Halloween

We went to a Pumpkin Patch

for preschool.  Maddox liked the 

different kinds of pumpkins.

I let the kids carve pumpkins...

and make a Huge mess!

Zombie, Bumble Bee, & Ninja Turtle

I took the kids to the Trunk or Treat 

at the church.  They came home with

enough candy that didn't feel

guilty at all not letting them go

the next day on Halloween.

I made Marci's costume for almost

no money at all!

I was on my own for the Halloween 

festivities this year, since Tim 

was home sick with

Shingles, of all things.

Of course, I was sick too, but 

fortunately pregnancy isn't

contagious.

I guess Moms don't get sick days.

I try to save up my 

"Mama I'm dying" days

when I call my Mom to take care of me

 for when I really, really need it!

I'm not quite there yet.

And Baby Makes 6

Our family of five is growing......Baby #4 is 
due June 5th!

So far I feel fine and the kids 
are extremely excited. 

Marci already told her teachers and 
her friends have already 

decided what I should name it.

Marci is already telling me what I should

and should not eat for the baby.

According to her, chocolate cake is

a big no-no for babies...this should be fun!

Books Books Books

I've gone to a couple book signings with

my friend Natalie who has the Book Blog.

The last one I went to was really cool.

I got to meet a bunch of 

women authors, including

one of my favorites, Cassandra Clare!

We ended up waiting in line for over 4

hours, but we had great conversations

with the people in line with us!

And Marci read the whole book,

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, while 

we were waiting.

Cassandra was really fun to talk to!

She also had a very colorful hairdo, 

which Marci just loved!

 Alyson Noel, Melissa Marr, Holly Black 

and several others were there too.

All of them were so interesting, 

and I loved to see the personalities 

of the people behind the books I read.

A couple months before that,

we got to meet Maggie Stiefvater, of 

the Shiver trilogy.  She was hilarious!

Natalie & me with our signed books

Linger cakeballs

We brought Maggie cakeballs & a cute T-shirt

Team Holland

Marci is playing soccer for the 1st time

this year.  I am totally clueless when it

comes to soccer.  

I don't watch the World Cup.

I don't know the rules of the game.

I've never actually watched a game at all.

But I have learned 

one thing....

It is HOT.  Hot at practice, hot at games, 

Hot, hot, hot!

I liked it better when she took 

Dance.....inside.....with A/C!

Lookin' cute in her uniform

Marci is getting the hang of it pretty fast.

She's learning to be a little more aggressive..

which is something she needs!

Finally done!

And they won! 6-2

She is having a blast so far!

Soccer season runs until November...

can't wait until it cools down!!!

Diabetics Beware: Sweetness Overload!

The Blue Bell Creamery is about a half hour away, so

we took the Preschool kids there for a Field Trip.

The whole place is just adorable!

The Preschool Gang

Waiting for the Tour to start

Everyone gets a Blue Bell hat to wear on the tour.

The kids thought that was pretty awesome!

Maddox got his own hat to take home

We had some time to kill before the Tour started, 

so we played around outside.

Playing on the cow til the Tour starts

The bronze Blue Bell Cow was a big hit.

Fortunately it's pretty sturdy, cuz they climbed 

ALL over it!

Maddox trying to get the Chocolate Milk out

There was gorgeous landscaping and benches

all around.  I would come back just

to take pictures out front!

It was really beautiful!  

Super pretty & quaint is not at all what 

I expected for a Factory!

Free Ice cream at the end

We ate our FREE ice cream in a cute little parlor.

Homemade Vanilla is the Best

Did you know Blue Bell freezes their Ice Cream 

upside-down to create the Fresh Seal, 

which is why it's so hard

to open a new carton!

We watched the workers flip them after the cartons 

were filled and send them down the conveyor.

The old Ice Cream Parlor

I am definitely going to go back again when 

Bradley and Marci can go!  I did bring them 

back a little treat from the gift shop though.