Gun Slinging City Boys...

Dull isn't a word that I would use to describe my life. While it certainly isn't overly adventurous--I mean we aren't jumping out of planes over here--we don't ever seem to lack for entertainment. Never.

All day yesterday, our house smelled like something died around it. While I was getting dressed to go to a performance at Converse, Josh was investigating the smell. Under the house. In the attic. But no critter. As I am applying my mascara, Ian goes running down the hallway. A minute later, he comes back down the hallway with his BB gun. "Momma--Daddy needs you to get his gun. He has a squirrel cornered in the back yard." Seriously? I look out the window of the bathroom and sure enough, Ian isn't making it up.

Now, if you follow me on Facebook, you may remember that not all that long ago, I woke up very early one morning to my husband stomping through the yard with gun in hand after a squirrel that had escaped the attic. Our house seems to be one part Griswold and another part Swamp People. Ian snaps me back to attention, "Momma, get the gun. We gotta 'choot 'em!"  Okay, maybe a lot Swamp People.

Even though I am semi-complaining now, I do get Josh's gun and take it outside. Ian is poised on the side of the fence, aiming his gun into the shrubs on the side of house. I look over his shoulder and realize he has the squirrel's head in his cross-hairs. I hand Josh his gun as Ian takes a shot. Dead ringer. But the BB at that distance wasn't enough to do more than stun him. The squirrel goes semi-nuts in the shrubs as Josh is trying to locate him to take a shot. Will heads off to the shed to get a net. This has become a family affair.

I am looking in the shrubs for the squirrel, in my dress, BB gun in hand. If I found it, I think I planned to hit it with the gun rather than try to shoot it. Josh, however, beat me to it and finished him off. "Way to 'choot 'em!" cheered Will. "Atta boy!" yelped Ian. These people obviously don't belong in the city. We have got to move them to country.

Squirrel crisis averted, I returned to house to finish getting ready while the boys and Josh did some target shooting with the BB gun. And I will be honest, Ian's gun handling impressed me. Not only was he safe--treating the BB gun as though it were a real gun--but he always used the safety without being reminded. He also was an excellent shot!

I went on to the play while Josh watched the kids. I had a nice time away and when I got home, it was clear that they had enjoyed me being gone. It was 10pm on a school night and they were all still awake, sitting on the kitchen counter, eating cold pizza and watching TV. The boys also had purple Mohawks. Never. a. dull. moment.

Cole, Will & Ian with purple Mohawks.

And that smell? Still here. But, no critter.