With cooler weather moving into the area, the area mice have decided to move into our house.  Last night we saw one in the family room.  A little later I was in the kitchen doing dishes and 4yo Princess Perky went into the family room alone to get something.  Mousie poked his head out from under our couch and Princess got hysterical. She jumped up on a chair and began to scream, "Help! Help! I'm so scared! Get me out of here! Get me out of this room! Get me out of this house!"

I ran in and grabbed her and sat down in the chair with her and began to comfort her.  As I was doing so, Mousie looked out again, and the screaming began again.  I gently put my hand over her mouth and said, "Shush!  Now be so still and sit here and watch."

Watch we did.  Mousie kept poking his head out from under the couch and pulling it back in until he felt a little more safe. Then he exited his refuge and began to make his way across the floor. He stopped just a bit from us and stopped to look at us, giving us a good chance to look at him.

He was so cute. Dark gray and soft looking, with big velvety ears - if he wasn't in my house he would have been adorable. 

Mouse viewing turned out to be a mistake.  Perky now thinks mice are the cutest things ever, luuvs them, and is plotting to get one as a pet for every member of the family.

"Please, Mama, please.  I'll care for it so well!"

Uh, no. Thanks, but no. I'll have guinea pigs, I'll have fish. I'll have reptiles, amphibians and birds. But no mice in the hice.  I mean, no mouse in the house.  Ever.  Unless it comes in voluntarily and at great risk to its personal safety.