Easter 2015

We had lots of activities this Easter. Hadley was able to do three egg hunts. Hadley had an Easter program at school. We made Resurrection Rolls. Attended "A Walk With Jesus" event at church. Easter morning at church. Lunch with family. And at some point I know Hadley also dyed eggs. 

Hadley's Easter program at school. She was so proud of her little dress. She had two Easter dresses this year because I bought her a dress she had picked out. Then her Aunt Vickie bought her this dress. We decided she would wear the dress Aunt Vickie got her to her school program. Then she could wear the dress she picked out for church, Easter morning. 

Resurrection Rolls!
These were so fun for Hadley. If you have never done Resurrection Rolls you need to google the recipe and make them next year. The concept is that you use a marshmallow. You prepare it with oil and spices like they prepared Jesus' body. Then you put it in the roll like the  cloths they covered him with. Then you put him in the tomb (oven) and when you pull them out the marshmallow is gone just like Jesus is Risen! I know this will now be a yearly tradition for us.

Hadley & Hayden Easter morning. 

All of us Easter morning in front of the tomb. We had a live program the night before called "A walk with Jesus" that goes through the story of the Jesus' death and resurrection. 

Christmas 2014

This was our first Christmas with two little kiddos. Hayden was only 3 months old around Christmas time. Surprisingly, he was very interested in all the lights, decorations, and presents. 

The kids took a visit to see Santa.

Hadley dressed up as Santa Claus yelling, "OH, HO, HO."

These were some homemade Christmas gifts we made for my grandparents and Lee's parents. Salt dough ornaments. Seemed easy enough. Boy, I was wrong. They were much more difficult than i anticipated. Luckily, they turned out cute. 

We had pictures made of the kids to give along with the ornaments. My friend, Cacey, is a very talented young lady. She is currently in school to become a photographer. Go check out her Facebook page if you get a chance. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cacey-Lee-Photography/287150808211

ST. NICK made a stop at our house!!! (12/25/14)

Family Picture at church. The kids were both in the Christmas program this year. Hadley sang with her class. Hayden was "Baby Jesus" in the program. He also came in in this red stocking at the very beginning of the program. We put him back in the stocking for pictures because all he had on was his "swaddling" clothes. 

Christmas Babies. 

5 Generations Picture at Gibson Family Christmas. (12/20/124)

Celebrating brother!

Our church threw a baby shower for us about 3 weeks before I had the baby. Here are a couple pictures from that day. 

Hadley and Mommy at Brother's shower. 

All the gifts from the shower. We are very lucky to have such a generous church and so many people who love us and are so excited for brother. 

Cousin Shelby made Hadkey a "Frozen" blanket because she made brother a blanket too. She didn't want to be left out. She is in love with her blanket though. She is obsessed with Frozen. 

This was 5 days before I had Hayden. Miserable and ready to pop! 

Hadley's snack shack

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, HADLEY GIRL!!!!!

We celebrated Hadley's 3rd birthday this year. The theme was "Hadley's Snack Shack." We invited everyone to join us for Hadley's "3 favorite P's: Pretzels, Popcorn, and Pie." 

Hadley had been making requests for her birthday for months. She requested these pretzels I make for parties. They are spicy  ranch pretzels. They are spicy, but the girl likes spice!! She also requested cinnamon sugar popcorn. Instead of cake, it was a no-brainer, we served pie. THIS GIRL loves pie. Her favorite is pecan pie. So I made the pretzels, Nammy made the popcorn (she had the whirlly popper), and Grandma made the pies. 

Welcome to Hadley's snack shack!! 

Spicy Ranch Pretzels: 

1 bag of a 1 lb bag of pretzels 

1/4 cup of vegetable oil 

1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix 

1/2 tsp Lemon Pepper 

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1/4 tsp seasoning salt 

Red pepper flakes to taste 

Mix well and pour over pretzels. I empty the entire 1 lb bag of pretzels into a brown paper sack. Then pour the seasoning mixture over the pretzels. Shake the bag to mix and coat the pretzels. Let them set over night. 

