Caleb's favorite thing to do rummage around the pantry and bring out snacks at all moments of the day. The kid loves to snack. But suckers are his favorite! He found one in the Halloween candy and immediately brought it to me to beg for it.
November 6th was Caleb's first presidential election! He waited in line with me to vote after we dropped Luke off at school. He did great in the stroller until I got to the poll...then he started yelling "MOMMMEEEE" at the top of his lungs.
We get to school about 15 minutes before the kids are dismissed so we can get a parking spot in the front parking lot, and then we walk up to the door to get Luke. There is a playground next to the door that the little ones play on while we wait, and then the big kids play when the weather is nice while the traffic dies down. However, Caleb loves to play in the car while we wait to walk up to the door.
November 7th was the end of the season party for the Cardinals. We met up at No Frills Grill in a private room. Mr. Shy was the first Cardinal to recieve his trophy, and he was embarrassed at the kind words Coach Scott said about him.
Big smiles for the group picture, though! He sure had fun playing with these boys, and it looks like most of the kids will be back for the spring season, too.
Caleb and Woody wait for Luke to get out of school.
Over the summer we loaned Luke's old tricycle to some friends for their daughter to use. At the beginning of November, Caleb was obsessed with the big kids' bikes and would throw fits to get on the bikes. Luckily our friends were done with the tricycle, so I was able to get it back for Caleb. The day we picked it up, I wasn't able to even get him out of the car before he wanted to ride!
Aaaannnd this is what we got the Tahoe for. Michelle needed someone to watch her girls at the same time I needed to pick up Luke. No problem, the girls just came with us! And I got a taste of what it would be like to have four kids. :)
Caleb's reading spot. This kid.
November 16th was the last day of school before Thanksgiving break, and the kindergarten got to have a Thanksgiving "feast" in the cafeteria. One of my friends was able to watch Caleb so I could go up for the feast with Luke. It was so cute!
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November 17th was a cold Saturday morning, but Luke and I participated in the Miles 4 Meredith 5K/1K fun run. It's a big run in Mansfield and a bunch of different schools get teams together to compete. When we got the notice home from Luke's school, I asked him if he would want to do it and he said YES! So we "trained" (I use that term loosely) and we were ready!
It sure was cold, though.
I was so proud of Luke, he ran the whole 1K.
Nate kept the boys while I ran the 5K. Afterwards there was an awards ceremony, and a bunch of vendors set up inside MHS, but we ended up just going home because we had a crazy day planned and needed to get moving. Well, imagine my surprise when Michelle called {she was one of the vendors} to let me know that I had the best time in my age group, and won a gold medal! I believe my exact words to her were, "Shut. Up." I had already taken a shower and changed clothes, but we headed back up to the school to get my medal!
See - proof. I still can't believe it.
Part of the reason our day was so crazy was because Nate and I actually had a DATE NIGHT that night and we needed to get the boys to Dallas. We went to the Arlington Margarita Ball with Michelle & Victor and some other friends. It was so much fun to get all dressed up and go out!
First we went to dinner at Abuelo's. Doesn't everyone take a picture in the bathroom?!
Then it was off to the convention center for the ball...lots of drinks and dancing and fun! It got even better when we took off our shoes.
See all those toys? To get into the ball, you have to bring an unwrapped toy that is donated to Santa Cops w/ the Arlington Police Dept.
Meanwhile the boys were having a blast with Mammie and Boppa...aren't they so cute?
The next day we picked them up and headed to...get ready for it...the DEER LEASE. Yes, I have now been to the deer lease. It was not as bad as I anticipated; but it also isn't something I'm in a rush to do again. I think it will be better when Caleb is older. At the time he was in a phase where he was waking up at 5 AM, which ended up being 4:30 AM at the lease, and that was hard.
Mammie and Boppa put Luke and Caleb to work finding pecans while they waited for us to arrive.
On the way! Luke was great on the drive, but Caleb fussed. A lot.
When we turned off the highway and onto the 10 mile long dirt road, the boys were able to get out of their carseats. Caleb had been fighting sleep in his seat, but as soon as he got in Mommy's arms, he passed out.
The next morning, Nate went to hunt. Of course, both boys were awake before he left. Once the sun started to rise, we went outside to explore.
After Daddy returned empty handed, and Caleb took a nap, we headed out on the four wheelers to see the lease. We rode around for over two hours!
Luke drove his up to the gate, and then jumped on with Daddy and Caleb. I love this picture!
We stopped at the tank and the boys had a blast throwing rocks into the water.
Caleb Michael is ALL boy. The dirtier he is, the happier he is.
We stopped to look at this big tank of water.
There was a long line of gigantic ants that the boys were mesmerized by.
We drove around a little more and then headed back to camp.
Nate got some wood together so we could have a fire and make s'mores. We never did, though, because Caleb went to sleep while Nate and Luke hunted in the evening, and then by the time they got back, Luke was exhausted and ready for bed. Oh well, the boys had fun "helping".
Caleb used a lighter for an axe. So imaginative.
The sunset on our first day at the lease.
The next day we drove around together on the mule to check cameras at feeders, or something like that.
That evening, Caleb and I dropped Nate and Luke off at the stand they were going to hunt in, since there was nowhere they could park undetected. It was so cute watching them walk together across the pasture.
Sunrise on our last morning at the lease. We left that morning and headed back home in time for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day was spent at home for the morning, and in Dallas for the afternoon. Since we were going to have traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday with Nate's family, we did a roasted chicken, honey baked ham, cheese grits, broccoli and green beans for dinner at my parents'. Oh and sweet potatoes, but I don't eat those. I always forget to get family pics on Thanksgiving, but I remembered as we were leaving - when the boys were already in their jammies.
November 24th we spent the day in Emmett. Michelle, Victor and their girls came down with us. We all had so much fun. When we first got there, it was photoshoot time. I took their pictures for their Christmas card, and then the entire Stroder/Anderson/McLane/Freels family took pictures together. They all turned out really good...but that's a whole 'nother post.
Later that afternoon Michelle, Victor, Nate and I went out to shoot some .22's. Our targets were two Dr Pepper cans. It was fun, and only my second time to ever shoot a gun.
One of Caleb's favorite things to do is help empty the dishwasher.
Kinley and Caleb playing together outside...reading books and causing mischief.
And that wraps up November!
