Bugs.

The fascination has begun. Tyler is obsessed with pointing out every supposed bug he sees. "Is that a spider?" "Is that a bee?" "Yucky spider!"

Oops. I have to stop saying that spiders, etc are yucky. I think it's important for little boys to find them appealing and not yucky. But please don't think that means I accept them into my home.

I don't.

We've seen our share of insects in our home recently. This morning as I was letting Toby back in from his morning neighborhood prowl, a spider came in with him. I resisted the urge to yell "gross" and instead told Tyler we needed to put the spider back where he belongs. So, I put Tyler on "spider watch" while I went to grab a paper towel. Luckily, the little ole Charlotte didn't move. Probably b/c Tyler was staring her down and repeating "yucky spider!"

I escorting it outside, and Tyler was excited to say his farewells.

About 10 mins later, I witnessed a larger-than-life cockroach lying on its back. "Is that a spider?" No. It's worse.

I resisted the urge to stomp on the creature and instead again escorted another insect outside to it's "home."

I guess perhaps boys never outgrow the interest in bugs and critters. I have laughed numerous times when we've been in the car (usually in a hurry) and Josh will slam to a hault because he sees a turtle passing the road. We literally turn around and help the turtle across the road. Tyler never understands that we can't take the pet turtle home.

Then this morning I was driving to work and I swerved to miss a passing turtle on a busy exit ramp in Durham. However, the truck behind me filled with construction men stopped, put on blinkers, and sat in the middle of the road while traffic swerved around them. All to save the turtle.

And, I still choose to ignore my neighbor asking me if I saw the black snake in the middle of the road last week who's length "was the width of the road."

I will put this on record now. If Tyler ever comes in my house with a snake, it will not end well.

I can do small insects and will even befriend a turtle. But, I'm still getting my house sprayed.