November On November 4 th , we had a big birthday party for Morgan and lots of the older kids joined us. She got some fun gifts and we had strawberry shortcake at her request. On Wednesday Kory and I took her and Lakyn to dinner, and Morgan chose to go to Panera where she ordered tomato soup in a bread bowl. Morgan has unusually healthy/adult taste buds for an 11-year-old. She is excited that she can start attending Young Women in January and going to the temple to do baptisms. That weekend I wrapped up my final edits on the dissertation. Kory did his final yard work—trimming bushes and raking leaves for about eight hours. Isaac took his girlfriend Carlie and Phoebe and a few other mission friends to Goldbug Hot Springs in the Salmon area. They had a pretty day for it. Kory’s dad happened to be in town on the 9 th , so we gathered at Josh and Kasey’s for some pizza and visiting. On the 10 th was the Primary Program. Our kids are all too old for that, but