Here we go!

All of our stuff is packed in our new minivan. License plate game is favorite car game. Payout is doubled for Canadian plates. Departure time delayed due to last minute doctor appointment for Evan's hacking cough. Memories from Amtrak trip with coughing kid, ugh.

Instagram Evan

A quick look at what life at age twelve has been like for Evan this past month...  

• Another medal to join his collection this time for winning the 7th & 8th grade Geography Bee at school.  Ask him and he will admit to being lucky and getting a few easy questions in the final round.  

• His favorite moment of turning 12 (since the Hawkeyes didn't win on his birthday) was buying his iPod Touch.  Between birthday money, a savings account withdrawal, being a personal drink/snack gopher to relatives for a few days, and taking advantage of Black Friday shopping Evan made the biggest purchase of his life.  He loves it.  Oddly enough, we both enjoy texting each other while sitting on the same couch.  

• The last picture shows Evan looking all fine and ready to head off to a school dance.  I hear but have not confirmed it through texting that he did ask a girl to dance.  

Pictures taken on my new iPhone with the Instagram app, which is where the title comes from.

Happy Halloween!

After school on a rainy afternoon

No soccer practices or scouts or piano

Homework done

Lunch boxes unpacked

Laundry put away

Shoes and socks still out

One laptop to play Zoo Tycoon

One laptop to look up cheats for Zoo Tycoon 

All kids happy

Double Digits

The birthday girl is in bed.  She can dictate her post tomorrow.  Here is a look at what it is like to be the big 1-0!

Here & Now

Clarissa likes doing cartwheels, bridges, splits, and is working on the back bend * started taking piano lessons * loves being a helper especially when it involves sweeping floors *  puts together outfits Amelia and I find cute * goes to bed on her own around 8:00 * shops the sale rack * loves Bruce *  refuses to enjoy reading *  wants to watch Home Extreme Makeover *  finally has the front tooth in that has been missing since 12/08 * plays soccer * wants to try basketball * prefers items with sparkles * spends a lot of time drawing * likes peanut butter & honey sandwiches for lunch * rolls eyes frequently * still very ticklish *

Kyle's Announcement

Announcement made Monday 7:30 AM, dressed in school uniform, while entering the kitchen with his sly grin.

"So Mom, um, I uh, finished Harry Potter 5 last night."

It is Harry who made Kyle view going to four soccer games this weekend as an opportunity for some quality reading time.  When he made his announcement this morning he loved it when Evan and Amelia gave him a smile, a nod, (indicating a new level of respect in the Potter world) and asked when he was going to start number 6.  His response showed thought, "I'm going to take two weeks off, I think."