November began with warm and beautiful weather! The grass in the field looked a lot like the spring grass. The ponies loved it.
Often work around here turns into fun. I almost always enjoy working outside with the animals more than any house work that needs to be done. On Saturdays when the family is with me it is even more enjoyable.
Our rooster got really loud and pretty mean. So, we said goodbye to him at the beginning of November. It was a little sad to say goodbye, but the next morning when he didn't wake me up at 5:30 a.m. I was grateful to Mark for taking care of that unpleasant part of raising chickens. The rooster tasted good for dinner that weekend too, which was another plus I guess.
The boys love when Mark lets them use his power tools, like the belt sander, to sand down their sticks and spears.
I spent countless hours in October and November writing the primary program and figuring out how to sit 70+ people up on our small chapel stand and then rearranging seating, fixing the program and finally taking a relieved breath when it was all over with.
Some of our hens are very friendly.
I am trying to take pictures of myself as my hair grows out so that I can see what length I like the best.
On beautiful days like this, I just want to sit and hang out with the ponies when I feed them. Peaceful happiness right there.
Brian got his student of the month paper and picture back. He is a great student!
I love this journal entry from Timmy's October journal. His spelling and pictures make me smile.
This cute pony picture was taken about one minute before Chip decided to freak out and buck like a true rodeo bronco. I have no idea what happened. I was leading him along with Timmy riding and he just started bucking. In my attempt to save my child my foot ended up right under that little bucking bronco and my poor toes got pretty smashed. They were black and blue for the rest of the month. Timmy was fine and got back on for some good calm riding as I limped Chip around the field.
I cleaned up 10 or so wagon fulls of pine needles from our sugar pine in the front yard. Every year I forget how many needles drop from that tree.
The weather turned in the middle of November from beautiful warm Fall weather to cold winter-like weather. I love my fireplace heater in my office. I use it every day.
Timmy had some funny teeth in November. He lost three from the front top and before the last one came out it was looking pretty goofy.
I enjoyed the super moon with the ponies.
Just before snow came I got the last rose on my rose bush.
And just before the snow came, my mom brought Ahab down to stay for the winter. He immediately took to sleeping in the barn. This was his first night here and he stayed warm and dry when the first snow arrived.
The boys were ecstatic the next morning to see snow!
I mostly enjoyed the snow from my desk while working on the primary program. This was my view that snowy day. The ponies unearthed this vintage toy horse from the dirt in the field this summer. I think it deserves that spot on the windowsill and it makes me smile when I have to be sitting at my desk.
Ahab seemed to adjust well to being here and doesn't mind the chickens hanging out with him all day.
Brian and Timmy had their Fall cello recital. They were so happy Grandma came all the way to watch them.
My favorite guys.
We had some time before Thanksgiving, so we used it to put up the tree. The boys loved decorating it!
Brian and I were going along listening to Christmas music and decorating the tree when we turned around to Timmy's giggling and saw this! He was wearing the stockings and the tree skirt and a Santa hat. He's such a goofball.
Thanksgiving came with a little snow.
We hosted Mark's family at our house again this year. Timmy was super excited about making a fruit turkey. He did the whole thing!
It was a fun center piece and a healthy treat too!
The day after Thanksgiving, Mark used his day off of work to work at home. Our basement went from this...
to this...
After Mark ripped out all the old faux beams, the wet bar, the carpet, and ceiling, he had a few young men come help load in all into the trailer and take it to the dump. This picture of the trailer was taken before they finished loading everything. It was completely full when they left.
Timmy was really into the Christmas stuff. He was happy to be an angel for a morning.
One morning I woke to Brian reading to Timmy.
I am just so grateful for their friendship. In Brian's primary class on Sunday, he was supposed to write a thank you note to someone. He chose to write a note to Timmy and could not wait to give it to him.
The boys got really into ping pong and love playing with Ye Ye or Daddy at Mark's parent's house.
One evening after homework and practicing was done I let the boys play in the fresh snow. They don't care if it is dark outside, they have head lamps.
Snow and Christmas decorations was a fun way to usher in December!