"Mommy, what's this?"

Yesterday, the boys were playing outside with the girls from next door on our driveway.  I had bubbles going, and they were taking turns swinging, and just having a really fun time.  I was sitting in a lawn chair just enjoying the beautiful day and watching them have fun. 

I was looking to the right at something the girls were doing, when I heard Benjamin, over my left shoulder, say, "Mommy, what's this?"

I whipped my head around to the left and screamed so loud my neighbors 3 houses down could have heard me!  Benjamin was casually holding a squirrel upside down by his tail RIGHT IN MY FACE!!!!!!!  (At the time, I wasn't even sure if the thing was 100% dead, but it was!) 

As I am screaming, Benjamin keeps moving it closer and closer (as if that's even possible) asking me over and over, "Mommy, what's this?"  I hopped out of the chair to get away, and then begin to laugh at the entire situation (I really wish that I had a picture of him so casually holding up that squirrel.), and I start saying, "Benjamin, put it down!  Put it down!  THROW IT DOWN!!!!!  Don't touch it!"  I immediately washed his hands with lots of soap!

My neighbor was walking over, and with her help, we shoveled and bagged the squirrel and put in the garbage for pickup today.  Everytime I thought about Benjamin holding that squirrel right up in my face and me turning around and seeing it, I got tickled.

Needless to say, Benjamin isn't afraid of dead animals!  I can't see the perks now, but surely, that will be a benefit later in life!

The next time we are outside, and I hear, "Mommy, what's this?" I might be a little more cautious of what I am getting into!