All clear for November - winter has arrived!

The cold weather definitely showed up this week, but overall it's been a fairly pleasant month outdoors. November has brought some happy moments but also some sad ones. Losing Poppy was hard this year especially during the month of October (with the birthday bunch - Poppy, Miles, Mike and Karson).  The sting was there.  Mom and I wanted to celebrate this month when Karson was able to be home for the weekend (Nov 5).  

We didn't get to see Karson on her actual birthday because of the golf banquet for Miles.  However, her friends spoiled her which made us happy!  One of her high school besties, Sydney Clayton, came to Louisville for a visit!

    

Her nursing checklist is quite long, and she has had a lot of things to complete before beginning her clinical rotations which will start in the spring.  She also got some news last week which was disappointing.  Her place of work - Cardinal Health - decided to shut down the office that she is currently employed at.  She was already sort of on the fence about her work schedule next semester while in nursing school.  In a way, it's sort of a blessing that the decision was made for her.  However, she was upset because Cardinal has been such a good place to work, very flexible, and she made some close friends there.  She's since made the decision to become a tutor for the school.  They'd reached out to her last semester about it, but she simply didn't have the time.  It's good pay and flexible as well.  I also think it looks good on a resume.  Her old boss and one of her professors wrote a letter of recommendation for her, and she will start soon.  She's a special young lady!

*Sidenote:  Karson is still going to see her orthopedic doctor almost monthly since her hip surgery in July which is a trek from Louisville to Brentwood, TN.  The appointments are usually during the week as well which makes it extra tough with work and school.  She was excited to learn that she would only have one more appointment in December before being cleared.  Her bone has completed fused back together.  She has done really well with her recovery and has been diligent with her physical therapy.  It's hard to believe how far she has come in four months.*

We celebrated the three-pack with a fiesta - a TACO BAR party for #16, #20, and #68. Our house was full along with our hearts and stomachs.  Too bad I didn't take many pictures, but we were having too much fun!!!

I got some of those cute straw balloons from Amazon - the kit included a two tacos, a sombrero, an avocado, some cacti and the letters that spelled Taco Bout a Party! 

 

I have decided that the older I get, the weirder my poses have become in pictures. Something is "off" about how I am standing in this picture or maybe it's just my scrunched up shirt.  I have no idea, but I need to work on my posing.

Miles's 16th birthday was not a happy one.  Those close to Miles know him + school + tests = a lot of stress.  More than anything, I wanted him to pass his permit test on his actual birthday.  He and Matt went downtown early afternoon on the 17th (a Monday).  He'd studied apps friends had suggested, and we had done some online tests to prepare.  I think he panicked.  He ended up missing two more than allowed and was crushed (and we were too for him).  The person at the DMV said he could come take the test again any day he wanted since all the paperwork was already done.  We convinced him to pick a place to eat and Cane's seemed to help. He and I committed to studying even harder.  We'd planned to go on Friday, but when he woke up on Thursday, I said come to work with me, and let's get it over with.  He agreed, and we made the trip back to the DMV.  I'm not sure who was more nervous me or him?!?!?  We went to the courthouse, and as I was sitting outside the testing center, with good eyes on him, one of the proctors asked me to move to the other side of the wall where he would come out.  I think it confuses them when someone is waiting outside the door since "waiting" testers sit there.  My heart sunk because I knew by looking at Miles's body language, I could tell how he was doing.  I reluctantly moved.  It felt like an eternity before he emerged from the testing room and was BEAMING.  He'd passed and only had missed two questions this time.  He said the test was way easier. 

 

Hooray!  We were both super excited and went over to the permit center.  He's been driving for about a month and doing well.  It helps our nerves a little that we've already been through the driving stages with the other two.

The boys were excited to have Karson home to carve pumpkins.  I told them we didn't have to carve pumpkins for Halloween and could do it when she came home.  They were pumped and all decided to go with the Goosebumps theme.  They're so goofy!  

 

 Our neighborhood is packed with trick or treaters which I LOVE.  It's such a treat seeing all the little ones dressed up and excited about the candy.  Matt and Isaac joined in the fun by dressing up.  They'd sometimes break out in dance when they felt the urge.

Miles closed his golf chapter for the year with his team.  The banquet was held at South in the courtyard between the schools.  After a nice meal, we congregate in the auditorium for recognitions and the end of the season video.  

 

We're proud of Miles and all of his accomplishments this season.  We learned the teams (both girls and boys golf) are getting a simulation room that is being built alongside the indoor batting cages and weight room on South's athletic complex.  Since the season ended, Miles has been working out again and hanging out with friends.  He's also picked up the guitar this year and purchased a nice Fender Stratocaster that should be arriving any day now.  We plan to redo his room at some point - fresh paint, mount his TV and get some music posters hung up.

Ever wonder how big Squishmallows can get?  This narwhal whopper is currently at Kroger.  

Isaac is continuing to look at colleges and has been working on applications and scholarships.  Not long after fall break, he did a tour of Louisville. Their business school is pretty cool and very appealing to him.  I wasn't able to go on the tour when Karson was considering UL due to Covid restrictions and my hurt achilles.  It was nice getting a real college-tour experience with Isaac.  He and Matt went the business colleges presentation which was super informational.  We might have another Card in our future.

Paul and Shannon got UL season basketball tickets - the crew enjoyed a game and night out eating the at the Old Louisville Tavern.

South Warren recently hosted a Seniors with Seniors luncheon; again, another first for our family since Covid took away many of the normal Senior events K would've gotten to experience.  We're thankful for loving, wonderful, supportive grandparents!

Speaking of grandparents, say a little extra prayer for my only living grandparent - Mamaw Pogue.  She took a spill two nights ago and broke her hip.  She's recovering in the hospital and has a long road ahead especially with the cooler weather.  Is it me or does everything simply hurt more in the winter?

She's the sweetest little human!  Hurts my heart to see her in pain!