The Lieser Family: NOVEMBER..soon daylight will start getting longer : )

November is probably my least favorite month of the year but it helps knowing the daylight hours will soon begin to get longer again and the holidays are in our near future. I do love coming home to a house lit up with Christmas lights and the tree glowing from the inside.

The Presidential elections were held on November 6. I picked Drew up from school after work and took him with me to vote for the first time. They talked about it in school a little bit and we talk about it at home from an educational stand point...not an opinionated stand point (which is hard to do sometimes). He had a lot of good questions about the elections and somewhat understands why it is important.

One of the friends Drew has made in kindergarten had a birthday party at the Bowling Alley. On the same day that his friend Mason passed out his birthday invitations, we also sent Drews...it just so happened that they picked the same location!! The good thing is, what kid doesn't like bowling?!
The same day as Mason's bday party Drew & Raegan also celebrated Jack's birthday at Bounce Depot. He is a friend of theirs from daycare.

Mason & Drew

Masons birthday party at Southway Bowl

from the top: Jack, Raegan, Drew, Anna, Claire & James

Jacks birthday at Bounce Depot

Rick got another nice deer this year. It was a great big 10 pointer! Drew loves to get directly involved and keeps asking when he will get to hunt? Rick grew up respecting guns & hunting so Drew will slowly be eased into it as he gets older. Rick wants to teach him and give him a good understanding that hunting is a privilege.

Going to kindergarten for Drew meant leaving all his good friends at daycare. He formed great bonds with many of the kids and was sad to not see them anymore. On a no school day we asked one of his best friends, Finley to spend the day with us. Finley informed me that the two of them are getting married someday : )

we went bowling

they have an amazing respect for one another that is remarkable to watch!

and are always willing to help each other out

3D movie

and we made Thanksgiving cookies

Drew and Raegan finished up swimming lessons for the year. They are both much better in the water than I ever was. I can not believe my mom and dad let me quit after not passing repeat beginners :o

PASSED - Swim 1

PASSED - Advanced Preschool

One of my favorite traditions of the year...cutting our Christmas tree. The kids get super into it and I love that we pick it out together. Every year its shape and height is unique & it smells so good! We love it!

searching...

could this be it??

while dad puts the tree through the shaker and bailer we visit the animals and...

SANTA! they had a nice long chat ; )

Last year an ELF arrived at our front door...the kids named him doughnut. He came the day after Thanksgiving and left Christmas day. Drew & Raegan talked about him randomly throughout the year and hoped he would return. Guess who showed up the day after Thanksgiving this year?? DOUGHNUT!! D & R were thrilled to see him! Rick and I smirk at each other when we catch either of them talking to doughnut...it is one of the cutest things to watch.

the TV show explains it very well so the kids understand how this whole elf thing works

it has to be DVR'd and we will be watching it about 100 times over the next few weeks

Doughnut is BACK!!

he rides in style with Barbie

was found with tape one morning

had a message on another

decided to be sneaky with the red paint one night

added decorations to our tree

added a few touches to some pictures

hid in the cupboard one morning

made a sugar angel

added himself to the nativity

and just hung around.

November is my month for Christmas shopping!! As I was hearing people talk about Black Friday shopping (in the cold & snow). Rick and I were sitting in the living room wrapping the last of our gifts : ) I enjoy the entire month of December with gifts under the tree and not setting foot in a store...unless we need toilet paper ; )