Twelve

Twelve.  That's more than just one past 10.  That's as preteen as one can get.  The first child to enter our family arrived September 17th with a squawl in the evening; so tiny with scrawny arms and legs furled up alongside his barrel of  a torso.  Dark hair.  Smack-back front-right cowlick that continues to this day to dominate his 'do. 

Haitian Spaghetti was his choice for dinner, and that was punctuated with his

selection of brownies with ice cream and fresh raspberries.

The used video game store was a big hit with the brother and sisters when shopping for Monkey's birthday gifts  .  .  .  "Plants -vs- Zombies," though?  Really?  Notice his first love --

Jelly Bellies!  (2 lbs. of sweet confection there, folks.)

Apparently, pea shooters, sunflowers, and even some fungi help you defend your house from, you guessed it -- zombies.  What are kids using for entertainment these days?  I mean, I watched good ol' "Dukes of Hazard" as a kid wherein  .  .  .  um, oh, yeah a fat white guy in a white suit eating fried chicken sent his minions to car-chase curly-haired Luke and tossled blonde Bo across the county line.  Every show.  Okay, "Go pea shooters!"  Fair enough.