November 2011

November was a big month for Johnny. He reached the 18 month mark, and what an adorable 18-month boy he is! It should be noted that he loves hats, especially ones he sneakers from someone else. (This one is Emma's Indian headdress from preschool).


This boy LOVES plah-doh. He also loves throwing plah-doh utensils, which sometimes means he doesn't get to play with the play-doh as long as he would wish. John has a little bit of rascal in him.


18 months also marks the start of nursery at church. The first week or so went okay. I stayed while he adjusted, having explained that I would be going to class and come back after Young Women's. He did great until he saw other parents come to pick their children up before Adam and I could make it back to the classroom. Ever since, it's no dice. He screams as soon as we leave. It doesn't help that nursery is right during what would normally be his nap time, but isn't that always the case? We'll figure it out eventually...

Since we are hanging out in nursery for now, it does mean we can snap cute photos of him playing with all his little buddies. Props go to Adam for being the family photographer this holiday season. He is a memory maker and documenter. Love that fella!


Another November memory came with the completion of the addition at my parents' house. They extended their dining/kitchen area so that it could accommodate their 11 children, spouses, grandchildren, and anyone else who might stop by at dinnertime. We spent some fun afternoons watching the ongoing construction, and Adam stayed late one night to help lay the new floor just in time for Thanksgiving.


For Thanksgiving, Adam and I decided to make a pie together. We used a recipe from my brother Dan, and Adam had the idea to sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the crust of this apple-caramel concoction. Never would have occurred to me, but it made the top crust absolutely GORGEOUS. I am generally not a crust lover when it comes to pie, but I had no trouble devouring this cinnamony deliciousness.


Oh me, oh my, would you look at that pie?!!!


We were too busy eating dinner at my parents' house and dessert at Adam's parents' to take any photos of our actual Thanksgiving. However, here is a candid shot of Lefse Day, a family tradition wherein we wrap all the Turkey Day leftovers into a potato tortilla of sorts in honor of our Norwegian heritage. Grammy and Papa hosted a crowd of 20-something in this initial extended family gathering in the kitchen. Three long tables fit easily, and no one had to climb under the table to get to his or her seat.


As must be expected at any post-Thanksgiving gathering (especially one involving the Younce family bakers), pie was to be found in abundance. Hard to pick a favorite, but I really loved the taste of Kari's cranberry pie and, of course, Adam's apple masterpiece.


Some of the pie makers: Kari, Mom, me, John, Celeste, and Janet
*Major props to Celeste who cooked a most magnificent Thanksgiving feast with the most delicious brussel sprouts I have ever tasted. Everything was seriously delectable.


I am putting this picture last, but truth be told we knew we would be so busy with celebrating Thanksgiving with various family members that we put the tree up before the festivities. Adam's cousin Michelle was on hand to hang out and help while we assembled the Christmas tree.