I saw the missing kittens yesterday

The mother (Jet) took the two babies away from the cat box I built in
front of my house about a week ago, because the babies were starting
to go out exploring. No one in the neighborhood has seen them since
then.

Yesterday I was tracking down Espy in the backyard and he was all the
way in a corner under the deck staring at something in the next yard.
That something turned out to be the two kittens and Jet. I didn't want
to frighten her or the kittens but I know that it's important to
handle them so they don't grow up feral (like their mom).

I went into the neighbor's yard and Jet ran away but the two kittens
were just huddling in a corner so I held each one for a few minutes,
petting them, and then they went off to rejoin mommy. Later that
evening Jet came by the front of the house for a quick meal. Scooter
was hanging out in the cat box and came out to join her. That's the
first time I've seen him in the cat box.

I have the heating pad in the box but haven't connected it to an
outlet yet since it hasn't gotten very cold, but soon enough that time
will come. I'm still thinking that I'll bring Scooter in for the
winter but Espy is quite opposed to the idea. Even if I do bring him
in (likely on an indoor/outdoor basis), the other neighborhood cats
will appreciate the heating pad.

I bought Scooter a tag at the pet store over the weekend. I think it's
time to put a collar on him to make sure that he doesn't end up in a
shelter somewhere. He's so friendly he'd walk right up to the animal
control people.