I put it in the pool or sandbox or with the toys when I don't want to play with it, so it is out of the way, but blends in with a "natural" setting for it.

I keep mine in the corner of the sandbox so I won't keep thinking it's a bug to collect. If I could lose it I probably would.

Is there any way to get rid of the ball?

Yes, I managed to lose all of mine. I think it had to do with pausing the game for awhile while the ball was laying around the house (maybe not pausing the game and just leaving the ball laying around, I don't really remember it's been so long). When I went to pick it up, it disappeared.

You could keep it in the toolbox, like I do. ^^

Hey Joine, how do you get it IN the toolbox? I tried to put it in and it just pops around the workshop.

I'm guessing she means the toolbox on the side of the screen. The one that you put groceries and things in when you buy them.

Ohhhhhh, THAT toolbox! No wonder I couldn't get it in.

BTW, Does anyone currently have a rainbow girl?
I'm hoping to get one maybe by adoption or marriage. Is there a combination of parents that will increase the chances of having one by birth?

I think the confusion is due to the Tool Tray being called a Toolbox. The game calls it a Tool Tray (when mine is full and I try to buy another item).

I have a rainbow girl. The first one married Boone in the 25th generation and I've kept it going generation after generation. We're now in the 29th generation.

Pairing the last 3 heads on the head chart seem to produce more rainbow-haired girls/spikey-haired boys. The 4th head from the bottom combined with the last head on the bottom will sometimes produce rainbow-haired girls/spikey-haired boys.

Here's a pic of the Family Tree for Generations 25-29:

So cool! I love the family tree, Now I will look out for any of the last three. I actually had a proposal from the spikey hair boy a early in the game but I didn't take him (big mistake). New goal; rainbow girl or spikey boy.

Anyone ever had a rare birth of either of these two?

Somewhere in the Big Fish forums it's mentioned that these people--unlike the Villagers--can't starve: They feed themselves whenever necessary. (I wouldn't bet on "whenever desirable", but I haven't searched these forums extensively.)