Halloween

I know we are a little late in getting our Halloween pictures up, but here they are! We had a great time celebrating fall this year- the kids got to pick a pumpkin from the farmer that came to their school, we attended a Harvest Party with our Sunday School Class, and then the Big Event- Trick Or Treating!

Haley was a Pirate Princess, Trey was Mickey Mouse, and Avery was a Pumpkin.  The kids had a ball dressing up and participating in their school parade.  Trey won the costume contest at our Harvest Party.  Avery completed our set of pictures by being the third Simons to wear the Pumpkin costume on their first Halloween. 

Trick-or-Treating was fun.  My parents (the Platten’s) came to walk around with us.  Grandpa Bill helped Trey a lot- avoiding falls on steps.  The Lucky family joined us also, which made the night even more fun.  My kids can’t get enough of Connor and Carson.  Plus, Mr. Chad carried all the kids through the neighborhood at one point or another.  We were all exhausted by the end of the night!  Hayden and I weren’t sure who would fall asleep the fastest- us or the kids!

Candy rules at our house these days.  Dessert is the best part of the day when we dump all the candy out of our bags and choose a piece to eat.  Trey just jumps onto the floor and starts chowing down.  He usually gets two or three down before I can get to the pile.  I have to keep a tight reign on him…at least attempt too.  Haley sits and analyzes which piece to choose for about 15 minutes to ensure she gets the best piece possible.  I crack up because she’ll ask, "Mom, have I ever tried a _________?  Did I like it?"  She doesn’t want to make a bad choice if she only gets one.    She generously gives Trey all the suckers, tootsie rolls, and skittles…she knows what she likes and what she doesn’t!  Trey will eat about anything.  As for Avery, we just let her roll around in it- as you can see.

Christmas Card Pictures (Family Picture Time)

We have had a ball taking family pictures lately.  In preparation for putting together Christmas cards- for us, Hayden’s parents and my parents.  We thought we’d give them several options.  Our favorite is the one above (click on it to see the larger image).  The ones below are great too.  Since we’ve been spending so much time in Millington this year, we decided we couldn’t pass up taking a family Camo picture.  One of the kids’ favorite activities is riding a 4-wheeler, we thought that’d make a great center piece.  Yes, we even have Camo for little Avery!  Trey is currently obsessed with 4-wheelers.  If we go into Bass Pro Shop, we have to let him sit on every one in the store!  We’ve even asked Santa to bring a Power Wheels 4-wheeler for Christmas…and luckily Santa found one at a garage sale that will be perfect!  Christmas morning is going to be AWESOME!

Now, we are just looking forward to a great Thanksgiving holiday with the family.  We are staying in Memphis this year and I can’t wait to go shopping with Julie and Kathleen.  It will be different this year with many stores opening at midnight…but we are up for it!  We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy counting your blessings with loved ones.

Below are some of the outtakes from our sessions.  The top image is a triptych from one of our sessions, you can click that image to see the full size version.

Honduras Trip

What a whirlwind past few days.  I just got back from Tegucigalpa, Honduras this week for a quick mission trip.  It was fantastic.  One thing I like about these short trips is that you get a lot of bang for your buck.  The tough part is, it is non-stop moving the whole time you’re there!

We arrived in Teguc on Thursday last week around lunch.  As soon as we grabbed our bags we went to the worksite where the men would be.  We wanted to get a quick assessment of the work that needed to be done.  If you have been on a trip like this before, you know that plan flexibility is the name of the game.  This one was no different.  A large chunk of the work we were looking to do didn’t get approved by the city, so we didn’t have the permits yet.  Enter plan B.  Which was breaking up concrete and breaking down concrete walls.

The job site is really quite interesting.  The goal of the site is to be a church for those we’re called to look after…the poor, widows, orphans, drunks, prostitutes, etc.  It’s in a not so great area of town, which was the full intention when buying the building initially.  Over the next 4 months, they’ll be transforming this warehouse into a church/recover center complete with dorms for housing those in need of shelter.  They’ve already built an indoor soccer field there complete with artificial turf.

