"SHHHHH......Don't Tell MOM!!!"

This morning, I woke up to the alarm like always. I went into Big Cowpoke's messy room and started to get him up for school. I needed to get a uniform shirt from his closet, when Little Cowpoke walked in and said, "Move Mom!! There is a baby turtle right there!"

Knowing how my boys can tell some great stories I kindly replied, "No Dear, there are not any baby turtles in here." I was still half asleep and not paying any attention to Little Cowpoke. Then, Little Cowpoke pushed by me in the closet and opened a box that was on the floor.

Now, it is not unusual for Big Cowpoke to have boxes in his room. That child is a garbage junkie. He loves to play with his army men in old boxes. He also says he collects things (junk) and keeps them in boxes. So, to see a large box on my son's floor is not unusual. But as Little Cowpoke opened it he pointed to a rock inside the box, "See, I told you we had a baby turtle!"

I looked and sure enough, the sneaky devils had found a turtle and brought it home. They gave it a home with food, water, and hid it in Big Cowpoke's closet. The thing I think is funny, is that they have had this turtle for three days now and neither one of them told me.

Saturday night the boys were "doing" things. I just thought they were playing nicely. Big Cowpoke even asked me what do turtles eat. I just thought he was being a curious boy. So, I told him that turtles like to eat fruit, plants, and other veggies.

Here is the little turtle that Big Cowpoke found on Saturday while we were at a basketball game, and then hung out in my car for hours while we were at a Mardi Gras Parade. The poor thing. This is the little habitat that the Cowpokes made up for their baby turtle. I think they tried really hard to make the baby turtle feel at home. They gave him an apple. Big Cowpoke even cut up some pieces of the apple for the turtle to eat. Big Cowpoke took a cup and cut it small enough for the baby turtle to drink some water. They also decorated his home with some green foliage. Big Cowpoke even drew the baby turtle a picture to make him feel more at home. How sweet is that? He drew a picture of the baby turtle's family so he wouldn't miss them. He is very thoughtful. But there were some things just not right for this baby turtle. He couldn't get to the water and he was not eating the apple. When I found him he was closed in the dark in a box, and hiding in the corner. I brought him out into the kitchen and I have been giving him some water and doing some turtle research. Big Cowpoke was all worried I was going to throw the turtle into the pond, but I reassured him that I would find out what kind of turtle he was and see if we could keep it. So, this morning I have been trying to find out what kind of turtle Big Cowpoke picked up at the basketball game of Saturday. I think we have a Mississippi Mud Turtle. I want to know why all pictures of turtles have to make them look slimy? Yuck!! I am partial to animals with hair. But the Cowpokes really like this little turtle, but to me it sounds like it's just not the right kind of turtle for us. I would rather have a box turtle that doesn't bite! I really can't believe that the boys didn't tell me for three days, that they had a turtle hiding in their closet. I am grateful that it wasn't a snake!!!