November 2016--
photos from my phone + short summaries
November gave us so much sunshine--perfect cuddle/napping sunshine, even.
And I started to miss the baby-ness of this girl,
so so so much
knowing...she will soon NOT be the babe
The soccer practice was on the daily schedule
This boy has always been smitten by his baby sister
ALWAYS
I love seeing their relationship continue that love!
Family game nights (like, every night after dinner cleanup...UNO!)
Games in the playroom
art projects on the front porch
Those sunny fall days, though...backyard wins!
and fire pit evenings
#5thbump
chillin' out the in cabin with blankets, watching the rain drops
VOTING DAY
Family bowling night
(J won, by a long shot)
Crafty time, learning time, fun time...this table is where it's at.
Our homeschool this year is very low key (as in previous years)...
mostly focusing on reading, math games, and interest & play-based learning
I love the flexibility, especially for these ages.
And sometimes I feel like this:
Outside again---more leaves changing!
Gymnastic Tuesdays!
More art projects in the sunshine...
because we know winter will be here in no time (and we're loving this extended "summer"
At gymnastics, the three bigs jump and tumble and practice
while Miss A stays by my side with an animal or two,
and her water bottle (which I had to start remembering to bring, even for the 45 minute class, because she was taking other kids' bottles!)
My view: looking down
(at gymnastics)
Getting excited, only one month left...WHAT!?
Miss A was a great note taker
at my midwife appointment
And they love-love-love
this indoor soccer field (inside a community center/church) in the next town over
a rainy day favorite
Sun & clouds out again--
we hit the park!
And sometimes...
with butter burgers from Culver's
because.
Mom's prego cravings...
More outside art work--rocks!
Chefs in the morning
Our annual THANKFUL TREE
Science projects...outside, of course!
Honestly--I shoved them outside on every nice weather day,
Honestly--I shoved them outside on every nice weather day,
because that winter hibernation...it's a comin'
Leaf raking
& jumping!
Growing, growing, growing...
(fastest pregnancy ever)
Glowing, glowing, glowing...
(or is that sweat?)
Ok, seriously
I cannot handle the cuteness
(an after Church shot...this was the Primary program Sunday,
my first Primary program to LEAD as music leader,
and just before I got released, which was also heavenly)
Before bedtime YOGA
Sometimes.
I
Selfie
(new ombre/bayalage hair)
Thankful Tree filled UP
Every day we wrote/drew at least one thing we were thankful for,
I love the sweet energy that expressing gratitude can pour into our home and hearts
Getting ready for Thanksgiving
Feeling especially grateful
for this unexpected gift for 2016
and to complete our family!
Thanksgiving day!
We did meatballs instead of turkey
& it was delicious and so much less time consuming...plus, freed the oven for all the extras!
Our first Thanksgiving in our Michigan home
These
faces
though
(J: 8, N: 6, Miss N: almost 5, Miss A: 19 mo.)
Our familia
We played pictionary in the basement
While Dad worked on his big Thanksgiving week project...
Quiet reading time...
(upstairs playroom)
Still.growing.
And the project.
Here's the deal.
Doesn't this fireplace look...um...RIDICULOUS?
Doesn't this fireplace look...um...RIDICULOUS?
Like they started on it and then decided--meh, leave it like that.
So it's been looking like this--silly, in my opinion, for the last 14 years since this house was built!
I couldn't stand it anymore. I told Trevor I needed a mantel before Christmas.
Trevor had never done anything like this before,
needed to buy some new fun tools,
and learned so much in the process (yay youtube!)
as we worked to design this ourselves.
And...
THE FINISHED MANTEL:
I'm so in love with it.
And the chance to decorate it.
It has changed EVERYTHING about that room,
which previously we just...didn't love.
Now it's our favorite space!
Besides our favorite outside space:
I quickly put up our nativity...the mantel NEEDED it already.
(and J is constantly reading)
And N is constantly building/inventing/re-building
Read aloud time on Miss N's bed
(all three bigs are in the same room, because that's how they like it...mostly Miss N doesn't want to sleep in her own space anymore,
so...fine with us! Miss A has her own room for now)
We made lots
and lots
and lots of turkeys
this month...
here are just a few:
