I'd Sincerely Like to Thank You

This year, for the first time ever, we had a 100% vegan Thanksgiving. If anything, it increased the need for chipping. In multiple shifts.

Starting a new tradition, the day before we had our pre-Thanksgiving nacho feast. Vegan again! Here the group is about to sit down and dig into the meatless loaf, stuffing, potatoes, brussel sprouts, bread, cranberry, mushroom gravy, and a liquid butterscotch pie. Read the anticipation on the faces.

 

Another new tradition, well not really a tradition but something hopefully for this year only, we rented out an entire movie theatre for a private screening of Christmas Vacation with a few select friends. Strange feeling, first to sit in the handicapped primo seats, and second to stand up in the middle of the movie and take a screen selfie.

 Some things never change, like the after meal, after movie walkabout. This time with the added bonus of being to snoop around the assisted care living place one block over.

Traditionally the start of the Christmas season, the kids made ugly sweater cookies. 

 

And Eva danced around from the sugar. Watermelon sugar high. Watermelon sugar high. Watermelon sugar high. Watermelon sugar high.

 

Speaking of cookies, Eva has been learning to bake as part of her life essentials class. Apparently, the essentials of life are chocolate chip cookies and brownies (and soon to come muffins). Here's the first effort.

With OK weather so late into the fall, we used our new shipment of food to continue our fires and roasting of mallows.

 Strange, then, to have a "snow day" a couple days later. Oh the Canadian boy.

 

Most, though, it has been cool and a good time to stay inside. We got on to a kick where we watched movies and stayed up a bit later. Here we see the kids enjoying a Harry Potter movie, spurred by Eva's feverish reading of the entire series in a couple weeks.

The lovecouch got lots of use over the season. Never knew it could fit two adults plus a rather large dog.

It was only a couple days ago that we realized maybe two orders of vegan totchos are not required. Leftover totchos are bad news for everyone.

Back outside after the snow melted, Cole bathes in the light of the pergola.

 

Back inside, Cole models a wig. Not really.

 

Now here's a picture of some random hair.

 

Cole has been good about keeping his babies inside these days. I think he only like them out when it's cold and slushy. Nothing like a bunch of pups to keep warm on a fall evening.

As a reason to get out, we did what anyone would do in our situation. Play mini golf at the Opera House. First a couple pic, then photobombed, then a family picture looking out from the stage. 

Finally, with the colder weather, in between babies and wigs, Cole has energy to play with Calli. Same pattern. Up on the couch, seeing how close they can get their snouts together. Then, chaos!