Nova's 13th Birthday

[Photo of Nova will go here when I can find it]

Nova is 13!  No more calling her a tweenager (which was only in jest, but seriously, Nova has been acting like a teenager for at least a year and a half).  Since moving to a bigger house, we are back into the realm of sleepovers (bigger bodies and increasing numbers of friends had ruled it out last year--at least for the number of kids she wanted to invite).

On the suggestion of my Aunt Pat, we have started a tradition of going both parents out for lunch or dinner with our new 13 year old, their choice of restaurant, and no siblings.  Nova chose a ramen place in Minneapolis, Ramen Kazama.  We had some novelty Japanese soda as well.  This tradition works well for a big family where one-on-one time is scarce.

The night began with watercolor painting in the dining room, (Nova has been into art recently). followed by games and movies.  One of the games was Telestrations, which is part Pictionary, part Telephone.   It is usually at least mildly hilarious.  The next morning while cleaning up the basement, I found this gem (unfortunately I erased the pictures).

Original word: written in hieroglyphics (started by Willow), first picture: a quizzical face with a question mark, next word: a fat man with a hat, next picture: a balding fat man looking at his belly (very well drawn-no hat), next word: belly, next picture: a circle, next word: egg, next picture: two concentric circles, next word: what is that? (plus a reproduction of the picture) next picture: quizzical face, next word: drawing of a quizzical face, next picture: quizzical face End Game.

Suffice it to say they had fun!