Ants and Bugs

Last Sunday, warm weather returned to Michigan. The sun positioned itself right over the thumb knuckle of the mitten and stayed there all day. Every true Michigander knows the significance of this day. We have survived another winter. It goes without saying that everyone drops whatever they are doing or had planned for that day to find their way outside. Some will ride bikes, go to the park or visit the Detroit Zoo, but many with the practical mindset of a midwesterner will spend time in the yard. The silver leaf maples that line our street hold onto their last batch of leaves until it is too cold for anyone to venture out with a rake in hand. So there is much to do. Bobby, Julia and I spent the entire day outside. Bobby and I working and Julia riding her bike and playing.  After a few hours things were looking good. Bobby decided to tackle the assembly of his new grill. The box it was delivered in was monstrous. I asked that he not break the box down so that Julia could play in it. I told her my idea. She loved it and immediately started gathering things to put in her "house" as she called it. She's a nester. She takes the big umbrella that goes with her water table, and we position it in there. This she calls "the palm tree." She climbs out again, which is no easy task as the walls are high for an almost five year old, drags out her box of sidewalk chalk and says to me, "How do you spell no ants allowed? Well I know how to spell no, but what about ants allowed." I help her stretch those words so she can hear the sounds and together  we spell out her warning. A few more items and now she's ready to get in her house. Just as she is about to hurdle the thick cardboard wall she cries, "Mommy, there is a spider in my house!" I am able to grab the thin thread the spider is on and move it to another area of the yard. Before she gets in she drags the chalk box to a different wall of the house and asks, "How do you spell no bugs allowed." This time I write it nice and big in all caps for her. As I am writing she says, "I don't know why we are doing this. I don't think bugs can read anyway."