Happy November

Nathan and Nick's school had their fall festival on the 2nd. The kids had a great time playing games and helping the school raise money for new equipment.

Our wonderful real estate agent also called on the 2nd to tell us that a home we had viewed back in the spring and then sold was now up for sale again. WHAT!!! We agreed to go see it the next day and see what repairs had been done and if we would make an offer. We showed up at 10:30am to view the home- now remember we have been patiently viewing and praying for God to show us where he wants our home to be for 2 years now. Well guess what no repairs had been made and the owner would take an as is offer! BUT the home had been shown to another family the day before and was going to be shown another 2 times that same day! OK God is this it- we prayed all weekend and on Monday at 8:30 we met our real estate agent made an as is offer, the owner counter offered and we accepted it! We should close on or before December 19, 2012!!!!!!! Can you believe it, The McConnell's finally have their very first home. Our new home will hold all of us with room to GROW!! More to come on the new home soon!
Other exciting happenings from November. The 3rd grade put on the cutest music show! They sang Stone Soup, it was awesome! Nathan did a great job, hopefully I can get the video on here soon. Until then here are a couple of pictures!

 With the weather getting colder my husband has been requesting a great deal of cobblers. I will have to stop soon or we are all gonna go up a pants size :)

Happy Halloween

This is the super cute pumpkin I decorated at MOPS! Very easy to make! All you need is some ribbon and tacks. Measure strips of ribbon, and attach them at the stem and under the bottom of the pumpkin. Voila, super cute stylish pumpkin. When your done you can remove the tacks and ribbon, place in a container or bag and reuse next year!

Marley had a Halloween party at her school, she wore a really cute cat dress with stockings, orange shoes and an orange bow. And wouldn't let me take any pictures! She sat in my lap during the entire class party. The only picture I have is of the gifts she gave her teachers. Cute idea from Pintrest.

Nick also had a Halloween party the same day as Marley's which was on Halloween day. I made cupcakes and cute fruit sticks for his class.

Ah the only picture of Marley in her cute Halloween outfit ^ By the time Nick's party was over, I was partied out and had a  terrible headache! After school we rushed to the house to finish making their costumes. Nothing like waiting until the last minute right :) I'm fully aware that I totally deserved that headache! Costumes were done just in time and they looked great!

We had a Robot, an Indian and.......... a sweet little butterfly that once again did not want her picture taken, I'm not sure daddy did either. Just kidding Chris actually was smiling in the first picture but Marley turned her head and after the 2nd she was done!

I'm Back!

I have been so terrible at keeping up our blog! As a family of 6 I'm sure you can imagine how busy we stay. We are continuing our hunt for a new house and are still in search for a church home, it has been both physically and emotionally draining. Pray for our family as we seek God and  find a new place to serve and live.
So hang tight this is going to be a long post, I'm going to back track and catch you up on the McConnell's busy day to day lives!
First let me say that this post will mostly be a photo dump! I just unloaded 350 pictures from my camera, yes I just said 350 all taken during a time slot 1-2 months. Don't worry I wont dump all 350 on you. I skimmed through and picked a few of my favorites. Lets start with football- the season has finally come to an end for this family, well except for college football. It was a sad end, for Alex's last year of middle school f-ball. They won 0 games :( But that didn't stop us from having a good time.

Alex is the Blue #5 ^



Marley wore red, white and blue to almost every game to support big brother! She obviously enjoyed watching the cheerleaders more than the football game.

                                                    Alex is white #5^

Chris and I took Marley and met up with his parents, for Marley to visit Babyland General for the 1st time. If your not familiar with babyland- it's the home of the Cabbage patch kids and is a must see for all ages. I had not visited since my childhood and still had a great time.


Marley looking at all of the cabbage patch dolls that are up for adoption.

Watching and waiting for a brand new cabbage to be delivered.

Of course she wouldn't sit in the chair and didn't even want a new baby. She picked out a stuffed monkey and cat. And her Nana bought her a cabbage patch fairy anyway.

Every other Friday after MOPS  I swing by my cousins bakery- Sweet B's and grab some yummy treats for the kids to have after school. If your in the area and have not visited her bakery and bistro. Stop by, I promise you will not be disappointed! It's on the square in downtown Clarkesville.

Marley and I finally got to enjoy watching Daddy's band play at the annual Habersham Jam!

We enjoyed some blanket time in the park, warm fall sunshine, and great music!

