Christmas is Coming

In less than three weeks, we’ll have a 14-year old. And four short days after that, it’ll be Christmas. This is nuts!

Here’s what we’ve been up to for the past couple of (blurry, fun) months.

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Ever have a week full of Mondays? June understands.

Ever have a week full of Mondays? June understands.

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Yay cake and cookies!

Yay cake and cookies!

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Yay pumpkin guts!

Yay pumpkin guts!

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The highlight of every Halloween night: The Candy Inventory & Exchange.

The highlight of every Halloween night: The Candy Inventory & Exchange.

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This was Henry’s end-of-the-game expression after coach asked him where he’d learned to play like that. (And why didn’t he play like that all of the time?)

This was Henry’s end-of-the-game expression after coach asked him where he’d learned to play like that. (And why didn’t he play like that all of the time?)

Ella has decided to take a break from soccer to focus on volleyball. We wish we had known her last game was going to be her last game so we could properly mourn our identities as Soccer Parents!

Ella has decided to take a break from soccer to focus on volleyball. We wish we had known her last game was going to be her last game so we could properly mourn our identities as Soccer Parents!

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Nana had a big birthday! I think we surprised her pretty well.

Nana had a big birthday! I think we surprised her pretty well.

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November was time to cash in on Michael’s birthday present trip to Austin to see some F1 racing and Imagine Dragons in concert.

November was time to cash in on Michael’s birthday present trip to Austin to see some F1 racing and Imagine Dragons in concert.

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Eat pizza or plug ears? Eat pizza or plug ears? GAH!

Eat pizza or plug ears? Eat pizza or plug ears? GAH!

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We ate that weekend. A LOT.

We ate that weekend. A LOT.

It’s a good thing Michael has nothing to compare his first concert experience to — it was pretty awful! My event planning brain exploded multiple times that evening but the show itself (at least, what we were able to see) was pretty good. Imagine Dr…

It’s a good thing Michael has nothing to compare his first concert experience to — it was pretty awful! My event planning brain exploded multiple times that evening but the show itself (at least, what we were able to see) was pretty good. Imagine Dragons knows their audience.

Saturday morning, we “hiked” around Mt. Bonnell and saw the Colorado River.

Saturday morning, we “hiked” around Mt. Bonnell and saw the Colorado River.

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Then we ate some more.

Then we ate some more.

Saturday evening, we took a river cruise to see Austin’s 1.5 million (!) Mexican Free-Tailed bats take off from under the Congress Avenue bridge to hunt for the night.

Saturday evening, we took a river cruise to see Austin’s 1.5 million (!) Mexican Free-Tailed bats take off from under the Congress Avenue bridge to hunt for the night.

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Sunday morning, I dragged the family to the State Capitol.They secretly loved it but just didn’t want me to know.

Sunday morning, I dragged the family to the State Capitol.

They secretly loved it but just didn’t want me to know.

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As it turns out, the boys’ attention span for touring the Capitol was about 2.6 minutes long. They spent most of their time rolling this green toy around on the floor.Right after I took this shot, Michael accidentally let it roll under the brass rai…

As it turns out, the boys’ attention span for touring the Capitol was about 2.6 minutes long. They spent most of their time rolling this green toy around on the floor.

Right after I took this shot, Michael accidentally let it roll under the brass railing and under a desk. The guy standing behind Henry, hadn’t noticed the boys playing but turned around when he saw the strangely shaped, glowing thing moving across the floor. His eyes got really wide and he looked around in a panic like the room was about to blow up!

He was pretty relieved to see Michael crawling after it, saying “Sorry Mom! Sorry!”

Drew turned 17 and Henry turned 8 in the same week.

Drew turned 17 and Henry turned 8 in the same week.

Yay for more cake!

Yay for more cake!

Thanksgiving at the Farm is always one of the best days of the year.

Thanksgiving at the Farm is always one of the best days of the year.

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Friday morning after Thanksgiving, we drove out to PK lake with all of the grandparents.Possum Hollow always goes over the top for Christmas — this year, we happened to be there the same night as Santa. (One more Christmas to-do list item checked of…

Friday morning after Thanksgiving, we drove out to PK lake with all of the grandparents.

Possum Hollow always goes over the top for Christmas — this year, we happened to be there the same night as Santa. (One more Christmas to-do list item checked off! Ha!)

Henry made Santa a drawing and dutifully asked him for a surprise this year, after some coaching from Ella.

Henry made Santa a drawing and dutifully asked him for a surprise this year, after some coaching from Ella.

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Michael was just there for the candy cane.

Michael was just there for the candy cane.

And the girls couldn’t let this selfie opportunity pass by!

And the girls couldn’t let this selfie opportunity pass by!

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