i will remember november

thanksgiving morning 2014, where my gratitude begins

a few images of what made up the month of november around here this year. a month traditionally geared toward being thankful, i'm reminded that along with the days getting more full on the calendar, our hearts are also filling up! we adore our two.

i started bread baking this month. totally new to me - and i (we all) love it!

i always take the girls with me to vote. hoping they'll absorb the importance as they grow older.

our bugs sure are artists (they're zavala cousins included). mila and ayin quietly watercoloring.

auntie emi was taking photos and mila started "posing!" it was too funny!

took evia to a fun-filled birthday party, for our dear friend penelope and it was held at my old gym. not one thing has changed in 25 years!!!

i made a major hair change while d was away hunting. loving it!

evia helping grandpa with yard work. weather finally starting to cool off.

this lady is a puzzle master. her find at the rummage sale, a wooden box with three wooden puzzles for $1. she completes them simultaneously.

our two ladies at nana and grandpa's

apple picking with grandpa in the garden

a little fever and a little rest

papa's forest-found elk and deer shed. a pretty cool souvenir.

a mila-mama-papa date at brophy's on a perfect fall day

more bread baking, rosemary rolls with dinner

they were all laughing hysterically, romping around, after papa came home from work

evia does daily portraits, this one in her journal of mama and papa

silly grandpa taught the girls to eat their popcorn like puppies! but he made a fire for us on a cold day - so all is good!

one chilly morning the girls and i got bundled and went to the beach for a couple hours - it was fall heaven

 

tino's sandwiches and playing at the park a pretty nice sunday

becky came through town during thanksgiving. fun in the pool, on the playground with the covers (!) and a spa day for us mama's was such a treat!

my best bud!

papa pic

perfect spa day

my little turkey!

a relaxing thanksgiving this year. lots of time enjoying togetherness.

sissies on thanksgiving

visiting with my dear friend mandy and watching the next generation of friends

auntie anna taking our holiday pictures. she always captures the moment so beautifully

deer on my parent's lane, while little rain drops fell. magical.

our own oktoberfest

owl-o-ween

october was so jam packed with fun, i decided it needed it's own blog post. with every passing year, it seems the kids get more excited about the holidays and that includes halloween. evia loved passing out candy this year...probably her favorite part...but all the elements that went along with the holiday she embraced and mila joined in the fun. below are a collection of our favorite moments of the month!

checking out their options in search for the best one

checking out their options in search for the best one

 

mama starts to go a little batty in the corn maze and had to bow out.

 

i was about to send a search party, but these two finally finished the maze

kept the wedding album out the week of our anniversary (so fun to leaf through) and here are two of my favorite photos from the fun-filled celebration!

 

this was a busy day....beginning with some true fun. watching their friend aminah, a superstar on the court!

followed by practicing her two wheeler, she is moments away from riding completely by herself

we met grandma t for "open streets" and watched rosi's kids perform for sbdi

the following day, we enjoyed celebrating cousin isei's birthday with family - ham bones.

can't get enough of these two cousin-cuties!

boo brownies

mama's decor wasn't "spooky" enough, so evia insisted we add some extras

we made a paper spider and i found some batting in the attic for a web

first year girls did their own drawings on the pumpkins for papa to carve for them - was such fun!!

our entertainment for the evening

 

auntie anna mentioned what perfect mermaid hair evia has and the idea of halloween-mermaids was born. auntie em gave them mermaid pants years past (we use as pjs) and they were also both gifted tutus (used for the fin). mama made the felt appliques for the nude leotards to complete their request of "aerial" and hot glued starfish onto clips to hold their hair - wah-la!

my little mermaids

preschool parade with little buddy penelope

preschool parade with little buddy penelope

class photo, complete with lots of super heros and elsas

this one preferred a break from costume, traded in for a dress and uggs and until trick or treat time

mama got crazy with the glue gun and embroidery to make them each "flounder" trick or treat bags (elena, recognize your childhood aerial doll?)

mama got crazy with the glue gun and embroidery to make them each "flounder" trick or treat bags (elena, recognize your childhood aerial doll?)

nana helping evia hand out candy...our mermaid got sooooo excited with the arrival of every trick-or-treater! 70 pieces later.

a HUGE thank you to october for bringing our little town the glorious sound of rain on the last eve of the month. we fell asleep with full bellies, cozy houses and puddles for jumping in the next morning!