Backyard Snakes

::::WARNING:  This post contains (lots of) photos of (tiny) snakes::::

It all started one summer day when Derek cleaned up a brush pile that the previous owners left in the corner of the yard.

As Derek and the boys hauled the branches and debris away, they found three baby snakes.

So, naturally, they caught them and put them in a tub. 

Where they could carefully observe them.

It didn't take long at.all. before they were picking them up...

 and handling them.

Constantly.

And soon these little slithery things had been named.

"Happy", "Madness" & "Savage".   That was the one that kept striking at them!

Owen wanted in on it too...  Miles was impressed!

 They were so happy about these little snakes.

 One for each of them to hold.

Taking photos was the closest I got to them.

Sadly, for the boys, we requested the return them to the wild after a couple days.

Though it didn't take long for Miles to find another itty bitty one!

Snake handling became a daily occurrence once he discovered they were under the downspout drain.

I allowed this, but asked that they not keep them...  

and DO NOT bring them in the house.

They're so happy about these gross little things!

 The big boys caught one on the front porch one morning before school and showed Owen through the window. 

Owen found this book at the library and wanted to read it EVERY day. 

He's all in with this snake thing... as you can see.  Not even scared.

Speaking of in...  Derek was taking the trash to the curb on trash day and found a little snake in the garage stuck to some packing tape on a box.  He brought it IN THE HOUSE to show everyone.  My screaming was his first indicator that I didn't approve!   Miles helped unstick the little guy and let him go.   A snake is a snake to matter how small.  Ick.  And with all theses babies, there are Mamas around somewhere, right?!  Thankfully, we haven't run across them. 

My boys are now trying to convince us that they need an actual pet snake. 
In the house.  In a tank, but in the house.  I'm not so sure.