Sparkly (Rein)deer Poop
When you marry a man who has a degree in zoology but works in sales, there are certain things that you come to expect. He will try to bring home every stray animal he finds (the answer is still NO, Mr. Husband). He will spend entirely too much time looking at various critters at the zoo. And, he will find odd places to go visit odd animals.
Thus, our annual trip to Meder's. There may be other places in town that let you pet reindeer, but Meder's is the only place that lets you pet (rein)deer.
Of course, Meder's claims they are reindeer. Uh-huh, and Santa lives in the storage room in my basement. They are (rein)deer.
This tradition has been going on for several years and very much so predates Alexis. While I find the whole thing a little icky (apparently I paid a little too much attention to PETA for that ten minutes in high school before I realized they were nuts), I go along with it because there are trees there. Lots of trees.
Trees make me happy.
This was the first year that Alexis really understood the Christmas extravaganza at Meder's. It was absolutely no surprise that we learned that trees make her happy, too.
Sign that she is indeed my kid #125: She found the tree covered in creepy dolls. I was very proud.
Sign that she is indeed Mr. Husband's kid #526: She love, love, love, loved feeding the (rein)deer.
If photos could make sound (yeah, I know that is called video--roll with me here), the sound you would hear from that photograph would be pure joy. Alexis giggled and laughed, grinned from ear-to-ear, and gleefully fed that (rein)deer over and over and over. "It tickles!" she would exclaim in between chuckles.
Last night as I was making cookies, Alexis remembered the a little something that she had received in her gift from our daycare. Every year the owner puts together baggies full of "reindeer food." It's nothing more than oatmeal and glitter, but the little note attached to the bag makes it sound like it's a gourmet treat concocted by the elves themselves. Alexis frantically looked around the kitchen in search of her bag of reindeer food. Once she found it, she turned to me with a giant grin and said, "OK, let's go feed the reindeer again!"
I don't know if (rein)deer eat glitter, but I can guarantee I don't plan to stick around and see how that turns out.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Reader Comments (16)
Our school does that too exc . its oatmeal and sprinkles! Fun!
AWWW what fun!
Looks like a good time!
oooooOOOOoooo....sparkles!
My parents got a tree from Meder's, oh probably 15 years ago, now. That was the first I had learned of that place, but think about it often now. I keep meaning to get there. Now that I know that they have (rein)deer, it's DEFINITELY on the list to visit with Abby sometime.
Plus, I need to get some crazy expensive, freaky ornaments... ;-)
That is so awesome! Petting (rein)deer would be cool even if they aren't (rein) deer...exactly.
My husband must have some kind of "zoology" in him too....luckily he doesn't bring home stray animals, but we did get our dog because he gave me a pouting face and said, "But he's cute!"
Now he wants a bulldog, and as I've mentioned before...not happening. Ever.
I'm a 'Burgher from birth, but I had never heard of Meder's until now! (I grew up in the North Hills, so I guess venturing across the river and through the tunnel was too adventurous for my family).
I'm bummed that I've been missing out this long! Thanks for enlightening me!
Maggie got some of that sparkly reindeer food at school too :)
I love the (rein)deer thing. ha
We raised a lot of animals as a kid so I love them too although I am not a zoologist. I have never had the desire to bring home strays though because they cost money and I am cheap. My wife on the other hand would house every dog on earth if she were allowed.
We got 'reindeer' food, too — MAGIC reindeer food no less. I came across it in Flora's backpack, and promptly threw it out. I'm rolling with the Santa thing, but I'm not going out in the snow to pick up MAGIC reindeer food to preserve the illusion.
ciao,
rpm
dammit, now i am gonna have to go to this meder joint. must pet the deer, rein or otherwise. wonder if i could steal the little thing. hmmmm...
sheesh, i am worse than lenny. or was it george?
why do i keep hitting submit?
FYI, I think the glitter would totally make it through the deer.
Long ago, we had neighbors with a bulldog. This thing was so ugly, it made Meg look like Jennifer Love Hewitt. Anyway, it used to eat crayons. Then we'd find all these Technicolor turds in their back yard.
Yes, we have (rein)deer food waiting to be tossed out tonight as well. I figure it will be the gift that pays back as the stupid cats that our one neighbor ignores will likely eat it and then, GEE SWELL, that same cat will poop in our mulch. Glittery fun for me.
*grumble*
What happened to good old-fashioned carrots? It's the only way I can convince my girlies to eat them. ("Rudolph and all the cool reindeer eat them girls. You should too.")