NOVEMBER
It's getting cold in these parts! I guess you wouldn't believe that, looking at this photo!
I would like to point out that our curly haired Michael started Speech Therapy this month. He has a wonderful therapist named Kayle, who believes he may have 'speech apraxia'. This means that he understands everything, but his brain has a difficult time telling his mouth muscles how to talk. Kayle is wonderful with him. I'm just so grateful that we have speech therapy available to us! Of course we are a little worried, but we are trying to be hopeful about his progress.
I got rid of a ton of stuff this month after reading a book called The Joy of Less . Every weekend, I drove to the Goodwill with bags of clothes, shoes, toys and this painting below. I've held on to this beauty since I lived in the Dominican Republic FOURTEEN years ago! At that time, I thought is was the coolest thing ever. I called her my "Dominican Mona Lisa", but Elena's friend now calls her The Scary Princess. When I asked a friend (who is an artist) if I should try to sell it, he responded with, "You should burn it." Was it really that bad and no one had the guts to tell me? After all these years?!!! Well, I took a picture for memory's sake. Back to the joy of less--What has been the result with less stuff? Less mess to clean up! It's awesome.
We thought this was funny. Cora fell asleep while I was cooking.
Elena is still being creative. Here she is putting Lightning McQueen through a carwash. Do you see how she used a broom as bristles? She got that bright idea again from a Curious George episode.
I learned how to crochet! I would also like to announce that I'm going through round three of post-partum hair loss. At least I'm not crying about it anymore.
And now for Thanksgiving. (Elena and I made a thankful tree)
We had a wonderful feast at Uncle Mark and Aunt Ann's house in Portland, OR. We drove down and Dan's mom flew over. It was a fun weekend. Dan's cousin Becky had a great idea to make survival kits for the homeless, and fleece blankets for pediatric cancer patients. She definitely brought in the spirit of Thanksgiving. We also went to the Portland Zoo and walked through the Zoo lights at night. There are pictures taken , I am sure of it! When I get them, I'll post them here below.
And lastly, Elena's friend Ava stayed with us for a week! We got her the day after Thanksgiving, and she left today. Ava is such a wonderful friend to Elena. We are so sad that she now lives so far away. Her parents can go to Hawaii every year if it means we can get Ava!!! Don't you love the Christmas tree that we made together?
Happy Holidays! Can't wait for Christmas!
