ZOO, HALLOWEEN AND BOOKS

We have had a fun, crazy, and busy week!  It started on Wednesday...  We decided to take 14 kids to the zoo to see the monkeys:

Just kidding!  I really enjoyed these two, big, strapping young men: Doritos and Jalapeno.  They were really helpful with the younger kids.
The zoo was wonderful!  The weather was perfect.  The kids were well behaved.  And the company was delightful!  I've always wanted a large family.... and Wednesday I pretended I had one.  (I think my nieces and nephews need to live closer to me so I can "adopt" them too!  But luckily my two Amy friends let me "kidnap" their kiddos once in awhile to feed my crazy tendencies.)
I wish I could tell you about the day in minute by minute details - but I'll let the pictures tell the story:

Apple Pie loves his pig!

Jumbalaya is ADORABLE!!!!

Spaghetti was excited to see an ant eater....

Key Lime Pie and Jalapeno as confused super heroes!

Eclair and Marmalade were VERY photogenic.

This cute little wallaby is 16 1/2 years old.

We decided she would make the perfect date for Jalapeno...

He said he would take her to Outback Steak House for dinner.

Lemon Drop decided to take a page from

the wallabies by holding Jumbalaya in her "pouch"

Jumbalaya and Snickerdoodle got to ride...

I was a bit jealous....

Obviously Jalapeno was jealous too....

Kotten Kandy LOVES ice-cream!

But she doesn't like pizza....

Key Lime Pie is a natural with Jelly Bean!

And Jelly Bean LOVED being tall on Doritos shoulders!

Brothers - First they were monkeys.  Now they are turtles?!

Snickerdoodle isn't quite as big as a gorilla....

Teenagers?!

Snickerdoodle and Jumbalaya...

Mom - this pics for you...

Consider yourself challenged!

Come visit so we can play!!!!!

Boys!  If you look closely - there are 6 of them in this picture!

Nuts is relaxing on Spaghetti

- while Dorito's head is precariously positioned in the throne.

Crazy moms who brought the crew!

Me - Jan - Amy B.

Marmalade and Eclair channeling Elsa....

Nuts, Apple Pie, Spaghetti, and Juice

Crazy boys!

I really had a great day!  I hope the kids did too!  They are all wonderful children of God!

So... this month has been crazy busy.  I have been helping my husband a lot at work.  And I have been trying to keep our homeschooling efforts alive and well.  I've also been trying to keep up with my Church calling.  Between all the business, I haven't had much time to read.  But I did manage to read two books from The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer.  Much to my surprise, I REALLY liked them.  Marissa Meyer likes to re-tell the traditional fairy tales using a futuristic, space-age theme.  At first I was wondering if I would really like reading about a "Borg"-like Cinderella... but she actually works as a "cyborg."  OK... let me start at the very beginning:

Cinder is the first book.  It's loosely based on Cinderella.  And yes, she is a cyborg.  Throughout the book, we are introduced to a world of technology and wonder - in addition to governmental intrigue and the Lunars, another species.  Prince Kai - from future China - meets Cinder early on in the story to ask her help in repairing his android.  And it becomes clear that he may have to marry the evil Queen Levana, a Lunar, to avoid a war with the Lunars.  While some of the aspects of the story are similar to Cinderela, there are some changes.  And the story enthralled me from start to finish.  I wasn't surprised by the big reveal at the end.  But overall, I thought it was a terrific and unique retelling.  I liked it a lot!  (And there is no swearing at all!  Which is a HUGE plus in this mother's eyes.)

I was really excited, after reading Cinder, to read Scarlet.  Scarlet is the second book in the series.  I liked the sequel just as much.  It picks up right where Cinder left off.   Now there is an army of genetically modified human/wolf soldiers hunting Cinder down and poised to destroy all of Earth's major cities.  Fortunately, Cinder isn't alone.  She has "Captain" Thorne.  And Scarlet Benoit, aka Red Riding Hood, on her side.  Wolf, a street fighter with his own issues also joins the unusual group of fugitives.
I liked both of these books enough to buy the third book in the series, Cress.  I'll let ya'll know about it when I've read it.  :-)

The ward Autumn Festival was Saturday night.  Of course, we wouldn't be THE DeGooyers if we didn't dress up as a family!  We were elves this year!  Lord of the Rings elves to be exact.  Scott and I were woodland elves while Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy were from Rivendale.

We were thrilled that Lemon Drop decided to dress up too!

She was adorable in her colonial outfit!

There couldn't be a nicer girl!  And I LOVE that smile!!!!!

Doritos attempted to dress up, but the blond wig didn't work.

He is supposed to be Edward Elric (a cartoon character I had never heard of before)....

I miss my blond hair....

And Scott is the MOST handsome guy I know!

He can pull off any look - He's even better looking 

than Orlando Bloom as Legolas.

Key Lime Pie

Kotten Kandy

These two girls are GORGEOUS (inside and out)!

I'm lucky to be their mother!