Backpacks ready

Ready to roll. First to Jasper, to hop on the train which we then take through the rest of the mountains and across the prairie. A day and a night later we'll be hopping in a minivan and getting set to drive a few hours to a family wedding. After that we drive west again and spend a couple of days' visiting and hanging out in Winnipeg, hop on the train again and head west. After that we'll make a stop in Calgary for lessons and head home.

The kids have packed their backpacks for use on the train. They're full of knitting, card games, books to read, string games, math books, paper, iPods and drawing implements. Erin has her Illife Analysis of Bach's Preludes & Fugues. Fiona has brought the Kana de Manga book to study the Japanese alphabet. Violins and violas are ready to go too.

I'm psyched about the train, almost as much as Fiona.