Baby Love (second cousins)

The Sunday Funnies

After checking-out at a store, Dorothy asked me, "Did you see how long the cashier's nail extensions are?"

Dorothy read every sign at the Jacksonville Zoo.  She's got that absorbent nine-year-old brain.  In the Africa section, we viewed the Bongos, which were new to me, and we laughed about the name.  On our way out of the area, I quizzed Dorothy:  "Do you remember what those are called?"  She wrinkled her face and thought for a while.  "Bongos!"  I answered for her.  She scowled.  "I thought you meant what are their real names.  It's something like Serena and Jade.  Of course I know that they're called Bongos."

Decorating a mini tree with Gram

Black Friday = holiday crafting

The Thankful List 2023

Each night in November we share something we're thankful for.  Here is Dorothy's list, 2023:

• My awesome family
• School friends
• How nice all my friends & family are
• Skeleton dances
• Love
• Field trips
• Playdates
• How nice Ms. Stephens is
• Doctors
• Livia
• Rubber bands for making rubber band bracelets & making Barbie ponytails
• Maisie & all my other friends, and birthday parties
• Books
• Library
• All my friends
• The Thankful List
• Hugs
• Axolotls and hamsters
• Frosties (peppermint)
• The zoo
• Hammy
• Taylor Swift
• [sound of footsteps near Sarah's bed]  Good morning!  I'm thankful for you.  [Sarah melts.]

Happy Thanksgiving!

On Monday we visited the zoo with Daniel's family

Admiring shoes

Loving giraffes

Our Chinese zodiac signs (Valerie was getting lunch!)

The zoo has no paper maps.  Mom was lost all day.

The lantern decorations light-up at night and were so beautiful.

Lanterns

Lanterns

Lanterns

Andrew diligently worked on the lollipop until it was white.

Dorothy's #1 goal was to see otters.

Valerie, Alina, Daniel, Maddux, & Andrew

Lanterns

Dorothy and I stayed until closing!

 

My daughter wanted bangs

The Sunday Funny

Dorothy and I were bantering, and laughing, and I eventually remarked, "We've been saying 'fart' a lot lately, and that's unlike me."  "That's because it rhymes with everything," Dorothy retorted.

"B" is for Betsy

Book character dress-up day

Discovering Koala in her satchel

Think in Circles

Dorothy & the band

 

Harry Potter party: wands, potions, tasting Bertie Bott's Beans

The Sunday Funnies

Dorothy and I made some Jell-o No Bake Cheesecake.  I told her that I thought that the cherry topping was classic.  She pointed out that there was a different flavor called "classic."  I understood, but noted that the classic cheesecake doesn't have a topping.  "No," she told me, "the picture on the box has a dollop."

Brian asked me why I went to Kohl's and came home empty-handed.  I explained that I wanted to order something that Kohl's carries online, and you can get free shipping if you use the app from within the store.

"Does everybody know this trick?" he asked.

"I don't think so," I said,  "but most people would probably just pay $9 shipping instead of driving to Kohl's.  Or they would order three things instead of one to get free shipping."

"And return two of them?" asked Dorothy.

Please, oh please, wear your overalls, Mom begged

Rollin' out

Rollin' in

Peas in a pod

Field Trip to the Children's Theater

Can you spot Dorothy leaving CCD?

The Sunday Funny

I encouraged Dorothy to take her polar fleece to school in her backpack because the weather was cold.  She resisted.

"When you're on the playground and feeling cold, think of me!" I told her.

"Fine," she grumped.

I started to put the jacket in her bag.

"What are you doing?" she fussed.

"I'm putting your jacket in your bag," I said.  "You said fine!"

"I meant fine, I'll think of you when I'm feeling cold," she told me.

Love these hamster headphones

Patriotic marsh flashback

From Domino's to dinner

Dough-viewing area

Dorothy's friend Livia also dressed as a Descendant