The Ongoing Adventures of Matthew

This is the next installment in the ongoing saga of Matthew, my affectionate, lovable, curious, destructive, energetic almost-4-year-old. Yesterday my best friend called wondering if I wanted to meet at McDonalds so the kids could play and we could talk. Of course! The 2 oldest kids were still at school so I started rounding up the 2 youngest, gathering shoes, keys, cell phone and (in Matthew's case) clothes. But where were the actual children? I found them in the kitchen looking out the back door at one of our cats hunched over something. Upon further investigation we discovered that our beloved ball of fluff was guarding a baby bird Was she protecting it or tormenting it? Hard to tell. We discovered a dead baby bird nearby too. The kids were fascinated and picked up the dead bird. I scolded them and herded them inside to wash their hands and head to McDonalds. Fast forward 15 minutes and we were settled at McD's waiting for my friend and her 4 kids. I left the kids playing happily and went out to get a snack for us to share. When I got back Matthew had pushed a highchair up to the table. And what did I find sitting in the highchair? Matt's orange Diego Rescue Pack and. . . the dead baby bird. I believe my exact words at that point were "AAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK! Yuuuuuuuuuccckkk!" I am still not sure how he managed to smuggle the bird into his rescue pack or why he felt the need to bring it with him. Needless to say the bird did not make it back to our house again. Lesson learned? Check whatever backpack or bag your kids insist on bringing somewhere because you just never know what you'll find.