November Has Been Good To Us

I think I'll begin this blogging session with Cannon's rendering of yours truly.  In case you can't make out the words-- "Do your school or I'll beat you!"
For the record, I have said those words, but there have been no beatings.  I particularly appreciate the squiggly lines on my chin, which Cannon "assures" me are not hairs, rather they are creases/wrinkles.  Oh thank goodness.  He had me worried.
I also enjoy the crazy different sized eyes and the angry eyebrows.  To say nothing of my attractive, full head of hair.  In all seriousness though, look at my full, luscious lip!  Ooh, la la!  I am hot!
Ha ha ha!  We all had a good laugh over this.

Elinor and friends recently decorated one of their friends room for his sixteenth birthday.  Since they all have recently turned, or are close to turning 16, none of them can drive themselves and/or friends around yet.  Consequently, I got to be chauffeur and the price of my services was that I get to be in on the fun and get to take pictures.  Perks of the job:)

They are fabulous and I love them and I never want them to leave.
Well, I don't want them to live at home forever.  A simple pause button on life will suffice.

She's there for moral support when George practices the piano. 

'Tis the season to beg for money to buy a gift for yourself.  So proud.

When I come home from a date with Abe to find the D&D gang hanging in the basement it makes me so happy!  I mean, I knew they were coming, but still-- it is the happiest thing to come home to.  I swear, these people have no idea how much they have helped me cope with Clark being gone on the mish.  

Peter and Greta and me playing a game of memory.  Peter always wins.  Is anyone surprised?  I mean, I have my pride, but I'm not taking that bullet.

There was a warmish November day a couple weeks back and we played at a park.  The older kids got a lot more "park time" than these younger ones do.  That's okay, because younger kids life is much better in other ways.  Even still, it was a delight and I must remember how much they love it.

Perfection.

Intensity.

Creativity.

Excitement.

A really bad toddler mullet.

Mr. Money Eyes.  It's kind of like when a cartoon character gets money signs on their eyes.  

She sings.  She dances.  We are smitten.

Mostly they scream, wrestle, dog pile, tease, and jump on and off furniture all day long.  So you will allow me this moment to enjoy them sitting still and quietly looking at a book together.    

Greta snacked on a box of spinach this week... because, as we've already covered... she is perfect.

Then she played with it on the counter for 45 minutes.  And I didn't stop her, because-- HELLO!--she was happy and adorable and she is the eighth child.  Don't judge.

The Brothers Fox sharing a Christmas story.  Cannon really is a most excellent reader of stories-- so animated.  

Elinor loves swimming SO MUCH that if she goes more than 36 hours without getting in the water, she gets rather salty-- it's like she's a mermaid or something and has to be in the water to live!  After practice(s) each day she is on cloud nine and loves everything and everyone.  Just stay away from her on a Sunday evening after a weekend of no practice.

Last week Elinor went to the hospital to have an upper GI scan due to some severe reflux she has been dealing with for several months.  They were checking for a hiatal hernia-- which thankfully she doesn't have.  But it was her first experience with a hospital gown and she was having too much fun.

You work that hospital gown, girlfriend!

Oh, she has been working hard!  Senior year is full of pressures and choices and enduring to the end!  Bethany is a week away from her senior recital, performing a concerto she's worked on for well over a year.  She is getting important auditions ready and working teaching swim lessons every day and school and we are pretty darn proud of her efforts.  She makes it look easy, but it's not my hat is off to her.