I have a bunch of random pictures from December like this one of Samuel with his new reading cards. By the way, Samuel is doing much, much better than last year at school and especially reading. He can actually blend the sounds, read the words, and retain what we've read in the past. He's really getting it!
I like this adorable picture of Luna. She looks like a stuffed animal! So fluffy!
We hadn't been on a date since our September birthdays so after Nathan and Ana left, we really needed to get away. Noah babysat for us and did great! He is nearing 13 after all. This picture makes me smile and laugh so much. Terry was just being a dork and hamming up for the picture, but his expression is so blank. Then his hands seem too small for his head because he's leaning forward. It's so funny!
Unfortunately for Nathan and Ana, they discovered Thorin had fleas right before they came to visit us. They did absolutely everything to avoid bringing any fleas with them (and I think they succeeded), but just to be careful, we decided to treat Luna and Trouncer. Here they are getting their flea baths.
Trouncer "loves" getting baths. But it's good. He's been getting baths every week or two since we got him in September to keep down on the pet dander and avoid allergens for guests. It's good for him.
Cold wet kitty. Evie chased him down and took his picture.
That night while Terry and I were watching a show, Luna and Trouncer found each other and snuggled for body warmth. So cute.
We decided to winter the New Yorker on the side of the garage.
Stunning sunset one night.
I squatted down to get some of the barbed wire in there.
Swirly clouds! I think this is my Facebook cover photo right now.
There was so much light reflecting off the clouds I could see very well for the time of night. Those deer were keeping an eye on me.
Rewind to the day that Nathan and Ana arrived, November 20, which was also the day that Jazmin left for South Africa for a month. She was doing mission work there, helping and supporting a single missionary girl. Zoe and Sherrie were going to join her after three weeks (Kate later decided to go too).
David and Jazmin saying good bye.
Jazmin's trip to South Africa is the reason I have so many random photos from this month. We would talk back and forth on Messenger and I would include photos from whatever we were doing, which most often was school since our mornings were her evenings nine hours later. So here's a sneak peek into our school days. Noah and Evie work at the table Nathan made a few years ago (2013!!). Trouncer likes to lay on their books.
Samuel, Ezra, and I usually work at the little coffee table on the other side of the room by the couch, so we can snuggle. :)
Stinking cat sitting on my laptop! I sprayed him with water to teach him not to do that.
While Jazmin was sweltering in 100 degree African heat, we had some of our first snow.
I think a couple days later we got a little more before it warmed up and melted. While it was warm it was the perfect weather for building stuff. Evie had built that wall out of the brick form Terry got a while back.
Noah beginning his snow ball.
Luna loves the snow. She goes nuts for it, racing all over the yard, perhaps because she grew up in it last year when we first got her.
Exhibit A
I believe this was Trouncer's first time experiencing snow.
He looks fantastic with his black coat against the snow, but he's not a fan of the cold.
Evie built her wall so high that it began to fall down soon after.
One of their big snow balls, Noah's I think.
Zoom
Samuel on his own snow ball.
I don't know why I took this photo but I had sent it to someone, either Terry or my sister, and it's funny.
The week before Christmas break I sewed and patched nine pairs of jeans at my mom's house. It was exhausting. I didn't want to go to Youth Group that night.
The ninth pair were the clearance jeans I had bought on Terry and I's date. They were good (and cheap!) jeans but I just couldn't handle the rips (too cold) so I patched them!
Mid-December Saturday lounging.
I called Noah a cat-whisperer but really the cat does this to anyone, including me just last night.
Trouncer hilariously fell asleep and his head drooped into Noah's neck. Ha!
Later in the day my mom stopped over and helped me make fudge. The last once or twice that I've attempted to make it I have failed. I think I've heated it too much and scorched it. She made sure to not do that. Thanks mom!
More cat snuggling the following Monday while Evie watched her Math video.
Later that day Jazmin and the girls (Zoe, Sherrie, and Kate) returned from South Africa!
We arrived just in time to see them disembarking. What fun it was.
Afterwards we ate at Applebees as a special treat since we were given a gift card and then shopped at Best Buy later for a sound bar for Terry's folks.
