Simons 3/11

Simons 3/11
Family Picture

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Goings Ons

This year has started out really great so far. Here are some of the things that we have been up to.

Marcus is getting ready to take the infamous PE exam. He is all registered and has ordered and received his study book and materials. This is what we have been waiting for since he graduated college. He will have to take an 8 hour test on April 8th. After that he will be able to get his license and then will be able to have his own stamp to put on plans that he designs. We are very excited. He has been studying every other night for a couple of hours to get ready. I am really praying that he will pass his test. Marcus also got a pay raise mostly for the cost of living, and his boss told him after he passes the PE they will reevaluate things and see if he gets another one. Hears to hoping. Marcus also sold our first truck last week. He was a little sad to see her go, but it made the most sense to sell the truck instead of the car. We got more money out of it and she had more miles and needed more maintenance then the car. Plus the car gets better gas miles then the truck. We are happy to put the money towards the boat, and are hoping that by spring with help from taxes we can have her all paid for too. Yes trucks and boats are girls, just ask Marcus.

I have been working on keeping up with the kids. I decided around November that I was going to wait until Aria was 5 months to really buckle down and try and lose my baby weight. My body really hates to lose weight while I am nursing. But it doesn't seem to have too much of a problem after I stop. I didn't think I could coop with trying to diet and exercise until the holidays, and birthdays were all over with. I planned on giving it three weeks of being really good, and if the weight didn't come off I would try again in a couple of months. I am happy to say I have started lost 8 lbs. And have found much more energy than I had. I am still not exercising yet because I have been to the chiropractor with problems in my back, ribs, shoulders, and neck and he really doesn't want me to start yet. But I am not supposed to be lifting my kids much but what can you do? I was also release from my calling in December since the president moved and am very relieved to not have to worry about that either. I can't believe it is taking me five months to adjust but I feel like I am getting closer to where I want to be with taking care of the family and having energy to do what I need.

Landon has enjoyed being eight. Over the winter break I let him read the second Harry Potter book. We are taking them nice and slow since I need him to grow up a little more before I am ready for him to read book four and up. He is fine with it and enjoyed reading it. He has also enjoyed starting cub scouts. This week he got his first merit badge in art, and was very delighted with it. School is going fine. I think the teacher would like him to listen a little better, so I am hoping he works on that. He as also been a little behind in his math times test (so has the rest of the class). We are working on playing games and flash cards so he can get those math facts memorized. Interestingly enough is he score 100% on his math tests. So he understand the concepts just fine, he just has to memorize them so he is faster.

Kylie has been doing well. She loves school and makes friends wherever we go. She has started to show some sass and attitude about helping out or cleaning. But for the most part she loves to play outside with friends and doesn't mind doing her homework. We have been able to get the girls to share a room and she loves it, unless Aria is napping and she isn't allowed in. Kylie has also decided to grow out her hair. I think after watching Tangled over Christmas break and seeing her cousin Madalyn with hair to her waist she thinks it looks so fun. But everyday she whines about brushing her hair I threaten her that I will cut it off. So now she is pretty good about getting her hair done.

Tannen is still and busy as ever. He likes to climb on the table and eat everyone's food. He loves it when I cook and hold him, or stand on a stool to watch. He is constantly in my spatula, spoons and bowls trying to mix something up. He has been talking more too. Some of his words are mom, dad, eggs, nana (banana), Aryah (Aria), Lana (Landon), nigh nigh (night night), and sit. He does a lot of comunicating with humming and pointing and head shaking. He points to his diaper when he is poopy, to the fridge when he is hungery or thirsty, he waves hello and goodbye, puckers up for kisses, at bedtime and when someone leaves, folds his arms during prayers, does popcorn popping with his hands, or points to the family home evening chart when we start to sing it, he gives Aria her blanket, and gets his when he wants a snuggle, he also likes to pat the couch or a chair if he wants to you sit down. He understands everything we say and says yes or no to us with the ahh hua, or uh uh.