Thursday afternoon was spent delivering water to people in the Villa Nueva community.  For just $75, we had a large water tanker truck show up that provides about fifty 55-gallon drums of water.  We distributed water to those who needed it.  It was amazing to see the need for simple necessities such as clean water.  The government supplies these water trucks once per month and water can be purchased at a cost of ~$3/barrel.  Unfortunately, many people run out of water and some can’t afford it at all.  The living conditions we saw were harsh.

That evening , we were back at the hotel.  We stayed at the Humuya Inn.  I would in no way call our accommodations “roughing” it.  We had a few in our group that had never been on a foreign mission trip before.  I got the sense that they were a little concerned that we hadn’t accomplished much.  I tried to reassure them that we’d get in all the work we could handle.  I’m happy to say, they weren’t disappointed.

Friday morning started off with a bang.  The guys were busting concrete by 8 am and the girls were off to clean two of the schools.  I don’t think I’ve worked that hard in a long, long time.  We were using 3 pound hammers and sledge hammers to bust the concrete.  By 9:30, most of us had hand cramps and had to pry our fingers away from the tools.  Lunch arrived about noon.  None of us had to be told twice to take a break.  The afternoon brought an electric jack hammer (which was much needed) and more ear pounding, shoulder aching sledge hammering for the guys.  The girls headed over to the House Home to do a bible lesson with the kids.

The house home is an orphanage of sorts.  13 kids are there full time along with a house mom.  The kids range in age from 5 to 13.  These are some of the most well behaved, loving kids you’ll ever meet.

After we finished for the day with the concrete busting, we ran back to the hotel, showered and headed to the house home to meet the girls.  We had dinner with the kids and got to spend some time just hanging out with them.  They spoke a different language that most of us couldn’t understand…but laughter and love transcended language barriers.

Saturday brought more of the same for the guys.  We worked all day breaking up concrete, breaking down walls and started putting up the foyer wall in the church.  The girls helped put on a women’s conference and spent more time with the house home kids.

Saturday night we went out to feed the homeless, drunks and prostitutes.  We hit the streets about 10pm.  Let me explain to you the prostitute situation.  There are about 1200 of them in Tegucigalpa.  The vast majority (like 99%) are males that are cross dressers.  Many of them take hormones.  My understanding is that a lot of them aren’t from Tegucigalpa,  but are from smaller villages/towns all over Honduras.  They’re outcasts there so they come to the “big city” to try to make it.

Esteban Elvir, the director of POI on the ground in Honduras, has a heart the size of Honduras.  To see the way he loved on these people literally brought me to tears.  Hugging these people, picking them up off the ground, LITERALLY giving one man the shirt off his back.  To see the way these people looked, smelled and acted contrasted to the way Esteban and others from POI were treating them was amazing.  They didn’t see the exterior, but saw the soul underneath.

While we’re on the subject of Esteban, let me tell you a bit about his vision.  He envisions brining these people to the church we’re working on.  Running vans early Sunday morning to pick them up.  Letting them stay in the dorms that will be built so they’ve got a warm place to stay.  He understands that he won’t change them overnight.  That he can’t force them into a change of lifestyle and an acceptance of Christ.  But he knows that if they stay, he’ll have opportunities.  Opportunities to share with them. Opportunities to show them love.  And at some point, they’ll recognize it for what it is.

When we finally got back to the hotel in the wee hours of Sunday morning, we were exhausted but energized.

I got the honor of preaching in church on Sunday.  Esteban was the translator.  The service was great and afterwards we walked across the street and prayed for the “warehouse” that is soon to be the church as well as the people that would attend and the staff that would lead it.  We followed that up with a quick soccer game in the indoor soccer field.  It was a handful of us from the trip against the house home kids.  I don’t know the final score, but I can tell you that they ran circles around us.

We hit the mall for lunch and bought a few things for the house home kids.  We went back to the house home and handed out the gifts.  It was awesome watching them open the gifts.  When I say gifts, I’m talking socks, jeans, tshirts…nothing like our kids want as “gifts”.  But they were all so happy to get them.  They opened the gifts one at a time.  Everyone cheered as a gift was opened.

