Spinning Webs

Finn was chalk full of news yesterday on the drive home from school.

"Mommy, did you know that male black widow spiders only live for 25 days?"

"Did you know that girl black widows live for 25 years!!!!"

"Boy black widows are not poisonous"

"If a girl black widow bites you it's like getting bit by 15 rattle snakes...and you could die!" he says with a mischievous grin. He is quite pleased with this morbid information.

Unlike his poor mama who is about to call the exterminator Monday. Because we actually do have black widows in our yard. Spooks me out whenever the boys play on the side of the house or behind the shed.

We arrive back at home and I am busy putting Ollie and Twain down for naps. Finn and Calvin disappear for a bit.

I sit down at the computer and Finn waltzes by with a dark beanie on his head. I raise an eyebrow. After all, it is over 80 degrees.

I then check on Finn and Calvin in their room and I find Finn trying to get a dark swim shirt on.

"Are you swimming today?" I ask. I am curious... A beanie and a swim shirt.

"No", Finn answers. I just need to be black.

"Alright!" I figured they were playing Star Wars or something. Maybe trying to be Darth Vader.

I sit back down at my computer, clickety clack.

A few moments later, Finn and Calvin emerge from their room. They come creeping out. They are decked out head-to-toe in black garb. They both have 2 toothpick fangs jutting out of their mouths. And they are carrying little bags of pretzels.

What the....?

"We are black widow spiders", Finn announces.

I grab my camera and follow them out the back door.

Toothpick fangs.

I find Calvin's choice of footwear rather interesting.

And then I saw it. Like really saw it.

Another "What the...?"

I have no idea how or when this web was constructed.

I scan the yard and my eyes settle on a clue.

Don't know where they found the wire. But at least that explains how it was made.

Still don't know when they snuck out back to make it. Sneaky little black widows.

These pretzels aren't just ordinary pretzels. They are acutally spider food...flies, specifically.

They bear no resemblance to actual flies to me...but let's just run with it. This is their game. I am just the reporter.

The "flies" gets carefully spun into the web.

A ravenous black widow goes in for the kill. Yum.

A little black spider ring joins the party.

Two well-fed black widows relaxing in their web.

Don't pay any heed to the sidewalk chalk all over the shed...

I have to say, I never know what to expect with these little boys in my house. They are always up to something.

And seriously, I am going to call that exterminator soon.