To answer you, almost! (Grubs).  Mostly what they are - drum roll - Cicadas!  You know those 17 year thing a majigs?  Except there are many different colonies so that virtually every year they come out.  And not all are 17 year cycles.  Other popular cycles are 7, 11 and 15 years.

We have so many trees, that our lawn is almost bare.  We are trying again this year.  I love trees (except when it comes to raking), but lawns sure dont!

EWWWW!  That makes them doubly gross!  White albino worms that turn into roach like wannabes.....yuko.

We have several large trees...huge trees in our yard...and I am actually buying a few more, ornamentals to put in the front of the house....but good grief at the work!

Looks like a soccer game will get me a short respite tonight.  Though watching ten year olds play soccer.....I'd rather pull up sod!

Did he start (or she) when they were 5?  I was the Asst Coach of my oldest's team when she was that age.  We called it "Swarm Ball"!  At 10, I guess they have learned some of the finer aspects of the game!

HAHAHAHA.  Hardly.  Now they know NOT to run after the ball back and forth across the field in a pack.  However, just about every third kick is out of bounds..or whatever its called.  So the ball is off the field more than it is on.

The parents around here are super freaks when it comes to soccer.  At the end of every game they make a pyramid of arms so the players can run through it....all the while screaming and yahooing.  By the time its over I have my fold up chair, folded and am ready to leave, not make an alley arm pyramid.

Sometimes I just sit in my van and watch, which qualifies me for bad soccer mom of the year I think.  Anti-social yes, but sometimes I just don't have the energy to deal with the uber yuppies.  And I won't even go into the times I actually drop him off, wave bye and then run an errand and not even see the game.

My son really likes when I don't come (sometimes).  He says I've "smothered" him coming to every single sports event all his life.  So he usually tells me "don't come tonight" or when he wants me there, "come watch tonight mom."

My husband thinks he likes the time away from us, with his friends, somewhere besides our house.  All of which he rarely gets to do.

I wonder.  I was into sports pretty heavy in middle and high school and no one in my family came to one event, ever.  I didn't miss it then too much, but maybe that made me go a little over board with my son....never missing a practice or a game.  Drives him nuts.

Who knows.

I think my son would agree with your son!  He did not start sports until middle school, and I was at every game!  basketball and Soccer.  But I was a good dad.  I just rooted and did not get on the refs case (except that one game!  We ALL got on the Refs case then!).  My son always knew where I was as he told me "Dad, Everyone can hear you!".

I am not a big person.  About 5'9" and 170.  But I have been blessed with a very Bass voice and very loud!  So while my son's team lost more than they won (they were a small school), I cheered every great move and play, both Basketball and Soccer.  It was fun!  But I made sure that I was yelling encouragement and not disaparaging remarks against either his team, the other team or the refs.

But it was fun!  Tell your son you are just reaping the rewards of all those practices and drives.  By cheering for the good plays!  We do deserve some reward!

HAHAHAH.  I do cheer, really loud even when I am sitting in my minivan.  I turn it around and lift the hatch and sit in the back...really nice when its sprinkling.

I am not allowed to yell.  I am not allowed to yahoo.  My son wants me to be completely silent.  If he scores and I say "WOO HOO!"  He will stop mid field and hold his finger to his lips and tell me to shush.  What is up with that?

I asked him and he said it is too distracting.  Yeah right.

Ugh.  Yup yup.  That is exactly what they look like.  I'm not finding them in large numbers....one here and there.....

Ain't they pretty?

~gagging~

Thanks.

I like yard work but cutting sod ranks down on the bottom of the list.  Another back breaking day today...but at least I got two tall ornamental grasses planted.....and three praire fire crabapple trees.....they are pink right now and look great.  I also planted a holly tree/bush that I am gonna prune to look like an upside down triangle...and a new plant that has really awesome leaves and flowers...can't remember its name.

I bought a tiller, just a small one and its great for tilling up all the clods of dirt in my beds.  When its all done I may post a picture......depends on how it turns out!

This is the one outdoor chore I HATE...and will do almost anything to get out of doing. hehe.

We have huge trees in our yard so in the fall....thousands, millions, they are taking over the world, yeah, that many leaves.  But since I appreciate their shade so much in the summer, and their beautiful color in the fall...the least I can do is send my son outside to round them up and give them to a proper mulch bed.

My youngest likes bugs, not flying ones though because he associates them with bees.  He likes snakes too.  Fortunately I can control my the running away reflex and actually make myself touch a snake, even hold one.  Though it sickens me to do it.

Can I borrow your son this fall?