What's Up With The Wheelers: November Miscellaneous

Gazing back at the bits and pieces of November. Life is a collection of so many small but significant moments! Here's Annika making her way up to Ensign Peak. She may not hike fast, but she gets there!

At the top with my favorite Eli. Yes, he is officially taller than I am, even without the hair.

We ventured down on the backside and found a great new trail.

Next up, Members Day at the Natural History Museum, courtesy of our friend and researcher, Jane Damstedt. This June she's headed to South Africa to study even more cool bones.

Getting a behind-the-scenes peek at the collections is amazing!

Plus, pipettes.

November is a glorious time to explore our neighborhood.

Capitols, chapels, and cemeteries, all within walking distance.

Speaking of chapels, here's an awesome pic of the ring bearer at a wedding Jason officiated in our 4th and P chapel.

Closer to home, we pulled up one day to discover that the city was replacing our sidewalk. Wish they were replacing the power lines too!

I wonder if the cute squirrel in our backyard likes the new pavement?

November is birthday month for these two cuties, born just one day (and eight years) apart. Happy birthday Eila and Talia! It's fun to live close enough to celebrate together.

Here's Eila at her swim party, held at the Northwest Rec Center. Friends, family, food, and fun--all at the same place. What more could a nine year-old ask for?

Proud parents.

And now for our seventeen year-old Talia. Perhaps it's the love of sugar, but this gal couldn't be any sweeter. We enjoy every minute that we get to spend with her!

Presents are fun for all ages.

For Talia, the best present of all may have been having her sister come home. Although, the new iPhone was definitely a close second. Her last one shattered when she dropped it during the Big Cottonwood marathon.

Talia and a few of her creative adventures. We love it when she paints!

This octopus may be Annika's creation, but it keeps Talia company while she practices violin.

Here's Talia performing with the Young Artist Chamber Players, under the direction of Jack Ashton. Whether at Westminster College or up at the U of U institute, it's always a treat to listen to them play!

Annika's playing violin with school too, but by her own report still needs more practice.

In November we also got to hear Brooklyn perform with the Mundi Project at a fundraiser held at Trolley Square. She was recognized with the Lieutenant Governor's Volunteer Recognition Certificate for her work volunteering with Mundi over the past couple of years. Talia has volunteered as a teaching assistant as well, and we are so proud of them both. I especially love how both girls have had ample opportunities to use their Spanish while working with these classes.

As for Annika, she's been funneling her creative powers into the sewing classes she takes from Ms. Jane. The cube animals she made as Christmas presents were so adorable!

I was less thrilled about her body art. At first I thought the bird was pooping, but apparently the dotted lines represent the flight path.

Jason's cheesecake is always a work of art.

A few more bits and pieces: in November Wasatch Elementary was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. This commendation came at a great time, just as our school district was making some difficult decisions about which local elementary schools will be closed. Wasatch was on the short list for closure, but this neighborhood gem will stay open and we will welcome new friends next year instead.

I love how they celebrated Blue Ribbon status with a marching band, parade, pom poms, and matching blue T-shirts.

Weekdays at the zoo are only five dollars during November. It was fun to reconnect with these furry friends. All animal photo credits go to our budding photographer, Eli.

We also connected with this camel during the Live Nativity at the Glen. I'm glad my parents and the Wilhoits could join us, even if it was freezing and Annika melted her ski coat on the warming barrels.

We also took a trip to Thanksgiving Point to see the gingerbread houses and Luminaria.

These light up stepping stones were so fun! I think we should incorporate them into our backyard somehow.

The lights were stunning. All in all, a really fun evening!

NomiAnn and I also had a great time at the Christkindlmarkt as we shopped for unique presents and tried to get into the Christmas spirit, German-style.

Finally, Make-a-Wish spoiled us in November with tickets to Disney on Ice. "Be our Guest" was my favorite!

We were also invited to the opening ceremonies of the Giving Machines in Salt Lake, where Make-a-Wish Utah was featured as one of the giving options. I'm glad Brooklyn could join Annie for this special moment.