News from November

We have certainly been enjoying our time down here in CA and we are continuing to keep busy (sometimes too busy).

 The soccer seasons came to an end. Jaydon's team went undefeated and were pretty dominant throughout the season! They had fun. Lucy's team won a game and tied a game and they improved a ton this season.

 My team spoiled me with this fun gift basket and an individual gift card from every family, it was crazy but super sweet.

 

I got 'volunteered' to be the BINGO night chairperson. I had a great committee and we pulled off the first Stone Lake Bingo Night, it was such a success we are now doing another one in a couple months! The prize baskets are above, then one of me MCing and a couple of the kids. It was a lot of fun and I am sure glad I have quite a bit of experience putting on events!

Our church hosted a pups and pies event to help sponsor the new animal shelter that was built in our city. We got to pie the pastors and the kids had a good time.

Lucy had to disguise a turkey to make it through the Thanksgiving holiday, she decided to make her turkey into a peacock, I think it will live!

We let Jaydon play fantasy football this year (he has begged for a couple seasons). It is a random league with strangers but he is having a great time and learning a lot. He started off not doing so hot but his team has scored the most points for the entire season (and he has had the most points scored against him which is why he struggled early) but now he is doing pretty well.

We bid on dinner out with the second grade teachers at the Fall Festival and won, so Jaydon, Lucy and Kate got to eat a fun dinner with teachers (Jaydon's teacher from last year and Lucy's current teacher) while Jeremy and I snuck in a dinner date on the other side of the wall. It was great!

Science Night! Our school put on an amazing science night and the kids had a great time.

The shirt from one of the college science clubs that came to present, Jeremy has one that says "talk Nerdy to me" with nerdy made the same way out of the periodic table.

Working hard on her booklet (they had to write something they wondered and something they discovered about each station they went to)

I didn't get a pic but all three of mine ended up being prize winners in the raffle so they were extra thrilled.

Jaydon and Jeremy got to go on an adventure! They were able to fly up to Sea (barely, with a cancelled flight and another delay on the way) and make it in time for the Sounders MLS Cup game against Toronto. What an experience for them both! A trip they will always remember. And the Sounders won!!!

Jeremy and Jaydon with a friend of Jeremy's from HS (and his wife) and a friend from college (and his wife). Awesome!

Visit with Great Aunt Carol and Great Uncle Bill

We loved getting a bit of an extended visit with Carol and Bill. After seeing them in Redding they got dropped off at our house to spend another couple nights before flying out of Sac. We took them to the train museum and the river boat restaurant and just enjoyed getting some time to hang out with people who have been such a loving wonderful part of my extended family. (For those who don't know Carol is my Grandma Stange's (mom's mom) younger sister.

News from November

I initially thought we had a low key November and then this post started getting longer and longer. Evidently we did a number of fun things throughout November.

We did a local dentist buy back for our old Halloween candy, they made it into a big carnival type atmosphere with face paint included.

Tired Daddy fell asleep with Kate one night

Jeremy had a work conference in Monterrey one weekend so the kids and I headed over to join him. The kids first In-n-Out experience above!

Enjoying the famous Monterrey Bay Aquarium

Hanging out around town

It won't be too much longer and we won't be able to get our kids 3 across sideways on a queen bed!

A view from our hotel of the lake with a cool walking trail

Don't forget to VOTE!

Some of Kate's art and school work

Jaydon had a character project at school. Pick a favorite character from a favorite book and do a cereal box report. He chose Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf, from The Hobbit. He loved it!

Lucy wanted a pic taken of her while I was taking pics of Jaydon doing his project

Thanksgiving anyone...when I parked at the gym this turkey was just strolling around the parking lot.

Lucy earned the HAWKS Award for the first trimester (Hardworking, Accountable, Wise, Kind and Safe), we enjoyed going to see her get her award.

A little illness hit the family

Giant box made into a car, the girls had fun.

Our neighbors are part of the Croatian cultural hall and invited us to their Sarma night (great food, good company and the kids dance troupe performing).

Kate enjoyed learning a traditional dance after the performance (so did I)

Our neighbor plays the accordion in the band

Jaydon set up a football game between his stuffed animals one day

Uh-oh, my kids are not going to let us be a 1 cat house much longer. They keep finding kitties and think we need them all (maybe I do too :-))

With neighbors we took the kids to see the new Grinch movie. Our first experience as a family seeing a movie in the theater.

Kate made this thankful Turkey at school. She is thankful for Nana.

We hosted our cousins from Redding for Thanksgiving

Yum!

Lucy and Kate loved playing with their younger cousins

I see babysitting in her future

Matt wanted to watch the game and decided the kid table was the place to be

Decorating Day! Since Thanksgiving was so early this year (and we hosted) we decorated on Saturday and were able to be a little more leisurely than when I normally cook thanksgiving dinner and decorate on the same day.

That night our town had a lights parade and tree lighting ceremony. Not quite what we are used to being spoiled by Leavenworth but still fun to see and get out as a family.