November Fun

November was a pretty laid-back month for us after our busy October. We did have several school things- robotics competition and the living wax musuem. We also spent a weekend in OKC for a game day with friends and then some cousin time with Abigail. Here are a few other highlights. 

Afternoons with the Pashkovets are always a highlight of our week. It's so fun to have friends so close for last minute fun. We ended up playing so long together that the kids stayed for dinner and hot chocolate. 

We celebrated Audrey's seventh birthday in November with a roller skating party. So fun!

The girls in our Sunday school class had a pizza cooking class. I learned so much about making pizza and had a great time fellowshipping. We have all really missed regular girls' nights over the last two years. This night was a treat!

Nathan played flag football this Fall, and I completely failed to take any pictures of him. He enjoys the sport of football a lot right now. In his last game he got to pull the flag of the quarterback which was the highlight of his season. 

While he plays, these siblings find their own entertainment. 

We've started having monthly girls' nights with these sweet friends, and I love it! I'm so thankful for them.

Nathan got to celebrate Caden's 11th birthday with an awesome party at Main Event. He had a blast!

These three boys have been celebrating birthdays together since they were in pre-k! I hope they continue celebrating together for the next decade too. 

When I came to pick up Nathan he made me ride this simulator roller coaster with him. 

The week of Thanksgiving, I hosted a little Thanksgiving party/play date with our homeschool party crew from last year. Kamryn and Addisyn are back at school this year, so I was happy we could schedule the playdate when they could join. We love this group of friends and always try to find ways to celebrate with them. 

The kids decorated cupcakes, ate popcorn and played all afternoon. 

We were all happy that Granny and Grandaddy could join us for Thanksgiving this year after missing them last year. This is their first visit in two years- such a blessing that their health allowed them to come. 

Elisabeth and Granny cooked together and it's a memory I think I'll remember forever. It takes me back to my childhood and cooking with Granny in her kitchen- such a precious legacy being passed down to the next generation. 

The kids were SO excited to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade on Thanksgiving morning. 

Elisabeth and Samuel decided to decorate place cards for our Thanksgiving table. They did a great job. 

We had a yummy lunch! We have so much to be thankful for. 

This Little Turkey was tuckered out after a big day. 

She reminded me of another tired turkey from four years before, ha!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Samuel and I went on an overdue date together. We went bowling and to Andes for a treat. He's a joy to hang out with! We had a great time together. 

That evening we hosted a Bedlam watch party, and goodness was that a game worth watching. The kids had no interest in watching the game but had the best time playing together for the whole night. 

The game was so intense. Corey took a funny picture of us during it. This was us pretty much the whole game, on the edge of our seats. 

Even at the very last play of the game, no one knew whether we'd win or lose. It ended up being a great night to be a Cowboy! What a game!

The kids who didn't watch the game were sure  happy to join in the celebration. (Nathan did watch part of it, but succumbed to computer games with Wyatt halfway through, ha!)

It was a great night to end a fun month!
 

Halloween 2021

We had another fun Halloween this year. Each year gets easier and more fun. The kids unintentionally all chose super hero costumes this year. They each represent their personality perfectly. 

On the Wednesday before Halloween, the kids had a trunk or treat at Awanas. They always come home with so much candy from that special night. 

The day before Halloween, our gymnastics gym hosted a Halloween obstacle course at the gym. The kids ran, jumped, swung, and flipped for candy. 

They also got to have their faces painted before we left. 

Saturday after the gymnastics party, the Millers came over to watch the OSU game with us. The neighbors came over to play for a little bit too. The girls rehearsed and showed us a cute OSU cheer. 

We've had the same tradition for the last several years to spend Halloween with the Shondelmyers. It's a favorite tradition. We snapped some pictures of the kids in their costumes before we drove over to their house. 

I can't get over that Katherine chose a Power Ranger costume, but then carried her teddy bear with her the whole night while she was trick or treating. She's a well rounded girl- tough and nurturing. 

We ate chili and hot dogs before heading out to trick or treat. 

We get a group picture every year. And every year, we talk about how much easier trick or treating is than the years when we had toddlers and babies, and we had to send Corey to come pick us up halfway through the neighborhood because the kids were too tired to walk home. 

There was a milestone this year with our big boys. We gave Wyatt and Nathan permission to go trick or treating on their own without adult supervision (or little siblings). They showed a lot of responsibility and had a great time with their new independence. I can't believe how fast they're growing up. Before long, the adults are going to be sitting at home handing out candy while all the kids go off on their own. 

We moms might have as much fun as the kids. 

When everyone got tired and cold, and their buckets were overflowing we headed back to eat candy and play before calling it a night. 

 Such a fun night!