. He is a wonderful addition to our little family.  

Corralling the Bunny

It turns out our bunny, Jingle, is a very friendly little guy.

To make him more at home, we wanted to give him a little more room than his cage but knew it would be best to give him some boundaries.  So, after doing a little Internet research, Dave went out and bought this little "corral" for him. The kids being inside just makes me laugh.  I thought we were through with "play pens" a long time ago but what is old became new again in a whole new dynamic.  

These pictures were taken almost a week after Jingle came to live with us. 

Now, he has had to adjust to a whole new routine with the kids back in school. Emily feeds him in the morning and then around 9:30/10 I let him out for a few minutes where he tours both Emily and Matt's rooms. Then he is in his cage until the kids get home from school. Jingle then joins them downstairs in his corral for homework and play time.  

I have to tell you he is the sweetest little bunny and the kids just love him.

Matt wanted him to climb up the little ramp....Jingle wasn't interested.

A little hay always makes him a happy bunny.  

Welcome Strawberry

Today was GPD - Guinea Pig Day.

We have been talking with the kids about getting a guinea pig for a while now. Having planned quite some time ago to be away last weekend, we told the kids that when we got back from this "vacation" we would go ahead and get it.

It was decided that Saturday (today) we would go and get their first pet.

Tuesday night while I was at a Bible study Dave and the kids went and got the cage and other needs for her home. Thursday night Matt and Dave assembled the cage.

After Tball practice, we headed to the one PetSmart store that sells female guinea pigs (all the others sell males). Sadly, they didn't have any and wouldn't have them until Thursday. The kids were disappointed. We came home to make a few calls and found 3 females at a local PetCo.

We headed there and there she was - Strawberry Oreo Wessel. The "oreo" was decided due to her look of brown on both ends and white in the middle. The kids got to pet her then she was put into her box and brought home.

Strawberry has to be in her cage for a day or so so she can get use to her new surroundings. The kids haven't left the basement since she came home except to bathe. Every now and then I hear them talking to her and I did hear Matt reading her a story.

I think Strawberry is going to be a good fit into the family!!! :)

Time for a Pet???? Hmmmmm

I have to say that Emily and Matt have been very good about our not having a pet but their patience is starting to wear thin.

We've been able to put it off citing different reasons and life circumstances but I think they've worn us down. One thing we have come to agreement on is what kind of pet we can get - a Guinea pig. Thankfully my childhood experience with rodent pets - mice, hamsters and gerbils - has made me okay with this pet option.

This afternoon while I had my afternoon of quiet Dave took the kids to get my car washed which also turned into a pet recognizance mission. They ended up at PetSmart and got all the info on what we would need and how much it would cost. Too funny!!!

Dave and I have decided that around mid March we will be bringing their dream of a pet home for them to enjoy.

Oh here is a funny thing..... earlier today Dave asked if we did get a Guniea pig who would clean the cage out with the yucky droppings both kids chimed in their answer - "mom". Oh, they have so much to learn!!