A few years ago, after an overnight visit from my sister’s children, we found a little plastic green frog left behind. Usually we would just create a little pile of things that were left behind to give to her next time we got together. For whatever odd reason, however, this time we kept the frog and a game began. I wish I could remember the way it all started but I can pretty much guess it was Chardonnay induced.
Anyhow we began taking turns hiding the little frog in either the kitchen or attached family room. The rules were that it had to be in one of those two rooms only, and always in plain sight. You just wouldn’t believe how entertaining this turned out to be. Sometimes it would take you days to find it, only to be sitting on the couch one night, your eyes drift somewhere and BAM, there it is, gracefully perched on the leaf of a plant.
When our 18 year old niece moved in with us, during her first year of college, she even joined in. This upped the fun crazily, as it added a third person’s ideas on where to hide it. Every time her boyfriend came to visit he would walk straight to the kitchen and try to find it immediately. These are all grown people enjoying finding a little plastic frog.
The next time my little 3 year old niece came to stay she spotted the frog and asked to play with it. Um, eh, that frog? That frog that Uncle Kyle and I are having endless hours of entertainment hiding from each other? Can you believe how hard it was for me to let her play with this little frog? I watched her like a hawk, fearing she’d put it somewhere and we’d never find it again. You’d think I was letting her hold my wedding ring or something. God no, don’t let her lose our little frog!! I finally distracted her with a Barbie and took the frog and put it in my pocket. Immature yes, but hey, I realize my insanity.
The kicker occurred when we went on a cruise last year. At the last minute I decided to grab the frog and threw him in my purse. At one point, in our cabin, I set it out on one of the ledges and waited. Later that night I was in the bathroom, getting ready, and I heard Kyle laugh out loud and yell to me that he found it. It makes me smile to even think about it. It’s lucky when you find something so simple in life that can entertain you so much.
I’ve included a picture of the frog, so you can see how cute and small it is, along with one of my more clever hiding places.
And I do know what a lot of you are thinking. Damn these people need an Xbox.
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