A random compilation of pre-Thanksgiving photos from November!

We begin with all of the festive Thanksgiving-themed school projects, including these very cute and useful laminated placemats:

More turkey projects:

Joyriding on a crisp fall day in the Barbie Jeep.

The night the girls most look forward to during the week is Friday night, which is movie night at our house. I won an air popper at the preschool’s annual dinner fundraiser, so the girls have enjoyed popping their own corn and don’t seem to mind the lack of butter or salt. We just eat it straight up plain!

My dreams of seeing Hamilton came true! I didn’t think I’d survive the drive up to LA since I was in the throes of morning sickness, but I had been dying to see this show forever and wasn’t going to let some pesky nausea and extreme fatigue stop me, even though this was the latest I had been out in months! We had some yummy tapas at a restaurant in the theater district before meeting our friends, Sheela and Todd, at the show.  I don’t often say anything is really worth the drive to LA, but this was definitely an exception. Best. Musical. Ever.

Samantha and Amelia did their best to smile and not look tortured in their school photos.

Meredith hangs with her bestie, Maple, whom she lovingly refers to as “May May.” They are hilarious together! One minute they are throwing sand and pushing each other, and the next they are hugging and kissing bye bye. Meredith frequently asks where May May is when we go to the park and she’s not there, and sometimes asks to bless May May in her prayers.

The twins started ice skating lessons, and despite spills and struggles the first few weeks, they love it. Ice skating is one of the few lessons we’ve tried that they are super excited to go to each week, probably because Jake buys them hot chocolate afterwards.

Daddy Daughter date at the Spectrum. I believe I was at a doctor’s appointment on this particular excursion and when I picked them up, I notice they were wearing new pants that we don’t own. They explained that Amelia had an accident, so instead of thinking to go to the car where I keep extra clothes, Jake just ran into one of the stores and bought them new undies and pants.

Livin’ la vida loca.

Meredith is obsessed with her dollies.

There’s an orange grove within biking distance of our house and the girls love to bike there, bringing big sacks of oranges home with them. The ride home is uphill all the way, so they are always exhausted when they get back.

Just past the orange grove is a fun little “Exploration Park” the girls like.

Showing off those strong muscles.

Gymnastics practice.

Thanksgiving potluck time! The hour of setting up, serving a class of hungry preschoolers and directing them to help clean up is tiring! I didn’t even get a chance to go say hi to Amelia in her class since her class is smaller and they were on to storytime by the time I got there. It seemed like every kid in this class asked for demanded two or three more helpings of everything… and then wasted it all! Argh! There was so much food that I wanted to take a few dishes home and call Thanksgiving done!

A few nighttime shenanigans:

Jake filmed this at 1 a.m. one night after Samantha had vomited and Amelia had woken up, startled and crying incoherently.  Apparently, she wanted to throw up too! Good times.

Lots of love,