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn: 

1/4 cup of peanut oil 

1/4 cup of sugar 

1/4 cup of popcorn kernels 

Cinnamon sugar mix: 

1/4 cup of sugar 

1 tbsp of cinnamon 

It's best to use a whirlly popper. But you can just use a regular pan. 

Pour the oil, sugar, and popcorn into the whirlly popper. Keep it spinning until all popcorn is popped. Pour popped popcorn into a bowl or on a tray. IMMEDIATELY, while still hot and sticky (from the sugar), sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of hot popcorn. Mix it or toss it for the cinnamon sugar to cover the popcorn completely. 

Let it rest and come to room temperature. Or I prefer to let it rest over night. Popping the popcorn in sugar and letting it rest over night let's the popcorn become super crunchy! 

The day... [summer wrap up]

The day that.... 

... We took Hadley to go see SpiderMan 2! 

...she thought her laugh was so funny. "Take a picture, Mommy!" 

...she tried to help Grandma fold clothes. 

...Hadley, Tatum, and Titus were hiding under the couch tent. 

...she dressed up as SpiderMan. 

...we took her to the zoo!

...she finally had just enough hair to do a (small) Elsa braid! 

...she completed the summer reading program at the library. 

...Nammy took her to the water park. 

...she wanted to take a nap with me, but insisted on laying on the floor (in front of the vent!!) 

...found this Sleeping Beauty costume. 

...she let her Daddy lay in her bed. 

...Daddy gave Hadley some money. We went "back to school" clothes shopping. She picked out this outfit and tried it on in the dressing room and declared she was "SO fashionable!!" 

Brother Pickle has arrived!!

Just a quick update for my family and friends far away: On Monday, September 29th, at 12:49 pm, we welcomed Hayden General Gibson. He weighed 8 lb 3 oz. He measured 20 1/2 in long. 

He is perfect, Mommy is in love, Daddy is so proud of his babies, and Sissy is already loving to feed and hold him. 

Easter 2014

Here are a few pictures of the Easter holiday:

Hadley and Auntie M dyeing Easter eggs. She is the lover of all things holiday.

Hadley's meeting of the Easter Bunny didn't go as smoothly as her meeting Santa Claus. She wasn't happy. She barely would go up there to see him. She hardly smiled. This was the best we got and then she said "Mommy! I'm done!!"

Hadley and Aunt Cindy playing on the four-wheelers at Bass Pro after meeting the Easter Bunny.

This is the only half way decent picture I got of Hadley's Easter dress.

Hadley and Daddy doing the Easter Egg Hunt at church.

She was so proud of all the eggs they found!

Family picture after church.

Maybe we will have better luck with the Bunny next year...

Hadley grows!!

While on our trip in Missouri, we went to Wal-Mart one night to get some headphones for Hadley. She didn't like the ear bud headphones I gave her. She kept saying her ear plugs were falling out. 

While we were at Wal-Mart I found this growth chart. I mentioned to Lee that my biggest regret was not getting one when Hadley was born. We had just had a disagreement on Hadley's height. I insisted she was already half of my height. He didn't agree. 

We bought the chart.

Well, on 5/29/14, Hadley found it and Lee hung it up for her. We measured her. She loved it. 

Now we have this to keep forever. I love seeing marks on old family doors of everyone's height (like at Lee's grandparents house), but if we ever sell this house (LORD WILLING!!!) we can't exactly take a door with us. I love that this one is paper and easily moved. 

 

P.S. -- She is half of my height.

It's true... #2!!

You may or may not have heard by now but....

How I told Lee

Baby's first ultra sound

Nammy's reaction to grandbaby #4 on the way

Playing the game to tell everyone

17 weeks and 4 days (4/30/14)

Baby Brother is due October 4, 2014. Hadley has decided that she will name him "Pickle." She refers to him, daily, as either brother or pickle. Or even Brother Pickle. Whatever...

She took some convincing because she wanted a sister. But I think she has come around to the idea of a brother. She is already obsessed with him. She pretends she can just take him out and tote him around with her. They always play together. Take naps together. Which leads to fighting because "Mommy, pickle is taking my blankets!!!" They even take baths together. That can be problematic because Mommy forgets and leaves brother in the tub. Oops... She'll take care of him I'm sure.