Three years ago…
The weather was terrible.  Rain had changed over to snow and slush was beginning to pile up. We dropped Darren off at his grandma’s house.  It was his first night spent away from me. We ate dinner at Panera.  I gorged myself knowing it would be my last meal for a while.  They made a bread bowl out of a loaf of sourdough because they were out.  The contractions started coming – just like they had every day for the past week. I checked into the hospital, but was told that they were too busy with people in labor to start my induction.  No one wanted to come into work because the roads were bad.  We watched a really bad game show with Willia

Dancey Dance Video
Caroline did a demonstration of her “I Love You” dance at the end of class yesterday.  Coordinated, not yet.  Adorable, oh yes, she’s there.

Cub Scout Space Derby
This one’s for Darrald.  I promised to get the video of D’s rocket online.  Better late than never…

The 1st Grade Thanksgiving Performance
Here it is, grandmas and grandpas.  Mrs. Geiger’s 1st grade class performs the ABC’s of Thanksgiving.  Darren’s “B” in case you need prompting to pay attention.

What works for me – travel entertainment
I have a minivan.  There, I admit it.  What I refuse to have is a permanently installed entertainment system in it.  My kids watch too much TV at home as it is.  They don’t need more mind-killing cartoons on the way to the grocery store.  I admit, they are loud and rambunctious in the car on occasion, but it beats the video coma. Any trip of 3 hours or more is another story.  When we were getting ready for the 9-plus hour trip to Wisconsin / Minnesota in 2007, we bought a two-screen portable DVD player.  The screens can play the same or different shows, and it keeps the kids quiet. Â