November 2019 Recap

Wow, did this post take a ton of work to complete. I actually contemplated several times to not even do this post because there were so many issues with getting my pictures uploaded this time around. It is no secret that this little blog is for my children. So kids, one day in the far far future if you ever come across and read this post, thank us for all the work we put into this space for you. There were so many challenges with getting this extra long, extra fun post together. And actually, this space has been a lot of time and work for us.

But, November held so much fun and love and, unfortunately, sickness. Reflecting on the month though I have so much happy thoughts regarding it. Our adjustment to school has been really challenging on all of us, myself especially. But, I really felt like we finally found a rhythm. And then we had a long break to look forward to!

So let's get to our November 2019:

The Ballet

We surprised Payton with a trip to the nutcracker ballet. Grandma was supposed to come with us as well but she was sick and couldn't make the trip. We were bummed but Payton and I still had the best time ever and were mesmerized by the beauty of the ballet. Payton is still talking about their dances and attempting to repeat their graceful moves today.

Cousins visit

We did get a weekend of too much fun when our cousins came to visit. They chose to stay in a hotel room this time and we got to enjoy so many perks of their vacation. Swimming, tourist activities, dining out, and playing the day away with our cousins made for the most fun weekend this month. We can't wait to see them again!

The weather is always changing

A good part of this month was spent outside playing, making park trips, and running around in t-shirts or jackets (depending on what the weather called for). We try very hard to live outside during these days.

And then the weather took a random change...

We were outside as well making snowmen, shoveling, sledding, and breathing in the fresh, quiet air that always comes with a good snow storm. A combination of this storm and sickness kept family from coming to visit us for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

What should have been a house full of people ended up being just our family, party of 5. We were sad and disapointed but, in the end, it was probably my most favorite Thanksgiving ever. The kids made pies with me, helped with making the meal, and we just got so reconnected again. I haven't felt to close as a family since before Payton started school. This holiday meant the world to me.

We taught the kids how to play spoons and Cooties (checked out from our local library) and these games have been on constant rotation since.

We pulled out the bead mania kit we have and I was shocked when all 3 kids spent hours working on these over the week. Payton got very creative with her designs and started making mermaids, superman logo, and other creative designs.

We had to mark the calendar of when we could put our Christmas tree up because Riley had been asking since November 1st. Our date was set for the day after Thanksgiving and Riley woke up at 5AM ready to do just that on Black Friday. Forget shopping, decorating trees is where it is at. We spent the morning reflecting on Thanksgiving and sharing plans for Christmas to come.

We also surprised the kids on the last day of our vacation together with bowling:

We were sad to end our Thanksgiving vacation to get back to our regular routine but this last outing really sealed the deal for us on looking forward to Christmas vacation!!!!

Riley and I snuck off for a date

Sometimes, I recognize that one of my children really needs some 1 on 1 time. This month it was Riley. So, I was able to sneak away with him for a "coffee shop date" which is the most loved and cherished by my children. Our hometown coffee shop has many daily bakery items and juice drink options, along with children's games to play. My kids could live there.

 As the middle child I can see how he doesn't always feel like he gets enough time, but I do hope he always knows that he is loved and we try our absolute hardest. Life just wouldn't be the same without his humor and sweet heart.

School at Home

School was busy and full of lots of projects this month. I got Payton for a week as well since she was on vacation. It was so good to have her back in the "classroom" with me, I have missed having these 3 together for everything!

 Riley has graduated to bigger puzzles and quickly figured out how to put this 100 piece puzzle together:

 The kids made Thankful place settings:

 Riley and his letter G monster and Goat:

We did do a few trips out and about for school including the library story time and the children's museum:

And then sickness finally caught up with us

Almost everyone around us had been sick and we thought we had avoided it. But, sickness did eventually hit our house for another round. This was a first for us as we got hand, foot, and mouth disease.

I had no idea what Jayden had so I took him into the dr. While there, Riley spiked a fever and started to feel miserable. He ended up being checked out as well. It was my hardest and worst experience at the doctor as I had 2 very sick kids that had to be held by their mommy and didn't want anyone to touch them or poke and prod them.

