We started the month with Harriet's 4th grade field trip to the Rio Grande Nature Center along the bosque. This is a traditional field trip that all 4th grade classes take. They learn about wildlife along the river and about the water systems that feed into NM and provide our drinking water - bottom line, we don't have much water, let alone much to drink. Gotta quit taking those long showers...
Then, we had a praying mantis lay her egg sac on our front porch. We were so excited to see 400 tiny baby mantises come out the next spring. Unfortunately - we either missed it, or the eggs died over the winter.
It was kind of sad to watch this circle of life example. Mama mantis stayed on the porch, watching her eggs, until she died several days later.
I had to post these because one day, Melissa and I were texting each other comparing the messes in our kids' rooms. It was pretty bad - nearly neck deep. So, I buckled down one day and super cleaned both of their rooms. Wanted proof that they did look good at one point! Plus, I wish I pictures of my room when I was little. I can barely remember it. These rooms are back to toxic waste lands now.
I'm really not one to post pics of my house, clothes, or food, but I was also pretty proud of how cute my fireplace was for the season. I hate decorating, so it's rare that something looks planned around here.
Kitty sure enjoys the warm fireplace and Stryder's bed.
Loved having some down time where the kids had time to play games and hang out.
Also this month, I volunteered to do a big activity for Harriet's activity day girls group at church. I wanted to take them on a nature walk and think about thankfulness, so Stryder and I headed out the weekend before to scope out a place on the bosque near Tingley beach. It was a perfect spot.
haha...such a Scooby Doo face!
Then, it snowed for the first time. Stryder and Grace were thrilled.
But, it did warm up again for the outing with the girls. I hand made little booklets for them to write and draw in, and I ordered twig pencils and solar paper so that we could do solar prints of cool leaves and stuff we found on the trail. I was so prepared for this really awesome day and wanted to do a great activity for the girls, because they hadn't done much for a while... and then, of course, we only had 3 kids show up besides daughters of leaders. I was super disappointed. But, it still turned out to be really fun for those of us who came, and Harriet loved it, so that was all that mattered.
I had to put this in - Grace's plant cell. I think every kid since the '80's has had to do this project.
To cap off November, Jane and her family came for Thanksgiving. So, we hosted, and David cooked. Jane loves to use paper plates most of the time, so I got to thinking... paper plates for Thanksgiving? Could it work? And, then I found these awesome metallic paper plates and decided I was not going to be standing in the kitchen for 3 hours after dinner if my table could look this cute and I could throw it all away! So perfect.
Big people table
Little people table
Of course, there are always games at Grandma's house.
We exchanged a few Christmas gifts with them, and Janie helped the girls and me to get our Christmas tree! I was glad to have the girls help me carry that thing and get it up.
Kitty approves of the tree.
And just like that, it's time for Christmas.
