As we are just a little over a week away from Halloween I guess the thought of creepy crawlies just goes with the territory. Maggie has become obsessed with Billy the Exterminator on A&E. It is absolutely one of her favorite shows. I think it’s partially because they don’t kill everything they come into contact with and I have to admit that Billy is pretty engaging on a child’s level because he always explains things in very enthusiastic but simple terms. There is a lot of “catch and relocating” done with everything from raccoons to bobcats and snakes which thrills Maggie endlessly. The rest of the household is amused by the show but there is A LOT of eye rolling going on, trust me.

Although, you have to wonder what exterminators in other parts of the country are doing now? Maybe adding a little pizazz to their services? Might be kind of cool to call up a Las Vegas Exterminator and have him show up looking like “Elvis.”

I tend to leave the room when it comes to the cockroach infestations. That’s just too much creepy crawly for me. Maggie seems to have no creepy crawly limit. At least once a week I hear her exclaim from over the top of the scorpion cage “Ewww!!! He left a cricket’s head!!!!!” But that’s Maggie, if she isn’t playing with her own animals she’s watching documentaries on Animal Planet and running in with the latest animal and bug facts to relay to us.

She spent most of the summer catching ants for her ant farm. Seriously, an ant farm. Don’t think the irony is lost on me that most people pay pest control services and my daughter brings them home to live with us. Ant farm, scorpion, crickets (kept in a lovely little plastic cage to feed to the scorpion), oh and there’s that whole, “Gee, Mom I think I need a praying mantis habitat!” thing.

At least she isn’t a big fan of spiders. I think I’d have to draw the line at a tarantula. Although, I overheard a conversation between Maggie and Mike the other day that involved the words “pet” and “frog” knowing them this isn’t going to be one of those cute, little tree frogs.