This Calls for a Wrap Up Post

So I somehow missed blogging throughout this entire month of November.

We were busy?

But I'd like to remember what we did this fall, so here we go, in summary form:

We attended a family reunion on my husband's side. We used to have annual Christmas get-togethers and we haven't in a long time so it was neat to get together.

NASA had a special anniversary day and we went to walk around Johnson Space Center. When my husband and I were little, and we would visit NASA, it was actually a portion of Johnson Space Center that you toured. These days, visitors go to Space Center Houston, which has been adapted for tourists and has lots of fun stuff for kids. So it was a special treat to get to walk around JSC, most of which is not normally open to the public. And it was free!

We got to touch a portion of a real moon rock. 

Met a man who was in the astronaut program in the early 60s while in line to get these pics.  He showed us a pic of himself as an astronaut so I guess he was telling the truth.

We went camping for our 2nd born daughter's birthday. That was what she wanted to do. It was so fun to go, because it had been about 5 years since we had camped (other than our backyard).

We got a little shelter instead of tent camping because a big rain storm was due to come through. We were glad we did.

So when it rained the second night, we were able to just bring our chairs inside and eat around the card table. It was a nice time.

It was expensive, however. We had to get several things we didn't anticipate since it had been so long since we had camped. Whew. Camping is never cheap.













The younger girls and I went to a farm on a field trip with our homeschool group. We had been a few years ago and enjoyed it this time as well. Our youngest didn't really remember so it was all new to her.

Train ride!

See? I was there too!

When you feed goats, sometimes they slime you. 

Whew! We were WORN OUT at the end of the day. 

Then it was time for a certain 15 year old's actual birthday. Since we had gone on the big camping trip, we just had family over for cake. No theme this year: just "blue."

Little sister was super proud to make her gift (she painted and potted a plant for her room). 

Happy Birthday!!

Our youngest has been on the waiting list for awhile to read to the dogs at the library. She finally got to start doing that on Mondays.

Our drama classes at co-op had a little holiday performance. That little pilgrim was one of the emcees--telling corny Thanksgiving jokes in between performances.

We went to my parent's "country home" for Thanksgiving, just like we usually do. I made turkey pancakes for the girls Thanksgiving morning.

But first I had to wake up 3 turkeys.....

That night we had a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with my sisters and brother-in-law.

And that gets us pretty much caught up to this week, which I'll share about later. Whew!

In summary, we spent a lot of money, I cooked and worked very hard the whole time we were out of town for Thanksgiving and was exhausted when we got back, but we had some fun times and it was a good November.

Getting Ready

I'm ready to not be getting ready for something every day. What I mean is, we've been preparing for back to school for awhile, and this week I'm preparing for back-to-co-op, and also a birthday party.

After that, it will be fall holidays and a camping trip, and Christmas, etc. I think I'm ready for a week of not getting ready for something.

But it is exciting getting ready for that birthday. Our oldest daughter is turning 19.

Our beautiful oldest daughter. It's weird she's turning 19 since we are still in our 20s. Right?

She says she isn't ready to be 19, but as you know, it happens anyway. Since she didn't have any ideas for what she wanted to do or what kind of birthday party she wanted, I made executive decisions. She shall find out on Saturday. (I love surprises)

The main problem on all of that is getting the house clean. Sheesh. Why is it so hard to keep the house picked up?

Getting ready for co-op is another thing. I teach the preschool class and I already wrote the lesson plans a few years ago so it's really just a matter of prepping the first 2 weeks' lessons. That means making copies, cutting things out of construction paper, gathering things, etc. I have a new laminator that the co-op purchased and I'm so excited to preserve the things I make this year for circle time. One day I will have less work to do each week to prepare for my classes.

Well, it also means making sure we (me and my 2 younger daughters) all have clean clothes to wear, names on all belongings, all belongings packed, and snacks and lunch made.

And since we went to the beach yesterday, where I managed to hurt my ankle, we didn't unpack the car yet. And of course there is the sand to deal with. BEFORE we go to co-op tomorrow.

Actual photo of the floor of my car.
I'm kidding. A little. 

My ankle is fine, by the way. I guess I sprained it. I was in SO MUCH pain yesterday evening! I could not believe how much it hurt! It was a several-hours-long delay of pain and it was weird. It swelled up on one side but this morning, it feels fine. And I'm glad.

I have a lot of things to get ready for, after all.

Signing off,