November, 2020

This month started with rain, thunder and lightning; a rarity in Southern California. It was so much fun playing Christmas songs and setting up the first of our trees, while the kids wore their matching jammies and watched Charlie Brown. We even had a fire. 

On November 1st, I started setting up our Christmas trees and by the end of the month we had five! The real one is close to 11 feet tall and makes the house smell amazing! By the end of the month I was also nearly done with Christmas shopping and wrapping. My return to work (on campus) coincided with Cha's transition to his big boy bed. Like every other transition he has passed, it was easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. After he commands me to read a book, I tuck him in, give him a kiss and close the door. I leave the light on low and sometimes I hear him playing with whatever toy he has chosen to go night-night with, but over a month in and he has never gotten out of his bed once I put him down. We own a monkey lock and have yet to use it. Mornings are surprisingly the same! I will hear him chatting away, but he has never left his bed even once before I open the door! He is the most a remarkable little guy.

It was tough for Cha to return to daycare after he had been home for over 7 months. At drop off, he clung to me and cried, once holding on to a bench as they tried to pick him up and carry him in. Some mornings, he would ask "hide?" and releasing from his car seat buckle, I quickly learned that meant crawl into the back of my Honda Pilot so that I can't reach him without partially crawling in myself. As tough as it was on me, I knew the routine and socialization would be good for him. I didn't cry. That was, until around the middle of the month when we walked in all by himself, cheerfully saying "Bye Mom!" as he took his little stuffed dog under his arm and carried him through the gates without a fuss. By the 20th, he was saying "House! Big house; my house" as we pulled into daycare and saying "Bye Mom!" this time before we had even parked! Clearly, he likes it there, which is a good feeling. Even though it makes me feel less needed, I know it's a good thing and it gives me insight into how and why people become co-dependent or stunt their children's growth (I'm only half kidding here). And yes, we now call daycare going to the big house.

Aut started ice skating lessons this month and enjoyed them more than I anticipated. Although she also takes horse-back riding lessons and gymnastics, ice skating quickly became her favorite, with her excitedly saying "yay!" when I tell her that she has a lesson. 

We took a long weekend and went to Williams, Arizona to go on the Polar Express. I may have been as excited as the kids! There was a bit of snow on the ground and the whole event was the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. The small, old city of Williams, known as the "gateway to the Grand Canyon" holds meaning to me because Mom and I visited the summer after I finished my first year as a school counselor. We also went to the Grand Canyon for the first time on that trip back in 2007 and so it was nice to take my children there. 

The train ride was only half-full to allow for social distancing, and we wore masks. But it was otherwise a normal experience, with Santa still boarding the train to give each child a bell. This video of Charles receiving his melts my heart. We had fun being the only ones in our hotel's outdoor hot-tub, visiting a playground in town, and seeing Artic Wolves and bears roaming around our car at Bearizona. The Polar Express will definitely become an annual tradition for us.

This month, we celebrated seven years of marriage and nine years as a couple. I cannot believe how well-suited we are for each other and can say with certainty that I am more in love with him now than I was even when I said "I do." On our wedding day, I knew he had everything that I was looking for; the non-negotiables like sense of humor, attraction, educated with a career, active and irresistible. The more I was around him, the more I wanted to be around him. But there are so many other qualities that he has that I didn't realize were so important, like his devotion to family, ability to stretch our dollar by finding incredible deals and our similar viewpoints on politics that have only served to strengthen our bond. He is the best leader of our family and my rock. I thank God every day for him, and the life he has given me and our children. Our anniversary was followed by his birthday, and the start of his last year being in his 30's.

This month I continued running 3 miles most days and also continued weight training. With gyms closed, I've been humbled by just how sore a 30 minute YouTube weight training session with only hand weights can make me! And I love being sore from a good workout!

We spent Thanksgiving at home, with my Dad and brother. I love cooking a good meal for others to enjoy, how it makes the house smell and having leftovers. I love it when Aut helps, and baking desserts together.

After Thanksgiving, the Elf on the Shelf made her appearance, and it was so much fun seeing all of the mischief she got into and the kids' reactions. Cha is such a good, good man. I started wrapping presents this month and placing them under the trees. He was patient and somehow understood that they were not to be opened until Christmas. A conversation surrounding this would go something like this: 

Me: We can't open these until Christmas.

Cha: Huh?

Me: We can't open these presents until Christmas.

Cha: Huh?

Me: We will open these presents on Christmas.

Cha: Ooooohhhh.

Aut is such a joy and a good, sweet girl. She wants to please and she wants to do what she is told. She plays so well with her brother. She is thriving in kindergarten, and has received only positive comments from her teacher. I was able to take some time off work and attend her class party which is so important to me and, to her. We are truly blessed and thankful, and will never forget the struggle to become parents. It has only served to deepen our love and appreciation for what I see as the most important job in the world: being their Mom.