November

November started with election day! Joe Biden won the presidential election (although as I am writing this in December Donald Trump has still not conceded). I had to deliver some stuff for Relief Society, so I took the little ones along and it was the most beautiful fall day. The air felt calm and the sun was warm. I took a moment to breathe in the peace and remember that regardless of who won the election, everything was going to be okay.

I snapped this of Hudson practicing the piano one day. I love his little ensembles! 

Davis insists that Ben nap with him on weekends. It's the sweetest thing- I snapped this picture because I noticed that Ben is actually snuggling with Bei Bei! When I asked him about it after he told me that Davis gave him to Ben and instructed him to snuggle him.

I love my littles! I went to snap this picture and Davis called out (he mostly has one volume...LOUD) "I hold it!" (Meaning, I will hold Lila.)

Moments like this just melt my heart. Motherhood is so difficult sometimes, and moments like this make it all worth it.

We had an early Thanksgiving dinner at home one Sunday. We made a bunch of traditional dishes and a turkey and it was so lovely! We love Thanksgiving food, so we always try to have multiple dinners throughout the month if possible.

Oh Davis, one night when Ben was working late, I was putting Lila down. I heard Davis calling to me from the kitchen that he wanted a bath. When I got down I found him standing totally naked, holding a freshly baked roll, and totally proud of himself.

He was playing basketball with the boys (Chase spends most of his free time out there shooting hoops these days) and I heard him mutter to himself "I'm using the FORCE!"

Just me and my sweet daughter. I love this little sweater she's wearing- it was Davis's! One of the few items she's worn from her brothers!

On this particular day, Davis proclaimed "Dad! We are wearing our REDS!" Davis loves red and would prefer that everyone around him wear red. And he always chooses red for his own clothes if he can.

We got a beautiful little snowstorm and Hudson looked outside and declared "This is going to be SO GOOD for global warming!"

We got quarantined for a week (Will and Kate got COVID!). So we hunkered down and called it "cozy week". It coincided with the snowstorm and some seriously cold weather, so we watched lots of Christmas movies and drank a lot of hot chocolate. It actually was a great week, even if we were all a little stir crazy by the end. Chase spent some of his free time building this cool Star Wars ship. I looked up a picture and it looks a lot like the original! We don't own this set, he put it together from pieces of other sets.

The boys dutifully doing their school work during our quarantine week. They are champs at doing their distance learning. I'm so proud of them and how adaptable they've been this year!

This picture just summarizes little boys! 

I made them all dress in red, white and blue for veterans day! This was the week we were quarantined, our "cozy week". Despite the unfun fact of being quarantined, I think we all have really pleasant memories of that week.

Lila has been loving sink baths, and Davis always wants to join her. We let him a few times. Mostly it ends with Lila wanting to get out, or Davis requesting that we remove Lila from the bath. So I think he likes it more in theory than reality.

Our first snow! The boys loved playing in it for a few days before it melted. We haven't gotten any since- and I'm praying for more!

Chase had to disguise a turkey for Thanksgiving at school. He made "Darth Turkey" and I thought it was the cutest thing ever! Art is not typically Chase's strong suit (and he has SO MANY strong suits!) so the fact that he really got into this project was so sweet to me!

I went shopping one Saturday with my mom and Lila. I was trying some sweater on at the Rack and when I got back my mom had this cute outfit for Lila and informed me that "Lila wanted this one". It does look adorable on her!

Besides our cozy week, November weather was a little cold but generally pleasant. We bundled up and still spent a LOT of time playing outside. Lila loves to eat leaves.

This group of boys! Our neighbors on either side (technically it skips one house on each side) both have three boys- so between our families there are 9 little boys running around! The oldest is 14 and Davis is the youngest at 3. So many days these boys spend running between our three yards, riding scooters, jumping off everything, light-saber fighting, half of them are dressed up in superhero costumes. It's just little boy heaven and I love it so much! (In this picture it's Davis, Will Hickman, Hudson, Ethan Joseph and Oliver Joseph- the 5 youngest of the 9 boys). 

I say it all the time, but if Davis was any cuter I might just eat him. I love putting him down for his nap. We snuggle in his bed and I read him at least three boys, but sometimes he gets more because I can't say no. I sing his lullaby of choice (usually "You are my Sunshine") and then he gives me a sweet kiss and says "Good-Night mom! You put Lila down? You put Lila in her crib?" And then I do go put Lila down for her nap as well. 

For Christmas last year the kids got kiwi crates from my parents- they send a monthly box of STEAM activities to do. They are all so cool and the boys have loved them so much. This was one night when Hudson was doing his experiment learning about capillary action.

Oh Davis- so much to love about this picture. He has a spiderman mask on his head that he stole from a neighbor (it has since been returned). Snuggling his beloved Bei Bei. Occasionally he steals this blanket "It's Chaser's!" he always tells me when he uses it. He just looks so cute asleep! 

This is the only photo I have from Thanksgiving- but we had a lovely holiday! We did our traditional thankful tree all month, which always helps us focus on gratitude. We had a very chill Thanksgiving Day and ended the day with our feast at my parents house. We all wore masks, which was kind of a bummer, but it made us feel more comfortable about gathering during this crazy pandemic where we are being encouraged to social distance as much as possible.

And then we kicked off the Christmas season! This is sweet Lila wearing the Christmas dress I wore as a baby. I think she looks so adorable in it!