It's Halloween Time!!

Welcome to Sean's favorite holiday of the year!!  I figured since it's almost Thanksgiving, I should probably post about Halloween :)

Since we will be in Albania for the next two Halloweens, Sean and I went out to stock up on costumes for Asher, and decorations to make our house as festive and scary as possible.  Sean's Albanian teachers weren't too sure about this American holiday, so now he is ready to bring a taste of American Halloween to Albania.  I'm sorry Albania!!  :)

The main reason Halloween is Sean's favorite holiday is because it involves things that are scary.  Also, he feels he is actually allowed to scare people without suffering any consequences.  Because of this, one of Sean's goals for this Halloween was to teach his nephews to enjoy the scary aspects that come along with this holiday, mainly through frightening them.  We have already gotten our money's worth out of a few of our Halloween purchases, thank you Tade and Seth....

1. Severed legs:

They grow up so fast!!



We walked from Michael's to Party City in Kentlands with these babies and received a number of double takes and laughs on the way :)

We wish we could have caught on film the first reactions these legs elicited from Seth.  Let's just say that accidentally stepping on a pair of severed legs, or finding them right above your head while getting your diaper changed brought out of Seth the fastest running and rolling reflexes we have ever seen.  It was awesome! :) 

2. Pop-up Vampire

Andelyne as an Unsuspecting Vampire Victim


3. Severed hands - one bloody, and one boney that grabs at you!

 

For those who are worrying - Seth did not have nightmares from any of Sean's antics.  We are proud to announce that by the end of the Halloween season, both Tade and Seth were scare experts and were no longer afraid of grabbing hands, severed legs, flying ghosts, pop-up vampires, or flying bats.  Well...for the most part at least :)

For our church party, we had a trunk or treat, in which Sean was very excited to participate.  He received first prize for scariest trunk - woohoo!  There were definitely a few kids who were too scared to approach, or were scared by the vampire or grabbing hand once they did approach :)  Good times...



This picture really doesn't do his trunk justice



As for our costumes, they were a result of the costume that Tade picked out for Asher - a little bat outfit.  We decided that we would be the vampires, and Asher would be a vampire bat :)



Such a happy little bat :)



A Family of Vampires :)



Vampire Mama and Vampire in Training

Vampire Sean with Seth as Mario



"Grrrr, Arrrgh - Happy Halloween!"





Happy Fall!!

If there is one time of the year that I really look forward to, it is this time of the year - the Fall.  There is just something about the cool weather, the beautiful colors of the changing leaves, the delicious smells, and the beginning of the festive holiday season that makes me so happy each year.

This year, I get to start sharing the love of the season with Asher!  Yay!  While he is still quite small, and has no idea that his mom is trying to instill the same love in him, we can't let him miss out on the season just because he won't remember.


On October 1st, Asher and I went with Heather, Seth, Andelyne, and some friends to Butler's Orchard pumpkin patch to pick Asher's very first pumpkin.  We took a hay ride to the pumpkin patch and found the perfect pumpkin - Asher gave a grunt of approval while he slept soundly.

 

Heather and Andelyne sliding down "Wildcat Run"

     



Heather, Andelyne & Seth

  

 

Desmond sees the giant pumpkin...



 

Desmond runs from the giant pumpkin :)



After we got home, I tried to get some fun photos of Asher by the pumpkins we picked out.  Here are some of the shots!  We loved the faces he made, unfortunately, he isn't smiling very much yet, so no happy shots. 

            

 

  

                                                                                  And he's done...

This is just the beginning of the season!  There is more to come...here's a sneak preview of Sean's favorite holiday of the season - Halloween!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

 

Thank you!

Before I blog any more, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported both Sean and myself, as well as Claire, these past months. We had a great time getting to know Claire, Will, and their families better. Asher is so lucky to have such a big extended family on all sides! I know he will be extrememly loved and supported throughout his life. Here are some pictures of Asher's Indiana family!

Asher's Indiana Family...

Brothers & Sisters

Claire, Dylan & Asher

Sissy Jasmine & Asher



          

Asher, Jasmine & Sleeping Dylan :)

  

Levi & Asher

  



Trinity & Levi

  



Grandma

 

Grandma Brehm



Aunties, Uncles & Cousins



Auntie Krista, Auntie Juanita, Grandma Debbie & Asher



Auntie Juanita & Asher

 

Auntie Krista & Asher



Will, Cousin Hunter & Asher

 



Aunt Michele & Cousin Matthew

 



Uncle Danny, Aunt Michele & Cousin Matthew



 

Uncle Danny, Aunt Michele, Aunt Jody, Cousin Matthew,

Will, Claire, Shauna, Grandma Trish & of course Asher



Thank you again, and we miss you all!

"Home Sweet Guest Home"

We came "home" from the hospital on Friday, to our guest house in Richmond. I got to use our car seat for the first time! Asher only fussed a little and then fell fast asleep once we got in the car. He looked sooo tiny. The guest house is great, exactly what we needed.

Since we've left the hospital, we have been very busy. On the way home, we had to pick up some diapers and things, so Asher had his first outing at four days old. Can anyone guess what store in the middle of Indiana we went to?

That's right - Wal-Mart! Or as the cashier said, "The Wal-Mart" :) To be honest, I was a little nervous...ya know germs and all that. But we got what we needed, too bad Asher slept through the whole thing. Fortunately for him, we went back the next day!



Other than our trips to The Wal-Mart, the past few days have consisted of...


Sleep.....

and more sleep.....

Then some football time with daddy - Go Colts! (Unfortunately they lost)......

And when the excitement of football is over, of course a little more sleep is in order.

For the both of them :)

But don't worry - when he's not sleeping, our handsome little boy is practicing his modeling skills...

Isn't he so adorable!!!

But then it's back to sleep again, this time with some friends!

Fortunately, for the rest of us, Asher is sleeping pretty well at night, and letting us get in long stretches of much needed rest. Thanks little man!

Welcome to our Family, Asher!

At exactly 8:00 a.m., on September 7, 2010, Asher Bennett Payne (soon to be Whalen), arrived in this world with the lungs of a banshee :) Weighing in at a whopping 8lbs. 8oz., stretched over 20.5 inches in length, this beautiful little boy was welcomed by a loving crowd of anticipating parents, family, and friends.

After the initial shrieking that was heard down the hallways of the hospital, Asher sprawled out under the warmth of the infant heater, relaxed, and enjoying his freedom of movement. Since then, even through his shots, he has been the most content and well behaved little man...except for the unfortunate incident when he gave his newly minted parents an unexpected, warm, golden shower. Naughty boy :)

Asher, we love you so much already, and we are thrilled that you are now a part of our family. Welcome to the world, and welcome to our family!

Here is the hat the hospital originally gave us...we all thought he either looked like a garden gnome, or an early Christmas present, haha. Sean decided something needed to be done, and went to the gift shop and purchased a brand new Indianapolis Colts beanie celebrating Asher's Indiana roots - Go Colts!! (pic coming soon)