We had a tough time saying goodbye to the kids.  It’s amazing that after spending only a couple of hours with them, you get so attached.  I guess that’s what happens when it’s mixed in with the other activities that break down some of the walls in our lives.

We had dinner at an authentic Honduran restaurant and it was back to the hotel.  Monday brought the airport, which brought goodbyes, flights and customs.  Quite bittersweet.  Anxious to get back to my family, to love on them, to tell them what had happened, to start life up again as a different person than when I left.  But also missing those that we left behind.  A piece of us will always be there…and a piece of Teguc with us.

Three months!??

How could this be, how could three months seem like a lifetime?  (Well, for Avery, it is a lifetime.)  The past three months have gone by so fast and I have been overjoyed watching our newest addition grow and change.  Avery Grace is such a blessing and we all love having her in our family.  Her smile is contaigous and on her face all the time.  She is the happiest baby.  I was anxious to get a few pictures of her sweet smile…enjoy!

I was even more proud because I got to show her off in St. Louis this past weekend.  My Grandpa Platten had his 90th birthday on Sunday and we had a fantastic time visiting with family.  Of course, we missed Hayden because he was in Honduras, but Julie was a huge help in juggling the kids.  We stayed at John and Margie’s and were treated with John’s famous french toast!  I finally got to go to Fast Eddie’s in Alton, IL, as a kick off to the weekend.  The ride over catching up with Grandma Platten was a highlight for me.  The band was good and the food was great (and cheap!).  Saturday was the big party at Lou’s blast-from-the-past-pad.  No words can describe the decor…I felt like I was on a movie set for an 80′s themed movie.  Not only was it fun to spend the evening catching up and re-living memories, but the Cardinals won their game!  Imo’s topped off the weekend with lunch on Sunday before driving back.  Everyone did a great job honoring my Grandpa.  We are all so blessed to have such a wonderful man in our lives.

Fall is here!  We are loving the fall weather and have started our daily search of pumpkins.  The kids love driving around neighborhoods looking for "spooky" decorations and spotting pumpkins.  There was a small festival at the Agricenter two weeks ago and we enjoyed the hay ride, pumpkin painting, and cotton candy!  I’ve got several more fun fall recipes and crafts lined up for the kids too. Haley is a great leaf collector- she picks up flowers, leaves, rocks, and any other "treasure" she can find…for me to hold.    Of course, Trey is right there with her marveling at the things she finds.  He’s more likely to go for the rocks and sticks.  They are too cute when they are getting along- which is most of the time.  But, don’t let me fool you.  They are definitely brother and sister and need space from each other.  Haley cracks me up, "Tell Trey to stop looking at me!"  "Tell Trey to stop talking to me!"  He intentionally aggravates her by repeating "huh?" or "Haley?"  It amazes me how young it starts.

Eckman-Legrand Wedding and Casey Jones

Last weekend was traveling whirlwind!  Hayden took off Friday so we could begin our trek around the southeast headed to Kentucky to see Justin LeGrand marry the love of his life, Erin. We definitely made the most of each moment:

First stop, was to explore the Casey Jones museum in Jackson, TN.  We did the choo-choo boogie (Thanks, Mickey Mouse) as we ate lunch at the buffet, learned all there is to know about Casey Jones- more than the Grateful Dead had taught us through their song- and aced the quiz at the end of the tour.  Haley was overwhelmed by all the options at the buffet, then again in the candy store when Hayden let the kids pick 3 pieces of candy.  Oh, the choices!  The kids loved climbing on the train and ringing the bell.  Ms. Norma, the local historian, became our new best friend and told Hayden and I to study as we went through the museum because she was going to quiz us at the end.  Well, putting our two heads together we aced Ms.Norma’s test and won a prize!  It was so cute- she announced our Casey Jones IQ to all the customers in the gift shop as she presented our gifts- brand new Casey Jones writing tablets.  Haley was kept busy for the rest of the trip practicing her letters and drawing an endless amount of pictures for us.

