Good-bye, November!

Another month come and gone.  We have already reached the last month of 2025.  Staley is almost halfway done with her first year of high school.  Winter is upon us as we settle in for the next few months of cold and dark.  Christmas preparations are in full swing.  But first, here is what happened in November...

Zach and I ran the Dam Site Half Marathon near Bloomington one Sunday morning. I finished in 1:41:46 while Zach finished in 1:42:56 (a new PR).  It was a beautiful morning and a surprisingly hilly course...and we made it back in time to shower and get to church in time for the sermon.

Briggs and Adelie ran the Run with Reagan 5K with a couple of Adelie's friends.  Adelie was the overall female winner in 23:33 while Briggs won his age group in a time of 24:51.

The girls and I went to see their NTA friend, Peyton, in her school play 'Murder on the Orient Express.'

While Zach and I were on our trip, Staley had her end-of-CC awards banquet.  Grammie attended and took pictures in our absence.  Staley loved her CC coaches this year...especially Coach Morris.

The girls and I attended a baby shower for Ms. Taylor with all our NTA friends.

The girls are excited for baby Marley to make her appearance.

The girls went to Miracle Camp with their Bible Quizzing team for their first Quiz Off of the season.

Staley was the captain of the high school team.  They ended up 3rd in the tournament, losing in the semi-finals round to the eventual champion (Dewey).  Staley was the #4 overall quizzer on the day.

Adelie was on one of two Jr. High teams.  Her team also ended up 3rd in the tournament, losing in the semi-finals round to the eventual champion (Grace).  Adelie got questions right in every quiz, getting 4 correct in one quiz.

While the girls were gone at Miracle Camp, Briggs had a sleepover with his friend, Freddie.

We enjoyed our 5 day Thanksgiving break with a family outing to see Zootopia 2,

Thanksgiving with Zach's side of the family (followed by the girls and I heading to Danvers to spend time with my side of the family)...

the girls performing in the Santa Claus parade with NTA (and winning first prize for the NFP category)...

picking out our Christmas tree (officially making the move to an artificial tree this year) and decorating the house...

the girls and I going to see the second part of Wicked in the theater...

our first big snow of the season (with lots of cancellations and a few hours of outdoor snow fun for Briggs)...

and celebrating November birthdays with my side of the family...

with brunch and visiting...

and snow fun with cousins.

November was a month of transition. It started as fall with the wrapping up of fall activities and ended as winter with Christmas in full swing.  Bring it on, December!  We're ready for you!!