Norah's 41st Birthday

I had a fabulous birthday! 

I went for a really nice walk in the morning. Then, when I thought we were heading out to get a tree, Mike dropped me off for an amazing massage. What a treat! After that we really did go out to get our tree. Our usual tree farm was closed this year due to covid, so we enjoyed a very picturesque, lovely farm with such nice people and really high prices. But, we found a really pretty tree! And, look how warm it was. Such a treat to cut a tree and not even be freezing while we did it! 

They had smores and hot cocoa and a few things for kids to play on, so it was a fun place. We also bumped into friends there which was really fortuitous. 

After getting the tree set up at home, we headed off to Grounds for Sculpture for an outdoor dining reservation at Rats. It's such a beautiful setting! 

I love this little squish!

We had a great meal with only minimal letting the boys know that I was embarrassed by them running all over creation in a restaurant. Thank goodness it was outdoors and the gardens are spacious! 

Lewis was so cute and wanted to get all dressed up for my birthday. 

Love this sweet husband man!

Afterwards we had an hour or more to walk around the gardens and do our family favorite - play sardines around the greek theater area amongst the sculptures. 

Thanksgiving 2020

 It actually felt really fun to be home cooking together for Thanksgiving and making something festive and fancy. Although it was a small celebration, we had Jonathan join us for dinner. Miri and Wendy were going to be just a food drop off. In the end, they offered to come and pick up their food, and since it was about 60 degrees and sunny outside, they just sat on our patio and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner that way. We also took a meal to three other YSAs in the area. All of that felt really nice to be cooking not just for ourselves and to be serving a little. It made the mess worth it! 

Sweet potatoes were standout! Beau made the fruit salad all by himself! World's best cranberry sauce. And, the salad and stuffing were to die for. Plus, I think it was the most moist turkey we've ever made. So, quite a success. We haven't lost it completely, even if tacos and pasta are more the weekly norm nowadays. 

Beau tried and loved the turkey this year! 

Thank goodness for amazing weather!

We bruleed the pumpkin pie this year - so fun!

I think the ice cream pie was more of a hit than anything!

Fun Fall Outings

Here are a few more fun fall moments from our November:

The elementary school photos came in, and these two boys look so cute!!! 

I think these two really appreciate being at the same school and on the same schedule this year. 

I had such a treat! Deb and Naomi and I planned to get together for a hike on a free Saturday a week before my birthday. They were so sweet to drive just over the MD border into PA so that I could see them since I'm only allowed to visit bordering states without needing to quarantine. We had super weather and a gorgeous park to explore. It was so happy and wonderful to be together. 

Thanks to a stake conference schedule that meant we were done earlier than normal on a Sunday, we were able to enjoy gorgeous weather at Tyler State Park. The boys love it there. Lots of rock skipping, attempting to terrorize the geese, rock scrambling, and general tromping in leaves. 

Beau ended up submerged in the river and handled it with humor and flexibility, not worrying too much about his wet foot the rest of the time we hiked. 

He actually ended up fully submerged at the end of the day, deciding to wade up to his shoulders in the water as he crossed the river! 

Lewis has absolutely rocked the beginning of middle school! We are so proud of him! He did so well on his first quarter report card. Mostly, we are so proud of how independent and responsible he is being with all his work. And, the best part is how much he loves all his classes and teachers and genuinely enjoys learning!

Mike and I had decided it would be fun to take the kids to a hotel for a night so that we could swim in a fun pool. After some chatting, we decided that the most helpful and nice thing would be for Mike to take the boys on his own so that I could have some much needed hours to myself in the house, and so that I could go through closets and clean out a bit. I can't believe how giddy I was to have the house to myself and just have some peace and quiet and enjoy hearing silence. And, here was the fruit of my labors before I headed off to good will. 

We have our very own spider boy!!!