The trip over

If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken more photos of the snow in Indianapolis before we left.  We flew out on 2 Jan - right before Indianapolis got hammered with snow that would be respectable even in Connecticut, and cold temperatures that would be respectable even in Minnesota. Unlike the drive to the airport for our house-hunting trip, we did NOT get rear-ended on the highway.  Considering the amount of snow on the roads and the fact that we drove from West Lafayette, that's not a small miracle.

Kristine's parents saw us off at the airport.  They took this picture right before we went through security.  It doesn't do justice to the stellar packing job Kristine did.  A backpack each for her, Elise, and Charis, a shoulder pouch for Clare, mandolin and laptop for me, plus 3 more bags that rode on the stroller.  All this without overloading the girls so much that they toppled over (I found out after posting this picture on Facebook that we're not the only parents who think about these things).

Elise and Charis haven't been past airport security since 2008.  It was Clare's first time.  At the start of the trip in Indianapolis, all 3 were thrilled.

Clare was still cheerful when we got to Washington DC.  She was not cheerful when we boarded and sat at the gate for 2 hours waiting for the plane to be de-iced.  Fortunately, she and Kristine were in a row with just the two of them.  I had it much easier in the row behind them, mostly because Elise and Charis are both old enough to be at least somewhat entertained by the in-flight entertainment systems.

We did eventually take off, and made a safe (if more bumpy than I've had on a jumbo jet in many years) flight to Manchester.  Charis slept for a couple hours.  I think that explains her ability to smile.

Elise and I did not sleep.