What Happened to November?

Ok I realize that November went fast, but I just cannot believe it is already over.  This year is racing I don’t like it one bit, the faster time goes, the faster my kids grow up and don’t even get me started thinking about sending O off to college, I can’t take that thought at all!  It is bad enough that colleges are daily sending information and calling her.  Ok College Admissions Offices,  have you put any thought into the fact that you are calling HIGH SCHOOLERS during the DAY TIME!!!  When they are in CLASS.  Oh Good Grief!  Seriously there is a few colleges who call her, and called C during the school day to talk about the college.  No Sense at all!!!  What are they thinking?!?!?!  Ok enough with that rant.  I wish I knew who to call to get them to quit calling during the school day.  C got so many one school in particular was calling him every single day.
*** update*** I called the university and was sent to Voice Mail since they are at lunch or in class right now
{per the voice mail message}
Ironic huh?

NovemberThankful for a month to stop and make us realize our blessings.
{If you look really close, you can see thousands of dead bee bodies in the fireplace.  They are still getting in the house and dying at an alarming pace.  While most of them are honey bees, with no stinger, I was helping J hurry along one morning and stepped on a stinging bee with my big toe, by night-time my big toe was a really big toe, that was 3 weeks ago and my toe still itches if I bump it just right}

Basketball started for O, she is starting now and in 2 games wore holes in her new knee pads.  I have a feeling this second pair is going to be replaced in a few more games.  If they last until Holiday Hoops Tournament then I will be okay with that.  She spends more time on the floor, and mostly because she is aggressive.  The funniest foul she did recently was called in her favor although clearly she was the one in the wrong.  The other team was bringing the ball in, their player jumped up to get the ball and O jumped right into the girl, colliding and landing in a heap on the floor.  The other player jumped from point A to point A while O jumped from point A to point B ok actually she went from point A to about point F…  She hit her so hard and landed in a heap on the floor, when the ref called it in O’s favor she had to shoot free throws, she knew she would not make the baskets, she told us later that she could not even focus on the hoop she knew there was no way they were going in.

Last year R was just an observer on the schools new Trial Team.  He was in middle school and could not actually participate.  This year tryouts were in November, it was a little tricky getting him to where he belonged, he needed a sports coat or suit, but he is in the beginning days of a growth spurt I was not going to invest any money in nice clothing, we found one he could borrow.  He looked very handsome and old.  He made the team as a witness, he actually plays a principal.  We are excited to watch him in the winter as they prepare and go to trial.  He has spent time studying the case, even telling us his points of view that his character will be taking, and what he plans on saying.  I don’t mind the practice he is giving us, it shows us his character and how he thinks.

The BIRTHDAY GIRL turned 5 and boy oh boy was she excited!  I brought each of her gifts individually to the present table before her family party, she could hardly contain herself.  Just kept watching the gifts on the table.  It was great!  {Yes that is C in the back ground, we could pretend he was there with us. He did face time us on her birthday and she was super excited!}  Her real birthday was later in the month but both Keith and one of her grandmas would not be in town so we celebrated a week early.  For her real birthday she chose Keith to go to Red Robin.  He thought he was special, he was chosen by her.
She had her reasons.She could hardly contain the excitement.After dinner they rode the carousel in the mall.
Yes the reason she chose Red Robin was the location, the reason she chose her daddy was the ride.
I cannot go on them, cannot even watch them without getting sick.5 years old at our house means your first bike.  She convinced Keith to take her to our lake to ride the first time she took the bike out.  Those little legs pumped her bike for 2 plus miles on the first day she had it.  While they were riding her bike they noticed this bad boy only 8 feet away.  Keith had her get off her bike and run past so there was no chance of her tipping and falling near him.Thanksgiving was at our house again this year.  We are so thankful for this sweet little girl.Can’t stand the fact that this one is growing up so fast either!  We covered the tables with craft paper so they would look uniform, after it was over the kids spent the next few days writing, drawing and coloring on the table top.  Lights going up outside.  Lights going up inside.  {the fall wreath is still up on the wall.  I’ve got to take it down}Good Bye November.
Hello December

Go hug your kids and try to make some fun memories this month.
jen

P.S. Just so you don’t think J and E were really forgotten, J has a big band concert tonight we are ready to hear some Christmas music and watch that boy shine.  He is planning ahead for marching in the Christmas Parade for our town (in 2 years) and talks about band almost as much as he talks about basketball.  As for E, she is becoming quite the helper at home and adores PS, she keeps trying to clean her room so she can take PS up there, but as soon as she starts to clean she gets distracted by something else, don’t we all have that problem.  She did go to her Aunts for the traditional Thanksgiving Eve sleep over, this year J joined her.  It was very quiet with 3 less kids that morning.