15/365: Family game

Every night in the Vance household, we play a small but important game. It usually starts off with someone saying "Where's the cat", which is kind of like "Where's my car" without a panic button to push to help out. At that time we(Eric and I) ask each other when was the last time we saw her, after determining it has not be recent(cause she is not cuddled up to my feet on the couch) we get up grab small flashlights, which we have ready by the back door just for this reason (thank you Mr. Don, great Christmas gift). Once flashlights are in hand we do a initial sweep of her usual places; window seals, baby's jumper and formal living room couch. Once it has been established that  she is not in her usual haunts, it's time to get serious. Now we break it down by floors; 1st floor back of the couch..no, dinning room chairs...no, Russia room bed...no(but has been found there), Kaylynn's playroom...no(found here before too), laundry room...no(never found here) and I am not mentioning the kitchen cause that's where the dogs are and that's just a dumb idea from a cats point of view. So not on the 1st floor means we have to move to the 2nd floor (the whole time praying she is not outside cause either one of us wants to go out there). The 2nd floor search starts with our room; did she sneak in there while we were putting Connor to bed and is she hiding under the covers of our bed(where we found her two nights ago), once the master bedroom is clear, Eric's office is next which is another dumb move from a cats point of view....so that's a no; then its Connors room maybe she is in the crib (she use to sleep in Kaylynn's)...no; okay now on to Kaylynn's room this is where the game gets tricky for everyone involved; Eric and I need to find the cat with flashlight but not wake up the two year old and the cat doesn't make it any easier. The cat has learned that if she does venture into this child's room it is better to stay under the bed until the child is a sleep and then she can get on the bed without the child wanting to play with her. Okay now stay with me, now that we have figured out that she is not on the 2nd floor ;our last hope is that she is on the 3rd floor asleep on the pool table this never happens. At this time our one true fear is realized SHE'S OUTSIDE at some point in the day she got passed one of us, this could take 2 minutes or 2 hours to resolve. Tonight she was outside huddle in one of the chairs trying to stay dry and warm.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow