Happy Halloween

These are all over my house right now.

When we first moved to Virginia, we went out one night in late October and came home to a front porch with no less than 60 of these monsters all over the door. I just about cried when as we stepped on the porch and they all scattered everywhere, including up my legs.

I did cry when we got inside and realized the wind had blown the front door open and they were all over our living room too. I ran upstairs and demanded that John spray the entire farm cause I could not, would not live in a place like this. He laughed. I didn't.

I've come far in 4 years. The other night I stayed up on the computer till 1am but every 15 minutes I took a break to kill as many as I could before they scattered. This is the death toll after only 2 rounds. I killed over 35 in my kitchen and family room that night.

The only condolences I have are that they are really only around for about 3 weeks each year. They come out in the fall when the nights start getting colder, right around Halloween. They are wolf spiders and most of them are huge. We're talking the size of 2 quarters alive and 1 quarter dead, with legs all scrunched up. I now know to shake out anything that's been left on the ground, especially coats or blankets. Luckily, they really don't climb and I've rarely seen one upstairs.

So bring it on spiders. I'm not afraid of you anymore.

But if you come visit in the fall you may want to request an upstairs suite.
Although we do have a lovely guest bedroom downstairs if you're brave enough.

On a happier note, I had a great birthday (29?!) with most of the family sick.
I made my own birthday cake and did the laundry and made the kids mac n cheese for dinner. But I did get a call -that I missed, dang it- from one of my bestest friends from far away and I had to listen to it 3 times cause she talks so cool. And John promised me a really cool present, but I don't know if I really need/deserve it.

What do you think?