November 12-18th

 

Another thing I love about the fall: pumpkin whoopies!

 The Letter Y with Charlotte.  I love activity time. (We were making a big "You Tree")

 Then we decided to add some yarn and yellow leaves. Soon after I cut out all of those leaves, she lost interest.

 We got a pomegranate in our Winder basket. I forgot how yummy they are.

Hazel made me a meal all by herself. When I was making their lunches earlier, Charlotte asked for just jam on her bread and I told her that she had to have something healthy on her bread, like peanut butter. So Hazel made me a sandwich with jam and the healthy element, spinach. And you better bet I ate every bit.

 Saturday morning sisterly snuggles.

 We've been teaching Ellie to wipe walls since most of the dirt is at her level. (That's weird).

 The girls had filled up the Happiness Jar halfway and we told them that when they did so, we'd take them to the zoo. Since it was so cold outside and the zoo is pricey, we took them to Kangaroo Zoo! I think it was just as exciting to them since they've never been.

 And they all shared a Slushie afterwards.

 On Sunday we celebrated Thanksgiving early at Kevin and Vicki's since we'll be down in Arizona. Hazel and I made an apple pie together. She chose the shamrock cookie cutter for the top of the pie, so it was a token of good luck for the next year!

She cut out the H on top and we colored it red with food coloring.

 Vicki's table always looks so nice.

 Here she is opening David's favorite Thanksgiving treat: raspberry jello salad.

In my learning circle this month, I heard a story about "looking for the yellow" in life and not getting caught in the blue. As a reminder, I found this ring that used to belong to Nana, and decided that it would be a great "totem" to help me hang on to the beautiful reality of my charmed life when things start to go sour in my mind.

First Big Snow

On Thursday, Nov. 8th, I took the girls to a salon to get haircuts as we prepare for family pictures! I was so impressed with how well little Ellie did. She held still the entire time and even smiled at me for the picture.

After haircuts, I took the girls to the candy store next door and let them each pick one thing. Hazel found some rock candy that looked like clear crystals. I noticed in the car that she wasn't opening her bag and eating any of them and when I asked her about it, she looked at me surprised and said, "These aren't real crystals?"

I have no idea how I raised my three girls without this bath chair! They're so convenient.

  Lottie is washing his hair and Ellie is chewing on his foot. Poor little one doesn't know any different right?

Friday violin lessons.

Getting ready to go out in the first snow of winter!

My mom found this outfit at a garage sell. It was very Christmas Story-esque.

We forgot that this snow thing was new to Eloise since she was only one last year. She thought it was pretty fascinating.

Saturday's Waffle comes to Ogden! We love you Mike. And your gourmet waffles.

And after eating all that snow, she would NOT let go of that hot chocolate.

All dressed up for Sunday! I styled my hair with my bangs back for the first time since I've had bangs and Hazel looked at me funny and said, "I thought you knew how to do hair, but I guess you really don't." Ha.

Oh, Willow.

Visit from my second favorite man in the world

 On my way to pick up my dad at the airport, I voted! Go Mitt!

Two artists hard at work.

This was the first time my dad has visited us here in Ogden and it was SO NICE to have him with us. He was so thoughtful and brought little gifts for each of the kids: A blow-up globe for Hazel, Silly Putty for Charlotte (which later ended up on the backside of Hazel's pants), wooden blocks for Eloise, and an army rubber duck for Edison. So thoughtful. I'm pretty sure he could have brought paper bags for all of them and they would have thought he was the coolest though. He won their hearts long ago.

 Eloise showing Grandpa Dean the chickens.

 Look at those leaves!

 She was so cute in her red skinnies that I had to catch a picture of her.

 The girls got to show off their gymnastics skills with Grandpa Dean watching, but before we left for that, we squeezed in a nice game of croquet!

 My dad was kicking butt, so we sent the girls to distract him.

 This one in particular is the most smitten with my Dad.

 Croquet poses.

Sadly, on Tuesday night, my sweet grandmother passed away in her bed back in Oregon. My Dad left early to take care of the arrangements for her cremation. How I love this woman and will treasure all my memories of her. I'm glad I got to be with my Dad when she passed as we knew it was coming soon and we both felt a mixture of relief for her and sadness knowing we wouldn't see her for a while. We talked a lot of the spirit world and our favorite memories of this dear woman.

Some of my favorites:

1. How she used to iron Grandpa's handkerchiefs so carefully and let me fold them for her. 

2. She used to have a bag of activities and surprises for me when I'd visit so I'd have something to look forward to each day.

3. She used to pull out special toys that belonged to my Dad and his sister and let me play with them.

4. When I was small, she would lay down with me until I fell asleep so that I wouldn't have to be scared at night.

5. When my Dad and I would arrive at the farm in the middle of the night, she would bring me up to the kitchen and make me sugar-cinnamon toast for a snack before she tucked me into bed.

6. She was an avid collector of swans and, toward the end of her life, tiny dolls (all of which we recently inherited--hello family service project!)

7. She loved finding treasures at Goodwill and took me with her often.

8. She showed me how to make a pie crust once and it failed miserably! We both laughed and tried again.

9. She spent years rubbing oils on her cuticles to make her nails grow. By the end of her life, she had the most beautiful, long nails.

10. She spent her life serving her husband, children, and grandchildren. To me, she is the essence of "mother."

Trip to Idaho

On Friday, Nov. 2nd, we caravanned with Kevin and Vicki to Idaho Falls for Brooklyn's baptism. I remember I was covering my face because I had a zit.

It was a nice quick visit and we're so happy for Ms. Brooklyn. We got her a journal, something I give to all the nieces and nephews now.

On Sunday, the girls have been dressing up poor Willow.

Little Ms. Classy Pants.

Double diaper duty.