RIP Steve....for real this time

Yes, yesterday morning I went to his cage and just knew.  I put food in, i rattled the cage a little and there was no response from the furry ball buried under the bedding in the corner.

Not wanting to deal with it and knowing Doug would be coming home that night, i just pretended he was sleeping.

It's hilarious, actually, he had turned into a total maniac the last 3 days.  2 weeks really. He figured how to climb out of his cage and he would perch on the back of the piano for days. his fur was getting grayer and his body skinnier.   i put food over there for him and then we'd put him back and he'd get out by squeezing through the bars that were a little bent from little curious fingers.

Finally we pushed the bars back together (were talking micro millimeters here. apparently he can squeeze his body through really tiny spaces.) and taped up the bottom. That's when he went really crazy.  running in his wheel for hours. climbing up the bars, checking and re-checking every tiny space and then he'd go back to the wheel.  over and over he did that for 3 days. then he just went to sleep and never woke up.

So we told the kids and buried him in the front yard.

Owen was sad, but not sad enough to close the computer.  actually, he said he didn't want to see a dead hamster.

Penny and simon were so FUNNY!

Doug was telling them that hamsters only live a short time and that he was very old and then Penny chimed right in and said AND VERY DEAD.

Simon and Penny drew on rocks for his little grave.

pretty cute video. you may have to turn up the volume at the bottom of the youtube screen

Simon: He's sleeping


Penny: No, he's dead, Simon


Simon: Penny, he's dead?


Penny: He's dead. ForEVER Simon

Awww, you were a good little hamster.

Bye bye, Stevie.