Not a creature was stirring... except at the Poulsons

The night before Christmas Eve, I was on the phone (so not like me!) talking to my Dad and suddenly I see a brown furry something running across the floor from Liam's room. I scream "Nate, it's a mouse. Get it!" to which he replies, "with what?" Me: "I don't know, get the broom, but don't kill it, I'm in the Christmas mood and so he gets to live..." Nate: "How exactly am I going to get the mouse out of the house without killing it?" Me: Can't you play a magic flute and lure him out onto the deck and then it's up to him how he gets down?" Nate: "NO." Me: "Fine then let's corner him and...wait he just ran back into Liam's room." we both run in to see if we can find it, but with NO luck. Me: "Sorry little mouse, I gave you a chance, but you are not welcome to bunk with my baby, so the trap it is." (Bah Hum Bug!) We pull a sleeping Liam from his bed, put him in our bed and then set a trap and leave it in Liam's room with the door shut, along with a few extra precautions: (Yes it makes me feel better to stuff towels under the doors.) The next Morning, there it is, in the trap, (what is it about peanut butter that attracts EVERYTHING?) Sorry little mouse but you are gross and carry diseases and chew on things that shouldn't be chewed on.

I thought to myself, how did the little guy get in here in the first place? We live on the top floor and our house is new so I don't see holes for him to get in???
I go about my business as usual. Then New years, I go to put a plastic bag under my sink and almost touch mouse #2 to which I SCREAM, slam the door shut and Yell "NATE there's another one!!" Nate: "No way." Me: "yep!" So we don't waste anytime and put a trap inside the cupboard and again find a mouse surprise the next morning. I'm starting to worry now cause I don't like this one bit!

The following day we have a friend over to watch the U of U bowl game and I just finish telling him about our extra house guest and he says, "Hmmm, well you got another one, I just saw it run under your fridge." Me: "Ahhhh" Nate: "You can't be serious?" He goes and sets trap #3, we catch mouse #3. Then started Operation Find and Destroy.

To make this Tail (ha)shorter, we've caught 6 mice total. The most impressive part is that #4 & #5 we got in the same trap at the same time. That's got to be some record right? We haven't caught any for a week now, so I'm hoping that we got them all or they moved next door, (Sorry neighbors, your turn?) or my real fear, they are getting too smart for the traps and have seen their numbers diminishing in a hurry?

Because of this, I have been scouring my entire house. I've accidentally bleached two shirts that I like (why you might ask did I wear them to clean? Good question.)
This is reason I haven't been out of my house, blogged, or responded to emails in awhile.

I am still freaking out and can't sleep at night cause I sit and listen for any sound that might mean there is another one in my house. Nate is so annoyed with me that I can't even talk about it with him anymore. Liam Screams like a girl every time he walks into the laundry room (that's where we caught tweddle dee and tweedle dum) then says "I scream like Mama. That's Funny." Then Owen joins in screaming for fun of it. Needless to say I am ready to go crazy. Please leave any comments on how to get rid of these pests, and how to know you got them all. Or I'd be happy to take your cat off your hands for awhile.

Leaving that subject to a much more enjoyable one: Christmas!
We had a wonderful Christmas. We stayed in Hershey again this year and had a fun "Christmas around the world" dinner with some friends. (Thanks McCullough's!)It was really fun, and the food was fantastic! You should definitely try this one year. We each brought a main dish from the country of our choice and then did a short presentation on how that country celebrates Christmas.

Then the kids helped put on the Nativity. But we quickly noticed we were short on males, Liam was outnumbered 6-1 (not including Owen who was the star (The North star) Hence the reason Joseph is wearing a crown and cape.

Then we got home and told Liam if Santa got to Hershey before he was asleep that he wouldn't leave him his word world toys. I have NEVER seen him fall asleep so fast. Seriously like 5 minutes. Too bad the "Santa Claus won't bring you any toys if you do this or that" threat has been put away with the decorations. It was amazing how well it worked.

Santa came through BIG time! Liam got his word world toys, Dada got his guitar, drums and microphone (Rock Band) and Owen got an awesome ball popping toy that he is thrilled about. I'm getting a massage (one that is longer than five seconds and actually feels like a massage. Thanks Babe! Can't wait.)
Here are some pictures of the day. And a video or two.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Quick story about the bike Liam got for Christmas. Well a few months ago, I was driving to church and stopped by our dumpster to throw away some diapers. As I pulled up, I noticed someone had left some used but still could use some love toys, next to the dumpsters (but inside the fence.) I got really excited, cause there was a big wheel and a little play gym for Owen.
As I got out of the car to put the garbage in the dumpster, I noticed a little farther back was a boys BIKE with training wheels!!! I looked all summer long for a bike for Liam last year, but the only ones I found were for girls, had no training wheels, or was I fooled by what I thought was a boys scooter. (here is that post!)
I looked around me thinking, "Is this a trap?, Hmm no one's around. Quick, grab it and run before the person who realized they threw a great bike away changes their mind and it's back to riding the pink and blue scooter for the summer."

So I grab only the bike throw it in the car, and drive off. I get to church and want to take a closer look at the bike. With further inspection. I find that this just isn't a boys bike with training wheels, this is a BRAND NEW BIKE with the protective cardboard still around some of the framework. My first thought now is, why would anyone throw away a brand new bike? Maybe they were teaching their son a lesson and said they were going to throw it away and took it over to the dumpster to teach him why hitting his sister is not OK. And while explaining this, I drove up and took it! Well lesson learned I guess. For both parties. He'll believe his parent's next time they threaten to throw something away, and his parent's learned not to throw a brand new bike in the dumpster.

Or maybe the it's because the tires are flat and they didn't realize that you can pump them up.

Or MAYBE Santa decided that since I searched so diligently all summer that my efforts should be rewarded and Christmas came a little early.

I decided it was #3. Then thought to myself, Why didn't I take the big wheel and the gym? Darn. That was dumb! but don't worry, to my relief they were still there after church and I took the other two toys home to. Gave them all a good wipe down with clorox. Hid the bike in Nate's trunk for three months, and Voila! Merry Christmas Poulsons.