It really did. And I can't believe I didn't really write much here. I'll always be a writer, but it seems like I wear so many other hats that there are times when sitting down and writing here is not the first on my to-do list.
After the day when Easton found a mouse scurrying up the stairs, Patrick became more open to getting another cat. There have been two new houses built near us and I think the unsettling coupled with the season just made our home look like a cozy place to bed down for the winter. But they picked the wrong house.
We set traps for a few days and thought we had him cornered upstairs, but turns out we didn't. So one morning when Tate was at preschool, me and Maylie headed off to the humane society to find our perfect cat. I'd studied them all online the night before and had a few favorites picked out, but when we got there it was definitely a hard decision. It was tempting to pick up one of the cute little kittens, but we had decided to get one that was older so they would already be fixed and have their shots, be less wild, and more apt to hunt mice. So we picked out the sweetest little kitty who didn't mind when Maylie squealed excitedly in her ears or rubbed her ears or fur the wrong way.
I think the mouse was a blessing in disguise though, because the Lord knew it was the only way we'd get a cat. And He knew that little Tater really needed a cat. The white cats we had disappeared last summer, and Tate has been somewhat difficult ever since our first kitty, Cougar died. So we decided this little cat would be mostly his, and he would have responsibility for it. He loved her so much and named her Flashlight. For a while, I didn't think she'd like him very much because she ran away from both Maylie and Tate, but as time progressed she warmed right up to Tate. And for the last few days I've seen Tate carrying around his little Flashlight and he told me she really likes him because he's gentle with her. And just as I'd hoped it would, it has nearly eliminated completely the constant hugging and squeezing of his little sister. As for the mouse, the cat did catch it one morning, (but then lost it again when she tried to play with it). So Patrick set up traps in the basement, and we've caught three mice so far. So even though Patrick says he's 3 and the cat is 0, we still haven't regretted our decision because she needed to be Tate's.
Now onto other notable November memories:
Easton began reading the Book of Mormon all by himself.
I found him on his bed one evening all quietly reading. And it really brought little tears to my eyes. I was eight before I started to undertake such a project, and this little boy did it with no prodding or pushing--it was just his very own desire.
I'm so proud of my sweet six-year-old.
One night we had a Portuguese meal and the smell of the bread just brought me back to all of those delicious croissants I ate in Portugal.
We also did a countdown to Thanksgiving...our 10 days of Thankfulness came from this cute idea found
here.
We did a darling service activity with the Beehives where we each brought a plate of treats and then we put together at least 12 plates to take around to anyone in the ward the girls thought needed a little treat. They each did their own plate and decorated their own Thank-you card and then we delivered them. It was a late night but I sure love my girls.
Maylie's been enjoying playtime with her little neighbor friend on Thursdays while Tate is at preschool. They're a month apart in age and the best of friends.
I've also loved shopping with Miss May. It's so easy to slip to the store when Tate and Easton are at school. Maylie lights up every person she sees with a smile, a giggle, and a grin, and usually a hello as well. She's quite the little star I've always known she would be.
And her most favorite thing to do is flop over the cart and hang upside down while I'm pushing her through the store or parking lot. It must be kind of thrilling, kind of like a ride at Lagoon or something.
We missed Nana and Papa when they were in Hawaii, but they came to visit a few days after they got home, and brought us souvenirs--shirts and hats for the boys, shirts for me and Patrick (and a bracelet for me too), and a doll for Maylie whom she affectionately named "Sugar."
Papa read them a story from Hawaii as well.
We visited Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus one frosty night at our town's Jubilee of Trees.
Maylie wasn't too sure she liked sitting on their laps:
Tate loved it! (And shyly told Santa he wanted a train for Christmas):
And Easton was pretty embarrassed. (But he also told Santa what he wanted as well)
The boys have been doing artwork every night as usual, and I've been reading a wonderful book all about how we each come to earth to express the gifts (artwork) that only we can create. I'll have to write more about it at another time.
Little Princess just loves to be like Mommy. She climbs up in my closet and pulls down all of my perfume bottles and bedecks herself with my necklaces and bracelets. She brings me my earrings so I'll "put them on her." (I just drape them over her ears)
And amidst other things, my Fall project this year has been creating my children a playroom. I'm getting closer to completion--I just can't wait!! Here is the only picture I've snapped so far:
And last but not least, Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was hard this year. Me and Maylie were sick and although I was so excited to enter this season with the two best holidays of the year, the adversary has thrown a lot of opposition my way. But we were able to see Gram and Pop and Nana and Papa. It was a nice relaxing day and the sun was shining. I'm not sure I could have asked for a better day. It was a delicious dinner Mae and Pai. Thank you so much for the wonderful day!
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| {The boys spent most of the day wrapped around Patrick's legs so he would drag them around the floor.} |
I've learned much this November. I'm so grateful for every day that I get to wake up and experience. The Lord is so good to us and perfectly tailors our life experiences (both the good and the bad) for our overall good. This I know to be true
And maybe tomorrow I'll post about our Christmas decorating...
