Farewell, Fall Semester

 If you subtract the ENTIRE MONTH OF NOVEMBER because I was sick and anxious about being sick one I even realized that I was sick and not mired in a terrible life circumstance, this has been a LOVELY semester.

 I expected to hate Ben working out of town much more than I actually ended up hating it. I think because he was SO unhappy at his last job, and that job had TERRIBLE hours and expected a really effed up work/life balance, that seeing him SO HAPPY and pretty relaxed despite quite a bit of professional duty and stress, has been lovely and has made everything feel lighter.

 It was very easy to settle into a routine, and even though things are busy busy busy, I am able to really cherish my last afternoons home with a preschooler and also work a ton.

All of that is to say, I had my very last class and my very last long Monday on campus for the semester, and I sort of already mis my cozy little routine. Remind me of this next semester, won't you, when I have not left the house in weeks (I am teaching online and only have a few staff meetings).

Minnie and I saw Moana the other day (speaking of loving life with a preschooler), and we were the only people in the theater, which was wild. Also MOANA DIES in this movie, and I realize it is a spoiler, but I wish I had known because I was CAUGHT OFF GUARD. I teared up, and Minnie goes, People die in movies all the time, Mom, Think about Darth Vader. Thank goodness I have Minnie to care for me in my old age. Also Moana becomes a demigod, so it's all fine.

Speaking of demi!! Minnie was telling me about her dance class last week, and she goes, I need to say a bad word but just one. Mom, we did a dummy plié. I DIED. I mean first of all, our whole family cusses like sailors, so dummy? Not even in the realm of bad words. Must be something she hears at school. Second, she was VERY RELIEVED to hear it was demi-plié. 

Annabel really likes being brushed (except when she tries to eat the brush-- she really is kind of nippy, it turns out)

And I like brushing her because she gets ridiculously fluffy. The SMILE!!

CHEESE (Minnie loves helping me bake, btw)

So far, we have made kind of gross gingerbread, absolutely perfect gingerbread, and peanut butter blossoms. On tap for this week? More pb blossoms and scotcheroos.

Minnie also insisted that we make cupcakes for dessert last night. And orange frosting. 

Very holiday, yes? (no-- the answer is obviously no).