The coat mystery is solved!!!

OK, so here it is! Last Christmas Charles got me this great leather coat from Kohls. We had to buy real coats when we moved to Indiana.The 2nd or 3rd week that I had the coat, I wore it to Church and hung it in the foyer just like any other Sunday. During my primary class, I sent Samantha down to the coat rack to get my coat because my classroom is freezing. A few minutes later Samantha came back with the coat and tried to put it on and when I did the coat had miraculously shrunk to a size M. I told Samantha, you grabbed the wrong coat. Go down and get MY coat. She went back down and looked and came back and said "Mom, that is the only coat I can see". So, thinking my daughter was somehow overlooking my $185 leather coat, I went to look myself. When I got there, my coat was gone and very similar and smaller version of my coat was all that was left. I was crazy, asking everyone if they had taken it by mistake. I figured someone had graabbed it instead of their own. During the next month, I became the weird lady at church who was freakin out about her coat being lost. Every week, I would go to church and see the size M coat just hanging there and think to myself, who on earth would go home with a coat that was that much too big and not notice. Charles kept telling me you need to take that size M coat and hold it for ransom in case for some strange reason your coat shows up. I told him no, what happens if someone really stole mine and this coat was just left by mistake. The size M coat hung there forever until the church donated all the stuff from lost and found to charity! So since this happened , every once in a while people from the ward would jokingly ask me about my coat, and laugh at me because I will not let anyone in my family hang our coats in the foyer at church. So fast forward to last night, we were at the church for scouts and I was sitting in the foyer with my friend Laurel. We were chatting and talking to all the YSA as they arrived for institute. On of the girls from the other ward that we share the building with walked in wearing a very large coat that looked eerily familiar! I thought to my self, it couldn't be! I said "Laurel, I think that girl is wearing my coat" she hopped up and without alarming this poor young girl too badly Laurel said"Can I look at the tag of your coat" She said "OK". Sure enough, the coat was a size 2X Sonoma brand from Kohls! What a coincidence. I proceeded to share this story with this young girl and she said her mom got her this coat for Christmas. She said she thought that coat did feel a "little big". During this conversation I think she was getting a little worried that I was going to snatch the coat and run ( No lies, I thought about it ). My wonderful husband Charles reminded me that if I would have taken the size M coat and held it for ransom I just might get my coat back, but because I didn't heed his advice now I am stuck without my coat. I hate it when my husband is right. I don't know the family of the girl very well, my friend Colleen knows them pretty well and she said she would talk to the Mom about possibly getting my coat back. I feel bad because this poor girls coat got donated to charity and if she gives mine back she will be without a coat. I would love to have my coat back, but the best part of this story is the mystery is solved. I don't have to wonder anymore! I will have CLOSURE, no matter if I get the coat back or not. Ok, I have to admit I loved that coat, I want it back. We will see! Once I talk to my friend Colleen or to the girls family I will post an update! Til then.....

The Employee Club Halloween Party!

On Saturday October 25 in the evening, we went to the prison's annual Halloween party! The kids were excited to get dressed up a little early! We had a Punk Rocker(Spikes and all), A Viking, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and Belle. The kids had fun at the party, they had a costume contest for all the different age groups. Sammie won 1st place and a $25.00 gift card for her age group! Unfortunately Justin didn't get the memo that most of the teenagers don't dress up for this party. So at the party they proceeded to ask all the kids 13 and up to come up for their age group, Justin was the only one. He had to parade around the room all by himself and can you believe it HE WON! HA HA. Our neighbor said "Wow that is 2 years of therapy in the making". Justin is a good sport and he did win the $25.00 gift card!!

Parades in Indiana are CHILLY!!

On Saturday, October 25 we enjoyed the ISU Homecoming parade. Both Allison and Justin were in the parade, Justin plays percussion for the band and Allison and Justin are on the Scholastic bowl team for their school. This year, the students are learning about Norse cultures and the Vikings. The students built a Viking ship for the parade. Allison is behind the ship, we sat on the wrong side of the street to see her but we did catch a glimpse of Justin and his big drum! I decided I better take a picture of the little ones, Sammie had a terrible time because it was so cold. There was a plus, Every parade entry throws candy to the spectators, we left before the parade was over because the kids bags they took to put candy in wouldn't hold anymore! Halloween came a week early for them!

Happy Fall Y'All

Well here in Indiana we have lots of trees, so that makes a lot of leaves for my girls to play in! In California there weren't very many leaves or trees for that matter. We have big trees in our front yard and the girls think making leaf piles is so fun! My older kids remember playing in the leaves in Colorado but the twins were too little to remember! FUN TIMES!!

Happy 11th B-day for Allison!!

Well on August 14th our "little ladybug" turned 11. I cant believe how fast the days go by. It seems like she was just our little first born girl. Crazy how time fles. We had a dinner out at Olive Garden and then came home and had cake and ice cream with the neighborhood! Good times!!

VROOM VROOM!!!

Well today the Employee's club from Charles' job sponsored a car show here on the grounds of the prison. Because it was right down the street we decided to check it out. After about 10-15 minutes of talking about going Shelby asked me what kind of tricks the cars were going to do at the car show. Wow, to be 5 again! The cars were pretty cool! Shelby and Rachel even got to sit in a few. We had a fun time!

Samantha's Baptism!!

On Sunday, Samantha finally got baptized! We have been waiting since her birthday on June 15th. Because of all of the flooding there was a bunch of stuff going on, the bishop encouraged us to put it off for a few weeks until everything settled down. It was a great day. Even though we didn't have any family here because we are so dang far away, it was still awesome for Sammie! We did have alot of friends from our ward here and that was awesome, we are grateful for the great friends we have made here in Terre Haute. We are grateful for them and for their support. I am grateful for Sammie and the joy she brings to our family. We are so proud of her for her decision to be baptized.