November happenings

November has been a month full of activities. We've been to the park, of course, and spend as many hours on the playground as possible in this 60 degree weather.

Hunter has loved on my brother's chocolate lab named Hershey. Hunter loves both dogs and hugs and Hershey politely and patiently allows Hunter to squeeze him tight. Scout, on the other hand, does not enjoy this kind of physical contact and hides from Hunter when he wants to get snuggly.

The five grandchildren took Christmas photos at my mother's house. The family is delighted now that Hunter is over most of his stranger anxiety and plays with them freely without needing to be with me at every second. 

We went to Birmingham last weekend and Carter and Hunter fit in a few rides in the battery-operated blue car. Hunter never looks like he's enjoying the rides in the photos, but he is the one who wants to get in the car.

Per the tradition that developed last year, we took photos with Santa. The three youngest children still dress up in Christmas pajamas for some of the photos and I'm all for the adults heading that way next year.

Scout may not be huggable, but she is a faithful companion who makes sure that her three charges are safe each step of the way. She has successfully recovered from the surgical removal of the popsicle stick.

Thanksgiving morning ran out warm and we did a 5K walk which felt like a great start to the day. From there forward, it was a packed day of chasing Hunter around someone else's non-baby-proofed house. Gone for a few years are the relaxed holiday meals of the past. I didn't overeat on Thanksgiving because there wasn't an opportunity. I didn't even get seconds. Probably better that way, I suppose.

I have gotten to work a good bit over the holidays and both enjoy and am challenged by the new work. It is nice to get out of the house and do something different than mothering which has got to be the hardest, strangest job on the planet. There are days that are smooth and days, like yesterday, where I need to scream and go run a few miles at break-neck speed. I am grateful not to be a single parent. I don't know how they survive without the primary back-up person, but I suppose we all figure it out as we go!