november already

Well. Birthday season has come and gone. My babies are now 12, 10 and 7, and their little sister (the real baby of the family) is 2-and-a-half. I always breathe a sigh of relief after the last birthday party. From the end of the summer until the middle of October, the calendar seems absolutely packed. Then, come November, it slows down.

This usually tricks me into thinking I have some time to relax, to attend to the things that were dropped during birthday season. Inevitably, the result is that suddenly I find myself at the end of the first week in December, thinking, what?? Advent, already? Christmas is just around the corner, and here I have been twiddling my thumbs (or focusing on teaching, writing, and that sort of thing--which, as far as the children are concerned, might just as well be twiddling my thumbs).

I would say this year I am determined to do things differently, but it's unlikely. So November will be the usual joy it is: really, truly autumn, with time for family walks and meals with friends. We had a visit from Lewis's family last week, which was delightful. Lucy, who has just begun to remember things properly, keeps asking, 'Where baby Zachary [her cousin]?' and 'Where grandma and grandad?' Already she's looking forward to a trip to London at the end of the month 'to see baby Zachary.' From her point of view, that's the main thing, though I am taking her along to London because I have a meeting.

Iain's birthday party seems like a year ago already. Thank goodness it hasn't been that long: I am not ready for anything like that again. Twenty-five kids at an adventure park, with a birthday supper and ice cream in a room too small with terrible acoustics. And not cheap, either. But it was what he really, really wanted (until it got noisy in the room), and he had a blast (apart from the very noisy room). He continues to be interested in tanks and battles, and draws and paints all sorts of things. He wants to have an art show...

The big news in Thomas's world is that he is now playing for the school football (soccer) team, and they win a lot. Their season is over (thank goodness), and he only has a few more Saturdays of the current season with his other team. Even that team won one last Saturday, so things look up. This is especially important, since Chelsea (Thomas is a rabid Chelsea supporter) lost to Newcastle last weekend as well. I was glad that the plan to take him to the match ran aground. The experience of being there would have been unbearable for all concerned, I think. So he has a match in London to look forward to in the Spring. Another trip for me, and I don't mind. I enjoy the experience of the football stadium and we'll plan to go to a game Chelsea will win easily. Good times!

This evening, I told Anna and Lucy that it was time to go upstairs to get ready for bed, and Lucy promptly informed me, 'Anna reading me a story.' Indeed. Although Anna still hasn't quite got the hang of reading the words, she's always been very good with books, and can narrate a board book effortlessly. So, yes, in a sense, Anna was 'reading' Lucy a story. Beautiful to watch.

So goes November. It will be over before I know it. And if your Christmas card is late, I apologize in advance. At least now you know why.