Insect and Spider Identification: Help!!! what kind of spiders are these?????, 1 by blatchleyk

blatchleyk wrote:
We have recently moved into a new house. it is in a development and i have a small lake approx. 70 yards behind my house. about 6 days ago my wife woke me at 2am and told me there was a huge spider in out screen patio in the back. i woke up and we killed it as it was trying to make its way under the door jam to the inside of the house. it was huge. i would say bigger than the average adult male palm. then 2 nights ago we saw another but this one was alittle smaller. not by much though. then today i had insect people come out and they found a nest on my patio wall up high. almost matched a mud divers nest. he sprayed it and a bunch of barely born spiders came falling out of it and to the ground. weird part is they were each bigger than a dollar coin easy. i have provided some pictures. i also had one on my front porch. please help me indentify and let me know a way to get them away as for one has already hitched a ride on my dogs leg inside and i just happened to see it. it was as big as my palm. i have to young kids and want to insure there safety. thank you for all your help in advance. , CS2(SW/AW)BLATCHLEY,K. U.S.Navy