“Why were your kids late to school this morning, Kim?”
(originally posted to Facebook, May 2019)

Well, I’m glad you asked...
It’s not as simple as just saying that Mike drove them today 😉
And everyone was ready to go on time.
But then.... *The Mouse was Found in the Pantry*
😳
One little grey mouse ran for its life from the pantry and down the front hall, until it hid behind some boxes. 
Katie jumped up onto a kitchen chair, in case the mouse ran back toward her. The other kids milled around, trying to see where the mouse was hiding. 
Since Alli the Dog was already out in the backyard, Mike cornered the mouse and — now here’s the goofy part — he dispatched Mikayla to scoot upstairs and return with Jojo the Cat. (Cat & Dog don’t get along that well yet.)
Mikayla held Jojo, who was meowing her intense displeasure at 1. being woken up, and 2. being dragged downstairs, and then she aimed poor Jojo at the mouse. Mike poked behind the boxes, the mouse booted it, and Jojo was supposed to chase & catch the mouse.
Easy, right?
No.
Jojo hit the floor and ran like mad to escape the whole situation. In her defence, she’s an excellent mouser on her own and in Mike’s defence, he sincerely thought that the cat would be a much more willing participant. 
Meanwhile, the mouse disappeared into the pile of boots near the front door. Back by the kitchen door, Alli was looking in and probably wondering why nobody invited her to the party. Jojo was hiding under the couch in the school room. Katie was still up on her chair, the rest of the kids were standing around laughing, and I just watched quietly from the sidelines, wondering if we’ve all lost our minds.
Eventually, the mouse took off for the laundry room and Mike set a couple of spring-loaded traps in the pantry & the laundry room. Then he & the kids all piled into the Jeep and headed for school.
Just another day.

~ 30 ~