Something happened last night that I’m still not sure was entirely real.
Around 4:15 AM, I awoke to Jake whispering and nudging me. “Jaime! Wake up! There’s something I want to show you.”
He had to say it about 13 times before I would agree to rise and go with him. I was thinking – and may have even said out loud – “This had better be spectacular.”
He took me to the back window and shone a flashlight into our backyard. Splashing in the middle of our kiddie pool was a trio of raccoons.
“Ohmygosh,” I laughed. “What are they doing here? Are they thirsty?”
“No,” said Jake. “They’re playing.”
No, no. Not playing like that.
And sure enough, they were. Jake had awoken to the sound of splashing and Murphy growling defensively from his doggie bed. When he followed the sound, he looked out and saw the raccoons – not drinking, not scavenging – PLAYING with Seabass’ pool toys. That’s when he decided to wake me up.
And I’m glad he did. Mostly. Sort of. I’ve been up since then.
So has Jake. As we lay there in the dark, eyes wide open, he laid down the law: “No more leaving the kiddie pool out at night.”
Addendum: I Googled “raccoons playing in water” and got 16 and a half million results. What the…?
I am Jaime, wife to Jacob. We are the smitten, stupefied, sometimes scared silly parents of a precious boy nicknamed Seabass and a darling girl nicknamed Sweet Chuck.
Higher Highs, Lower Lows 
I wouldn’t have thought that racoons would be such a playful bunch!
Now I’m worried about my kids toys in my backyard. I’m fairly certain my two dogs keep most wild animals away though, except for the gaggle of wild turkeys that like to roam the neighborhood and irritate all the local dogs.
Awww, how fun!