Do you guys want goldfish instead?

So to try to encourage Lillian to eat her dinner without whining, we instituted a program where if you ate your dinner for a month without complaints, you got taken out by Dad for a Blizzard.  The first month, Roland and Molly went, and Lillian stayed home with me.  (At first she thought we were offering a 'lizard')  Lillian was doing much better the second month, and Dad asked the big kids if they'd rather we get them fish instead.  They answered yes with excitement.

We went to Walmart--incidentally, does anyone else wonder, like Wesley and I recently did, where the world's supply of feeder goldfish at Walmart come from?  Where are they bred, how are they transported?  They must be a loss leader, but is there a giant milk truck that puts a hose into each walmart, spraying out feeder goldfish?

Walmart had no fish, just empty tanks filled with water.

So we tried another store, near Walmart.  That pet supply did not carry fish.  It was pouring, and we were really starting to get wet going in and out of stores, all 7 of us.  They suggested Petco.  I thought 'I'm not driving across town for these stupid fish!  We tried the pet supply near our house.  No.  They also suggested Petco, and told me where it was.  Of course...there is a new petco, next to trader joe's, a store I frequent weekly.  Did I feel smart!

The kind associate chased down the particular fish our three oldest wanted.  We also chose for Jack and Anthony.

Lillian's fish is named George, after a curious little monkey.  Roland chose the name 'Copper'.

Molly's fish is named 'Conrad', after the character 'Conrad Birdie' in her upcoming show.  We named Jack's fish 'Blue' after his favorite animated puppy, and we named Anthony's 'Smiley', since that is one of his favorite things.

Welcome to the house, fish.  Good luck to you!