Written by Callie, Kenzie, and Brenna

Callie

November was insane. And December is already starting off that way too. I hate that my holiday seasons are so busy because of work. It really takes the Christmas joy out of life. but let’s start off my section with that big news I couldn’t share last month but can now! I’m quitting! And Jason and I are moving! Back to Conroe. To be closer to family and friends. I’m super stoked about this and hopefully this will mean that whatever job I have next that it won’t be one where I’m stressed out the entire month of December and can actually enjoy the season and buy gifts next year!!

The first weekend in November we set up our booth at the Montgomery County Farmer’s Market. It was a really nice day and a lot of friends and family came to see us and some of Jason’s family even made the long trip down to Conroe to hang out with us that weekend which was super fun! Conroe’s a bit boring so hopefully they had fun too!

While we were at the market, Dani Austin (an Instagram influencer and blogger) talked about our name puzzles again which just exploded! We sold like 60 puzzles in two days! So the next weekend Jason and I stayed in Fort Worth to work on our Etsy orders but realized that we were not going to be able to get them all done by ourselves. So the weekend after that we loaded all our paints, sanders, and puzzles in the truck and took them to the ranch where his sisters and mom and aunt helped us paint probably over 30 names! An insane amount. And I’m so grateful they all wanted to help. We had a fun weekend talking and painting.

Then it was Thanksgiving! We went to Conroe because Jason and I have worked out a deal where my family gets Thanksgiving (because it’s my favorite) and his family gets Easter (because that’s his favorite). I had to work Wednesday so we got in late that night and I really didn’t get to help mom or Kenzie prep too much this year which I feel bad about. Kenzie’s birthday was on Friday and it was kind of a chill birthday this year. She had wanted to go to the Renaissance which is a yearly tradition for her birthday but with Covid and the incessant rain this year on the 27th, that didn’t work out so I hope she had a bit of fun anyway. Next year will be better!

Which brings us to today, Monday, which is technically still November but whatever. I show up to work and there are 1000 orders. Like what??! So that is the reason that I can’t have fun in December. Because I work 10 hour days, drive for 2 hours and then come home and work on my own personal Etsy orders. So hopefully next year I’ll only have my own Local Pines orders to worry about and will be full of the festive cheer and merriment like I used to be! Until then, I’ll be lucky if I get a tree up this year.

Kenzie

Just like Callie and Brenna, November was pretty wild. The holidays are feeling kind of different but I’m trying to shove in as much holiday magic as I can! Anyway, for November it was mostly working and coffee shop stuff and the market was lots of fun!
Also, the house is currently a wreck as we are undergoing many home renovations. Currently, the subfloor is in all the rooms and the wood flooring is here, but we have to let it acclimate for a week before they can install it. Mom and I also got my room painted and several other rooms worked on so it’s starting to come together and I’m hoping we’ll be able to put some Christmas decoration up even if it’s just for a week.

Thanksgiving was fun and Callie and Jason came down which is always fun! It was super chill and easy to cook and prep for and I made THE BEST apple pie that I will be thinking about for a long time. My birthday was chill too and I got some really great presents from my friends and family including but not limited to a huge bouquet of peonies, my FAVORITE, from Bradley. He had a friend deliver them to me at work and he made the entire restaurant sing happy birthday to me which was horrible but the flowers and so so gorgeous. I’m already sad about how we missed the RenFest this year but I also love the rainy and chilly weather so you win some you lose some.

Things at work are gearing up for the holidays and I am already looking VERY forward to the longer break before and after Christmas. Also, like I mentioned earlier, the holidays are feeling quite different this year but I’m trying to up the festive-ness. Decorating as much as I can and holding onto that Christmas spirit!

Brenna

GUYS CALLIE IS MOVING HOME AND I AM SO FREAKING PUMPED. That’s the only update I have for y’all and it’s totally piggybacking off of Callie’s update.

Kidding.

So to kick off November, JT and I went to the election party at Woodforest with his buddy Taylor, his wife and some of their friends who we ended up LOVING. It was so fun and we got to meet Ted Cruz which was so nice. I 100% regretted staying up so late though the next day because my kids were CRAY. That weekend I hung out with Callie and Kenzie at the Farmer’s Market in Montgomery which gave me flash backs to sitting behind the table at estate sales and ringing people up. Gah. I miss estate sales. Hopefully they will be a thing sooner than later because I have a hankering to buy dead people’s stuff. Jk but not really.

I spent a lot of time Christmas-fying my classroom and I am just so obsessed. It is a bright, cheery and cozy winter wonderland up in here and I love it! My kids do too and I love seeing them catch on when I add new things in.

So for Thanksgiving this year, we celebrated early with Mom and Phil and then JT’s family on actual Thanksgiving. It was so nice that way and I felt like I spent a week marathon eating and if you know me, you know I love to eat. I got a good head start on Christmas shopping with mom during the break which makes me feel so much better because it’s a busy time at school now and I’m tired during the week. Plus I love getting to spend extra time with Mom (and Phil when he comes along)!

Something really exciting happened on the very last day of this month that I can’t share officially yet but it’s BIG! No, not a baby. Not any time soon people!

Oh and one last thing… I participated in Marathon Month at Orangetheory and signed up for the Ultra Marathon which is 31.1 miles. So the goal was to run that many miles during the month of November and I managed to rack in 48.47 miles. Which was big for me considering we are currently spending a little under 18 minutes on the treadmills right now. There were a few classes where I got more time in but the majority of the classes I attended had quick tread blocks so I had to seriously hustle. These thighs are stronger than I thought!

That’s all for this month people!