On the road again

We're in the preparation stages for a trip to the far corner of Kansas to visit my family. It'll mean 10 hours in the car each way for four days of visiting, but it's worth it. The last time we were there, Ruth was in the throes of "stranger anxiety" (a.k.a. "my arms are tired"), so I can't wait to introduce the family to the lively, funny, interactive child she has become. I'm looking forward to watching Marianne interact with my sister's daughter of approximately the same age, and with the grown-ups as well. Marianne has reached that point in childhood where she acts shy for the first 30 seconds after meeting someone, then instantly turns into his best friend and starts piling her toys up next to the new person and showing off all her tricks. She's likely to count to seventeen and sing a few of her favorite songs repeatedly during the weekend to showcase her skills. If the family is lucky, they'll even get to see her attempt a somersault. With the exception of the 20 hours in the car, the weekend should be great fun.

All this to warn you that posting will be sparse in the coming week. Busy at work and busy at home means very little time for you, dear internet. But I'm sure I'll catch you up on all the fun later!