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Only three things this week:

1. Kids. They are the biggest part of my life. Even the sisters in Utah.

Griffin, at age 5 and 11/12, is smart, strong, energetic, passionate, and fun. He likes research about aliens and space, live action movies at the theater (like Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther and Pirates of the Caribbean, which he hasn't seen any of), and any screen time. He says his favorite parts of school are art and PE and lunch and library, because he is always hungry. His best friends at the moment are the Frandsen boys--Meyer and his older brothers. He likes Harry Potter (Alan is reading it slowly to them at bedtime) and mystery podcasts (no idea how he even knows about these), and he likes how worms seem to never die. They are infinite. One day last month he asked me, "Mom, shall we try the big open-mouthed kiss?"

I can't remember if these pictures were taken before or after a great-grandmother complimented their restaurant behavior.

Evie is loving, sweet, graceful, funny, loud when needed, and super sneaky. In addition to getting into things, she likes books about cute things, puppies, babies, cats, and pretty things like makeup. She is scared of our neighbor's dog Freckles, but loves their cat Oliver and their old dog Missy, who is too old and tired to bark. Her favorite friends right now are Isa, Tessa and Chloe. One day this week, Eve's high was organizing her room with me. She is very, very social. My art teacher, Ken Sheldon, loves that Eve has decided he is her friend and goes up to him and gets in his face, nose to nose and talks to him without awkwardness or pretense.

Wyatt, at just past 17, is just really, really awesome. He crushes school as a matter of course, babysits willingly now, exercises faithfully, blesses the sacrament clearly and respectfully, and gets himself off to seminary daily without fanfare. This week he is questioning whether he should continue with the partial IB curriculum he has embarked on and jump into equivalent AP classes or just stay the course. Chemistry is not as awesome as he had hoped, and math is supposed to take a turn for the worse next semester. Physics seems to be okay. He likes Brooklyn 99 and watches it nearly every night before bedtime.

When people ask about my girls in Utah I tell them they are doing great!  Eliza sounds SO happy to be back in school. Mariah sounds great and is building her clientele and being blessed. And Willa is doing amazingly well in school and has found a medication that helps her instead of hurts her. First time ever. And I only ever hear good things about Mac and Evan.  It contributes to my overall feeling that they are just wonderful in every way.

2. New Life. My friend Alex had a baby boy this week!  I got to hang out with her the day before and the day after. When a new person comes to the world, things pause for a bit and you get to really reflect and appreciate that miracle.  Holding sweet little Charlie before he was even a whole day old was such a sweet gift! I got a picture but will wait to post it until his cute mama feels ready to have his image released.

My watercolor sketch for Wednesday. Hanging out with the Steele girls before Charlie came.

3. Regular stuff.  It's November and the weather took a turn for the colder. I worked on painting faces and finishing my Steinbeck book for book club. I helped at a ministerial alliance breakfast. My house got the electrical rough in and insulation finished but not much else. I exercised and went on a temple date with my true love. I read more of the Book of Mormon and loved it.  I'm into Alma now, on track to finish easily by the end of the year.  I went to two public affairs meetings and arranged for publicity for a fireside. We did some yard work. I ate at Waldo Pizza with my kids and husband, followed by dessert at Laura Littles and watched Charlie and the Chocolate factory with the batch of kids born after it was made. Life is good.

Fall colors frosted with winter ones.

Evie's response to me asking her to get dressed this morning: frog on a driveway.