Connor turns 16!!

Today is Connor's birthday. We started out the day at, where else -- the Texas Department of Public Safety! We had done the parent-taught driver's ed using an online course. There is a mound of paperwork to supply but thankfully we had it all. So Connor is now a licensed driver!

We've been looking for a car for Connor to drive ever since we got back from our trip to Colorado. We even bought one on Monday, and returned it Tuesday (don't ask!). We've looked at cars all over the metroplex...it's been hard to find a decent car at a decent price. Connor really wanted a Ford Explorer and we were focused on finding a black, white or silver one from 2002. There just aren't that many around. There are plenty of green (it must have been a popular color that year).

Hopefully our searching has come to an end (although we have 3 days to return it :). We ended up buying a 2004 with a little over 50k miles on it. Our thinking is that Nick will take it to Kansas State in the fall when he goes up there. Then Connor will take Nick's car.

Connor was pretty bummed that we hadn't found anything by his birthday. And we expected him to be tied up in school, and then at basketball practice until 6 today. But he got an extra birthday surprise when the water main to the school was ruptured in a construction accident and they closed the school around 1:00 today and cancelled all after-school activities! So Connor was able to go with us to get the car. He claims this is the best birthday ever! Of course, we remind him that the car does not technically belong to him...we can take it away for any number of reasons :)