November in Review

 I intended to make this a post covering September, October, and November...but, just too many pictures, so I will break it down by month...You're Welcome.  You may be wondering why I start with November.  It is because that is the photo folder I clicked on first. 

 November had a lot of eating in it.  I made Mitzi's delicious Kale Salad.  The secret ingredient is bacon.  And cheese.  And more bacon.  Will really enjoyed it.  His comment: I can't even taste the Kale because there is so much bacon and cheese!

 During a Boy Scout weekend, Molly and John and I enjoyed a posh brunch with my grandparents' china.  Molly took it upon herself to set the table and I was pleased to see her choice of serving ware.

 John has entered the phase where diapers are not necessary.  Which is nice.  It's been over a decade.  I'd really thought we could be there by Dom's birthday which would have been pretty cool (11 years to the date!), but it took a few more weeks for it to come.  All good things, all good things.

 On Tuesday afternoons, the older three have a PE class at the local YMCA.  John and I spend that time either coming home where he gets the TV all to himself while I take a little nap next to him, at the play area, or playing cards.  His favorite game is Go Fish, which we have multiple decks of cards to play.  For a time, his favorite was the dinosaur version, probably because I couldn't pronounce most of the dinosaurs and he and Molly could!

 Molly continues to impress us with her art and free drawing.  She fills paper after paper with her vision.  I liked this self portrait.  It is a mirror image, because she was using a mirror to get the details correct.

 On Wednesday mornings, we have art classes all morning.  John gets to spend the first hour at the library while the boys do some school work, and the second hour at the park with Molly, or at Panera (see first picture on this post) with Molly.  Or, even at the library with Molly.  The library has some dinosaur puzzles he loves to do, and they take him just about as long as we have there.  So I'm able to peruse for books or help the boys with school work.  Those with small children refer to this as: "Living the Dream".

 Dom and Will have become quite independent in their school work.  This year, I did change our history curriculum to a History Pocket unit.  It is quite a bit of arts and crafts, which can take a really long time.  Especially, when they start being silly and not exactly focused on the task at hand.  I'm hoping to complete it this week and go back to the Story of the World next semester.  It was a nice change of pace, but the reality is, the boys love history, so they don't need gimmicks like paper dolls or collages to make it interesting for them.  They learn quite a bit just from reading the books I check out from the library.  This morning, Eric and I were able to ask Dom what year Nixon resigned and he knew it.  He's really better than an Echo.

 Dom and Will both love being active Webelos.  LOVE IT!!  And Eric has enjoyed having something other than Fantasy Books to discuss with the boys.  Both have attended camping trips, and Dom went on a two nighter all by himself the third weekend of November.  It was his first time of being away that long from the family.  It poured rain the second night with high winds and he and the rest of the pack slept in the chow hall.  But, he had a great time and came back with many stories.  Anyone who has spoken with him on the phone can imagine what dinner was like that night.  Eric had to cut him off eventually so the other kids could get to bed. 
 The previous night had been a little more quiet and subdued.
Will had been playing with other boys all day on the Saturday, and mentioned he sort of forgot that Dom was gone until it came time to set the table.  Eric and I laughed because we thought the was referring the fact he had to do this chore all by himself.  But, I quickly realized he meant it was sad to see Dom's empty seat at the table.   And we all agreed.

 And here are a couple of pictures I don't believe made it into the Thanksgiving post.  Uncle Robert and Will played a programming game.  (Note to self...Will and Robert never get to be on the same team in future games)

 During our stop in Nashville with Mitzi, we walked through Centennial Park.  It had several monuments for the different wars that Tennesseans fought in.  We spent a while at the World War II memorial.  Will has read all of the "I Survived" books he can find at the library.  A couple have taken place during World War II.  He really wanted to read all of the inscriptions, but ice cream was calling.

Just a story that I do not have a picture of, but would like to remember.  Molly gets car sick pretty regularly on these trips.  So she really can't read books or play on tablets.  But, she does listen to music on headphones.  Something she continued to do while walking around the memorials.  At one point, Mitzi and I looked up from our conversation and caught her doing a dance routine on a makeshift stage at the center of the World War II Memorial.  It was a sight to behold.