October 16, 2010

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.

10 comments:

  1. oh how fun to see them enjoying learning so much. Your kiddos are so creative, it just blows my mind!

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  2. Oh my, they are creative!! Black widows scare me to death! EW! Ask Finn how often black widows bite humans? Just wondering, and I figured he would know.

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  3. Your boys are awesome! My boys would love love love to play spiders with them!!! What a creative and fun idea!

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  4. I love how you can see the wonder in their eyes.

    they are SUCH boys! Awesome shots.

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  5. It is so wonderful that you captured their creativity in this post with the pictures and your words. Such a joy to read :)

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  6. You know, Mom is the Black Widow's only known natural predator...she stalks them at night while walking Olive. :)

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  7. My brother got bit by a black widow the other day. The good news is that when he called poison control, they said no one had died from a black widow bite in 10 years! :)

    and your boys are so creative and I love the games they play!

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  8. Alisha! That is wild! I must talk to you all about it in person.

    and LOL Lindsay! That's one of the funniest things I've heard in a while.

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  9. wow - could your boys be any more creative? what a fabulous idea! im so glad you captured this!!! their minds are so interested - how amazing that they are so in love with HIS creation :)

    and. oh my oh my. i hate bugs. we have an exterminator come quarterly - specially for the spidies :)

    hopefully romyroo will keep the critters outside!

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