This moment ...

11.17.2013

We are gearing up for our first holiday season in our new home. Jon and I have been taking a critical look at our "traditions" to make sure they are in line with our family values and the memories we want to create for the girls. We are loving the fall weather. We spend the warmer and sunnier days outside in the back yard, but I secretly (or not?) look forward to the cold, rainy days when we can hunker down and wait for Jon to get home and start a fire. I. Love. Fires.  And these girls ...

Eleanor

• Eleanor has an obsession with this set of Dick and Jane books my mom gave her. Mom had originally bought them for her sister, Theresa, so the books are special to me, too. (Theresa passed away in November 2008.)  Imagine a 5-year-old reading "Run, run, run, Jane. Run Dick. Oh. Oh. Oh." In a very loud, very monotone voice. It melts my heart.
• She recently memorized The Crocodile by Lewis Carrol for a presentation. She randomly (and excitedly) spouts off with "How doth the little crocodile ...", and I love it. I see more poetry in her future. 
• We check out from the library and buy drawing books because she LOVES them. She spends hours trying to recreate a panda bear drawn with circles or a monkey, but in classic Eleanor form, it frustrates her to tears some days. She wants to draw as well as her daddy draws, and just doesn't understand why she can't.
• Audio books! Who knew? We've been subbing audio books for TV some, and she really enjoys it.
• The Dollar Tree is her new favorite place to be.

Eve

• 4 TEETH! Finally.
• Prefers to go without clothes most days. I'm not sure what we will do about that when it gets really cold.
• LOVES to wear her sister's shoes ... on her hands.
• Strikes a pose! Eve will snap into downward facing dog and peak at you between her legs. She giggles if you flip upside down, too.
• Screams to take a shower. I've not had a solo shower in weeks unless it's at nap time.
• Still insists on having a filled water cup within an arms reach at all times. 

I am loving this season of motherhood!

November notables

I'm sure y'all have been waiting with baited breath for an update from me, but we've been busy sucking every last drop of fall goodness out of November. NOVEMBER!

I had to sift back through my SD card and Instagram account to jog my memory of our recent family happenings. I may try to back track over the next few weeks and dedicate posts to certain events. Then again, I may not get back to it.

Some things we've been up to (and may appear as stand alone posts before long):

• A baby shower
• Enjoying fires in our fire place -- one of the upgrades at our new home!
• The theater, darling! The Little Mermaid Jr., the musical with friends
• A fire station tour with school friends
• A trip a local farm all decked out for Halloween/fall
• HALLOWEEN! Pumpkin carving, Halloween parties, and trick-or-treating with two little tigers
• A date with my man
• Very unprofessional photos (taken by us) of the girls
• And a few girls' days out for me

Homeschooling update:

I can't believe it's been over a month since the last update. Things are going well. VERY well. I'm so impressed with the Classical Conversations program and I'm impressed with Eleanor. My tenure as a babysitter to the sweetest little Avery Grace ended mid-October. We miss her, but we've also been able to add some fun things in like little projects and outings. I'm finding my stride as a homeschooling parent.

Notable things:

• Eleanor LOVES math. She always wants to start our days with math, and I'm always surprised by it. 
• Eleanor is decoding words like a pro. She is forever trying to pick out words she knows and guessing on the words she doesn't -- even on my books. I may have to limit what I have out during the day. ;)
• We had to choose a poem to recite for our CC presentation. I enjoyed working with her to pick out and memorize a poem. We may add that into our repertoire somewhere. 

We are looking forward to a memorable Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas season. I especially enjoy looking through all of the photos from the year and reminiscing on all of the great memories! Happy fall, friends!