It’s been a wild ride the last few weeks. Jake had a birthday early in November: he turned 30 years old, and I had secretly planned a party for him. His best friend flew in from Michigan and completely surprised him: we pretended to be doing a Mario Kart game online together, and instead of joining the match virtually, he walked in the front door.

We had an awesome week together, including a visit to the train museum which Michael greatly enjoyed.

The surprises didn’t stop there! Family and friends flew in/drove up for the party: two of Jake’s sisters and Jake’s younger brother were able to surprise him too.

Then we had the party itself! Friends and family came from all over — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Utah and Ohio! — to celebrate with us. I didn’t get many pictures once the party started — we were having too much fun playing games and drinking old-fashioneds (Jake’s favorite cocktail).

It was so nice to see so many loved ones and to celebrate Jacob and his 30 wonderful years, and the many more to come.

Beatrice turned 8 months old at the beginning of the month as well, and her little personality is beginning to shine. She is so funny, intense, wriggly, and strong.

She has recently decided that spoons are her mortal enemy and being spoonfed is an indignity. She absolutely must feed herself with her own two hands or nothing gets past her tightly clamped lips. However, she still has no teeth, though symptoms of teething persist. She also snuck a big bite of Michael’s breakfast muffin and consequently got her first taste of chocolate.

She can stand by herself for a handful of seconds, but otherwise is content to (rapidly) crawl everywhere and pull up/climb on everything. She very clearly says “Mama”, “Dada”, and “nehnehneh” (nursing). Whatever her older brother is doing or playing, she wants to be in on it too. She is fully a Daddy’s girl, and will crawl straight to him whenever he’s in the room, demanding to be held. When music is playing, she will dance and bounce up and down with a huge grin.

Michael continues to amaze and challenge me: he’s so smart and kind and never stops moving for a second. He wants to be tumbling, somersaulting, jumping like a frog, or running at all times. We recently got him a rocking balance board to help him get some of his sensory-seeking energy out.

He continues to be obsessed with all things that go — trains, garbage trucks, cars, tractors, bulldozers, and more. He has a will of iron and a blazing curiosity, and a steel-trap memory. He often recites his favorite books to himself as he plays, and improvises parts he doesn’t fully remember.

We get some sweet one-on-one times during Beatrice’s naps: we recently began playing Candy Land together (though he loses interest quickly so often I have to rig the game). We also enjoy water coloring and playdough and kinetic sand activities.

It’s beautifully brisk and overcast most days now, and I’m fully embracing soup season. A common dinner is soup and soda bread, and it’s nourishing to the soul as well as the stomach. My current favorite recipes are this pasta e fagioli and this Irish soda bread. The house is often full of the smell of bread, or cookies, or simmering broth. It’s like a warm embrace for the senses.

Unfortunately, both kids have been sick this week — Michael fought whatever it was rather quickly, though he’s still a tad under the weather. Beatrice, however, is still fighting a gnarly fever that’s kept us all awake through the wee hours.

My making practices have been slower of late, given the illnesses and the company and the prep for Thanksgiving as it approaches. When sleep deprivation ramps up, writing is one of the first things to back-burner. Words often get stuck when I’m fatigued, and no amount of coffee will dislodge them. But knitting replenishes my soul, so I try to find a moment or two each day for a few stitches.

I finished a bonnet for Bea, a small scarf for me, and cast on a new shawl to add to my pile of WIPs. I’m definitely procrastinating on Christmas knitting, which is becoming dangerous as we approach December.

With the hectic pace of life right now, I’m grateful for the early sunsets and the calm that comes with the darkness. I try to savor the moments I can during the day, but I find myself looking forward to 8 pm, when the kids are asleep and the kitchen and living room have been cleaned and reset for the morning. I light a candle, I make peppermint tea, I pick up my knitting, I talk and laugh with my beloved and we read in silence or watch a tv show/podcast together.

I’ve begun a compilation of Dorothy Day’s writings, and they’re a consolation and a joy to read. I’ll end this post simply with a quote from her that greatly resonated with me: I hope it resonates with you as well.