Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Reptileman or why I sat in the back of the room...

One of the moms in my homeschooling group was amazing enough to set up a visit from Reptileman for our homeschoolers. Look, anyone who runs something called the Serpentarium and claims 2-headed turtles and albino alligators is all right with my kids. The venue and the crowd were small: a meeting room at the local library and participants limited to 100.

What does that mean to you? It means you get to be much closer to the reptiles than you might otherwise be. (Yippee?) In addition to a tortoise that would live 300 years, there were snacks and alligators, Gila monsters and lizards, too. My kids both held (voluntarily!) the baby alligator (3 feet, some baby). They were not at all deterred by the fact that it peed on Reptileman. They patted the tortoise and felt the skin of Gila monster. The best photo, however, was one that included a partially-albino Burmese python. Again, not full grown...it was only about 9 feet long and took 7 children to hold.


Buttercup doesn't quite know what to make of the entire thing, does she?

Reptileman is based out of Western Washington, just north of Seattle, so if you, too, would like to get up close and personal with reptiles, head out to the Serpentarium yourself.

P.S. Did I mention that the kids have upped the pressure on us for a Seattle trip? Do you think Superman could handle the Serpentarium while I head to Ikea and Trader Joe's with Nan? We could all meet up at Sonic after their thrilling visit. They'd be happy, I'd be happy and Nan would be happy because we'd be heading to Sonic ;).

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Hooray Reptileman. I have to admit, I'm with the kids. If I was there I would probably have hip checked a 4 year old to get at the baby alligator. I'm like that I can't help it. {Well except for hip checking the kid I wouldn't do that, I would want to, but I wouldn't actually do it. In fact my Friday photo will prove it to you. But you will have to wait and see.

Andrea said...

WOW...what an adventure. My boys would have loved this when they were young. They would still love it, now. Homeschooling has been a wonderful experience.
Blessings, andrea

DarcyLee said...

I would be sitting in the back of the room too. About the only thing I'd be interested in is the tortoise.

momstheword said...

Boy, that guy gets around!!!! I actually got to hold one around my neck, well, me and a couple of others.

Did he put the gator to "sleep?" That one is cool.

Oh, IKEA and Sonic (opposite directions but who cares), still sounds fun!!!!!

momstheword said...

BTW, Do you have a Sonic over there?

Mamí♥Picture said...

106) Wow!!!

Erin said...

Yes, we have a Sonic, but I haven't been...and, yes, he put the alligator to "sleep" and it was really cool. Andrea, you're right...homeschooling has been such a blessing. As for all of you all who'd be in line to hold the animals would NOT have to push by me to do it.

Tricia said...

Brings back memories! I had a Columbia red-tailed boa for years. I got it as a baby (the size of a pencil) and had to sell him when he got so big he took over my dining room. I still regret that decision...should have made the room bigger! So I'm with reptile man - I love snakes! And tortoises too. Do you remember my CA desert tortoise, Mary Elizabeth? Dottie's dog, Dexter, brought her life to a tragic end...okay, I can do without THAT memory :(

Anonymous said...

I am sorry, but snake blog are supposed to come with huge warnings. Shudder. I hate snakes. And lizards. Give me any other animal and I am fine, but not reptiles.