November!

We had a really great November! It seemed to have flown by with all the fun activities we had and it’s crazy that here we are, almost at the end of the year!

Charlie had a special cub scout meeting where they cooked! He made grilled cheese with his den and then loved it so much that he made it at home too. 

Mellany got pretty sick at the beginning of the month and the only thing that helped make her feel better was an IV infusion at the dr office. It was a game-changer! 

Mellany and a couple friends attended their final Tomahowl Dance and had the most amazing time! While they danced the night away, the boys hung out at our house. It was fun for everyone!

Work at the rental house continued....and the boys never pass up a chance to get into an attic. 

Johnny loves pumpkin pie and I found a recipe where you make mini pumpkin pies. They were delicious! And so easy to make! 

Charlie officially dug up all the fossils from one of last year's Christmas gifts. haha! 

Johnny participated in his last Veteran’s Day program at the intermediate school and even got to carry the Indiana state flag. He did such a great job, I was so proud! 

The Northern Lights could be seen at our house one night. It was amazing!!!

Movie nights every Friday are my favorite thing about winter! 

The boys playing on the same basketball team is also a big time favorite! 

The Cub Scouts had their annual Rain Gutter Regatta. We didn't come home with any trophies, but they had fun! 

Charlie has figured out a "hack" to the school system....he figured out that if he does some of his morning math work at home, he has extra free time at school. This was him at 7:30 one morning when his teacher texted me asking if he was literally doing Xtra Math at that time because she was getting reports...

Another car line selfie with my favorite girl

Johnny had a field trip to Chicago and got paired with his bestie for the day! John was the chaperone on this one and said they had a great day! 

Dad & Teresa came to town to visit one weekend and they got to watch the boys play basketball which was really nice. It was also so nice outside that we got to play quite a bit of catch. 

Charlie's class did a reader's theater for Thanksgiving. They performed for other 3rd grade classes and he was a turkey. He said he really enjoyed it. 

Charlie also had a turkey disguise project where he disguised his turkey as Patrick Mahomes-his favorite QB! 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Okos' this year and had a really great holiday. 

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Okos girls met Mellany and I at the movie theater and watched Wicked 2.....it was incredible! 

That same day, the boys decided to see Zootopia 2 in 3D and said it was really good. 

While we were all at the movies, the snow started and we ended up with almost 6 inches! 

Another day at the rental....plowing snow this time....obviously Mellany and I were working really hard. :) 

We got Mellany's dance team pictures back....I can't even believe this is our baby girl....she's such a stunning young lady-inside and out! 

Mellany #14

 Mellany is officially 14! Watching her grow up and develop into the young lady she is becoming has been the most amazing thing to witness. Over this past year, I think her biggest growth was just in maturity overall. Year #14 was so incredible and I can't wait to see what year 15 brings! 

Here's a little bit about our Mellany:

• Mellany's favorite subject is still art! Drawing is her absolute favorite, but loves any medium. She still attends the art club in the middle school and is even working on a mural inside the building. 
• One of Mellany's strongest subjects in school is math and her least strongest continues to be reading. Though she will take any opportunity to read a graphic novel! She would say that her favorite class in general is still social studies; she really enjoys her teacher in that class. 
• She still loves outer space and wants to be an astronaut when she grows up (or potentially in the military)
• Mellany rises to any challenge she is given! It may take her a minute to get her "bearings" but once she does, she conquers!
• She really loves staying home by herself whenever she can. She loves the peace and quiet
• Mellany is really responsible and independent. She doesn't really need help getting breakfast/ready in the mornings anymore and after school she tackles her homework and getting ready for bed mostly by herself.
• She loves having one-on-one time with John and I. Even though she's 14 now, she still loves to snuggle and just needs a hug every now and then. She's had a lot of "big" emotions continue to develop over the past year and thankfully, she has come to us and we've been able to talk through all of it with her. 
• When she goes to bed she still loves for John to scratch her back.
• She loves to cook. Her specialty is (still) pumpkin chocolate chip muffins-she can make them all by herself now (including putting them in the oven and taking them out). She also loves making bubble bread pizza.
• She really loves when her brothers let her "lead/help" them. She loves playing with the boys, but most of the time she can be found playing/drawing by herself in her room or the basement. (with the music blaring)
• She is soooooo good at trying new foods! You can usually tell when she doesn't like something but she does a great job at trying to keep it to herself that she doesn't like it when in public or at friends houses. 
• Her favorite sport is dance! She made the Battle Ground Middle School Dance Team for the third year and still really loves it. She's really grown a lot as a dancer and we even chosen as a Co-Captain for the team again.
• Mellany continues to be one of the most friendly, caring and kind 14 year olds I know. She has a true love for people. She will talk to anyone, is really good about noticing if someone might be feeling left out and truly cares about others! This can also sometimes be her biggest weakness, as she finds it hard to see when she's being taken advantage of.
• Mellany loves wearing leggings(or bike shorts), baggy denim jeans, a tshirt and hoodie. For shoes she prefers her Ugg Platforms, converse or Nike shoes.
• She is about 50% homebody and 50% extrovert and loves to get out....She loves to go shopping, go to the movies, eat out....but at the end of the day, she wants to come back home (just like her mama!)
• We get the occasional attitude but as soon as I point it out, it goes away. 
• She and I have continued to watch the Gilmore Girl TV series  and are still loving having our own show to watch at the end of the day. We also watched (and read) "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and enjoyed it too!
• Mellany loves to shop! Clothes shopping is her favorite but she also loves finding fun accessories and new cosmetics. She is always happy to go along with me to do some shopping. 
• She's so helpful--and even does things without me asking her to help.
• She loves to accessorize, especially with her earrings. I'm pretty sure she wears a new pair every day. The dangly earrings are her absolute favorite. Kendra Scott is her favorite brand of accessories right now.
• Playing the piano is still a favorite for her as well as the trombone. She's so good playing both of them! This past year she has really loved learning to play the Ukulele also! 
• Mellany is still really involved with 4H and is even planning to show dairy cows this year. For static projects she will be in the junior leader program, submit a drawing and sewing.

14 Year Wellness Exam

Height: 5' 7" (She's in the 99% for height!)

Weight: 120 pounds

Her exam went as smooth as it could! She had the typical conversations of eating habits, technology, friends, school and physical activity. Dr. Fahler did let us know that she will likely slow down in her growth in the next year or so. 

It was a great appointment! 

Celebration

This year's birthday celebration and gift was extra special! We got her tickets to see Lainey Wilson in concert with Charlotte and it was an incredible night!!! We hit the merch stand, grabbed some food and spent the night listening to some of the best music. It was truly a night that none of us will ever forget! Not to mention, we ended up about 10 feet from Lainey when she walked through the crowd.