Mama's Memories for M: Happy Thanksgiving ~ Now, Onward to Christmas!

M ~

Oh my goodness! Apologies in advance for all of the animal spam but as I peruse the pictures from this month, it became abundantly clear that our beloved pets are a huge part of our life! So furry. So fun.

Anyhoo...before I get into all of the furball deliciousness, I want to share a funny from one evening when Audrey was over for a visit and we decided to get out a new game of ours called "Freedom of Speech". Here goes...see below (as shared with our friends and family on social media):

"Playing a game last night where you had to get others to guess the phrases on your card without saying the words and M pulled the term "booty call"...

M: "This is what Grandma does to us all the time!"
All of us: "...???..."
M: "When she accidentally uses her phone and..."
Me: "Butt dial?"
M: "No! Booty call!"
All of us: "😳 Ummm... 😂"

Booty call...butt dial...I suppose it does sound similar to an 11 year old. Ha.

Ok, now on to the animal spam!

you and I took Suzy into the woods for a chilly, November
walk...I adore when you come with me like this

Grizz snuggled with Mom after babysitting the
crazy neighbor pup, Thorfin

GG is ready to get this show on the road and
decorate the house for Christmas!

an illustration of how hard it is to eat peacefully at our house

another illustration of how hard it is to read peacefully at our house

sunlight, Christmas tree, favorite kiddo

you actually slept in your own bed after I decked it out in new,
festive, Christmas bedding! as you can see from the sunlight
pouring in the window...you slept in late, too!

Dad also went to California for business this month, so we held down the fort (with Lao Lao's help) and even had to weather a small power outage. Here we are, being silly while sitting in the driveway trying to charge our phones so we have sufficient battery power to have an alarm in the morning. We sure do make lemonade out of our lemons. Don't we, kid?!

a thank you note you left for me in the bathroom:
"Dear Mom, Thank you for being there for me. Even dad
is not here, you are doing your best to Christmas-fi the house.
I didn't want to say it"

After a few days, Dad came home and we all surprised him at the airport. The dogs were so confused about what was happening. Ha.

And California isn't the only place we go that makes the animals miss us...

Lucky sent you off to school but made you leave your
sweatshirt so he could snuggle with it while you are away

The day before Thanksgiving break, I picked you up from school and found you attempting to busk with your friend, Delaney. Since middle schoolers aren't known for their expendable cash, you didn't make any money...but you had fun trying!

our little entrepeneurs

We also had a surprise house guest when Malcolm asked to stay with us for one night on his way through to his dad's for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to have him here with us and, among other things, you made gingerbread campers with him. You are so silly together and he is such a joy to have around. Definitely welcome at our house anytime!

The day before Thanksgiving was your first day off school and since Dad and I both had to work, Lao Lao took you out for lunch, pedicures, and trampoline bouncing!