November

November was busy with all sorts of little things.  Our oven broke, and we started researching whether we'd rather remodel our kitchen or repair an oven the size of a microwave.  (We still haven't decided.)
  

Research at IKEA

Elise's Daisy troop did a bake sale to support Operation Christmas Child.  We made fudge and chocolate chex squares (neither required an oven,) and Elise got to help serve customers.
  

Elise's Nervous Face

Corinne was alternately bad and cute (or sometimes both at the same time.)
  

 
Nana and Grandpa Al came to visit!  We had a great time hanging out with them, and they decorated the kids' rooms with curtains and new bedding.  We also finally put up the bunk beds they got for Elise and Corinne.  (Though Corinne won't be using hers for awhile yet.)
   

   
We went to the park most Fridays, and the kids figured out how to go sledding, California style.
   

Yeah, it's a boogie board.

  
We got together with Aunt Helena one Saturday at the California Science Center.  It was sooo much less crowded than the last time we'd gone!  We got to look at the Endeavor shuttle, see things rotting, ride a "space coaster", and play with all the kid exhibits. 
   

Sand Dunes

 

Hurricane Simulator

  
We collaborated with some friends to take each others' family pictures this year.  Ours turned out pretty good, despite my boys' determination to ruin it with goofy faces (yes, that includes Ryan.)  Out of 95 shots, this was the best one, and I still had to send it to a guy in Florida to Photoshop Evan's underwear!
  

  
Connor continued with basketball class, and I finally got some pictures of him playing.  I'm continually surprised by how much he likes this class.
  

 

  
Our park day group arranged a series of ice skating lessons this winter at the Pasadena ice rink. The first was towards the end of November, and it was a bit of a disaster.  We parked in the wrong place and missed most of the lesson.  The older kids did okay, but Evan wouldn't go on the ice by himself, and I had Corinne to tend, so I couldn't help him much.  (Friends offered to hold her, but that just made her freak out.)  I got these pictures at least, before my phone ran out of batteries!
  

 

  

    
Right before our Utah Thanksgiving trip, the Palmers came to visit for a night!  We went to Blaze pizza, and let's just say I'm glad we sat outside.  Eight little kids trying to one-up each other is kinda loud.  When we got back, we had to sedate them with video games to get them ready for bed.