Baby baby

 This past weekend I got to go see my new niece Olivia. And I got to go all by MYSELF. :)

So, I spent my time there holding and rocking and cuddling this little sweet pea.

 She took quite a few naps on me or in my arms. I love that feeling!

I got to tag along with Aaron and Esther to Olivia's doctors appointment on Saturday morning for a weight check. Olivia is gaining weight like a champ!

I had a great time with Aaron, Esther and baby Olivia, and I can't wait to see them again over Christmas!

 

 While I was in Chicago cuddling a sweet baby, Joe took our kids up Kansas to see the musical that his mom was playing the piano for. Peter Pan was a hit with Joey and Kylah, and Kylah loved the Tinkerbell outfit that Nana got for her. (Norah got to stay home from the play and hang out alone with Grandpa!)

around the house

 We had a quiet weekend and week so far. Kind of nice. :)

But, there's never a dull moment around our house.

The kids love when daddy wrestles with them. Of course it always seems to end with someone in tears...

 The kids still like me to read them books most of the time, but it's nice that Joey can read to his sisters now!

Joey is going to be starting his first basketball season soon. Joe got him his very first real basketball last night. He slept with the basketball last night and again tonight. So cute! This little boy wants to be just like his daddy.

friends overnight

 We had Callie's kids over to spend the night this past weekend. Her husband had to go out of town for business and she had to leave for a funeral so we kept her kiddos for her. What's three extra kids when you already have three?! :) But, really. these kids are so sweet and polite and no problem at all.

Kylah and Sofia played doctor with some real doctor tools. :)

 Joey's friend Walker had a birthday party, and his mom Tricia was totally fine with me bringing a few extra kids with us. The kids LOVED the hay ride and pinata. So fun!

Joe took Joey and Zeke to the JBU toilet paper game on Saturday night. The boys had a great time, and Joe had fun taking them!

Sunday morning was fun with a breakfast of pancakes and scrambled eggs. It was a little chilly in the house, though, because our heater is not working. Luckily this happened at the beginning of the cold season! The kids were cuddled up on the couches in their blankets trying to stay warm! :) Hopefully this will get fixed very soon!

First Friday

 Meredith and I braved the crowds and took our combined seven kids First Friday while our husbands were still at work. Our town does a little festival the first friday of each month. This past Friday was Toyland which was a special First Friday where all the Walmart vendors showcase their new toys for Christmas. So, pretty much they let all the kids play with new toys in hopes they will go home and beg their parents to get them those toys for Christmas. :)

But it really is fun for the kids to play with toys and the vendors give away some fun little freebie toys too.

Norah was enjoying hugs from Elmo.

 

Kylah and Audrey enjoyed the Hello Kitty stand.

And, it turns out that Kylah is no longer afraid of mascots! Yay!

Big boys in a little car. :)

That last picture was taken right before Joey got lost. Yes, you read that right. Joey got lost. There were so many people there, and Meredith and I were very vigilant to keep track of our kiddos. I was thinking I would lose Norah if I was going to lose anyone, but it turned out to be Joey. At the end of our time there he knew we were getting ready to leave and couldn't spot me right away (we were right there but he must have missed me) so he thought we had started walking back the other way, so he started walking that way. Sweet boy obviously got scared and nervous. He kept walking but was obviously crying. A sweet lady saw him. He told her my phone number, and she called me right away. He was less than a block away from me. Surprisingly, I actually never really panicked. I knew that Joey would know to find someone safe or read the signs that told lost kids/parents where to go, and I kept praying. I was so glad that I had made him memorize my phone number and that he kept a level head to remember it! I gave him lots of hugs and kisses when I found him and he was happy to let me! :)

terrific kid

Kylah was honored as the Kiwanis Terrific Kid for her class for November.

They have a Baker Bash once a month at her school. It's like a little pep rally and it's the cutest thing ever. They pick one child from each class to be the Terrific Kid for the month.

 Here she is lined up with the other terrific kids getting a picture with the Kiwanis man. So cute.

We are so proud of our little Kylah Sue!

field trip with Kylah

I got to go with Kylah and her class on their field trip last week. They went to a farmland adventure/pumpkin patch, and it was really fun. I took Norah to her babysitter so I could enjoy some one-on-one time with Kylah. Well worth it!

This is Caroline who is Kylah's little best friend in her class. She met Caroline through her good friend Kennedy (who is in another Kindergarten class). And I love that Caroline comes from a Christian family as well!

Kylah loves her teacher, Mrs. Scott (they wanted to take this picture by the pig sign because Mrs. Scott loves stuffed pigs!)

Kylah enjoyed feeding the goats...especially the baby goats. :)

I definitely enjoyed my time with my girl!

halloween and costumes

 I feel like Halloween lasted quite a few days for us. The kids dressed up on Wednesday night for Awanas, then the next night for Halloween and then again on Friday to Trick-or-Treat with their classes at school. Whew!

We went to a church Fall Festival with the Adairs on Halloween night. 

This was the best picture we got of all our kids. Aren't they sweet?! (especially that monkey in the front!!)

 Here's my three monkeys. (we had a black cat, an astronaut, and a princess). (and yes, Norah was in shorts and sandals...she was freezing...)

They had so many fun things for the kids to do at this fall festival.

Norah was pretty serious about getting her face painted.

I love these two littles. And they love each other.

Joey and Connor each took a turn at the pumpkin smashing. So fun!

Ok, these two girlies need to stop growing up and getting so beautiful! Good thing they both have big brothers to protect them!!

 4/5 isn't bad. :)

After the fall festival we headed to Dave and Mere's house where Mere and I had set up a little scavenger hunt for the kids. They had fun, although they did get a little frustrated at times when they couldn't figure out our clues! :)

We ended the night by stopping by a Halloween party at Dave and Mere's neighbor's house (which will also be our neighbors some day!) It was fun and fun to meet everyone in the neighborhood!

It was a fun night and by the end our kids were exhausted and FULL of candy. :)