November fun

School rewards!

 At Maya and Nolan's elementary, they can earn special bracelets for good behavior, being kind, or going above and beyond.  After they accumulate a certain number of them, the kids can turn them in for a reward.  5 bracelets are smaller rewards and 25 is the largest.  Maya saved up 20 because she really wanted her face painted.  Here she is turning them in!

One day a teacher at school stopped by her classroom and asked her if she was ready to have her face painted!  She chose this butterfly.  When it was time to wipe it off at bedtime, I heard there were quite a few tears.  She wanted to keep it on another day!

 Nolan also saved up 20 bracelets because he really wanted a popcorn treat in class.  They both were so excited to have this prize!

 Also in November, Grandad had his 89th birthday!  The Dills came over and we made our usual family meal of Porcupine Meatballs, potatoes, broccoli and cheese sauce with angel food cake (and lemon glaze) for dessert.

 Happy 89th Grandad!

 Grandad, 89; Lana 10; Janae 8; Maya and Nolan 5.

 A week later, it was Thanksgiving!  We hosted Grandad this year which gave me the opportunity to cook all my favorite foods exactly the way I like them!  It was quite a lot of fun to make it all in my new kitchen.  I was pretty much in heaven.  :)  Turkey with Pioneer Woman's brine, Mom's stuffing, butternut squash, gravy, and made-from-scratch green bean casserole.  I even fried my own onions for the topping!  Costco pumpkin pie for dessert (hey, I can't make everything!).  We sent Grandad home with plenty of leftovers.

 In early December, the kids played hooky with me and we went to see Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at the Coterie theater in Crown Center.  They had a Lego exhibit in the lobby which the kids loved.

 We have also found a joint love of Nutcrackers!

We had so much fun at the Coterie.  They really do a great job with the shows there!  It was a musical and Maya sat up front with all the kids while Nolan sat in a seat next to me.  The kids were mesmorized!

 Afterwards we just had to go to Fritz's at Crown Center.

 Loving our Mommy/kid day!!

Can't wait for Christmas which is right around the corner!