I've uploaded all of our November photos on Shutterfly.  

 

Shutterfly Share Site

 

Enjoy!

Is it already the middle of December?!  

This year of birthdays and holidays has been a little of tradition and a lot of different.  It's been a good mix.  Everyone is learning how to live in the moment a bit better. 

 Grandma Hennings sent a turkey making kit.  The kids were very happy to make the "traditional" turkeys.  Obi and Gavin made up the frosting with a bit of help and it was all kids' project from there.  It's amazing how much easier these kinds of projects are when your kids are not all toddlers!

The kids are all very thankful for Skype, Facetime, and Google hangout.  Athan and Chiara are drawing a picture together.  

 

Cora got her present a day early.  For on her birthday we would be heading to the airport to pick up our visitors.  The morning of her birthday, Obi made pancakes for his sister (and everyone else).  He enjoys baking and does a really good job making pancakes by himself.  All three brothers helped in making Cora a cake.

 The cake may not win any design awards, but it was made with a lot of love.

Happy 13th Birthday to Cora!!!

We rode the BART to San Francisco airport to get Inger & Cami.  I was a bit concerned about getting stuck in traffic, so I opted for the train. 

The next day we took our guests to the Golden Gate Bridge, past Candlestick Park, and introduced them to the Pacific Ocean at Half Moon Bay.  The weather was a bit cool and overcast all day, so Cami got to test her cool hat from Aunt Jessica.

Cami got to meet the ocean up close and personal.

We spent the day before Thanksgiving in Sonoma and Bodega Bay.

Thanksgiving Day was spent in Santa Cruz.  We enjoyed a walk about Natural Bridges State Park, a soup picnic at the beach, and the rest of the day at Cowell's Beach.  

Cami's sandal.

 Before leaving we took a walk out on the wharf.  The sun was setting and it was beautiful.  The kids enjoyed watching the sea lions. 

 A pelican landed just beside us.  Cora asked if she could scare it.  She gave it her best try, but it really didn't care.

As we were picking out our Christmas tree, I noticed what Athan was wearing.  It was totally weather appropriate, but still funny.  

The tree was set up and decorations were hung.

 December 6th was Lodi's Parade of Lights.  It was different and fun.

 

This photo is from our walk back to our car.  It is still so odd to be getting ready for Christmas when it looks like an Iowa October outside.

The kids painting an ornament for our tree.  

The kids picked out their own ornament and their own colors.  I just got a call that they are done.  We're all excited to pick them up tomorrow to see what they look like.

Carving Melons, Wildlife, and Public Transportation

I cannot believe how fast October went by, and November seems to be going even faster!

The 31st, the kids and I made one last trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco.  When it was time to leave the museum, we ran into a whole lot of Giants fans.  I didn't realize the parade was the same morning, and at 2:30 the streets were still filled and many streets were blocked off.  I was forced to take a detour to get back onto 80.  During our detour we had our first, and hopefully last, experience with a shooting.  We were safe, and because we were headed uphill 

 

we really couldn't see anything.  The police response was amazing and overwhelming.  When the area was secure we were allowed to make a right turn and be on our way.

That night we went to a family party at the church the kids have been attending Awana.  Athan wanted to challenge his dad to a bean bag race.  He quickly found out that running doesn't work well.  After his fall, he recovered, and was able to hop in a big win.

I hadn't even been thinking about Halloween costumes.  Obi and Gavin chose to go as Ames Soccer Club players, Gavin as a Ballard Youth Baseball player, and Cora found a dress that somehow made it's way to California in the boxes.  They were good sports about it, and had fun playing games.

Cora and one of her friends from youth group.

 The boys brought this lizard in and stored it in a jar for two days.  

It was dead when they found it, but that didn't make it any less cool.

This year I completely forgot about buying pumpkins, so we improvised with carving melons on the 1st.

The kids were disappointed about the pumpkins, but the carvings from Cantaloupe sure do taste good.

 It's about the same concept with minor changes.

  Scoop out the seeds, drink the juice inside, carve, and eat the trimmings.

 Then the you get to kill your creation and eat it!

 That weekend we hung close to home.  

We went to the Sand Hill Crane Festival and watched a RC Jet Rally, both in Lodi.

Here's a horned owl enjoying a quick lunch, and a bald eagle with only one remaining wing that were displayed during a wildlife show.

The jets were fun to watch, and of course you know what all of the boys now want for Christmas. :)

Sunday, Phil had to catch up on some work so the kids and I left to go enjoy the 80 degree day watching the wildlife. 

 Saturday, the 10th, we ventured into San Francisco again.  This time by train.  We got onto the BART train in Pittsburgh.   When we arrived at our destination in SF, we purchased a MUNI day pass that would allow us to use the buses, streetcars, and cable-cars all day.  We used the streetcars to take us to the Fisherman's Wharf and to explore the other wharfs along the way.  At pier 39 we enjoyed a quick lunch at Boudin.  We explored the shops along the wharf and the view at the end.

 We then boarded another streetcar and headed farther down the road.  Most of the streetcars were quite crowed.  As we stood on the street waiting to board, you tell the kids that it is their job to get onto that car.  We've spent many years teaching our children to be kind, wait their turn, let someone else go in front of you.......all of that has almost no place in this situation.  :)

Mmmm, chocolate!!

We were able to walk about three different ships.  It was a free pass weekend in honor of Veteran's Day.  

Mmmm, sourdough bread!!

We treated ourselves to some fresh seafood.  Gavin even ate a couple of clams.  

Athan ate maybe a dozen clams!

At the end of our adventure, we boarded the train again and headed back to Pittsburgh.

It was a very fun day!  The kids did great of staying nearby.  It was a big thing to take 4 kids into the city the way we did.  

With a bit of homework, and a lot of patience, we were able to have a success!  I'm sure we'll do it again.

Thanks for reading, 

lots of love,

Jessica