Xander and Clare

Starting to take after her brother a bit more...she organized her shirts by color. 

And cleaned her room without being asked!

Still tidy...always tidy.

First day of school!

Clare in fourth grade and Xander in seventh.

X's classes start quite a bit later than Clare's, so he went with me to drop her off on her first day. He was excited to see his old 3rd and 4th grade teacher, Mr. Zigulis -- who Clare has this year, too!

Waiting for the bell to ring.

Pretty happy about this 4th grade business.

No photos of Xander heading off to middle school, because...middle school. But here's the best I could do in getting an end-of-the-first-day photo at MOD Pizza.

Xander's homework: making a name tag for his desk.

Michael and I have been trying to sneak in some lunch dates here and there.

Hiking the Heliotrope trail up at Mount Baker.

Hanging out with Corwin at our annual block party.

Still young enough for the bouncy house.

One morning, after Clare had already left for school, X was so bored that he made her bed for her. (He also went and made ours!)

Found this in a box of old things.

Grammy Eve bought Clare a poop emoji hat at the Iowa State Fair!

We did not realize for a couple of days that the crazy thing actually lights up.

A school project.

Clare's self-portrait hanging on the wall outside Mr. Z's classroom.

Sneaking in a quick pizza between Trail Blazers and volleyball practice.

Wrapping a birthday gift for Jay.

Getting high fives from the UW players during last weekend's football game.

Clare at her very first basketball tryout.

Birthday coffee date with my best boy.

Posing outside the coffee shop before heading to school.

Birthday lunch date with this guy.

Surrounded by beautiful flowers from Mom, Michael and the kids.