This picture was taken at the dr's office. I had to carry them all the way to labs and x-ray. I had to hold them both as they had blood drawn and as Jayden screamed reaching for me as he had an x-ray taken while I held his crying older brother. They were miserable.

And then the next day, they both broke out with bumps...

We were quarantined at home for the full 10 days. We got lots of extra time together, extra love, and extra cuddles. And also, extra tv time.

Our 4 year old who doesn't nap also napped most of this sickness away:

We survived and are back to the full swing of activities again. These hard times with kids are good reminders to appreciate times of good health.

We celebrated a birthday

My husband turned 35 and Payton insisted we celebrate him with pink. She swears it's his favorite color! He did take the day off work and we just had the best time together as a family.

Big Boy Bed

Someone graduated to a big boy bed. It's hard to put away the crib, especially since it may be the last time for us to use it. *Sigh* Time just goes by too fast for me. I can't even catch my breath.

Jayden has done super well in the big boy bed though and even has slept through the night a few times, which wasn't happening in the crib.

But, please stay little a bit longer Jayden. It hurts my heart to see you grow so fast.

Pizza night

Pizza night continues to be a huge tradition at our house. We make the pizza together (most of the time) and then watch a movie and/or play games together. I hope we always do this and my kids cherish these memories made forever.

Matching clothes

On impulse I purchased a mommy and me matching t-shirt set and gave it to Payton over Thanksgiving break. I would have saved for Christmas but they are Christmas themed shirts and I wanted us to enjoy them. She was so thrilled. Can't you tell by her face? She is wearing this shirt the minute it comes out of the dryer and would live in it if I would let her. I just love how kids love the little things.

And that is a wrap for our November. As you can see by this long post, one of the best months ever! Even with being sick, I got so much family time with my little family. I am only that much more excited for Christmas together!

As we enter December, please pray for our family. Our dog (the Westie in the pic below) has been struggling with his health. We don't know how much longer we have with him. 11 1/2 years just hasn't been enough for us. He was my first baby with my husband and we love him so very much.

Happy Holidays!

October Recap

Wow, wow, wow. This month flew and was so flipping busy. Prepare yourself, this post is long. I even wrote a few posts during the month to cover school spirit week and our zoo trip. And still, this post is going to be so lengthy. I tried to narrow down my pictures as best I could but we still ended up with 40 something. So, let's just do this.

October:

School

We have done so many fun art projects that I couldn't go without this being addressed. Also, since we home school for preschool, this topic is a huge part of our life during the week.

We had a farm animal week complete with Charlotte's web, learning about cows and pigs (thanks to ABC Mouse, and made dirty pigs (thanks pinterest).

Then, in celebration of Halloween and fall we did tons of pumpkin projects, fall leaves projects, and made a spooky house.

I also found a fun scarecrow project where we worked hard on our shapes, cutting with scissors, and gluing skills.

I'm looking forward to November but have yet to create all my plans! But lots of art still to come!

Craft Event with Friends

I went to a craft event with my friends and is such a rarity that it probably needs documented. There were no kids, one art project, and a whole lot of laughs. I had a blast but am still working on my project after bringing it home.

I brought this home as a door hanger and took it apart to make on a sign. I added the purple dots and spider web to it. I think it still needs a bow or something more but, for now, it is going to storage. I will figure it out next year. Because that's how I roll sometimes. Projects can take years to complete.

Parent Teacher Conferences

How am I old enough to be going to this? How is my child old enough for kindergarten? I still don't know.

But, here we are. And... we survived. Conferences went well and our daughter's teacher initiated us with the best review we could hope for.

We even got a sitter and went to dinner afterwards! That never happens but probably should more often.

A Trip to My Hometown

Sometimes you just have to go back home. Not to the home I live at now but my home I grew up in. The actual house in the actual town. It's just the best. Not all adults still have access to their childhood home or knew only 1 home. I am one of the lucky ones. And, even with 3 kids running around it now, it still breathes home to me.

