Happy October 8th

The day on which everything in American history happened--if you learned your history from Dave Barry, that is.

Also the day on which snow first came to the Front Range this year. There was snow on the peak on September 16 and again at the beginning of this week, but nothing in the lower elevations. Most of the week was in the high 70s and low 80s. Then this morning we woke up to gray clouds and driving snow. Wet flakes at our elevation, which only coated roofs, but cozy enough for a morning puttering around the house for us all. When it cleared we went out. Down 300 feet in Colorado Springs, where we had to do our errands, all was dry. Above us the hills were covered with snow, the pines dusted and sparkling silver, bare ground gleaming white. It was gorgeous.

Unfortunately my camera batteries were dead. In lieu of snow-crested vistas, I give you a shot of Alice, who I realized has been relatively neglected in recent blog photos.

I'm happy to say that after investigating multiple options and steadily negotiating, we have worked out our childcare challenge. It involves Alice attending two different daycares, but since one (her current one) is at my work, and the new one is at Tom's work, it all feels pretty familiar and she seems unfazed. In fact, she's pretty proud to have multiple schools--especially since the new one requires that we bring lunch, thus allowing Alice the great joy of a lunchbox. We got out Edith's old Cinderella lunchbox  (note: at age six, Disney princesses are gross and to be gagged at), and Edith carefully crossed out her name and printed Alice's on the side in permanent marker. It was Saturday, but Alice carried it everywhere with her, together with her empty, $1 thrift-store backpack.

Is it really going to be fall of 2014 before this kid goes to kindergarten? And is she going to continue to remind us that she's ready every day until then?

"Now show them my backpack!"