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There was a lot of time spent enjoying the last really warm days at the park and in our backyard. I obviously have a handful of monkey's on my hands! :)

Here is the last little piece of exciting,  eventful moments of the fall. Does everyone remember way back in late May early June when my husband told the boys that they could keep 2 stray kittens if they could catch them (Without asking me by the way). And they did!! And then 1 of our dogs played a little too rough with the gray one and it died. Anyway to get to the point. We have been very pleased with Thomas (the cat) he is all around a great cat! Thomas brings gifts to doorstep- examples: 3 field mice, 2 moles, and 3 snakes. I'm sure your getting the picture that he really loves us right? Thomas was defiantly earning his keep that is until late one night I noticed a small place on the upper right side and he began to act very lethargic. Days passed and Thomas began to grow a large yucky ( I wont go into detail) mass on his side. I wouldn't let him come in the house or let the kids touch him. On October the 18th while the kids were at school I decided to make a trip to the vet and try to save this CAT that my husband TOLD the kids they could keep! After a quick consultation it was established that Thomas had been snake bitten and would need immediate surgery. OK I quickly said and rushed out of the office to pick up the kids at school. Called Chris and I told him what I had done. Here is how the conversation played out.
Chris: How much????
Me: Uh I didn't ask, I just wanted to save Thomas for the kids.
Chris: Well you had better hang up right now and call right back and ask! Because we could have gotten another cat out in front of the local Wal-mart for FREE!!
Me: But it wouldn't be the same! It wouldn't be Thomas!
Chris: I don't care call now! And call me back with the amount!

So I did call, and they were right in the middle of surgery. The lady on the phone says it should be between $100-$150. Not so bad right? Wrong, Chris was well to say MAD is really an understatement! I showed up the next day to pick up Thomas and boy were they wrong it was $250! Along with strict instructions for Thomas to stay inside and contained for 2 straight weeks. And that meant purchasing a litter box and all the crap to go with it. Oh and have I mentioned that Thomas was wearing the cone of shame when I picked him up. (all to keep him from tearing the stitches out)

Here is a picture of a small snake that Chris caught outside our garage (non poisonous). This will give you an idea of what the 3 small snakes Thomas caught and killed looked like.

The 4th time Thomas wasn't so lucky, the vet said the snake that bit him was poisonous. We will never know what kind- so Chris took it upon his self to purchase an insane amount of moth balls and scatter them all over yard. Supposedly moth balls keep snakes away, oh and side note they make your yard stink like moth balls. No sign of snakes though :)

Be back soon with more craziness from our McConnell Mob!

Just for FUN!!

Today I am 31! Where have the years gone? Birthday's change the older you get, they dont' seem to be as important or not me anyway. Maybe that is because the sweet girl I never thought I would have almost came on my birthday. She made her apperiance the day after. I can not belive my sweet girl is turning 2 tomorrow! With that said today has been pretty low key. Chris had the kids make me a big card on poster board (which totally explains why he had an .83 debit reciept)! The card made me smile something BIG, but leave it to kids, Nick was taking a nap when they made the card so they didn't add his name.

 Chris bought me a cheesecake, my mom stopped by with a box of godiva chocolates, Marley helped me pick fresh blackberries.

We spent the rest of the day was spent preparing for her party. Headed down to Gwinnett to pick up a few party items includling her new Toms (if she's getting a gift why not help a child in need in the process), some plates, and food for tomorrow. Can't wait to update you tomorrow with all the party and 2 yr. pictures!
Before I go I wanted to leave you with some random pictures. They make me smile, they are fun times and remind me just how sweet my family is. So happy that God made us a family! 

Chilling with Daddy

Fun with Mustaches

Yeah, Bella didn't appreciate Marely giving her a ride in the toy buggy.

I Love to swing

But Mom Im looking at all of the books! Love her!!

Mtn. Laural Parade/Festival and Nick's Pre-K Graduation

Whew! Two post already this week, I must be doing better with the blogging world. Really I am  just trying to keep you caught up. Here are a few pictures from the parade and festival. Alex was on float for our churchs youth group, Nick and Nathan were with their little league teams.



Somebody got sleepy waiting for the parade to start

Hanging with Daddy

Great end to a long day- Marley's first icecream cone!


Pre- K graduation. Can't believe how fast this year went by! Nick has grown and learned so much this year, so thankful for the two wonderful teachers he had.

Each class walked in from the back of the gym, Nick does not look please to be here.

Nick is normally outgoing his teacher even stated that he would sing and dance for his entire class! Although during his graduation he stood in the back and was very shy.

Chris and Nick with his diploma. Oh and by the way Nick wants to be a RockStar when he grows up!