November 2015

With the shift in clock time and daylight hours at the beginning of this month, came a shift in weather as well as family rhythms.  There's no doubt we've entered into a new season!  Physically, emotionally, metaphorically - even spiritually - things are changing around here.  

Gone are the mornings spent outside, barefoot and swinging.  And as Abby chants, "Be dark!  Be dark!" as we sit down for dinner each night, it's evident that the evening backyard games have been cancelled for the time being, too.  

 

As much as I miss the generally nice weather we experience for most of the year, this change in seasons has brought about some new family adventures which I'll treasure forever.  Since our kids go to bed so early, they almost never get to experience Night and all her glory.  We've embraced the opportunity and have been on several "star walks" around the neighborhood this month, and Bruce even hosted a "Star Party" one weekend when we were visiting Charlie's folks out in the countryside.  His agenda for entertainment included music, dancing, star gazing, and of course, eating cake.  We've had so much fun enjoying the stars - I'm going to need to brush up on my astronomy though!  I can point out Cassiopeia and Orion easily, but I'd love to know more.  Bruce is a pro at finding Polaris, the North Star - which he deems important because pirates used Polaris for sea navigation.  

Can you see them?  It's Charlie and a kid, I honestly can't remember which one, on a star walk!

Daytime play has changed too - we still go outdoors some, but it's not as convenient to just dash outside for a bit.  It's always quite the production to convince these youths of their need for jackets and footwear, and even when they finally surrender, it takes forever to get everyone dressed.  

sunglasses by choice...

When we're not outside playing, Bruce is happily engaged with his Playmobils and Legos - needing "privacy" in his bedroom, undisturbed by his curious sister.  Abby mostly just wants to be in his room so she can pile all of her babies into is bed (she can't access her crib as easily) but Boy will have none of that.  Abby is usually more than content though to pull up an excessively large pile of books into her lap and read each one in great detail.  Some of the ones we've read to her frequently, she can even recite back to her babies - it's the cutest thing, really.

"Sleep Tiger" - one of her favorites lately! (Really, it's Sleep Like a Tiger)

story time at Abby's Corner

a REAL baby to read to!

even choosing to read instead of play at Chick-fil-a!

There's something about the cold weather that seems to make life more complicated and challenging.  The daylight is shorter, but the days are longer.  On top of that, this month has been a roller-coaster of emotions for me.  A long story for another time made short, the church that we've been a part of for the past eight years has decided to disband.  There's no controversy, no scandal.  Over the last few years, with the growing and changing dynamic of the families that make up the church, the organizational structure has become too challenging, heavy, and inhibiting.  The leaders felt the best way to avoid some divisive "split" was to just lay down the church as a whole.  It's been so incredibly sad as we come to terms with this new reality, but we're really hopeful and excited about what's in store for the next leg of the journey.   We've tried to be really purposeful in connecting with friends in this season as we try to sort out what's next, but for now we've settled into a place of waiting and dreaming.  Waiting is hard.  Dreaming is fun.  The process is good, and the outcome will be perfect.  

Other Highlights and Kidbits for the month:

We went to the Day of the Dead festival!  It was completely free, and lots of fun.

llamas!  or alpacas?  I never know...

Bruce rode the pirate boat ride!  Abby was terrified of the sounds and wouldn't go anywhere near it!

We spent a weekend in Perkins to detox from Halloween candy and love on grandparents!

 

helping with the cows

they always make time for throwing rocks in the creek

 

 

Charlie and Bruce turned a fallen tree into a really fun fort!

 

there's nothing like a barn full of hay!

We went to a Turkey Trot in the park!

a scavenger hunt!

shhh... Abby's hiding...

 

I got to go "teach" at my old school for a morning!  My old teammate invited me to guide an art project for the school's upcoming Multicultural Fair - hooray!  Abby was my sidekick and Bruce spent some time at Charlie's office, and they both were great.  It was so fun to be back in the classroom again!

(oops... no pictures!)

We got out of the cold and went to the dinosaur museum with friends!

We spent Thanksgiving in Perkins!  It was miserably cold and rainy, but we had a nice, relaxing time with Charlie's parents and Katie Dog.  

 

earning her keep

After we got home from our Thanksgiving holiday, we set up the Christmas tree and began our Advent Season!  I wasn't sure exactly how to celebrate Advent this year.  We have our countdown calendar that we've used for the past several years, and this year I made an advent wreath for our table.  I wanted to continue some of the traditions we started last year, especially filling the manger with hay as we prepare for Jesus to come, but I wanted to add new traditions this year as well.  In keeping with following Bruce's lead, I think this year we'll focus a lot on the Wise Men.  You know, because they went on a star walk and brought treasures.  That seems right up his alley.  

We got a new tree this year!  It's really skinny, but I think I love it!

Since I literally feel like we just went trick or treating last week, I don't feel like there's much news on how the kids have "changed" this month - other than to say that Bruce has discovered Star Wars and Abby has decided skirts aren't the most terrible thing ever.  

I gave my phone to Bruce in the car to use as a mirror to look at something on his face,
and he took 151 photos of himself!!!

Most days, if you happened to be graced with our presence, you'll find Bruce with crusted-dried yogurt smeared somewhere on his face, and Abby with slime oozing from her nose, everyone's hair disheveled, and guaranteed food stains on each item of clothing.  BUT.  These kids sure clean up well. I know I'm biased, but aren't they just beautiful?

And just for giggles, here's some backyard wrestling from earlier in the month:

and we have a winner!

It's all fun and games until you hear, "She made me pee!  She made me PEE!"
Then, we're done.