Missing...

Sunday I took the minions and their cousins to the country. We drew water from the old well, hiked, played in the fort, and explored. 

When we got down to the little cabin on the property I crouched down underneath the house to see if I could see anything interesting.

How many trips to the emergency room have been precipatated by someone just trying to see if they could see anything interesting, I wonder.

This is what I saw:

A very large snakeskin tucked up amongst the beams of the house.

It was one of those blasted moments where I really needed another grown up to be around.

You see...

I needed to get that snake skin. It was intact. It was huge. The kids really needed to see it. I wanted it for Cousin's Camp.

And yet...

Who the heck wants to stick their hand under a house and pull a snake skin out?

Ick factor aside I reached in and began to gently tug. 

It did not come easy! That thing was wedged in tight. 

"Oh, quit whining and get the snake skin Aunt Paula."

"Mom is scared. That's hilarious."

After I pulled it out it we were surprised to see that it was over five feet long. 

It was in almost perfect condition. 

As ghastly as this is you could actually see where the eyes had been.

The eyes!

It was beyond creepy. 

But, I was glad I got it. 

When we got back in the car I kept expecting the snake skin to move or something. 

At one point it slipped off the car seat and I said "Oh no! It fell! Get it, quick!"

My nephew smirked at me and said:

"I don't think it's going anywhere."

Punk.

Of course, the question that we are all asking is...

Where's the dang snake? I mean...It was over five feet in it's old skin so it must be even bigger now. 

So...whose even more excited about Cousin's Camp now?!