November Miscellany

Colsen got to experience his first Pep Rally.  Arborbrook honored the fall sports teams and then got everyone all excited about the winter sports teams...  I snuck in to get a few pictures of the soccer teams.

And in between all of the exciting activities of the month, we've been doing a lot of learning and learning!

Making the grade

Jinna has decided she wants me to start grading her schoolwork....  But I'm only ever allowed to put either an "A" or an "A+" on her papers.

This is what happens when you have an Asian homeschooler.  😁

Thanksgiving

This year much of the Wray family was in California for Thanksgiving so the remnant of us still in town had to find a way to muddle through on our own.  ;)  

The Clarks and Wayne and Jo-Ellen came over for the day and we had a great time!

 Katie and Jo-Ellen both brought festive and tasty dishes... My jobs were pretty easy this year!

Afterwards we all played the Celebrity Game, which is always a crowd-pleaser.  :)

.... And I had to subtly take a photo of my college boy so I wouldn't forget what he looks like.

Fun times we people we love!

Parade

This year we got to be in the Monroe Christmas Parade (which, rather oddly, is held in November).

 The kids diligently helped me make little cards-with-pencils to hand out as part of the Monroe Charter Academy "float" (really a pick-up truck).

We had a lot of fun handing them out and seeing all the crowds!

French kissing

Before we started school this morning, Miles asked me if he could "French kiss" me.  I immediately recoiled and answered that that is completely inappropriate.

Then I paused, and asked him, "Do you know what French kissing is?"

"No, I don't think so," he answered.

"Do you WANT to know?" I asked.

He insisted he did, so I explained it to him (and his innocence was lost forever).

Then he said, "Oh, THAT's not what was I trying to do!  I was just trying to kiss you like French people do, you know, where they kiss on both cheeks!"

So we did that.  :)

Clearly, he's 12

Colsen is growing up... It kind of snuck up on me but this week I've had 2 conversations with him that made me realize he's no longer the little kid he was.

Me: "You can wear shorts to this event.  Go put on pants."
Cole: "I look like an idiot in pants."

***

Me: "Can you help me with something?"
Cole: "No, I have to go to do my hair."

We're entering a whole new phase here.

JRR, overheard

Colsen just came in to tell me that Jinna must be a Republican.

He heard her playing with her imaginary friends and she was dealing with pretend money.  She kept saying things like, "No, you can't have the same amount of money as me because you didn't work hard!  I work hard!" and   "C'mon Best Friend, you can work hard and get some money!"

Colsen Turns 12!

Banner year for Colsen!

To celebrate, his big gift will be to take a special trip with just Pete this year, but he is waiting to get the yo-yo tournament schedules before he makes the decision about where he wants to go.

In the meantime, we made his actual birthday a fun day.  We met the Clarks and Nonna and Poppa for lunch so we could celebrate both Katie and Colsen....

Then we had a special cheesecake that he wanted to help make....

I may have gone a little overboard with the chocolate ganache...

At night he had a Cotillion class,

...so afterwards Pete took the boys and a couple of their buddies out to dinner.  There was a lot of consternation about how "weird' they would look eating all dressed up, but I think they all looked very handsome -- and they had a good time despite the attire.

We love who this boy is and the man he is becoming!

Choir

The kids' first opportunity to sing in a choir arrived on Sunday!  It was also their first opportunity to participate in an Episcopal service (well, Rayna used to attend an Episcopal church when she was a baby, but certainly does not remember it). 

The kids looked like deer caught in headlights for most of the service.

When the time came for the anthem, they were very excited!

And the choir sounded AmAZing!  So beautiful.  Our friend Kathleen is very talented and made this motley crew sound quite impressive.  (The adults joined them at different times throughout and the harmonies were beautiful!)

I was thankful to hear them, but also just for the opportunity for our family to worship with brothers and sisters in a style different from what we're used to.  It brought up all kinds of good conversations and we all appreciated the experience.  Love seeing more of the Body of Christ!

Celebrating Mom

For Mom's birthday this year we decided to give her the gift of time with her daughters and daughter-in-law (aren't we so thoughtful? 😀).  We suggested some activities that we could all together and let her choose.   So we ended up going for a nice walk on a beautiful day, making Christmas signs together, and having dinner at Viva Chicken.

 These two didn't so much "make" a sign as "research" how they could do it later.  To their credit, they both did actually finish signs within the month!

Then, after dealing with a flat tire in the parking lot, we joined up with the rest of the extended family back on the football field!

Here comes the next generation of women!  (And Lincoln)

Almost 12

Conversation with Colsen tonight:

Cole:  Is it true that we each have a guardian angel?
Me: Actually the Bible says, "He will give His angels charge over you," so it sounds like we have lots of angels looking out for each of us.
Cole:  I wonder what my team of angels is called.
Me:  Maybe they're called "Cutie-Pie's* Angels."
Cole:  Mom, I've been thinking, I think I'm getting too old for you to call me that.
Me:  Really???  Awwwww....
Cole: I know, that makes you sad, huh, Mom.  Time goes so fast!

I guess his angels need a new team name.


*I've told him that we named him Colsen Peter so his initials would be CP, which also stands for Cutie-Pie

Miles wanted me to take the picture like this

That explains it

My exasperation level was mounting by the hour today and finally tonight I blurted out, "I keep saying the same things over and over and it seems like no one is changing!!!"

Colsen looked up and said, "We're trying to be like God, and He is unchanging."

Terrific.

****

I asked Miles to take a photo of me that I needed to upload to a website.  He took several and as I was looking through them I kept saying things like, "Ack! Too many wrinkles," and "My face looks too fat," etc. 

He finally responded, "I guess you should have taken this picture back when you were in your 30's." 

He's not wrong.