And now, for a quick picture summary of November.
Gabe had a basketball game, Nana and Papa came to watch, and then Kirt and Julie came back to our house so they could give Julie a blessing. This is the hug after the blessing. We just love Julie/Nana/Mom!
Here's another photo of Gracie. She's usually my shadow throughout the day. Or she's in our front room, keeping us safe from all the delivery drivers.
November 1 was the last day that Cornbelly's was open, so Brian, Rachel, and I went there to redeem our final punches on our punch card. This meant we got to feed the birds.
Eat Mexican Street Corn, and get some apple cider donuts and a caramel apple.
We also went to Shayne's family's Halloween Party. This treat was amazing! (It's a rice crispy, but I thought it was actually meat!) Naturally, this is the only photo we took from the night.
We went to church. I both love and hate that these two work on puzzles during the service--I love that they're getting along, but hate that they're not feeding their souls like they ought to.
We tossed the pumpkins, but not before documenting them in all their glory. Here's Michael's Two-face, once again.
Rachel's Cheshire Cat.
Gabe's Stitch.
Gracie and her lamb.
Watching BYU Basketball.
Enjoying National Donut Day.
The young men in our ward, including Michael and Brian as a leader, helped do some neighborhood service, which also involved tearing apart a cabinet.
These two got along well enough to share the green chair, a rare occurrence indeed!
I needed a new coat, so Brian helped me pick one out.
I went with the purple one. I struggle with black; I always feel paler in black.
Michael went to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. They dressed up as Maverik characters. I think the girls even got the boys personalized dog tags.
The Nintendo Switch plays a much bigger role in our lives than I would like, and Gabe knows he gets more time if he plays on it with a friend.
There was a big fire on the hill one Sunday. Thankfully, they got it quickly put out.
Michael made another bowl using a blank that was gifted him by our neighbor. He made it within hours of receiving the blank.
Gabe decided that Brian and I needed a date night or something, so he set the table so cutely for us, complete with name tags, chargers, and cloth napkins.
He even busted out the Special Plate for me.
And left this note for his siblings.
A cute sentiment, but weeknight family dinners are super important to me, and I didn't think it would be right to have my kids eat outside in November, so we took pictures and then set the table for everyone.
There was another round of Northern Lights, but I think I missed it and this picture just shows regular Salt Lake Lights.
Gracie put her unicorn in a corner. I wonder what the poor thing did to deserve this time-out.
We are constantly amazed by the beauty that surrounds us. We are so blessed to live here.
I worked on painting my fellow stake primary presidency members' favorite flowers. I took these and turned them into patterns for a notebook for them for Christmas.
Speaking of my calling, the best part of this calling is that we get to visit each ward's primary program, and it has been amazing! We had our last ones in November, and each one was so special and so powerful.
November 16 marked one year since I had half my thyroid removed. I'm grateful for all the healing I've had since then, and especially grateful that it didn't effect my voice and that I don't have to take hormone supplements.
Gabe did a research report on the Red Fox for school, and I got to help him figure out how to make his little habitat diorama (thank you, elementary school training!) and go to the school and see his presentation.
Rachel and Brian headed up to Mutual Dell for an overnight/Late night youth activity. Rachel made jewelry
and roasted marshmallows, and then all the girls came home for the night while Brian stayed up the canyon overnight with the boys.
While they were up there, Michael, Gabe, and I helped clean the church.
We hosted a small Friendsgiving at our house with the Bertilsons, Riddles, and the Reads (who left before we could get a picture). We're so grateful for our friends!
I was really excited that I fit into my mission skirt again. I made this skirt for my mission back in July 2006. It's the skirt I wore into the MTC and when I met my mission president. I also bought this cardigan during the fall of 2006. It was fun to wear them again, even if they're almost 20 years old!
We wished for snow, but didn't see much.
But that didn't stop us from enjoying some hot chocolate.
We always appreciate a well-named restaurant.
And, for those who were wondering what happened to the missing earbud, I found it! I was clearing some things off in preparation for decorating for Christmas, and found it in this cord hole! How it got there, we may never know.
We went to go see Wicked, Part 2 after Michael and Brian got back from the BYU game on the last Saturday in November. Michael drove separately so he could leave after the movie, and I insisted on one picture, so we took it before seeing it, and I only took this one photo.
On the last day of November, we went to church. At some point, Michael ended up carrying my scriptures for me, and I think we can all agree that he carried them with beauty, grace, and style.
Then with a light dusting of snow, things started to look a lot like Christmas.
