November was a month of (mostly) beautiful weather! It was surprisingly mild temperatures without as many dark, rainy days as I usually think of to characterize November. That was great because it meant we got to make an extra visit or two to the zoo, the park, and lots more playtime on our playset in the backyard!
We started the month by celebrating our niece, Hailey's birthday! Here are the cousins (minus cousin Drew).
Dawson had a Tuesday off from school for election day in early November. It was a nice day, so I took the kids to the zoo! I thought it would be pretty crowded since all schools were out and it was nice, but we had the place to ourselves..it was perfect!
By November all of our Halloween costumes had made it to the dress up basket in the playroom. Nora Kate woke up from nap one afternoon (we hadn't fixed her hair yet obviously) and insisted on dressing up with this mustache! So funny!
We enjoyed a playdate at Gym Bugs with our friend Harper! There's Carter in the caterpillar!
After Gym Bugs we had lunch. These two are 2 peas in a pod. I love watching Carter and Harper together!
That afternoon it was so nice outside that Carter, Nora Kate, and I decided to take a walk at the Wetlands Area while we were waiting to pick Dawson up from school. These two walked the paths holding hands.
Then when we got to the gazebo they hopped on the stage and put on a little show for me!
Mamaw had to have surgery in early November, and she has had LOTS of ups and downs in her recovery. The day of her surgery the kids made her this big get well soon sign to hang in her hospital room. It was so pleasant we got to make it outside...barefoot! Seriously, we so LOVED this November weather!!
We moved the computer downstairs as we have started prepping Clayton's room. The kids were so excited because now they're allowed a little computer time. We were thrilled because Dawson and Carter LOVE one website in particular (abcya) that has tons of fun (and educational) games! Dawson is great at them, but I've been surprised at how quickly Carter has learned to use the mouse and play the games even games on higher levels (like 2nd and 3rd grade levels). Dawson usually plays for his amount of time and is fine to be done. Carter, on the other hand, would probably play for and hour or two if we let him (which, of course, we don't), but he loves these games that much!
One Friday night we decided Carter was ready to attend his first UT Basketball game. It was an exhibition game that happened to be against the school here I graduated-UAH! I still cheered for UT, but it just made it a little more fun. Carter was beyond excited to get to go. Here we are waiting on the game to start!
Grandad, Dawson, John, and Carter...Tennessee won and we all had a great time!
Carter said one of his favorite parts was the "man who waved the flag when we sang Rocky Top" so I had to snap a quick picture of Davey Crockett. So funny that he liked this part so much!
Dawson and Carter both really enjoyed the game. It was a fun evening with just our boys (we decided that Nora Kate wasn't quiet old enough to enjoy this, but maybe next year!).
We had a few cold days here and there, and the kids always asked for a fire in the fireplace. Here Dawson was curled up by the fire watching Thanksgiving Charlie Brown.
Our Sunday School class had a social at one of our friends parent's farm. It is always so much fun at the Brooks' farm! The kids LOVED the hayrides!
Climbing in the hay in the barn!
Rides on the ranger!
Another hayride!
And Nora Kate said her favorite part was the kid swing hanging in the barn!
We pulled out the Christmas pajamas this month, and Carter (this boy loves pajamas) was so excited! He came in Nora Kate's room and said his Christmas pajamas made him do this pose!
We visited Mamaw several times this month after she was moved to a transitional care facility while she continues to recover from her surgery.
Carter, Nora Kate, Lolly, and I celebrated Thanksgiving at Dawson's school with him before they got out for Thanksgiving break. All of the kids had made their Indian headbands and these shirts. It was really cute, and we had a fun lunch with him as usual!
Then they all took turns wearing Lolly's glasses!
The kids have been REALLY into Snoopy and Charlie Brown lately. We've watching The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and then John, Grandad, and Nana took the boys to see the new Snoopy movie in the theater one November Sunday afternoon. This was Carter's first movie in the theater (other than when I took him to a movie when he was about 2 months old and he snoozed the whole time), so he was really excited! All this to say the kids were SO excited to get to go see Snoopy one evening! (It was the same day as Dawson's Thanksgiving Pow Wow at school...hence the shirt.)
I always love comparison pictures.
On the left is Dawson at 1.5 years and 6.5 years on the right.
Please stop growing so fast!
Dawson had been asking us if he could get some more shirts for school that had "things on the front." I usually go for classic looking boys clothes, so he really didn't have a ton of shirts with images on them. He insisted that this is what "everyone else wears" (who knew this started so early!?). So one Saturday afternoon I had a little date with my sweet big boy! He was so excited to go to lunch and then shopping to pick out some new school shirts.
The Sunday evening before Thanksgiving we had our Thanksgiving at home. John built a fire in the fireplace, and I prepared a turkey breast, rolls, corn, green beans, potatoes, and a couple of other sides. I started doing this in Alabama when we couldn't always travel to be with family, but it has been kind of nice to continue having a little Thanksgiving celebration of just our family-John, Dawson, Carter, NK, and me! We all discussed things we were thankful for and then settled down and watched Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by the fire after dinner.
My 30th birthday was on Thanksgiving. The day started by John and the kids letting me sleep in which was amazing! I usually get up at 5:15, so to get to sleep until after 8am felt like I had slept until noon-haha!
When I woke up the kids and John had made a yummy breakfast. Then they gave me my sweet, and thoughtful presents and sang to me! (One gift was a new camera-I'm SO excited!! So expect the photo quality of pictures I share to improve! haha)
Then Nora Kate watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with me while the boys played.
Then we went to Arlene and Wayne's house to celebrate Thanksgiving. After the prayer everyone sang happy birthday and then we had this delicious cake with thirty candles. 30 candles put off quiet the glow, huh?
Thanksgiving was perfect. Carter and Dawson were thrilled to get to play with second cousins Corbin and Ashton. The weather was amazing so the boys took the nerf guns outside for lots of fun.
Me and my sweet little ones on Thanksgiving/my 30th birthday!
While the boys played outside with nerf guns, Nora Kate played inside with second cousin Hailey.
We were originally planning to head home and have the little kids nap before our evening Thanksgiving dinner with John's family, but the weather was so nice we decided to head to the park instead! I'm so glad we did because it was a lot of fun...
And this is how you know she's tired of you taking her picture...she rolls her eyes!
Think they're all tired of pictures here?! Haha!
After the park we headed to the Zorio's for Thanksgiving dinner, and somehow I don't think I got any pictures. It was delicious and everyone had a good time though!
Thanksgiving/my birthday was a great day even though I certainly don't feel like I could already be THIRTY?! John did a great job of making my day special.
November was a great month. We actually ended the month by beginning to decorate for Christmas, but I am holding those pictures over until our December post!
