"African Greys are highly intelligent and need toys to keep them busy. Look for educational childrens' toys to challenge your parrot." ~ Random Parrot Blog
Yes, we really did this.
I haven't stepped into a Toys R Us in about 18 years. Our first observation is how much smaller the store is now; Amazon's affect on Main Street shopping. Since the big box stores severely affected the small independent shops it's hard to generate sympathy, but it is interesting to see how our shopping habits affect real life. I finally found the educational toys, buried in the back, past all the video games. Also, new to me, it would appear that every freaking toy now makes a sound when touched. Since John loves to futz with all the toys we left a cacophony of noise in our wake. I thought they were going to ask us to leave. Even the kids were giving us weird looks.
We really were here for a bird. A fairly unpleasant bird. I wouldn't have been buying my kids a toy if they exhibited the same behavior. I must be getting soft in my old age.
After a lot of nostalgic browsing we got a cute toy that will, no doubt, teach Gandalf to spell, count, sing, and learn colors. Perhaps I can get him to say hello first.
I think I really need a grandchild.
So here it is Ella the Elephant. Gandalf did what most of our kids do when presented with a new toy. Played with it for about three minutes and then spent a half an hour chewing on the box it was packaged in. He really is like a two year old. In that sense Random Parrot Blogs do not lie.