Did I mention he likes lights? Buttons?

Windstorm 2015

On Tuesday, November 17, we had heard that the afternoon was going to be filled with strong winds.  We didn't realize just HOW STRONG these winds would be. The result was the most destructive windstorm that Spokane has experienced.  We had hunkered down for the evening--and the power stayed on long enough for us to cook our dinner--but I remember the power going out, the fifteen battery-operated candles being distributed around the house, and Micah wanting to stand right by the slider to watch the silhouettes of our huge pine trees sway and bend in the wind.  

That night we tried putting the kids down in their beds before we got scared about their rooms being too close to our bending trees, so we all slumber-partied in our bedroom (even Brooke, who was still staying with us!).  Our power came back on in the early morning, but we were the lucky ones.  Some families lived without power for DAYS.  We read that 200,000 customers were without power--far surpassing the infamous Ice Storm of 1996 (which happened on November 19th, people...insert Twilight Zone music, here).  The South Hill lost a LOT of trees.  Jen and Kevin ended up having a STAYCATION at a hotel in Cheney just to have power! The last of the electricity was restored eight days later.  

All three of our school districts closed for the rest of the week, AND 81 remained closed, due to their number of schools still without power, for the three days before Thanksgiving.  

The Loop at Whitworth was left devastated.  They'd just lost a lot of trees a year and a half ago with a big windstorm, but no one thought that this would happen again so soon.

Drew and Annie came over for breakfast the next day to have breakfast with our power.  It quickly turned into Lochhead Boy WrestleFest 2015.

November Nonsense

 Dads and Donuts--the after party

 We found out Micah LOVES little chicken noodle soup...and asked for THREE bowls.

 This month he also inadvertently learned what snot tasted like.  This was the face that kept me from...

 ...crafting!  All I wanted to do was CRAFT!  I agreed to do a craft fair with my friend, Julie, the first weekend of December, and as the date approached, it seemed that I couldn't get much done!

Over the Veteran's Day weekend, Linnea came to visit!  She stayed with Kaitlyn since we'd given her room to Brooke.

 Gracie found a Special K flake the size of her FACE...

 ...Joshy continued to bring us daily crafts from center, and started branching into his holiday collection...

...and Micah looked adorable in his backwards hat, because the "I DO IT MYSELF!" stage was/is in full effect.

Micah, These Days

 He loves:  books, his binky, helping on his stool in the kitchen, helping with the laundry, singing "Happy Birthday Dear Micah," and...

...opening every locker within reach at the YMCA.

The Quiet Brooke

During the last week of soccer this season, Brooke blocked a shot at practice...with her jaw.  For a while we thought she was okay, but after a few days of jaw popping, they thought she should see an oral surgeon.  I took her to her appointment to get checked out, and we were a bit shocked to walk out of that appointment with her jaw wired shut for ten days!  Not broken, but the surgeon was afraid she'd heal misaligned.  And so began her ten days of staying with us to use our blender.  :)

My favorite at dinner time:  "Do you want something to drink, Brooke?  I mean besides your entire meal?"  Har, har.

Before she got the wires out ten days later, I had to get a before and after pic. 

Coffee Reserves

Someone we know and love peddles this amazing nectar.  And his sweet wife alerts us to sales at Rosauer's.  That's when we become squirrels, storing away for the winter.  (Or at least for the next month...)

Mini Jeff

Sometimes I get glimpses of what Jeff may have looked like as a 5 year-old.

Farm Weekend with Millie and Lolo

Ben and Kelly got to take a trip to Europe with Kelly's family, and Millie and Lolo were lucky enough to stay with G'ma and Papa for TWO WEEKS!  We wanted to come down one weekend to "help." I think we were at best, a good distraction!  :)

 Look at all of these grandkids!  Only missing Brooke...

We came home ALL TUCKERED OUT.  Look at Joshy's sleeping position...

Leaf Exercise

Our leaves were GORGEOUS this year!  I kept trying to rake them during nap times, but finally we had to make the big push and get Drew's truck to haul them away.  Micah was my trusty helper.

Sleeping Queens

Our friends, the Schneringers, are great board game advisors.  When they visited this fall, I asked them for a list of their favorite games for their kids.  Sleeping Queens was near the top of their list as a family game, and we enjoyed it all fall. (and we bought many sets to give families for Christmas!)