After staying the night as the Caswell’s and eating an incredible breakfast, we were off to Kentucky.  We made a stop to the fourth-largest city in Kentucky, Owensboro, to visit the Kirkland Clans. It was great to catch up with John, Bailey, Drew and Morgan and to  re-live some college memories.  We know they are great friends because we weren’t too embarrassed to ask to do laundry the minute we walked it- we had to wash car seat covers and clothes due to some diaper shortcomings. 

The wedding was beautiful and the reception was a blast.  I was blown away with the classy, personal touches Erin put on everything.  The wildflowers she had planted for this special occasion on her farm decorated each table, tastes of South Carolina throughout, and strung lights to set the tone for an exciting and intimate night. Haley and Trey started dancing immediately and only paused to grab a quick bite and sips of Sprite.  Well, I take that back, Trey had a slightly rough night- all the dancing and spinning took toll on his stomach and he threw up all over one of Justin’s fraternity brothers and the table.  And Haley danced till she dropped.   Other than that slight hiccup in the evening we had an absolute blast celebrating the start of a great marriage for Justin and Erin- Congrats! (and thanks for a great weekend) I must say, the Platten’s know how to tear up a dance floor!  It was so fun having KJ and Jason around for the weekend.  It was sad to say good-bye, we miss them so much.

Diabetes Walk, Air Show, Millington

We’ve been slacking a bit on blog posts so we’ll be doing a couple this week to catch up.  The weekend of September 16-18 was a bit crazy.  It started of simple enough on Friday, just relaxing around the house.  Haley (aka, Pocahontas) and Trey were loving the weather and enjoying popsicles outside.  We couldn’t help but hang out with them.  Once they finally went to bed, though, the packing began.

Saturday morning started off with a bang.  We headed to the Diabetes Walk.  As many of you know, Laura was diagnosed in college with late onset juvenile diabetes.  She did shots for a while and soon got on an insulin pump (which she lovingly calls her "pancreas in her pocket").  What a blessing the pump has been in regulating her sugar. 

As soon as she found out her parents, and especially her Dad, took on the fight against Diabetes with a vengeance.  He learned all he could and was instrumental in getting Kroger to be a corporate sponsor of the Diabetes Walk in Memphis.  He fund-raised like a madman and even went so far as to be on the board of the ADA.  Meanwhile, Laura and I took most of that for granted.

Last Christmas we vowed to fund-raise more than him for the Diabetes Walk.  And that we did.  Laura set up a team called "Just My Type".  A handful of folks were on the team and Laura got to work raising money.  Not only did Laura beat her dad in fundraising, but she was actually the top individual fundraiser in Memphis.  I couldn’t be prouder of her!

Once the walk was over, we quickly headed off to Millington for the air show.  Our financial advisor, Pickler Wealth Management, had a tent set up in the VIP section.  Even though it was naptime, the kids’ attention was held.  Unfortunately, it didn’t hold long enough for the Blue Angels – we had to leave a little early.  I’d hoped to get some pictures of the Blue Angels.  I did get some pretty cool pictures of a bomber.

From the air show, we went to the land in Millington.  As an aside, we really need to come up with a name for the land in Millington.  Anyway, the kids got the nap they needed.  We rounded out Saturday watching a movie and eating popcorn.

Sunday morning we were back up early.  We really enjoy staying Saturday nights in Millington, but that means an extra 30 minute drive to church on Sunday.  When you consider we’re typically a little late for church even living 10 minutes away, the extra 30 minute drive is tough.  We were finishing loading the car.  Haley and Trey were hanging out on the porch.  All of a sudden, Haley’s sick to her stomach.

After a massive cleanup effort by Laura (way to go, babe!), we were off to church.  Laura ended up taking Haley home and coming back after church was over to pick me up.

Sunday also marked our 7 year wedding anniversary.  It seems like we were married yesterday and a hundred years ago all at the same time.  I couldn’t be happier spending my life with my best friend. 

