November 2016

November was a great month, but super busy. We started off the month by attending an awards ceremony for the Gaston County Recycled Art contest. We found out Aubrey won 3rd place with her bottle top jewelry and we were so excited for her. She told us that the kids pick on her because her art is not good so it was some sweet news for her to hear that she won a prize for her art. She got to miss the day from school to attend the ceremony at the Gaston County Library and was tickled with that. She was given a certificate and a gift card to Hobby Lobby, which just made her day.

Mason wrapped up his first season of team soccer and was so excited to get another trophy. I think soccer replaced t-ball as his favorite sport and he showed a lot of promise on the field.

The kids were pretty excited to go vote with me this year. The precinct volunteer told the kids to make sure I only watched my machine and followed all the instructions and the kids took their job very seriously. They were excited to show of their stickers afterwards and made sure to tell me they told their friends they "voted." I am glad I can include them in on the voting process and hope they are excited to vote when they are old enough.

Aubrey got to attend her first dance convention this year. I was a little nervous about the whole deal because I knew she was going to be in over her head and I was afraid she would get frustrated. While I was right that the classes were really hard for her, she managed to keep a positive attitude and try so hard to keep with the older girls. I was very proud of her and can't wait to watch as she grows in dance over the next year.

Per tradition, we hosted Thanksgiving at our house again and it was perfect. The weather was awesome and the food was fantastic. I love all things about Thanksgiving and this one was perfect.

We picked out our Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving and it was a really great tree. The kids loved decorating the house later that afternoon and enjoyed their hot chocolate tradition that comes along with it.

We ended the month with the Mount Holly Christmas parade. Aubrey was so nervous to dance in the parade for the first time because she has always ridden in the truck with the dance studio. But, she did a great job and enjoyed seeing her friends along the route. Mason enjoyed sitting on the sidelines with my parents and catching the candy thrown at him.