November sunshine and COVID birthdays.

While the post-election country was awash in uncertainty and name-calling and baseless litigation- as we knew it would be- life went on at Casa Nieman.

F+F are still the worst at riding bikes, despite our occasional halfhearted efforts;

Grandma is still way better at homeschooling than Mom & Dad;

haircuts and swim school and yardwork continued;

make-your-own-pizza night did not wane in popularity;

and we continued to enjoy every minute of our Indian summer.

Oh yeah. And our baby turned 6. With the help of some outrageous presents, including the terrible and much-loved "doodyhead" game, courtesy of- naturally- the Ryans,

this awesome punching bag from Aunt Leah,

and gargantuan efforts to make it special by Grandma Jayne.

Although throwing a COVID-friendly birthday party is beyond stressful, we capitulated

and Finely got the outdoor fashion show/ firepit party of her dreams.

Once we recovered, we managed a rainy trip to Arlington for Veteran's Day

and the annual put-up-the-tree/ "White Christmas" night. Because it's November, after all. Even if it's 80 degrees out.

It was a week+ of funny moments amid the crazy, but some of my favorites were F+F's very different approaches to stringing Christmas garlands,

and Ford's star turn- in Michael Jackson gloves- at Finley's fashion show.

Cheers to an eventual return to normalcy. 

But as long as possible a delay in winter weather.