My birthday was Monday the 19th, but I got my present from Laura and the kids on Sunday night.  An electric smoker!  They gave it to me early so that I could use it on my birthday.  And boy did I!  I smoked a Boston Butt on Monday that was absolutely unreal.  I even woke up at 3:30 Monday morning to put it in the smoker.  I think I just might enter BBQ fest next year!

(and I threw in a picture of Avery in her game day gear just for grins)

MS 150 (AKA – MS 95)

2 weeks ago I had the pleasure of riding in the MS 150 bike ride.  For those that don’t know what that is, it is a bicycle ride from the Desoto Civic Center to Tunica on Saturday and back on Sunday.  Typically, it is a 75 mile ride down and a 75 mile ride back.  This year, they had a “short route” that you could ride either or both days.  You wouldn’t get your full 150 miles in, but at least those who didn’t prepare could have a graceful way of “completing” the ride.

And lets be clear, I’m in no way knocking the people that weren’t prepared.  In fact, I was one of them.  Quite frankly, I hadn’t ridden my bike over 100 miles since last year’s MS150.  So I was one of those “whimps” that opted for the short route.  The first day I didn’t ride the short route as it was laid out.  I really wanted to see the Accredo rest stop, but they were the first stop of the LONG route.  So, I decided to take the long route until the Accredo stop, then turn around and finish out on the short route.

Saturday night we stayed at Harrah’s.  Typically, I pay extra to have a guaranteed single room.  That allows Laura to come down and stay with me without being totally awkward to a roomate.

Unfortunately they were out of single rooms this year.  I went pot luck with the roomate situation.  I ended up with a nearly retired Navy guy.  Really nice guy, but definitely strange sharing a room with a guy I didn’t know.

The ride back Sunday was great.  I cut out a little earlier than the ride “officially” started so I was alone for the vast majority of the ride.  I didn’t mind being alone at all.  The weather was great and I enjoyed the bit of solitude.  I don’t do it often, but there is something special about watching the sun peek over the horizon while you’re riding a bike.  The fresh cool air, the almost imperceptible ticking of a well tuned bike chain and beauty of God’s creation in front of you is tough to beat.  (well, it may be overshadowed by fresh cool air, whistling wings and the infrequent sounds of non-lead based projectiles).

I was actually very pleased that I didn’t try to over-exert myself by doing the long ride both days.  Of course, I can’t say that I did the MS150 this year (at least not with a straight face), but I can say that I rode in the MS bike ride.  The other thing I can say is that I have some fantastic folks that helped support me in the ride and MS research. 

Avery Grace

Avery Grace is two months old! She is growing and changing so fast. Every day she gets prettier, more alert, and engaging. She has started smiling a lot and those smiles are one of the highlights of my day. She is on a great schedule and is a very happy baby. Like her big sister, Haley, she is very content wherever she is. Trey needed constant attention and affection (and still does!) but both girls are more laid back and just take in their surroundings. Avery is my little buddy and is pretty much attached to my hip…which I love. The kids still fight over who is going to hold her but the snuggling doesn’t last quite as long now that she is getting bigger.

The other day, Haley and I ran into Kroger to grab a thing or two and we took Avery. Well, Avery had been in the car seat a long time so I carried her in since we only had a couple things to grab. Both Haley and I realized we had to go to the bathroom while we were shopping and juggling Avery while snapping pants was quite a challenge. I let Haley hold her standing up and Haley looked up at me with the brightest eyes and the proudest smile and said, “I’m like an adult!” I hope I didn’t start a new idea stirring in that head!

Avery weighs 10lbs, 5oz and is now 22 inches long. If you saw her in her newborn clothes, you’d expect her length to have increased MUCH more. All her Newborn pants are capri’s now. She is officially in 3 month clothes. I’m excited to dress her in her new wardrobe! I need the weather to stay nice so she has time to wear her summer 3 month clothing. We hardly have any long sleeve attire!

I’m obviously a proud mama and LOVE being a mom of three. I am constantly reminded how great God is and how blessed I am. He is displaying His love for me, sense of humor, and power of Creation through my kids. Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I (they) am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I’m happy to have three beautiful reminders.

