The Case of the Missing Keys

11:30 rolls around today, and it's time to get in the car to go pick up Ava from school. I put my shoes on, stroll casually to the dining room table, and realize that my car keys are NOT in the diaper bag. I'm searching back through my mind, and yes, I suddenly see a foggy image of Nate holding my car keys and putting them...poof! The image is gone. I have no idea where that little stinker put my keys, and if we don't leave this instant we'll be late. I start searching the floor in every room. I even pull out a few kitchen drawers. Nothing. I call the school and explain that I am frantically searching for the car keys my son has hidden somewhere and I will be a little (hopefully just a little) late. I ask Nate, "Where are Mama's keys?" He looks at my blankly. I ask again. He walks over and points to the diaper bag. I look in the bag again just to make sure I didn't miss them earlier. No, they are not there. "I know that's where they are SUPPOSED to be," I tell him. "But you took them out and put them somewhere else, remember?" More blank stares. I can tell I'm going to have to find them on my own. I continue my search while panicked thoughts crowd my mind. What if I never find them? How will I get Ava home today? How am I going to explain this when I call Cody in tears? I kick aside a large box of diapers, and when I do I hear a faint jingle! Keys! We had bought a huge box of diapers this morning that was still sitting out in the kitchen. Though sealed at the top, it has a small opening on each end where one's hands go when carrying it. Nate had pushed the keys into one of those holes! I tore open the top and fished out the keys triumphantly. Thankfully, we were only 5 minutes late picking up Ava. Nate fell asleep in the car, apparently exhausted from his mischievous antics. That made two of us.