November 2022

 November started out with a work conference in Greensboro.   Bev and I both got to attend and take classes to help us better implement a full MTSS program at school.  The day was packed with classes and we learn A LOT!  We were so excited to get to work and help some students and teachers.  

November 2, Steve was cleared after surgery.  He had his stitches removed and he can start to move it a little more.  He was super excited to have permission to be out of his sling for a little bit each day.  

Avian and I went to Hiddenite with the Honors Geology class.  We got to sluice for gems and then were taken on a tour of the property.  It was a really fun day.  After all the adventures, we had a picnic lunch, loaded back onto the bus and headed back to school just in time for the bell to go home.  

Avian looking for gems

Success!!

Learning about the two ponds that furnish the water for the sluice.  

This is a private dig site where the owner found a HUGE piece of hiddenite.  

Exploring and finding rocks and gems. 

We ended up in the river looking for more gems.  

Later that night, Nick came in with an electric keyboard he purchased.  He is really enjoying playing the piano and wanted to have one of his own.  Now he just needs a place to put it.  That is in the works for Christmas.  

November 3rd and 4th I got to do the chicken lab with the 5th graders again.  I love seeing their curiosity when I show them how a chicken leg has all the same features as a human leg.  They especially like it when I show them the different muscles, we find some ligaments and we break the bone to get to the marrow.  

Dissecting a chicken leg

Cool muscle layers

Avian was really excited after school to tell me that they got a 94 on their APUSH test, 100 on their Spanish 2 test and 95 on their Geology quiz.  Jeremy is really enjoying school as well.  

November 5, me, Steve and Avian drove to Chapel Hill to go to the Chloe Moriando concert.  We got a hotel room so Avian and I did not have to drive home late at night. Steve came with us just to get out of the house and enjoyed a quiet evening at the hotel while Avian and I went to the concert.  We went to dinner at a Thai place around the corner from the hotel and then walked across the parking lot to The Cat's Cradle, which is where the concert was. We bought VIP tickets which got us into the concert 45 minutes before everyone else.   Avian bought all the merchandise they wanted (2 t-shirts, a sweatshirt and a poster) and I ran it back across the parking lot to Steve at the hotel so we didn't have to babysit it while enjoying the concert.  We were in the second row of people from the stage.  The concert was really good, but I had more fun watching Avian enjoy themself.  Happy Birthday, Avian.  

We were right up front

Avian got a ton of really great pictures and video.  In fact, at one point, they had to use my phone because their storage was full.  I have included a few of my favorite pictures below.  

November 8 Jeremy and Nicholas voted for the first time.  It was quite an experience.  They feel so grown up now. 

November 10 we really got dumped on by tropical storm Nicole.  It was not enough rain to keep us from having the Young Women activity of shaping bread.  The girls enjoyed learning how to make several different types of rolls.

You can't have a youth activity without a treat.  This is orange blossom bread.  
It was yummy AND beautiful.  

November 11 the Knight Watch marched in the Veteran's Day parade.  I had a stake meeting in the afternoon.  I gave Nick a much-needed haircut (which is always the way it is with his haircuts.  He is a busy boy!).  Jeremy's arm just started hurting.  It was really weird because it looked bruised and was one inch in diameter bigger than his other arm.  Definitely keeping an eye on that one.  Avian took the truck for the first time.  I was pretty nervous until they got back home safely.  

We celebrated Avian's birthday a little early so that Jeremy could be with us.  Avian wanted sushi, potstickers, egg rolls and cheesecake.  

November 13 - Avian is officially 17. On a not so fun note, we ended up in Urgent Care with Jeremy because his arm was more swollen and painful.  They sent us home and told us we needed an MRI.  Steve and Biship Arias gave him a blessing to help calm him down.  

November 15 Jeremy saw Dr. Moll.  Dr. Moll sent him in to have an ultrasound of his arm to rule out blood clots.  By the time we got back home he was in so much pain that he was having a hard time breathing.  I have him some Tramadol since the Ibuprofen wasn't working.  I didn't realize until after I had given it to him and he started getting sick that he should NOT take Tramadol while taking Zoloft.  I immediately called my dad and he talked me down.  He said that Jeremy throwing up was a good thing in that he was getting the medicine out of his system, but that I should watch him for the next 24 hours for signs of seratonin syndrome, but he wasn't too concerned.    My dad can always calm me down. 

November 17th Steve and I hear a weird sound in the middle of the night.  We could not find anything out of the ordinary and all the doors were still locked so we went back to bed.  Steve called me at work and asked if I had noticed anything weird in the closet that morning while I was getting dressed.  He then told me that the sound we had heard was his clothes rack falling off the wall.  I was so tired getting dressed that I hadn't even noticed it on the floor behind me.  We got a good laugh out of that.  

After school, Avian drove me home and then took the truck so they could help paint the birthday rock in front of the elementary school.  Someone had contacted Mrs. Matocha, the HS art teacher, and asked if she had any art students who wanted service hours.  Avian volunteered!   They called me on their way home to tell me they were stuck in traffic and might be a little later than anticipated.  It was their first solo drive in traffic and they handled it really well, but were a bit frazzled by the time they got home.  

