The happenings of November.

So, looks like this has become my once a month blog.  Oopsies! 

I do have a lot to document.  Let's begin with today, shall we?  It's Thanksgiving!  Happy Thanksgiving friends and family.  We decided to stick it out here in Indiana this year, instead of making the big trek out west.  I was so sad to not see our extended families this year, but I just wasn't up for another 24 hour drive...again.  We've already done it twice this year! So, instead we did our own little Thanksgiving.  We had some plans fall through with friends, so it was a party of 5!  It was quiet, and not very stressful.  Despite not being with family, we have lots to be thankful for this year.  Here is what it looked like:

{I decided to fancy it up a bit this year, to make it a little more special}

yes, all ideas were copied :)

OK, up next was my awesome girls weekend!!!  I can't tell you how much fun we had on this trip!  They all flew into Chicago (Tiana, Adrienne, and Nicole), where I proudly met them with signs, hand-crafted my mu ah!  Ha ha, they were kinda lame, but hey it showed I care, right?

 catching up at the hotel

 picking up tiana, the late comer!

We had to see what all the fuss was about 'Chicago' pizza.  I have to be honest, I think I like NY pizza better.  Thinner is better I guess.

And of course I had to give everyone a welcome gift...personalized jammie shirts!

We went for a run our first morning.  I just wish I could run with these ladies everyday.

a yummy tai place.

a yummy cupcake place.

just a little modeling on the side.

garrett's popcorn.

 just some more modeling...in front of church (don't ask)...where we attended a Spanish ward...surprise!

Tell me you don't love how many patterns she has going on here...?

Brunch at the Bongo Room....to die for pumpkin pancakes.  Nicole chose the winner!

My Chocolate Tower was pretty and yummy too. 

 Let's take a closer look.

And lots and lots of shopping!!

Pedicures, a must on a girls trip.

Had to go back to where it all began...the Cheesecake Factory.  Just wish we had one near me.  But then maybe I'd be sad I can't go there with these lovely ladies.

And like a flash, it was over way too fast.  I loved every minute with these girls.  They really are friends for life.  That sounded so cheesy.  OK, onto Halloween.

I let the kids pick their own costumes this year...can you tell?  No theme, nothing too creative.  But they were happy....so I'm learning to have less control over these things, and it's hard!

{should i be concerned about this picture of Camden?}

And there you have it!  November post- check.

Odds & ends.

It's been about a month, so it's time to blog!  Here are a few things we've been up to lately.

Benny had his 31st b-day last week!  We had a pretty chill day...dinner at Steak & Shake with the fam and then a babysitter for the kiddos while we went to a movie that night. 

We celebrated with Dan & Mindy the night before with a ice cream cake. 

{grossest picture of me, ever!} 

Hazel started a tap/ballet class a few weeks ago and is loving it! 

It's so up her alley...twirly dresses, dancing, you get the idea. 

We headed to the apple orchard this past Saturday, it reminded me so much of NY...one of the things I miss about NY.  Luckily they pick apples in Indiana too! 

We went with some of our favorite friends here, the Clarks.  Come one...we were meant to be friends with a last name like that!

Here is one of their little cuties, Evie

Who doesn't love a little bum crack?

And we just enjoyed the most relaxing General Conference weekend, full of lazy pj days and yummy food including cinnamon twists (so easy and yummy!)and egg-white omelets. 

Cinnamon Twists

24 Rhodes rolls, white dinner rolls
Cinnamon & ugar
1/4 c. butter, melted

Frosting:

3 T. butter, room temp
1 c. powdered sugar
1-2 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla or almond (I used both!)

Take rolls out of freezer and place on jelly pan or pan with sides.  Let rise 1 hour or leave in fridge overnight.
 Mix cinnamon and sugar in bowl.  Melt butter in separate bowl.  Take roll and roll between fingers until it's a longer shape.  Dip in butter, then cinnamon and sugar.  Tie in knot.  Continue with remainder of rolls.

Place back in greased pan, closely together. Cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 

Mix frosting ingredients in bowl, until well mixed.  Drizzle over cooked rolls.

Too soon?

So, yes it is still the beginning of September...Labor Day in fact.  However, I was just itching to put up some fall decorations.  OK, more like Halloween decorations.  This year I decided to stay away from the traditional orange and black and go more of an eerie, creepy, yet classy route.

Too soon? 

That's what Benny seems to think. 

 I say bring on cob webs!