The Snake Wrangler

PART 1: The Suprise On the morning of Memorial Day, I buckled my happy children in their car seats and started to grab my keys when I saw this sight just behind the car, trying to slither his way into the garage. As per my norm, I remained very calm, told the kids to stay in the car, and shooed him away with a broom.

Okay, so we all know that's a crock of crap. What really happened is that I screamed at Chad at the top of my lungs, "Big black snake in the driveway!! Big black snake in the driveway!!"

Hearing this call to action, The Crocodile Hunter of the Southeast almost fell over himself in excitement rushing to the scene. It was just a matter of seconds before he began poking and prodding this unwelcome visitor with our big blue broom.

Even though he managed to piss him off a bit, he had this guy stretched out on his Snake Pole and out in the woods in no time.

PART 2: This One's Not Moving

Still giddy with excitement over our morning surprise, another snake is spotted just hours later in the front yard. "Get the camera!" I hear, "there's another one!"

After some intense poking, we realized that this guy had already shuffled off the mortal coil. It took a minute for Cameron to be convinced, but finally he bent down and touched

the lifeless one.

Much to my pure horror, Hunter rushed right in and picked up the legless wonder like it was no big deal.

Not too impressed, Jackie jumped right in and copped a feel as well. Notice the lack of Leigh in these pictures: like her snakeophobic Mommy, she wanted no part of this.

Part 3: Snake in a Drain

As if we hadn't had enough excitement in one day, Chad spotted a third snake while mowing the yard. By the time I got there with my camera, he had slithered down down a drain. Believing this to be a great entertainment opportunity, the Wrangler secured the cover in order to keep him captive until the kids woke up from their nap. When naps were done, we all gathered around for the big event.

Within seconds of lifting the cover, Snake-in-A-Drain reared his slimy head.

Proving himself feistier than his morning counterpart, he was not an easy conquest for the Snake Wrangler. In fact, Mrs. Wrangler became quite anxious that we were going to be nursing a snake bite that afternoon.

Finallly in the dumper, he slithered out and re-engaged in battle several times.

But after a few more failed escape attempts, he finally settled down and succumbed to his inevitable relocation.

PART 4: Enough Already

And yes, that is the Snake Wrangler relocating Snake #4 of the day. Needless to say, there will be no barefooting in our front yard for a while.

Time Out for Clifford

We walked up on Leigh reading the Riot Act to Clifford this weekend. After putting him on the steps in Time Out, we caught her shaking that little finger and asking him, "Do you understand me?"

Before Clifford's Time Out was officially over, she realized it would be infinitely more fun to use him as a vehicle for smacking Hunter in the head.

Pre-K Graduation

Today Hunter graduated from the extended day program at his school. He got to walk up when his name was called, shake the director's hand, and receive his diploma. When I unrolled it and read it to him, he looked kind of puzzled and asked me, "What did I do?"

When I offered to frame his diploma so he could hang it in his room, he respectfully declined. He was, however, very interested in testing its value as a telescope...

...or as a pair of binoculars.

Happy Memorial Day

In keeping with the MessiPaul holiday tradition, Memorial Day was honored with big hats, festive napkins, creative cosmetics, and lots of sugar.

Tractors with Terry

This weekend, one of my dearest California buddies, Terry, was in town from San Diego to visit her family in Sanford. We got to join her at a Weenie Roast on Saturday night at her Dad's house. The kids were speechless at her father's collection of old John Deere tractors, some dating back to the 1920s, and all a wee bit bigger than their own Daddy's tractor.

While Leigh tried out the giant rocking chair, Hunter checked out Mr. Moore's toy tractor collection.

His first weenie roast ever, Hunter had a ball roasting his supper over the fire.

Terry also introduced S'mores to the kids, who thought they were the bomb. After a few bites, Hunter proudly exclaimed that "These are incredible! I'm going to eat one of these every week."

One Special Birthday Card

While we were finishing dinner, I thought it was a good idea to have Jackie & Hunter sign Dee's birthday card in our office (so that it would be a surprise). I should have been suspicious when they failed to reappear within a few minutes. Little did we know what a special card was in the making.

Here Jackie explains hers & Hunter's artwork on Dee's birthday card. The highlights were the PeePee they drew on SpongeBob and the toots they drew coming out of his SpongeButt.

As you can see, this was some HILARIOUS, knee-slapping stuff. We thought they were going to bust a seam.