Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia!

A few months ago, my youngest, the Coopster, had a Christmas festival at school. Before we left, we visited the creepy guy in the Santa Claus suit...because let's face, those Santa's are a bit creepy...hence exhibit one...

Who knows what that crazy Santa is looking at...anyways...Santa asked the Coopster the key question..."What do you want for Christmas this year?"  Cooper looked him straight in the eye and said, "a Cha-cha-cha-chia~!" with the full-song and all. After a not-so-Santa-like chuckle, he said that's the first time he's heard that one, but also said he'd see what his elves could do, and then sent him on his way.

Thus began the Chia pet frenzy.

"Mommy, Santa said he'd get me a Chia pet. He did, he did! and I want a Scooby Doo one like on the commercial and I can make Scooby Doo have hair and it'll be so funny. (insert evil Coopster laugh)"

At our house, "Santa" comes to visit us on Christmas Eve during our Chraesy Christmas gathering and low and behold...guess what Santa got him...

Sorry, he was so excited I couldn't get a clear, focused picture.

It was after we got the Chia Scooby Doo pet out of the box before I realized how much of a hassle this "pet" was going to be.  It's not like you have a real planter and put seeds and dirt and keep it watered and in fresh light and such. No, it's a lot more mess than that. First you have submerge the planter in water for a full hour. Do you know how long an hour is to a 5 year old?!? That's at least 10, "has it been an hour yet?" questions. And while the planter soaks for an hour, the seeds have to soak for an hour too. Until they come out looking something like this...

The seeds have the look and gel-like consistency of frog eggs. Don't believe me?  Here's a closer look...

Yes...it's really that gross. Then you have smother those egg-like seeds onto the freshly submerged Chia planter. But using a spatula isn't enough. You have to get those gel-eggs in the grooves of the Scooby head, which requires a hands-on process, and because of their consistency, they WOULDN'T STAY IN THE GROOVES! They only gooped up and slid around and then dropped into the plastic container, one that they of course don't show on TV. The end result was this...

And although this was Coopster's ultimate Christmas wish, he didn't touch the thing. He wasn't a fan of frog eggs either.

Now that the Chia planter was set, it really didn't take much care, except 1) to keep it near a light source, but not in direct light, 2) empty the plastic drainer tray daily, and 3) refill the water in the planter daily.

And the advertisement that says it'll have a full coat in 1-2 weeks? It's the absolute truth.

This is Day Three - sprouts already!

Don't see that "ew, this is gross face" anymore!

Day 6 - Sprouts have shot out already.

At 10 days growth

At a full 2 weeks

As you can probably guess, the Coopster was tired of posing with his Chia pet after the first couple of days. He liked seeing it grow, but it wasn't as cool after the novelty wore off. Scooby lasted a full month before his hair started wilting. I drained the water out, gave it a day for all the leaves to dry up and die. Of course, it was then that the Coopster was paying attention and immediately wanted Scooby to have another set of hair.

I have to say that despite the grossness and plastic tray monstrosity, the Chia pet was a success. Coopster got to learn about seeds and growth cycles and even a bit patience. And next time, he'll get to learn how to apply those seeds on his own, while I sit back and giggle and take pictures.

Thanks Creepy Santa!