Millington

The house that we’ve been working on in Millington is done.  For those that aren’t aware, my dad recently purchased some land in Millington, which is about 30 minutes from where we live.  The primary intent of him purchasing it was to give us a place to go hunt when he was up. 

When we bought it, it had a house on on it that was built sometime around the early 40’s.  It hadn’t been lived in for 9 years and it was in shambles.  We actually used the fact that we’d incur the expense of tearing it down as a negotiating tool.  Once we bought it, we took another hard look at the house.  We’d probably spend 10 grand or more to tear it down.  And it definitely had some potential.  You had to squint to see it, but it was there.  The renovation process began.

The house is pretty simple.  2 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, sunroom (that is a converted porch) and one bathroom.  There’s one picture of the renovation below.  I’ll post more as I remember to take pictures.  We sleep in one bedroom and the kids sleep in the other.  There are three twin beds in the kid’s room.  As of now, Avery sleeps in ours, but Haley and Trey can’t wait until she can join them.  We’ll be making a lot of memories there. 

Here we are about 8 months later and I’m happy we chose to repair it.  It’s got a charm to it.  We’ve spent the night there a couple of times over the last few weeks.  We’ve been checking off the punch list – final cleaning, brining in furniture, stocking the closets and hanging pictures.  We’ve nearly got it to the point that we can grab a change of clothes and head out to spend the night on a whim.

I knew having a place to go like this would be nice.  But frankly, I had no idea just how nice it would be.  Away from the phone and computer.  Away from the honey do list at home.  Just relaxing.

We’ve been bringing a small TV and a DVD player so that we can watch a movie as a family (typically Fern Gully or Tangled) and eat popcorn.  The ONLY thing that gets the kids in front of the TV out there is darkness.  From the minute we get there until it gets dark, the kids run around like crazy outside.  This past Saturday, I don’t think they stopped squealing for the first few hours they were there.

I love watching them run around.  There are a couple of acres around the house where they can run till their hearts are content without danger of streets or being kidnapped.  There’s no such thing as strangers…just a couple of overly nice neighbors that would do anything for you.  We’re so grateful to have a place to go where kids can be kids like we were growing up.  Where there were no worries.  Where skinned knees were a clear indicator that we had a lot of fun that day.  Where riding 4 wheelers isn’t something you do every once in a while as a reward for being good – it’s how you get to the pond.  And where there’s always a ring around the tub after giving them baths.

First Day of School

Yep, I know we’re fashionably late on this post.  But now we’ve got two weeks under our belt and we can tell you how school really is.

Both of them are in pre-school at St. Paul’s Methodist.  (thank goodness their curriculum is a step above their website design!)  Haley’s been playing musical schools over the past two years.  We were hoping to get Haley in St. Paul’s each year, but the waiting list is pretty long.  So welcome our leverage – Trey.  We knew it would be easier for Trey to get in.  If Trey made it, Haley automatically went to the top of the waiting list.  Mind you, she didn’t automatically get in, but it would give her priority.

We got word about mid-summer that Trey made it.  Now it was a waiting game for Haley.  We had already registered Haley at another school in case we didn’t get in to St. Paul. 

The good news about Haley getting in came while we were in the hospital right after having Avery.  Laura was super excited.  This meant that she could drop BOTH kids off at the same school and St. Paul is only about 5 minutes from the house.  While she had the lady from St. Paul on the phone, she actually went ahead and put Avery on the list!

Their first day of school was a smashing success.  We’d told Haley that she’d need to teach Trey what to do at school, since this was his first time.  Haley took her job VERY seriously.  The whole way there she told him what to expect.  Then it was the cutest thing watching her hold his hand while they walked in…explaining to him the whole way what he should expect.

Trey’s little backpack is as big as he is.  And Haley Michelle Pirate Simons is totally rocking her personalized pirate backpack (big thanks to Ali, Richard and Griff – nice pick). 

Now, as long as we can keep them out of the principal’s office, we’re set!