November 2023

Titus is a happy, busy boy!  He likes playing with these cars that Isaac played with when he was a toddler. 

He also LOVES basketball - even taking one to bed with him!

Mom and Dad's move meant new furnishings for our house!  This mirror was in the front entry of their new house.  They decided not to keep it, and we were the thrilled recipients!  I love how it accents our piano room!

Emma was very busy packing snacks for our drive to Branson!

Giving Tex a treat is a big ordeal to Titus!

This is an incredible illustration Emma drew for a class project.

Josiah's Friday art class

Emma's computer skills class

~~all together~~

Emma and Sophia crafted together in preparation for the T & T Girl's craft sale!

Isaac had his band concert and played in intermediate, symphonic, and HS jazz band!  He had his first solo in jazz band and did an awesome job!

The next morning Emma had her first beginning band concert!  She also did an amazing job playing!  We were all so proud of her!

Josiah made a Superior + on his piano solo at the Mid Cities Music Teacher piano festival, and he played in the honor's recital due to his high score!

Josiah's notes from Pastor Tom's sermon on Thanksgiving.  

November also meant getting Shouts of Joy ready for their performance on the first Sunday in December!

after-school walk with basketballs 

Celebrating Dad's birthday - 71 years old!  Titus loved walking around in his big boots!

Mother Daughter Retreat at Frontier Camp

Excited to get on the road!

 

Emma and I left with the Pendriches on Friday afternoon for Frontier Camp!  We had a great drive down and met the Bepkos at Fox's Pizza Den before heading to camp.  Look at the size of this pizza!  This is not what we ordered! :)

Friday night BINGO

Saturday was filled with lots of activities and delicious food!  The weather was absolutely perfect!

Ready for the giant swing!

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Emma had done the giant swing before, and of course took it look a pro, while I screamed!  After the first (terrifying) drop, it is such a fun ride! 

craft time!

This is the scavenger hunt Emma and I completed across the camp!  This was a lot of fun to complete together!  As a reward for finishing, we got a treat from the camp store.

nail painting

We also played laser tag in the woods and jumped on the Giant Pillow!

Lisa Black braided the girls' hair throughout the weekend, and she gave me great tips on how to braid better!  The girls all looked precious with their braids.

That evening, we had a square dance and then had a caramel apple bar with toppings!  It was so fun! 

Then, we loaded up on the hay wagons and rode to a huge field to see the stars. Hans told us all about the stars, and God's glory was on bright display!

Emma and I went on a long walk together on Sunday morning.  We missed the session to do this, but it was so special to have this time together and talk.  We rode the pipe slide, too!  We found this jawbone on our walk.  Hans said that they would keep it and put it in the Creation Station, though we wanted to take it home to Isaac!

We were sad to leave, but had a great stop at Collin Street Bakery.

We also stopped at Buc-ee's on the way home -- what is a road trip without Bus-ee's!?!  And, we saw Buc-ee himself!  Emma and Sophia got matching Buc-ee's socks for crazy sock night that evening at AWANA!

We arrived at home to find that the boys had switched ALL the beds in the house!  We had the king bed assembled in our room, Emma had a queen from Pop and Mom-o's, and our queen was up in Titus' room!  It was such a fun surprise!  I'll never forget Josiah acting so silly and trying to be "nonchalant" when I first came in - he was SO PROUD when I saw the king bed set up in our room!

So very thankful to the Lord for the gift of this time!