Where's a 14-Legged Isopod When You Need One?

After dinner tonight, we decide the weather is much too nice to stay indoors. Belle suggests a Roly Poly Hunt. "Huh?" I respond. "You know...hunt for roly polies! It'll be fun!"

As we walk, the are literally NO roly polies around...where there are usually a multitude and you have to dodge them in order not to smash them. Belle starts getting upset at the prospect of finding zero roly polies and gets sad. Still, she keeps looking in every nook and cranny.

We see all kinds of other things...

A squirrel.


A weird looking spider.

Even a blue jay (which I did not get a picture of, but am pretty sure it was 'my friend' the bluejay who visits me every day, several times a day in our backyard.

Then finally, it happened and guess whose face lit up. Over a roly poly.

So I had to know why this all started...

Me: Sweetie, why did you want to find one so bad that it upset you?

Belle: Because mommy I had a down-in-the-dumps kinda day. I miss the days of holding a roly poly and how it tickles my hand and makes me smile and laugh.

Me: I thought you said you had a good day.

Belle: Well, I did mostly but Susie (not her real name!) was mean to me and laughed when I didn't know the answer to one of the math problems she knew the answer to.

Me: Ohhhh...I'm sorry that happened. Do you want help with the math problem?

Belle: Noooooo! I have my roly poly now!

Me: Okayyyyyyyy....

Belle: Can I keep it?

Me: For tonight, but then we should probably let it go. It likes roaming around in the dirt and grass.

Belle: Oh no! It has a family doesn't it?!

Me: Probably did when it was born, but I don't think roly polies really travel around together.

Belle: Yes they do! I've got to let it go! Stop!!!!!!

The release.

She told it goodbye, to go find it's family and to have a fun night.

LOVE. THAT. GIRL. TO. BITS.