Starbucks, Snakes and Swimming

Joe, Samuel, Luke and I went for a run/walk to Starbucks this morning... very nice! We enjoyed getting out into the morning air and it felt good to get some exercise in... We saw bunnies, birds, dogs and a peacock.

Then when we got back, things got a bit crazy. Kendra had been sitting out on a lounge chair under the patio shade, as we were getting ready to "hit the pool." We got our swim clothes on and Samuel said he wanted to put the float-thing in the water. So I said "sure." As he was dragging it into the pool, we heard a very loud HISS... I stopped everything, looked over and saw that a rattle snake was about 1 foot from him, coiled up. I can't even remember how it all played out exactly (it was very surreal, and I am thanking God for Samuel's little angel's today.) Samuel did all the right things and we told him to stop and get in the house ASAP. Baby Luke was roaming around with Joe and we all rushed inside and watched the snake move slowly across the patio and eventually into a snake hole. Man... what do you even say? Kendra had been sitting RIGHT on top of it and Samuel had been within striking distance...

Anyway - we moved on and eventually got into the pool and have enjoyed our day so far! But Samuel now knows to get right into the house if he hears anything like a HISS. Crazy... crazy...