Leapin' Lizards!

Ashlyn and I were enjoying a nice afternoon out on a blanket in the front yard, eating her watermelon from school.  She was laying on her tummy picking the grass and out of the corner of my eye I saw what I thought was a leaf fall from the tree on her back.  With a quick second glance I realized that was not a bright green leaf, it was a GECKO!  On her back.  Now, I am not scared of geckos, but they can be startling.  Out of reaction and maybe a protective reflex, I swatted the gecko off of her back and sent it sailing into the bushes!  Ashlyn looked back at me like, "Mom, why did you just hit me?"  I may have brushed her a little during my instinctive swat.  Oh well, at least I saved her from that ferocious lizard!