a couple of days ago, i went up to the attic to get something and Skye usually likes to accompany me as there's always something she can find from all my "junk" to bring down for her own use. i have also been keeping her school art projects up in the attic. there was one lying on the floor and Skye said, "hey, all the O's on my octopus fell off." the art project was an octopus with cheerios glued on for the suckers. i looked a little closer and saw parts of the paper chewed up. "oh my gosh!" i said before i had time to think. "i think there's a mouse up here." Skye began screaming to go downstairs and gave me no chance to really look around. when i returned later, indeed, some critter had come in and chewed up entire art projects!! there were shreds of construction paper littered all over the floor. and of course, all ones where Skye had used dried pasta or cereal. Skye didn't sleep well that night (and neither did phil and i) and she refuses to go anywhere alone in the house. i'm hoping our trip to NC will help her forget the whole thing by the time we get back.