Aria is such a well behaved little lady now. I can't believe the difference two months has made. We aren't haven't endless crying anymore. She still doesn't like a binky but things are much better. Except she won't take a bottle well anymore. She loves to play with her toys and eat them. She has done some more rolling over, and really can push up onto her hands when she is on her stomach. She has been sitting all by herself for a few weeks now. We started her on solids this week (I posted pictures earlier). She giggles and loves it when the kids entertain her. She is really grabbing at everything. When I nurse her she likes to put her fingers in my mouth. She really loves Tannen and I can tell they will be good little friends. Landon and Kylie have started to want to hold her and play with her more because she is so interactive now.

Aria Starts Solids


Grabbing the spoon


Eating rice cereal


Aria started solids this week. I am glad I waited until she was 5 months for a little bit. She did really good with it and was able to suck up the food pretty good. We didn't get any big faces pulled so she must like rice. She also really like grabbing the spoon a lot - just like Kylie did. And after getting used to eating she would start to shake and wiggle and kick because she was so excited for the next bite. I love that after doing it three times already the novelty of watching each child start something new never wears off.

Temple Square


Salt Lake Temple and the family all bundled up


Landon and Kylie

We had been meaning to make it to Temple Square for a couple of months, but it just seemed so busy and hard. After meeting a guy from Nevada in SLC to sell our truck we thought it was the perfect opportunity to get up there. The kids had fun. We especially liked the Church History Museum with the new interactive children's section. I really like our tour of the conference center, but we had to cut it short for the kids. Marcus kept commenting that taking our kids places is like herding cats. And it is the two oldest that make it the most difficult sometimes. But hopefully the kids will look back and remember some of our adventure fondly.

Landon's Baptism


Landon


Landon and Joshua future missionaries


Almost ready


Dad and Landon


Mom and Landon


The six of us


Mom and Dad with Landon


Simons parents


Four Generation of Simons

Landon had a nice Baptism. He was baptized on January 8th. He was able to have his own baptism and get baptized in the tabernacle. He was able to have both Grandma's and Grandpa's come and his Great Grandpa Simons, his Uncle Grant and Aunt Hollie and their boys, his Aunt Tiffani and her kids, and his Uncle Justin and Aunt Sara and their kids.

We had a nice short program.

Grandma Vernae played the piano, and Aunt Hollie led the music.

Opening Song: I am a Child of God
Opening Prayer: Grandma Simons
Talk: Grandpa Simons
Baptized by his Dad
Confirmed by his Dad. In the circle: Great Grandpa Simons, Grandpa Simons, Uncle Grant, Grandpa David, and Uncle Justin
Closing Song: Away in a Manger
Closing Prayer: Grandpa David

After that we went to lunch at Old Grist Mill. I was so burned out of Christmas, Kylie's Birthday, New Years, and Landon's birthday that I just didn't have it in me to organize a luncheon. We were also able to get him his own set of scriptures with his name on them. He was pretty excited about it because he had been asking of a quad for a couple of years. Landon had a great day, and I hope it is one he won't forget.

Landon's Birthday

We might be a little late on posting this but here it is. Landon had a great birthday. It was on Sunday so he got to open up his presents in the morning. We got to go to church and then come home and eat and have cake. He wanted a triple layer chocolate cake, and I had no problem making him that. It was really good too. Except I ran out of coco and had to borrow some from the neighbors. He had a great day. Since he turned eight he really got a lot of church stuff. A new suit, scout uniform, we were able to get him a webkins, and a gameboy game. On Monday we took him out to eat and he picked Texas Roadhouse. It wasn't as crazy as we thought with four kids, but we did have pretty low expectations.


Opening presents


He needed a new webkins. A gecko he named Geico





Presents


Blowing out the candles


Almost ready


The boys enjoying the cake

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Winter Picture


Here are my beautiful children. Man I love them!!


Aria


Tannen


Our back drop

I had been meaning to take the kids' pictures for Christmas presents and wanted a winter background. Marcus has the perfect back drop for me. It was gorgeous up their and I wanted the trees coated with snow and frost. The kids were really pretty cold, but we got one decent shot.

We took the kids pictures on our way up to Pocatello, on New Years Eve. We went up to visit family and play for our New Years. Justin came up and Laurel was up. It was lots of fun. We had hoggies, fruit, chips, salad, and cake. We played scattegories, and Apples to Apples. I let Landon and Kylie stay up with cousins to bring in the New Year. It was their first time. Marcus fell asleep with Tannen, and didn't get back up.