Later that night we went and got Jeremy a new chair for his computer desk.  The ultrasound had come back completely normal.   We were looking for other possible sources of the bruising and swelling.  One idea was that it might be from the arm rests of his chair.  He spends a lot of time at his computer with his arms on the rests...maybe?  It was worth a try.  (in case I forget to mention it, his arm did return to normal size about two weeks later.  We still do not know what caused the bruising and swelling)

Sandra and I saw this monster while on our Saturday walk. 

November 18th was the Silverbration at the middle school.  LNC is celebrating 25 years and so we hosted the 3rd and 4th graders at the middle school and had activities everywhere all day long.  The kids really enjoyed it.  Knight Watch came over and played while the elementary school kids were arriving.  A bunch of high school kids came over through out the day to help with all the activities.  It went really well and everyone really enjoyed themselves.  

That night Steve and Avian went down to the church to work on some volleyball skills.  They discovered that Avian actually hits better off the net.  This is a big change from playing middle right at the net.  Volleyball is getting fun again.  

Nick learned about economics and taxes the hard way.  He got a raise but his paycheck was not as big as he thought it was going to be because he jumped tax brackets and they are taking more out of his checks. He was NOT amused!

Saturday 11/19, Nick ran in the Feed Hunger 5K at Frank Liske Park.  This event was sponsored by our stake and the attendance was a lot higher than I thought it would be.  The entrance fee was a bag of canned food for the local food pantry.  It was a huge success and Nick got to run with his friends from the single's ward.  

Go!

At the finish line

After the race, Avian took the drove themself to hang out with friends.  Jeremy was at UNCC hanging/studying with friends.  Steve and I fixed the shelf in the closet and then Steve went to run some errands.  Nick and I took advantage of the time to go check out a new soap store.  Scent heaven!!!  We love Buff City Soap and just might be addicted to their laundry detergent.  Our clothes smell so much better!

November 20th Steve and I went with Avian to a College Volleyball showcase for prospective athletes at Johnson and Wales University in uptown Charlotte.  Avian go to work with college coaches on different skills and play with girls who are at the same level.  They really enjoyed the day!

Afterwards, we went to the gym and signed Avian up for a gym membership.  

November 21 was the Silverbration (celebrating 25 years of LNC) at the high school.  The students had school for a half day, were treated to lunch from Tacos for Life and then got to try out various activities that were spread out all over campus.  My position was at the gym door making sure everyone could get in and to monitor that no one who was not from LNC got in.  Avian went to the dunk tank first thing because their Geology teacher was in the dunk tank.  There were inflatables to play and a huge BINGO game in the multi-purpose room.  The kids really enjoyed their day of celebration.  

Jeremy also found out that he is no longer employed at Lowes.  He is actually quite relieved.  That was a HUGE stress for him.   To celebrate, we straightened his hair so we could give him a nice, straight haircut, which is really hard to do when his hair is curly.  

Curly hair is a much better look for him.  

November 23, Steve flew to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with his mom and family.  I was really worried about him flying so close to his surgery, but the airlines looked out for him and he was able to fly without any worries.  

November 24 Nick and I were up early and ready for him to run the Turkey Trot 5k.  He was excited to start his day with a little competitive run.  He came in 10th overall and second in the 20-29 age category.  We went back home and spent the rest of the day getting dinner ready, eating a great meal and then relaxing for the night.  We missed Steve, but he was having a good time with his family.

Lesssssss Gooooooooo!

And they are off. 

Coming down the homestretch

Finishing faster than he thought he would. 

November 25 I started decorating for Christmas.  I love getting all the decorations out and transforming the house.  We also watched the USA vs. England World Cup match.  It was a tie, 0-0. 

Avian and I found a dog costume and decided to dress our porch pelican for the season.  

November 26, I took soup into my friend, Eden.  She was supposed to start a new job in Tennessee, but ended up getting a raging sinus infection and had to delay her start date.  It was fun for me because I got to spend some extra time with her before the big move.  Back at home, the kids and I made up our traditional turkey pot pies to freeze for lunches over the next couple of months.

November 27, Steve flew back in  at 6 am.  It was a good trip and he was glad he went, but he wanted to take a nap.  Nick went to a Friendsgiving with his high school friends later that night.  I love that he is still in contact this group.  They have a good time whenever they are able to get together.  

November 28, Jeremy decided he wanted to try making a charcuterie board.  I think he nailed it!  We also had our cheeseball and crackers which means that the Christmas season has officially begun.  

Not bad for our first attempt. 

November 29 was the holiday band concert.  Avian had mentioned they had a small solo.  It was NOT a small solo.  It was BIG and they were amazing!  The concert was a really fun way to end the month of November.  

You may have to copy and past the following links into your browser to view the performance.  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/wsevBtRZw5A

Link to "The Covered Bridge"  Anytime you hear a lone clarinet, it is Avian!!

https://youtu.be/CJSYRpuHSJY

a sampling of "True Blue March"