Mr. Snail

During our long mild spring there were lots of snails out and about. Hot days would drive them into hiding, but there weren't too many really hot days until June. Lucky for Ben. :) Ben found and made pets of the snails in our yard. He knew all the best places for finding them. There were "Mommy, Daddy and baby" snails, little snail families. But pretty soon, if you asked Ben what his snail's name was, the answer was always the same, "Mr. Snail." He loved his snails and played with them all the time. He drew pictures of Mr. Snail in nursery and at home. One actually made it into one of our packing boxes. Ben found it a couple weeks ago and revived him from hibernation. We sent him outside to eat and he slipped away. A couple of days later he was back, but we haven't seen him since his second trip out for food. So, this week Ben made friends with an injured cicada and brought him home in a cup from a play date, spent most of Saturday morning with a caterpillar and last night was playing with a moth that found its way inside. When these little guys get smooshed or fly away he cries and says, "I not want him go away, he my friend." He loves them with such a big love. He carries them around, makes them homes and brings them "food." He's just enthralled. I love my tender hearted 3-year-old boy with a great big love for little bitty creatures.

Ben, near the end of April, with Mr. Snail.