Kylie Turns 6

Kylie had a great 6th birthday. She was able to play all day. I made pancakes for breakfast and thought she was having a pretty good day so far. But she complained to me telling me it was supposed to be a special day. I started listing the things she had gotten and did and asked her how she wanted her day to go. She told me it was supposed to be like Christmas where she wakes up and opens her presents and eats cake. I told her sorry but dad was at work. But at the end of the day she loved her birthday.


Kylie ready to open presents. Daddy was able to get off work a little early for her.


I think the bag is about as big as her.





So happy for a Tinkerbell movie


And of course she needed a webkins


Kylie with all her loot

After she opened all her presents she choose to go to McDonalds. I think she likes to play in the play area, and get a toy with her meal. It was her third year in a row to go.


We came home and had her kitty cake. It didn't turn out. I heard that you could add jello to a cake to give it flavor, so I tried strawberry. The cake turned out flat and Kylie didn't like it. But Landon did. I put whip cream on the cake because it was so sweet, and it seemed to melt. Oh well I made another one 4 days later for Landon's birthday that turned out great.

Christmas 2010

We had a fun Christmas this year. We got lots of presents, a new camera for mom and dad, a Wii, science books and experiments, Tangled Barbies, brooms, and plush toys that sing. We had a ham and augratin potatos Christmas Eve, and were able to hang out and play all day Christmas. My parents came up for a couple of hours to visit and see the kids.



Our poor little Christmas Tree (I must say that every year). Tannen enjoyed picking and pulling it apart. We had the kids help clean and clean the house, and then they got to place all the presents around the tree on Christmas Eve. (They were in my room so Tannen wouldn't pick and pull on them.)


So excited they can hardly contain themselves


We let the kids open one present that I picked out for them Christmas Eve. Of course it was the traditional pajamas, but they also came with robes. Don't you just love Tannen's face and how much he loves his little sister.


Christmas morning. The too littlests didn't end up sleeping all that well. So there were a few false alarms for getting up. I let them get up around 8:00. They got to check out there stockings first and see what Santa brought them.


Zuu-Zuu pets!!


Tannen still a little sleepy and not sure if he is ready to look in his stocking.


Aria gets a present too. Don't you just love her cute little hat from Grandma Simons


Tannen loves to get into my cleaning stuff and help, so he got his own little broom and dust pan to help.


Kids digging into presents.


Tannen opening the book he got from Grandma Vernae. It is a monster story that she recorded reading it to him. He likes it, but I wonder if Landon and Kylie like it better. They kept playing with it after he was done.


The aftermath. Here is a pile of our trash that Kylie is enjoying playing in.

This is how it is

Marcus was taking pictures of us dinkin around on the couch. I suppose I don't have to post these pictures. The kids are just in jammies, and I don't have makeup on or my hair done. But here is a window into our life, just as it really is.


Tannen and Landon wrestling, or Tannen hitting Landon and Landon blocking it.


Kylie smiling as always


Kids all piled on top of me. (Landon got to read the second Harry Potter book. We are pacing him because I am fine with the first three, but not the later ones. He got to read the first book over summer break.)


Tannen bugging Aria. He now likes it when he pats her hands together for her and I sing "Patty Cake" for him. Tannen is pantless because I think we are in the beginning stages of the "naked stage". I find it weird when some kids don't go there this stage, all my kids have.


"Cheese" as usual.

A Pre Christmas Visit

We love spending time with family. A week before Christmas Carol and Travis were able to come up and visit Grandma and Grandpa, and of course we had to come to see them too. There was lots of games, laughing, playing, snow, and fun had by all. I was able to go on a nice long walk with Carol too. It was a great break to get out.


Karlie and Kylie are only 9 months apart and are glued at the hip whenever they are together. I love it!!!


Landon climbed up the apple tree. But only because Gabe climbed it first and was really high. The competitive little stink I have had to climb higher than Gabe. I don't know if he did, but he was proud of himself.


Watch out Uncle Matt will get you.


Kylie, Karlie (see they really are attached at the hip), Gabe, Landon, Mason, Aubry and Sage in front. Aren't they so cute!!


Travis' signature pose with the head tilt and everything, but you gotta love his hat hair. Don't worry Floyd had it too when he took off his hat.


Uncle Matt and Eden. I hope that Aria and Eden will be as good friends as Kylie and Karlie.