Fireplace Season

Before the furnace was serviced recently, it was having a bit of a hard time keeping up with our snowy mornings and cold evenings.  So we tested out the fireplace, which radiated more warmth than we were expecting. Cozy.

Or, a little too warm, if you are Alida, who did a quick clothing change and was comfortable.

Let the Holiday Tomfooliry Begin!

Onzies.

 

They were oddly delighted and so tickled.

 

Let Christmas season begin!

Nick's School Project

Make a three course dinner.  No help.

He insisted on leveling ingredients for the cookies.  I grew inpatient during step number one.

 

 

Watch him cry through making onions.

I shoved a piece of bread in his mouth.

 

Realize something didn't go quite right.

Remind him that there were some lovely cookies there.

Dry rub.

 

Ask for a photo with his dinner.

And get this.

 

He did amazing; really, he made the croutons.  He may make it on his own some day!

Let it Snow!

No 1: a full 10 days before the average first snow here.

 

 

Not many days later, snow No. 2

 

Snow No 3 on a Saturday morning could not be left alone.

It was Nov 17 and by the end of the day, we had reached the average November snowfall with many days to go in the month.

 

Cartwheel evasive maneuvers by Ben during the snowball fight.

 

And I'll take the simple joy.

 

Thankful

Tactical

Complain from upstairs that no one is there paying attention to her.

Stare me down with devil eyes when I show up.

Turn and walk away.

 

Complain from upstairs that no one is there paying attention to her....

 

It's a complicated relationship.

The Musical

Opening Night--we wouldn't have missed it.

Elaine joined the crew after cross country was over for the season.  Since she was the only one to volunteer and not be in the play, she was promoted to stage manager pretty much immediately. 

 

Three days and four shows.

Sixth grade, I remember singing the alphabet song for a one-night only showing... school has changed.

 

And we were absolutely without-a-doubt amazed.  They all were wonderful, really.  I couldn't believe they were 6-8th graders.

 

The Napkins--turns out they are back-up singers...

And the theme of the show: manners.  I was delighted.  There was a song about how to set the table; how to be a good guest; how to say thank you.

And gratuitous picture of Elaine, since all we saw during the show was a little peeking out from behind the curtains, so quickly I couldn't get a shot.

We've Come a Long Way Ladies

 

Ten years and a lot of miles girls.

The other day Alida says to me: "Sometimes, we think we're a little too close."

Impossible.

Dinner

Leave instructions to make dinner while I take Alida to an eye appointment.

It worked! 

With a little help from dad, she and I walked in the door, sat down, and ate.

and it was good. 

Toasthead?

I don't make any attempt to pretend that I understand Snapchat, at all.

But they love it, so I'm in.

Stepping Out

We got a chance to don the military garb a few weekends ago!

It had been so long since I had attended one of these formal events, I found myself completely perplexed with the shopping process.  Thankfully, he arrived to meet me at the mall, and we knocked it out in about five minutes after he arrived.  Then we went out to lunch--two dates in one!

Off My Task List

Let them argue with someone else.

 

I finally gave up the home haircut task. 

12 years, I think I did my part.

 

Turns out, they hate getting haircuts, no matter who is doing it.  Glad it can be someone else from here on out.

 

 

Halloween

We were glad they didn't want to give up the pumpkin carving tradition. 

I was not glad to find them in my living room with pumpkin mess everywhere.  No surprised, however.

 

 

Love them.

 

Chocolate Skull Cake, before it fell apart in a de-composed sort of way.

 

Stitch and Dr. Butters (AKA, Monopoly Man).

 

Our precious little girl.

Our precious little girl, who lost a lens out of her glasses that evening and lost her entire back-up pair of glasses.  She'll see again today.

 

Nicholas, who has apparently hit a growth spurt turned down the shenanigans this year and helped us pass out candy.