Halloween 2012

1st Communion

While we celebrated Clarissa & Kyle's First Communion last weekend a few things seemed to have become a tradition.  Eating brunch together.  Making a grand entrance to the family once dressed in formal outfits.  Picture taking sessions out by tree in the front yard.  Hanging out on the front porch until it is time to go.  Sitting in the same front pew at church so we can see each other.  Feet getting sore from dress shoes.  

Life is different...

So I'm sitting here at 9:30 in the morning with nobody home.

That used to be my routine.

Today it is kind of a treat.
Two months ago I had no idea a job would find me.
I would not have guessed I would look forward to tea in the morning.
Amelia's feet are just as big as mine.
The twins are off at 1st Communion practice.
Evan is looking forward to the 8th graders graduating so the 7th graders can take over the building.
I let Steve donate our red wagon with a broken wheel.
We are discussing taking down the swing set.
I do not have time to be a coupon clipper anymore.
The kids might not need anymore swim lessons.
I do not pack school lunches.
We have family meetings on Sunday nights.
The girls room is covered in the magazine posters you carefully unstaple from the center.
Kyle is an organized neat freak in his bedroom.
Evan thinks an office chair on wheels would be good for his desk.
I'm starting to win the battle of the mismatch sock bucket.
The kids reminded me to buy my hanging baskets because the birds were looking to nest in them.

Here & Now - Kyle

LOVES having his own room to organize .  goes to bed around 8:00 on school nights  .  wears size 5 shoes  .  eager for his 1st Communion  .  enjoys drawing detailed illustrations  .  programs the DVR for episodes Lego Ninjago on Cartoon Network  .  searching for another series of books to read  .  hates a lot of my meals  .  builds things with Legos, paper or cardboard  .  always needs more pairs of socks  .  waiting for the wii to be sent off for repair  .  plays soccer  .  sneaks snacks from kitchen all of the time  .  packs his own lunch  

Today started with touring Mesa Vera. It was fun to hear the kids commenting about the ruins. I gave the kids my old camera and they loved working on taking pictures. We then headed to the Four Corners and tried positioning ourselves in many different ways to be in multiple states. Finally Steve "put the pedal to the metal" as the kids like to chant, to get us up to Arches National Park. There was just enough time to have fun climbing rocks and seeing beautiful rock formations right before the sun set.

Tomorrow will bring the opposite of ancient ruins. We're headed to Vegas!

Making Progress

We left Kansas City at 8:40 this morning and are still driving!! Temperatures got up to the 60's at one point but we have light snow right now.

Now we know why saw a snow plow! Nothing like snow covered winding roads high in the mountains. Then we had near miss with a deer, and drove by flashing warning lights indicated we were in a "wildlife detected" zone.

54 miles to go...

Arrived at hotel at midnight. Don't know if that includes time changes and springing ahead or not. We just know we never want to drive that much in one day again.