All the Rest of November

Oh, my goodness! This boy had that hair! I forget that sometimes. This look was when I took the kids to the park and when we arrived, Sam was mad at me because Dad wasn't there. This was shortly after Shad started working. Sam really bonded with Shad during that period of unemployment. I'm still his #1, but Shad is a close #2.

Dancy was playing on a tablet during quiet time and fell asleep.

We loved going to the forest every Thursday to meet up with a group of kids, but then bailed out when it got below 40 and I had three kids clinging on me, crying for cold. This picture is when the kids made a seesaw! All their idea, they directed construction with the assistance of only one adult. Dancy is in the green jacket on the right with Katie behind her.

Dancy dressed up like Doc McStuffins! I love this so much!

Katie fixed her hair.

For Shad's birthday, the kids picked out a hunting lodge Lego set.

Building Dad's Lego set.

{Tommy, Shad, Samson, Dancy, Thora, Katie}

Another hairdo by Katie.

Samson LOVES helping load and unload the dishwasher!

Tried to get a picture of Thora in her adorable pjs and Samson ran in for a photobomb.

Thora chickie!

Samson found a toothbrush somewhere in the house and it wasn't ours! This boy LOVES brushing teeth. He'll use anyone's toothbrush.

Samson is always ready to eat. Even if he's already eaten breakfast, he'll climb in a lap and ask so sweetly to eat our breakfast, too.

Somewhere in this timeline of pictures we went up to Denver for Thanksgiving with my family. We stayed at my mom's house, and had Thanksgiving at Becky and Brandon's house (my sister and brother-in-law) with Jake and Amber (my brother and sister-in-law) and Amber's brother Travis, and my sister Lori. Katie went to Kohl's with Becky for her first Black Friday experience and Becky let her pick out fluffy blankets for all her sibings to complete the experience of buying something for a great deal. Samson was teething hardcore and had a high fever, so I called Becky while she was out and asked her to get him Tylenol. The poor boy was just so miserable, but did still enjoy all the food! And there are zero pictures because that's how many Shad and I took. We stayed the whole weekend, did some actual Black Friday shopping on Friday, and went to the temple while Ruth and Coltyn babysat. Oh, and I bought all the food I was contributing to Thanksgiving and then forgot it at home. So I rebought it all up there. Now I've still got pies in my freezer.

Ooo, la, la! A Fancy Nancy Party!

Waaaaay back in November, we had Katie's birthday party. It was on Veteran's Day, which actually had me a little worried that kids might not show up if they were celebrating the holiday with their families because we have a LOT of military here in Colorado Springs: one Army base, two Air Force bases, and the Air Force Academy. But we still had good attendance.

It took me a while to figure out what kind of party to have because we're used to having a lot of space for kids to run around in and having active parties. But we don't have all that space anymore, so I had to brainstorm sit-down parties. I came up with Tea Party, Makeover Party, and Movie Party. Katie wanted to mix Tea Party and Makeover Party, so we called it a Fancy Nancy Party! We painted nails, had tea & cupcakes, and made friendship bracelets. We even had a little dancing to the Trolls soundtrack.

Manicures!

{Starting at top left and moving clockwise: Carolyn, Stephanie, Thora, Noie, Dancy, me, Christina, Madison, Brenya, Katie, Frances}

I don't think I've written about this yet, but I started freelance editing when we moved because I saw a post from Carolyn on our church facebook page, talking about being an author. I asked if she needed an editor, and things snowballed from there. Carolyn is my book author and I've also edited a game rulebook and a PhD essay. So it's been a real whirlwind with moving, starting work part time, birthdays, holidays, sick spells, and most recently, potty training. But we're having fun.

Tommy didn't want to fully participate in the party, but he still dressed up to be fancy with us. Katie directed all of us with our clothes so we'd be fancy.

Tea time!

{Clockwise from bottom left: Dancy, Christina, Madison, Brenya, Tommy, Katie, Frances, Stephanie, Thora's hand, Noie}

Friendship bracelets!

{Clockwise from left: Christina, me, Madison, Stephanie, Carolyn, Katie, Frances, Brenya, Thora, Noie, Tommy, Dancy's hand}

Love these two!

Katie with her fancy parents.

Fancy cupcakes! Funfetti with strawberry jam filling and buttercream frosting.

We did top them with heart-shaped candies and candy coated mini chocolate chips, but I didn't capture that picture.

As with Tommy's birthday, we had this one be a "Fiver," where instead of gifts, friends give some money in a gift card for something the birthday kid is saving up for. For Katie, she was planning on an American Girl doll, but lately she's been smitten with a kid's sewing machine at Joann's.