Our trip was short and sweet but made me want to pick up and move back home. I miss it so. And seeing my children with their cousins and just feeling the support of a village is so good for the soul. The scenery is nothing to complain about either.

Lunch at School

My mother came to visit during the week this month and let me go to have lunch with my daughter at school. It meant so much to me and I loved feeling like a kindergartner for a few hours. I had lunch and went to recess. You know, the best parts of an kindergartner's life.

The Pumpkin Patch

While my mother was here we also went to the pumpkin patch one morning. We just barely beat the rain, were sad there wasn't a maze to get lost in this year, and enjoyed cotton candy and hot cider. Overall, it doesn't disappoint.

Around the House

My favorite pictures of all time will probably always come from times where we really weren't doing anything. Just watching our kids be kids. They are living their best life though and it's so beautiful to be invited along for the show.

I swung by Goodwill and picked up the above toy. We put a battery in it and were surprised it still worked. The kids were playing fine with it before but totally love driving it on our side road!

One night Payton came home from school and asked to take a bath alone and paint. This is something the boys do frequently in the mornings and Payton misses this activity since she's at school. I obliged and was blown away by how much her artwork has evolved. I guess kindergarten does that.

We also took another trip to the children's museum for their second breakfast day. The boys had a blast:

The kids also wanted to go all out cheering for the Huskers and made me paint their faces. Jayden wanted nothing to do with this but was more than willing to take a picture.

Exploring new Areas

We spent an afternoon exploring a park we had never been to before and finally took the time to climb their tall tower overlooking the entire park and town. Riley was very scared to climb this tower but was so glad we made him (his dad carried him crying most of the way up). He smiled bravely for a picture, soaked up the scenery and had zero issues coming back down on his own. He was the most proud for making this trip. All 3 kids ask constantly to go back. Along with a lookout tower they also had some really cool playgrounds, lake, and trails. We want to go back soon.

Halloween Decorating Party

Every year I debate having a Halloween decorating party with friends. I go back and forth, back and forth. In the end, I do it and I have yet to regret it. Hands down, the best time. We get a ton of kids together and let them go crazy. With just basic art supplies and stickers though. I'm not ready for painting or carving... yet.

The kids did almost all the decorating set up this year and I love seeing how they take ideas and run with them.

Until next year I will be thinking of even more fun things to add to our decorating party! But while I was thinking about it, I took a look back at our 2017 party and 2018 party.

Halloween

This year the kids decided to go with PJ masks on Halloween night. But, we went to so many halloween events this year that, up until that point, the kids were allowed to pick any costume out of our costume box. We get so many hand me down costumes from cousins that I threw it all in an oversized tote and the kids choose their costumes from that. They also play dress up using that tote all year long. It's a total win for us!

And I am so, so thankful for another year of these 3 being convinced to be a theme together. I hope they always do this for me but know one day they may say no.

 I never get too crazy with my Halloween meals but we love to do these mummy wraps each year. I also made ketchup faces and served the kids with ghost string cheeses (ghosts drawn with marker on the package) for breakfast. Really easy stuff but so much fun.

The boys wanted to make cupcakes, so we did. Then, I challenged them all to a decorating contest. We had so much fun.

 We each decorated our cupcakes at different times during the day and then we showed them all to each other at the same time. Of course we had to sample them as well.

The kids also made Jack-O-lanterns.

                                                     

                                                       

 The boys went to story time. They picked their bee costume and batman outfit:

 We also went to Target's Paw Patrol event:

 And Cabela's trick or treating event. They supply us with a great photo opportunity:

 While we were out trick or treating that night, Payton insisted on a picture at the library:

She makes me laugh at her picture ideas. All in all it was a great holiday and we loved seeing all our friends the most. I love that this just gives us an excuse to visit everyone!

Such a busy month but I am certain our life is so well spent and just what our little family needs. We can't wait for November as it brings so much family time for all of us.

Have a great week!