Halloween Fever: Day 2

Our ward had their Trunk-or-Treat party on Tuesday night. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend with my family because of a rehearsal, but they sure had a good time. What do you think Dallan dressed up as? Any guesses?

And here is a photo recap of the party:

Nala, Queen of all Lionesses had a great time with her friends.

Lulu the kitty went from being angry kitty to roadkill by the end of the evening.

Halloween Crafts

For Halloween this year, we painted our pumpkins instead of carving. Bedelia's pumpkin was quite the elaborate work of art, including a painted back, face, arms, and I think hair... Lulu went more for the water colored impressionist art. She liked the way it looked when you smeared your paint with the water. She also did some nice belly-button art!

We also got this great idea from my friends blog to make ghosts using the girls footprints. We created some pretty spooky pictures! Bedelia wanted to take her picture to our Trunk-or-Treat and scare all her friends with her spooky ghosts.

Halloween Fever

We have Halloween Fever! We love Halloween so much, we've decided to have it three times! Here's day one's festivities.

1. Visit the Pumpkin Patch

2. Go to a Halloween party just for 3 and 1 year olds. It was so much fun! Thanks Sommer!

3. Go to an LDS "trunk-or-treat" with Max the Spider.

4. Come home and eat the loot! Yum! I love Halloween!

Lioness or scrub brush?

And this is Amelia, the Lioness (or scrub-brush, or monkey as Max would have it be). I thought it turned out pretty cute! We did it all in less than 24 hours time (started Saturday at 1:00 and had it nearly complete that evening, I just had the ears to do on Sunday and finishing touches Monday morning) This is thanks to my mother-in-laws amazing artistic mind and my perfectionism that got this thing done! And as Grandma pointed out, Amelia will add the sound effects needed to convince everyone she is a ferocious lioness! Happy Halloween!

Weekend at Grandma's

Last weekend we went up to Holbrook to see Grandma and Grandpa Simper. We had a lot of fun! The girls acted like it was Christmas morning when they walked into Grandma and Grandpa's house, they ran around squealing with glee to see all the toys, and they loved Grandpa's marble contraptions... anyway, the girls had lots of fun (even though Saturday was very blustery, that didn't stop their fun) Dallan read an entire novel and my mother-in-law helped me sew and complete Amelia's lioness costume for Halloween.

Zoo Wonders

For all you Simper's who check our blog, you will greatly appreciate this. We ran into someone very dear to our hearts at the zoo yesterday. Can you guess who from the picture?
You never knew you had such a famous Uncle, did you?!

We also saw a very noisy tree full of birds. I'm waiting for my dad to let me know what he thinks it was. My dad is an avid bird watcher. It's a gift and love he's always had, and he's dedicated a lot of time to photographing thousands of birds! They are beautiful photographs, and I guess you can say his hobby has made me a lot more aware and curious about these feathered friends too.
And then we went to the part of the zoo where the Apes (NOT monkeys!)... to quote silly songs with Larry, "If it doesn't have a tail, its not a monkey... it's not a monkey its an ape... (great song by the way!) and look at the strage apes I found! They said "Sisters" on the sign. They were found wandering loose in the zoo yesterday. Someone really should find and contain them if you ask me!

26 Years Behind Me

Happy 26th birthday to me! We've had a fun morning going to feed ducks and have a picnic with our friends Max, Kellie and Rian. AND I got to have my free birthday lunch from Joe's BBQ, yum! :) The girls are both napping now, :) and I am just feeling thankful for lots of things. SO, for my 26th blog entry on my 26th birthday, I wanted to list 26 things I am thankful for in my life.

1. God and Jesus Christ. I am so thankful I have knowledge of a living God who knows me and loves me and has shown his hand in numerous ways throughout my life. And for a Savior who took all of my sins and shortcomings upon himself so that I have a chance to make it back to them someday. (I think that might have been two...)

3. Dallan. He's wonderful! I love how patient he is with me. He really is the perfect man for me! Not to mention what a wonderful dad he is. And he's cute... ;)

4. Being a mom. There is nothing better (most days). What a blessing it is to have 2 strong, healthy and vibrant girls to raise. They teach me so much.

5. Music. It's played such a significant part of my life, it defines a lot of who I am! It's one of my favorite things to do and be a part of. I am grateful for all the opportunities to make good music I've had throughout my life.

6. Good friends. Everyone needs good friends in their lives, and I have some of the best! My friends keep me sane!

7. Good parents. I am grateful I have a close relationship with my mom and dad. I am also grateful for the way they raised me. They are the best! (I'm also grateful for my in-laws. I married into such a good family)

8. Sisters. I'm grateful for my sister, she's one of my closest friends. I've always looked up to her. I'm also grateful my daughters get to have each other as sisters. It's one of lifes greatest relationships.

9. Brothers. My brothers, all three, just seem so much older and wiser than me. I love to talk to them all and learn from them and their experiences.

(okay, now that I have the sentimentals out of the way...)
10. Technology. (Otherwise I couldn't be typing this blog post right now!)

11. Ice cream. Dallan made me an ice cream cake for my birthday, I'm so excited to eat it!!! (and I need to figure out when I am getting my free b-day cold stone ice cream.) I really am grateful for ice cream! :)

12. Parks. They are free and they are not in my house AND kids can run and not get in too much trouble. I like going to the park.

13. I'm thankful this is half way done... this is getting difficult. Maybe I just need to think more basic...

14. Shoes. It would be hot without them.

15. Being home so I don't have to wear shoes.

16. Good Books. (I'm waiting my turn to read the next Stephanie Myers book... yes I like sappy teenage romance novels!)

17. Quiet afternoons.

18. My house, when its clean.

19. Work = money = bills paid = less stress, so I guess I'm thankful for work.

20. Digital cameras. Do you remember the day when you had to actually develop film?! Wow! Am I ever grateful I'm now part of the digital age!

21. The Whiting Homestead. It has always been Dallan's favorite place on earth, and I do believe it is now one of mine.

22. Fun toys. I think I like toys more than my kids some days. And I'm SOOOO excited for Christmas!

23. I'm thankful the bugs are gone from our garden. I guess the bugs go when the plants go, but at least I don't have to squish them anymore.

24. Laughing. Its life's best medicine.

25. Health. We sometimes take for granted how perfectly our bodies work until you lose some of that perfection. I'm grateful for the healthy times.

26. I'm grateful for 26 wonderful years of living and looking forward to a whole lot more!