Halloween 2011

Avery decided she wanted to be an angel this year, and I actually had her outfit made about a month in advance. Braden was originally going to be a gladiator, but in the end he decided to go with Batman from last year. Still just as cute. Avery enjoyed her costume at school on
Friday, then they both got to wear costumes to the Fall Festival at church Sunday, then we went trick or treating with the Johnston's on Monday night. Full fun weekend!

Halloween 2010

Boo! Lollipop Ghosts!

The kids and I enjoyed our morning of making lollipop ghosts! I saw the idea online, but did not remember where (sorry; not meaning to plagerize here..)

What you'll need is a block of almond bark (or white chocolate chips), mini chocolate chips (for the eyes), lollipop sticks (I found mine at Wal-mart in the party section), wax paper, and a few great little helpers!

Melt the chocolate according to package. I started with 90 seconds, then stirred, and added increments of 15 seconds, stirring until all melted.

Next, plop desired amount on wax paper (we put our wax paper on top of cookie sheets so the kids could move them around easier), and form into desired shapes. You need to make sure it's thick enough so it won't break at the end.

Add lollipop stick, then put more chocolate on top of the stick. Decorate with chocolate chip eyes. The kids added noses and mouths too!

As you can see, the kids make some very interesting shapes! Avery went with smaller ones, and after finishing the process, I realized I probably should have encouraged Chance and Braden to make smaller ones too. That way when they eat them, they aren't getting too much all at once.

They don't take very long to set, and then enjoy!! This little guy is my favorite.

Fair, Birthday Bash, and Halloween Festivities

To be completely honest, I'm so far behind, and I just don't have the patience to post a bunch of pics here, so I'm going to put more albums on my facebook account. Just wanted to put a few teasers here....

Alabama National Fair 2009

Braden's Birthday Party -- 2 Years Old!

Fall Festival at Church
Trick or Treating


Also going on: Volleyball season has come to a close. We made it to the State playoffs, one of the Elite 8 Teams present.

Kenny's football team is in the playoffs this year!

Just recently spent some time in Texas with my family. Although I was there for my Papa's funeral, it was a treasured time.

I have a lot to say, but I'm not in the mindset right now to say it all. I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful family. This is a joyous time of my life.

Our Update Through Pictures

Welcome Home To Pink Unicorns and Glow Worms

With so much going on around the Simpson house, I hoped that Avery would be able to enjoy her halloween. She originally told us that she wanted to be a bumblebee, but once we went to the store to get the supplies to make her costume, she decided that she wanted to be a unicorn. She actually calls it her pink horse. The days leading up to the actual wearing of the costume included lots of galloping around the house and neighing.

Fall festivities included a party at the Hart's house on Saturday. They have a neighbor who works at a place where they have blow up bouncer 'thingys,' and of course Avery thoroughly enjoyed herself jumping.

Sunday night we went to the Fall Festival at church, which included slides, jumping, baseball hitting and throwing, rides, and even more jumping.

Since we were getting discharged from the hospital on Wednesday I hoped that we would make it home in time for her to trick or treat in the daylight. Unfortunately it was dark by the time we came home, but Daddy promised Avery, so he and Grammy set off through the neighborhood with their pink horse in tow. They said she walked up to doors and would say, "Thank You," then "Trick or Treat." Just a little out of order, but hey, she's working on manners. That was much better than the treaters we received on our doorstep. Lots of older kids, not even dressed up, demanding, "how about you give me that Reeces and Kit Kat." But that's another story all together.

In Braden news, he's doing well. When he was discharged, they told us his Biliruben count was high so we had to go to the doctor the following morning, as well as the day after that. His count continued to rise, and I got a little worried when they told me that if it reached a certain point he would have to be re-admitted to the hospital.

Luckily, times have evolved so that you can have photo-treatment at home with a handy dandy BiliBlanket. In my head I imagined he would be in a large cart under heat lamps where we wouldn't be able to hold him. In reality, it's a contraption that wraps around him, allowing him to be held, fed, and changed without being taken off of the light. It's fun because Avery calls him her glow worm. His numbers did not go down the first day, but we received news after today's heal stick that they dropped three whole points! Three more to go and he won't have to be on the blanket anymore!

I believe I'm getting spoiled because he sleeps VERY well. I am hoping it won't change too much after he gets out of his newborn sleep mode. Looking back to Avery's first days home, this is a breeze. Last night, I fed him at 11...he finished eating at 12...we went to sleep, and I didn't wake up until 4:30. I am not one of the moms who wakes up a sleeping baby to feed every three hours at night, but with his jaundise right now, they say he needs to eat often. I figured 5 1/2 hours was long enough without eating so I woke him up. He went right back to sleep, and I woke him up again at 8:00 this morning. NICE! The night before was similar, but every 4 hours. Get this, when he wakes up, he doesn't even cry. I just hear him stirring, look at the clock, see that it's probably time to eat, pick him up and feed him, then lay him back down. No pacifier or anything.

Now that I've jinxed myself, I will draw this to a close. My parents are leaving tomorrow, so that means Monday will be my first day all by myself with two kids. Oh my. Please start sending up prayers!