November 2023

November came and went, and here's what we have to show for it.

new birthday batting gloves

Gabi's creation

Ethan's basketball clinic

Mommy and Ethan rode bikes to school on a cold morning:

Spencer and Gabi helped me volunteer and test out our school's booth at a neighborhood festival. (They even collaborated on the chalkboard artwork.)

My baby girl is practically taller than me...and very proud of it.

Gabi had her very first school choir performance this month. It was a vertical concert where all elementary schools and middle schools that feed into the neighboring high school had the neat opportunity to perform together.

Gabi had some fans in the audience.

I am not sure why I have three distinct pictures of Spencer in our bathroom from this one month, but alas, I do.

Cohgil moments:



The kids' school hosted their annual Thanksgiving Feast, and I was excited to participate:

Little turkeys! (Spencer loves his school bud, Charlie!)

November brings Mommy and Daddy's Anniversary. The 3 Cohen Crazies worked together to make our breakfast feast. They used challah, cream cheese, strawberries, honey, gummy bears, and Reece's Pieces to spell out a glorious edible message of "Happy Anniversary" between 3 slices of bread.


Team Cohen has a special anniversary day in San Marcos (as is blogged in another post), and Mommy and Daddy went out to enjoy the Austin Symphony at night.

I may work remotely, but I have plenty of company from my co-workers I share the office space with.




In other furry goodness...

In conclusion

Jon's sunset view from the airport

Gerbil Memorial Service

My resident lover and carer of all things fair noticed that we had not dutifully recognized and memorialized the lives of our 3 gerbils who all passed tragically over the summer. While we were in Driftwood over Thanksgiving, Ethan planned a celebratory memorial service as we honored the special lives of Zeus, Apollo, and Poseidon.

The first item on the service agenda gave every participant the opportunity to build a gerbil out of Lego Duplo bricks.

Next, Ethan invited everyone to share their favorite memories of their time with the "ZAP team," followed by an epic dance party as a celebration of life with songs mostly featuring familial chipmunk voices.



Last, but not least, Ethan invited anyone interested to create hand-drawn memories of our sweet gerbil friends. May your memories be for a blessing, Zeus, Apollo, and Poseidon.

Thanksgiving in Driftwood

As has been recent tradition, Team Cohen spent Thanksgiving with our fellow Texas family at Nana and Zayde's house in Driftwood. Upon first arriving, we needed to prep the birthday decorations for guest of honor Aunt Sandi's pending arrival.

A couple of cool kids decided to try out the pool temps (in November). They were in, screaming, and out so quickly that no one even captured the intense reaction on video.

Hanging out by the clubhouse:

Around the house and having fun with family:



Team CohAn arrived next, and we got to play, love, and celebrate with them.





Team Gilden joined the fun!

JoEthan recreated this fun picture from Thanksgiving past:

Nana and Zayde's ranch neighborhood hosted a Longhorn Pen Bonfire, which seemed too fun to pass up.





Roller skating practice to take advantage of the long, smooth driveway before heading home to Austin: