Nov 2024 It's getting cold, but Melissa and the kids are still outside.

11/1 November began like so many other months... with games.  Lily and Finn actually played through a whole game of Monopoly Deal.  It was 7:30 at this point on a Friday night, probably the easiest way to stay up late is get me playing games. 

11/5 Tuesday, Election Day.  Who will be our next President?  Nobody cares!  Look at this cool junk pile "robot" on the dirt hill. 

11/11 Years ago I backed the creation of a game on Kickstarter (Exploding Kittens) and it turned out to be a great decision.  That game was fun, and it opened the doors to becoming a play tester for the company. Every few months we end up with preproduction games to play.  We usually record the play through a couple of times and give feedback.  The kids love when these new random games show up to play with for a few days. It is 7:30 again... staying up late to play games. 

11/12 Melissa met her friend, and the kids ballet teacher, Cassidy for a hike along the San Juan River at Sand Island.   They got so muddy playing in the quick sand. 

Just a cute picture. 

Wilderness girls along the river. 

Melissa really has met some wonderful friend in our time in Blanding. 

11/14 Not all of life can be card games and hikes.  Sometimes in homeschool, you buckle down and really get to work.  With games... played with paper cards.  Dang it, I guess homeschool life really is just card games and hikes... and an abacus. Can't forget the abacus. 

11/14 And rock climbing.  Dang, I wish I was homeschooled. 

11/18 Monday, dad's off work.  The kids road bikes to the park, played in the skate park, Hannah ripped her leggings, and I blew my top.  Melissa ended up joining us at the park after we'd played a while.  Everyone was worn out and didn't want to ride home.  I lost my temper, Melissa drove them home and I walked home sulking.

11/19 What was left of our Portuguese marble after tumbling.  Wow... the shrinkage!

11/21 Homeschool hike east of Blanding on Pacheco Trail. 

11/23 Saturday before Thanksgiving, the traditional Christmas decorating day.  We usually don't decorate this early, but Thanksgiving was late in the month and we were heading to Lindon.  So we did all the outdoor decorating early while the weather was still nice. 

After decorating Melissa and Hannah went out for a maturation date.  Time to start introducing the growing up talk, at Patio Diner. 

That afternoon Melissa took Grandpa Jack a fidget pillow.  His memory has declined very rapidly over the past 18 months and he's getting frustrated and antsy.  Melissa really loves Grandma Jack and wanted to find ways to help.  Grandpa loved the pillow (zippers, clasps, lacing, etc.) and was instantly busy with it and very grateful to know it was his to keep. 

11/24 After Sunday dinner the kids conned Grandma into reading books.  

11/25 Monday Melissa's friends have started a walking group.  So the mom's walk while the kids... pull Lily around on a string? 

Later that morning the started their gratitude lists. Beginning with Goldie and Lego, they would eventually grow to include Nana's house, books, home and England. 

11/26 Tuesday before Thanksgiving and we're all decked out... ugh, one of those families.  It was fun to have the lights up in good weather and to think about Christmas and the Savior a little earlier than usual. 

11/27 LINDON!  The only day grandad could get an appointment for a cancer removal from his nose was the afternoon before Thanksgiving.  Nana was expecting it to take longer and didn't want to cook that night.  So we went to the Chinese buffet, with grandad all bandaged up. 

11/28 Happy Thanksgiving!  12 desserts... Thanks Nana! 

 

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