pretty things in November

Some more pictures to keep you all up on what's newest and most exciting in our lives :)

 

Once upon a time Afton learned about dioramas from the miniature train man at the library display. He even gave her a book about how to make different kinds of dioramas and miniature-settings. She was thrilled... and has wanted to make a diorama ever since. Mean-old Mom wouldn't let her make one until there was a school project that necessitated it. (I guess I'm just that lazy, folks...)

Her first diorama... unfortunately I forgot to take pictures before she turned it in. This is after she brought it back home, with it's subsequent distress...
it includes: shark, seahorse, sea grasses, anemone, clown fish, branch coral, mat coral, and seaweed (the most ravaged by time... see the greenish stuff falling all over the right side?) I personally was most impressed by the colorful mat corals--painted moss and tree-mushrooms layered in the back 

Malachi and I saw this rainbow one day as we were driving to the kids' school for their first quarter awards ceremony. We thought it was worth stopping to take a picture.

Rayna got all three possible awards, academic (essentially straight A's), Citizenship (only awarded to 2-3 kids), and perfect attendance.

Afton got an award for academics (I think her teacher forgot the attendance ones, oh well!)

This is the view from our back door.

Gorgeous!

We use the fireplace pretty regularly, including occasionally for FHE.

My girls have been asking for beads in their hair like all their friends at school... I haven't had time to do Afton's yet, but Rayna rocked 24 little beaded braids for the week of Thanksgiving. She loved all the attention she got at school, and I loved not having to do her hair every morning! We'll try it again sometime, and Afton'll have a turn too.