The Not So Itsy Bitsy Spider

Our night was rather eventful. We got home from soccer and Jocelyn was telling John something. "Daddy, an ant" she would say over and over again until she got his attention and went over to look at what she had found. By our front window in the dining room close to the floor was not an ant but a HUMONGOUS spider!!! Outside of the zoo, I have not seen a spider this big before. No exaggeration. I try not to pass on my spider fears to my children but I just couldn't help myself this time. This was too disturbing for me to control my anxiety. You should have seen us girls all huddled on the kitchen rug gasping and starring at this thing on the wall walking slowly across it as John went and fetched a broom. MUCH too big to capture and let loose or squish with a napkin. We did NOT want this spider to get away and surprise us down the road. Been there, done that. He whacked it pretty good with one shot of the broom, swept the big ball of spider guts into the dust pan and tossed it out into our front lawn. And of course, after the fact, he says, "we should have taken a picture to put on the blog" and goes into our yard with a flashlight in one hand and the camera in the other. It was pretty interesting to watch him. Ten minutes into that, he still wasn't able to find it but I'm sure our neighbors think we're loons! I wish I had the courage to grab the camera and take a picture of it before it's fatal death but I was stuck in shock mode to do anything but stare so you'll just have to believe me when I say it was H*U*G*E - miniature tarantula size. At least it wasn't a black widow or a brown recluse. But now, just the thought of this so called "ant" gives me the chills and creeps! And for those of you that know me real well, can vouch for me that I have never been nor ever will be a spider fan. And I'm sure that some of these people that know me and this fact are probably laughing just thinking of me shrieking in horror as I make John save the day! He IS my hero though.