Wow. This year has really flown by. I hope that means we're having fun? It does! It also means life is crazy and the older you get with the more on your plate, the faster the time slips by! With the weather FINALLY starting to cool off just a bit in November, it naturally helped life slow down just a little bit, too. Or maybe that's just because I'm almost done painting our ENTIRE house? Yep, since June when we moved in, I've painted almost every ceiling and wall, all on my own. I have the very tall stairway left, and one bathroom. Wish me luck that I don't break my neck with the stairway! I am going to have to rent a professional painter's ladder for that one, it's super duper high!
Anyway, November. It's a great month! Jacob started growing a beard (I will have to get a pic soon of my mountain man!) We saw colored leaves, some family, and wonderful old friends. Took a road trip north, and also celebrated Jacob's 36th birthday! We spent a lot of time outdoors, adventuring, and exploring. WE had a beautiful, quaint, and low key Thanksgiving dinner with our little family and my twin sister and her fiance. Texas is probably one of the only places where flowers bloom and leaves fall in autumn. I fall more and more in love with our new home land everyday. Sure can't beat the weather!
On our drive to Dallas, we stopped at a little homestead that had a farm to table cafe. It was such a fun little place! Always good to stretch the legs and fill the belly with homemade pie! AND I love me a good road trip. Always fun! And thankfully, we have awesome little travelers!
Jacob and I were able to attend the sealing ceremony of our friends to their sweet son, Ethan. He is right about Hazel's age and seriously the happiest, sweetest, funniest little guy just bursting with friendliness and energy! Such a joy! After over a year of foster-to-adopt, the adoption is final. We are just so thrilled for our friends! We agreed it was one of the most sacred and spiritual experiences we have witnessed in quite some time. Thanks so much, Sof and Casey, for inviting us to be there and share in your joy. It was the best occasion!
We stayed with Jacob's sister, Erin, and her family in McKinney. The kids were in HEAVEN playing and being goofy with their cousins! Sawyer literally slept with a pile of legos by his sleeping bag, and I don't think Aspen took off her cousin's Rapunzel dress-up the entire time we were there. I think my favorite part was the night they took us to a gorgeous natural area and we built a fire and made s'mores. There were these amazing old-school swings (so wish I had my camera! and that it wasn't pitch dark!) and it was just perfect. One of my favorite things! (Thanks Erin and Jed!)
Sawyer had his last soccer game of the season. It was such a great season for him. Since we do "homeschool" it was a treat for him to have an opportunity to play with some other kids his age. I LOVE kids this age because NONE of them cared who won or lost. It was all just fun! All of them improved a lot. Here he is with his coach, Kim. She was so great with the kids. After the last game, each child got a special trophy. I kid you not that Sawyer occasionally sleeps with it. It is so sweet. He really loved playing soccer with his Red Dragons! Love my boy!
School. School. School.
I have a lot to say about our school, but don't have time right now. "Fun" is probably the best thing I can say to sum it up shortly. "Slackers" might be another word ;) We are culminating our studies for the fall this week by building a teepee. We have focused on explorers, settlers, and pioneers. I will have to do a post sometime about our "homeschool" experience.
Here the kids are showing off some of their handiwork. We traced their hands and then they embroidered them using a large needle on burlap. One morning we used legos as part of our schoolwork, just because Sawyer loves them so so much. We do a TON of art. That's nothing new for our family. Days that we are home, my kids spend HOURS sitting at our table drawing, coloring, painting. They love it. Hazel tried to join in by getting up on the table to grab a drawing tool. She's into it, too ;) I am very much inspired by aspects of Montessori and Waldorf education, as well and use Charlotte Mason methods as our base.
We had a simple and sweet Thanksgiving spread. Jacob is the turkey master and always does an amazing job. I am the pie master. :) I felt extra grateful this year. The kids and I did something I called "gratitude in action" that really blessed us to take note of the gifts we've been given, and appreciate them. Hopefully if you are a friend or relative who received a little note or piece of art work or something from us, you felt our appreciate and love for you just a little from a distance :)
It is tradition in our family to go hiking on black friday. We explored the hill country near our home and fell in LOVE. We found an area we didn't realize was so close to us and had the BEST time. There may not be evergreens here, but there are these amazing old gnarly oak trees that have a beauty that's all their own.
Wishing you well as we head into the Holiday Season!
