Second half of November 2022

Evelyn loves painting and drawing. She does projects up in her bedroom on her own desk now.

Melanie and I went for walks regularly this winter. We head to the golf course and have a beautiful walk.

Daniel does a lot of his school work in his bed. Maybe it seems less like work there?

Melanie has another quilt project planned.

Jennifer "practicing" her flute.

On a regular school day, it's at snack time when I finally get to see everybody!

Yes, Nathan is still at home every day! He comes down to eat. :)

Melanie made herself a coffee. Perhaps it will stimulate her brain. ;)

Matthew is using two laptops to get his work done. Yes, that is unusual. He usually only uses one.

Melanie is into drawing lately. People. Definitely not easy!

I worked on my bedroom curtains. Briefly. I think I do maybe an hour or two every 4 months or so. It's very slow progress.

And because Melanie is 16, she is behind the wheel!!! She gets to drive the van a lot more than Nathan did, because she is always going to things that all her siblings are going to. 

November, first half

Daniel and Evelyn are regular play partners now.

But Jennifer and Evelyn will still play together too.

Daniel doing his second language learning. It's hard to hear things sometimes with so many siblings around, so headphones help.

Matthew keeps giving me this cheesy smile when I come by for a picture. I'm not even asking for a smile, I would much rather that he kept doing his reading, or whatever he was doing. He did this when he was really little too, but maybe not quite so exaggerated. This is Matthew. Sigh.

Evelyn scored the privilege of cleaning out some whipping cream from Melanie's glass. Yum.

Working hard.

Evelyn's quilt is making progress. She requires a lot of encouragement.

Melanie is busy designing another quilt. And disapproving my snooping around (with the camera).

Matthew and Daniel tinkering around on the organ.

Philip has been refinishing the chairs that I'd picked up second hand.

The hug monster. "Hug?" Says Evelyn and she comes and takes one, even if you don't say yes.

Melanie and I started doing our daily walks on the golf course, since the snow means that golfing season is over, and walking season has begun. :)

Snack time means Nathan comes out of hibernation.

Who wouldn't want a freshly baked speculaas cookie? So crunchy!

Melanie made a "collage" of Beethoven for her piano teacher. Who, like Melanie, loves Beethoven. She was really happy with it. It includes the music for "Ful Elise" which Melanie has been working on for quite some time, and loves playing.

October, second half

School keeps on going.

Nathan found some time in his busy schedule to get his dirtbike motor back together. And took it for an trial spin.

We had an out of country visitor. He kept his nephews and nieces interested, full of stories etc.

Matthew and Daniel have to do Geology labs together. Sometimes they work well together. Sometimes they have trouble getting started because they can't agree on both being ready at the same time.

If Jennifer gets to use a calculator during her math lesson, her day is made. :)

We had some more visitors, from the a different part of the world. And we enjoyed their company too. So spoiled to have family come visit. :)

More duolingo. She is going to be fluent...too bad it doesn't do speech as well.

And here is the newest driver in the family. She thinks she's doing a pretty good job. I think EEEEEEEEEE. (She's not THAT bad, actually.)

Matthew working hard on his piano. My five piano students (all the kids except Nathan) love their new piano teacher. We've had her for just over a year, I think. She really does a great job.

It's almost November! Time to start bringing the ice rink pieces down and set up the rink. We want it good and strong before the ground is frozen.

Sweet Sixteen

If it's your birthday Mom is quite likely to be hounding you with a camera. Seriously. Mom!

Melanie made her own cake. Again. It was made with almond flour. And had an amazing caramel sauce. And the following Sunday we had a gluten free guest over, coincidentally, so we were able to serve leftover cake. :) :)

The final product, and the baker herself. Sixteen already. Don't forget, that means I can go in for my driver's license. :)

Opening gifts from the family at coffee time. (We never have to wait for Philip to come home from work anymore, since he's always home!)

Sixteen already! Melanie is a young lady already. Very helpful. Very crafty. Lots of fun. So thankful to have had another year with her.

October

October is another month full of school work.

Matthew doing some of his reading in the living room.

Evelyn has been working on a sled. She enlisted Jennifer to help her with putting on the crazy carpet to make the runners slippery.

Matthew and Daniel taking apart Daniel's remote control truck. They think that they might be able to improve the design.

Hard at work. Or hoping it's snack time. ;)

I was too cheap to offer up a pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern. So Evelyn painted a sour cream container orange. And cut a face in it. Added a candle, and then put it in the pot by the main door with some maple leaves for extra colour.  Actually, she did two, since there are two pots.

Melanie working on another quilt. Having trouble deciding how to lay out the pattern.

Jennifer and I going for a walk. She's obliged to spend time outside exercising. And often prefers to go for a walk with me.

Evelyn having fun in the leaves.

With Daniel.

If the ping pong table is in use already, you can get a second game going on the floor. Why not?