Can you believe that I'm actually get a post up on time? I know, me either!! Well, I thought I would drop everything and put this up before it was Thanksgiving and I was farther behind. We had a great Halloween. I usually stress about it b/c I hate spending money on things that are worn once. And if we are friends on FB you know how I was freaking out about Sophie's Rapunzel costume. Well, after 3 separate repairs thanks to Grammie, (note: multiple things needed to be repaired each time) the costume made it to the big day. I actually bought a back up one when it was on sale just because I wasn't sure the first one would make it and since she wants to wear it all the time anyway I figured it wouldn't hurt to have two. Christopher's costume was so cheap, price and quality, I didn't care. Now, onto the events. Yes, events. We usually just have 1 time out for candy, but this year we had several options of places to go so I figured why not? First up, our friends' church. They had their trunk or treat in place of their Wednesday night events. It was perfect! Small and easy to keep up with the kids. Plus everyone brings a crockpot filled with chili, so the food was amazing and the kids had a blast!

FINALLY! On Halloween night, we stayed home and passed out candy. Apparently our neighborhood is a hot spot for trick or treating and so I bought one huge bag of candy and when it was out we would turn the lights off. At first Christopher was upset because he couldn't go trick or treating, but then he got so excited about passing out candy he forgot all about going himself. It was hilarious! He would try to plan with Sophie how they were going to scare the kids when they opened the door. One of his plans was to put Nooga on his head and they would both yell. At one point they had their hands full of candy and were walking out towards the sidewalk to find kids to give candy too. I was laughing so hard! We were out within 40 minutes, but it helped that they gave each kid 6 pieces of candy. I told them to give each kid one and I had to be rude to one child because he was being picky. I almost took back the piece he was given. Seriously?!?!? Anyway, the last two kids to show up at our house, while we still had candy, were two boy scouts who were going around collecting can goods for the hungry. I wanted to give them hugs and I was so proud of them. One boy was shaking he was so nervous as he was explaining to me what they were doing.

We had a great Halloween and I am ready to move on to the tastiest of holidays, Thanksgiving!

I don't typically watch talk shows, but I happened to have The Nate Berkus show on one morning when I was getting Sophie ready for school. Or maybe we didn't have school that day... I can't remember, the show comes on at 8:00 in the morning. Anyway, they had a guest on there who lives in NYC and loves to find furniture on the sidewalk that people have tossed and then take it home and fix it up. I was so impressed with what she did! Then Nate says he happened to find her blog and my brain went *ding!* and I ran to look it up. She is adorable! She went to Auburn (enough said, right?) and is originally from Texas. She now lives in NYC. Anyway, she just had a giveaway and I won! I am so excited! Well, I added her link on the side of my blog, but I want to make sure that everyone sees that it's there now. Meet Hannah Kate Flora:

I've seen this site several times over the past few years, but keep forgetting to save it. I think I spent an hour on it last night just looking at quilts. I've never made one, but want to try it. I need a longer project and challenge myself to go bigger. Plus living near my mom will help too since she's been making quilts for years! Have fun and hopefully you won't get lost for too long!

Sorry for being MIA lately, but we've been taking a bit of a stay-cation here and I'm waiting until it's over to do one big post. Because I know myself and I get all excited to do something, get started and then never finish, so I'm making myself wait until it over so I can do it at one time.

Until then, you will have to settle for a short post about our trip to the zoo with friends. A couple weeks ago the big kids didn't have school on Friday and so Melissa and I decided we would take everyone to the zoo that day. The weather could not have been more perfect! We packed a lunch and off we went. I actually didn't get that many photos b/c the kids would not stay in one place long enough. Nor would they stay with us. I was the mom that yelled, "Stop!!!! Come back!!! Wait for us, please!!!! Do I need to take you to the bathroom and fix this???? STOOOOOOOPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!," the whole time we were there. Funny thing is, Melissa's kids listened to me, but not my own. Why do kids do that? Oh well. At least I know that sound is actually coming out of my mouth.

The kids stopped to feed the giraffes. It costs $2 per person just to walk down the ramp. I am ridiculous about things like this and so I sent my kids down there alone. I told them to behave and listen to Melissa. She didn't know I was going to do this and thankfully nothing happened.

Seriously, nothing happened. I think Christopher fed the one giraffe a tiny bit of hay and Sophie just stood there. We won't be spending our money on this again. (I'm a terrible mommy, I know.)


We actually had all 7 of us in one place long enough to snap a pic. We aren't all in it, but we are all there. Christopher is already trying to run away, but I told him that a stranger would take him if he ran away and so he stuck around for about 30 extra seconds than normal. (Did I mention it was field trip day AND senior citizen day at the zoo? That's the main reason I was yelling, didn't want anyone on a bus that should be there.)


I want to keep this little man at my house. He is the sweetest and more adorable little 1 year old I know. The other night at soccer practice he actually climbed off his mom's lap and walked over to me and climbed in my lap. I seriously would take him home with me if I had a car seat for him in my van. I want to eat him up every. time. I. see. him!!!!


One of the kids took my camera when we stopped for lunch (well, Melissa and I stopped) so this gives you a glance into what it was like with them.




Then we decided to ride the train. The kids favorite part. Nicholas was adorable and would give me a play by play on what was coming up next.


Here's one with all 5 kids in it. Soon there will 6 of them! Don't panic, you didn't miss an "I'm pregnant" post by me. Burt and Melissa are the ones who will be rounding the bunch up to a nice even number. I keep telling them that I'll just take Zachary when the baby comes and then we will have the same number of kids. They just laugh. I'm not. He has stolen my heart. I love the big brothers just as much, but I already have kids their age. I need one that doesn't talk back or ignore me yet. (I have to tell you that Joshua and Nicholas are so well behaved when I keep them that I'm thinking of just swapping kids all together.)

We had a wonderful time at the zoo and I seriously could not ask for better friends than the Khans have been to us. I cannot say enough about how much we love them and how they are considered family to us. We would do anything for them and know they would do the same for us. There is always lots of laughter and chaos and hilarious tales from the kids when we are together and this year in Montgomery is every bit of the blessing that I thought it would be.