dum, da-dum, dum, duuuuuuuum!!

The day came...the dreaded day when Madison would experience her first known pet loss, her Hermit Crab, also known as Ariel (insert tear here).  When Madi asked for her hermit crabs, I told her if Uncle Alex says yes, then she could (certainly expecting him to say no way!), but to my dismay, he said yes - even to two!  Since she has had them, she has been quite a hermit mommy, I tell ya.  She is protective, made them a little gym out of lego's to exercise on (since the instructions said they need their exercise) and even made them a pool.  So, it was disappointing when Alex told me I should go check on the hermit crabs b/c they weren't moving (luckily, Madison was not home and she gave me very good instructions on how to take care of them).  I was dreading when she would come home for me to have the big 'your first pet has died' talk, especially since she did such a great job taking care of it.

The talk went something like this: 
Me: "Madi, you have done such a great job taking care of Ariel and Sebastian, but I think Ariel died."
Madison: "how do you know?"
Me: "she isn't moving..."
Madison goes to get her, comes back and says: " i thought I saw her move but I don't think she did.  I think she is dead.  what should I do with her?"
Me: "well, you could throw it in the trash or find a nice spot in the yard and bury it"
Madison: "I think I'll wait for Uncle Alex and bury it in the yard b/c I don't want it to get crushed in the trash truck"
Me: "great idea!"

Fast forward to when Alex gets home.  Madison gives Ariel a last bath, lays her on a paper towel and waits for Alex to go outside to bury Ariel...when they are finally ready to go out, they go to grab Ariel and....SHE'S GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!  Poor Ariel, she was going to be buried alive.