November Highlights

This isn't really a highlight, but a pretty picture. The days are getting shorter. It is a wonderful time of year but I really don't like that it is dark by 4pm. This was on one of my drives home after dropping the girls off at the bus stop. Love the bright orange sun, fog and dew!

November 5th is a big deal around here.  It's Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night. You know, Remember, Remember the 5th of November. Both girls were learning about it in one of their specials classes....either Art or Host Nation. Allie had the whole poem memorized.

Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.

By God's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

The bonfires and fireworks actually went on for several nights since the 5th fell on a Wednesday this year. We went out to eat Saturday night and came back to the sky ablaze. We thought for sure a house was on fire and it looked to be right where our house was. We were so nervous! Then all of a sudden the fireworks started going off.....and it clicked! It was behind our house....we don't remember it last year, but that is because we were in Paris with Natalie and Alex.

Family Game nights have been consisting of games geared towards Avery. They are usually dealing with sight words, counting/math, or time. Here we are playing Alphabet Bingo by the fire.

We had parent teacher conferences this month. Knowing the situation we were faced with last year with Avery, we've been concerned about how she was doing. We want to make sure we have good communication with her teacher this year so we can make sure she is on track...or at least know what we really need to be focusing on at home. The conference went better than expected.....also longer than expected...50 minutes! I hope we expressed our concerns well enough. I am hopeful that Avery will continue to progress. With Avery's conference going so far over, we were left with about 10 minutes with Allie's teacher. Allie is already reading at 4th grade level and her teacher is amazed with her writing....as are we! 

Before conferences I made up a "GOALS" folder for Avery. We're focusing on the things she is struggling with and the goal is to see progression each week. She loves it! I've also been making extra worksheets for her to work on. One Saturday we loaded everyone up and went to one of Derek's hangars on base. The previous day had been the Squadron Thanksgiving luncheon so the bouncy house was still there. We set it up for the kids to play on while I cut flashcards, stapled together books, etc. Derek brought along some tools to start on the kids' teacher's gifts this year. We were there all day but we got a lot accomplished and the kids had fun!

The final product for the teachers' gifts. After we got them done, I realized it probably wasn't the best idea for a teacher gift...but, oh well.

We went bowling one night. Blake slept through most of it.

Blake is very in to playing "dress-up" now. The other day he came to me like this and said, "Look, I'm Grammy!"

Avery's School Project - Disguise a Turkey

And I realized I never posted a picture of our pumpkins. Allie carved her own this year. Avery picked out her design, which I partly drew and Derek carved.

October Highlights

• Roasting Marshmallows

• SOG Fall Fest (Derek's Unit at work)

• Avery lost her first tooth!

• Storybook Character Parade @ School (Princess Anna & GAHlinda)

"toss, toss"

Allie and her friend, Penelope

Keira, Penelope, Allie, Kennedy

 Allie's teacher

Avery & Cassi

More of Avery's class 

Blake liked the firetruck more than seeing all of the kids dressed up

• Halloween Night -- Trick or Treating and Trunk or Treat at RAF Mildenhall

Followed by "Booing" 2 families of the kids' choice.

• Trunk or Treat at church

I didn't actually end up going to this, so no pictures while there. The previous day, Halloween, the kids didn't have school. The girls came up with this brilliant idea to do a themed trunk or treat that worked around Avery's Elphaba costume. Allie would be the Tin Man, Blake a flying monkey, me the scarecrow and Derek the Wizard of Oz. We made and painted props for the trunk and had to come up with outfits for our costumes. The next day the girls had a birthday party to go to. By the time we got home from that, the church halloween party was getting ready to start.....we still had to get ready! Well, Derek never found anything to wear, Blake's wings for his costume weren't dry, and the props still weren't dry! I was so sad.....and I hate being late to things....I decided I would still dress the part just not paint my face. Then Derek lovingly offered me one of his flannel shirts to replace mine (his "nice" way of telling me I looked fat). So, I decided I just wasn't going to go. I think I was exhausted from everything because I fell asleep on the couch right away and woke up not knowing where I was or even what day it was!

• Fall Fest @ school --- Avery's teacher painted this awesome hedgehog (school mascot)

• Pajama Day at school for Avery's class as they studied and lived the life of nocturnal animals. Avery chose the name Hazel Hedgehog, but they ended up using their real names so she was Avery Hedgehog

• Blake being silly and enjoying this amazing fall weather we've been having

• Best buds playing car next to Mommy's bed