I took these photos when we were visiting my parents in August. While out picking blackberries, we spotted several snakes slithering through the bushes. Eeeek. I don't like creepy crawlies, or creepy slitherers. I didn't get this from my mom, who is apparently unafraid of insects and reptiles. Josh and I owned three iguanas when we were first married and still in college, and it took me weeks to even be able to hold one without freaking out. When we brought them home with us at Christmas, my mom took to them immediately and let them crawl right up her arms. On several occasions, we've let Chloe keep a pet mouse obtained from the pet store for a few days. She lovingly makes a mouse house for it, complete with bedding and barbie doll couches, and talks soothingly to it at night before we "set it free" at the creek - I figure this way at least it has a shot at life, since it would have been purchased for snake feed by someone else otherwise. Ireland loves exploring the outdoors and finding all sorts of exotic looking insects. I'm trying not to pass my fear on to my girls, so I do my best to encourage their exploration by keeping the frantic pitch of my voice to a minimum when they're, say, holding SNAKES. When I'm asked if I want to take a turn, I politely decline in favor of taking the pictures.
