Simmons Family

Back in December when my Dad Steve, ReRe, Aunt Monica, and Hunter Uncle came for Christmas we decided that we needed a family photo.  The last one we had is when my Dad and Marie got married, and that was only my Dad, Marie, me, Jaime, and Monica.  Quite a lot has changed so we planned it and sure enough it was snowing really hard, but figured it was our only chance for who knows how long!  We think it is quite funny that those four will havve pictures hanging up with snow in them on their walls in sunny California!!

 Lets Remember Hunter is the baby in the family!!!

This is what it is all about....

One night after putting Payton to bed I walked out in the family room to see all three older kids snuggled up in a blanket watching a movie and chatting with each other.  It was for sure a picture perfect moment!  All of the, he called me dumb, he hit me, she won't let us watch our show, crying, fighting, wrestling, and all other hard mom moments go right out the window when you see this!  Love these three....

Payton James {16 Months Old}

{April 11, 2011}

Payter-Roo hit the 16 month mark.  I found myself looking at him in the morning thinking how big he was and then I realized it was the 11th of the month.  He is such a cute little guy, who puts many smiles on our face all day long!  A week before his 16 month mark I started the process of stopping nursing (it was actually my 2 or 3 attempt).  It was a hard thing to do for both of us!  He would cover his mouth and just cry for the first 5-7 days, everytime my heart would just brake!  He then got the hang of it and another 2 weeks had to pass before I wasn't in pain anymore.  Although I am done nursing he still likes to be close to me.  He will lift up my shirt and lay on my stomach.  It is a little weird and it is very strange when he is trying to do it in public, but there is just something about it that I don't mind.  It is still allowing us to "bond".  He is such a tender little thing, he wraps those little arms around my neck many times a day and gives me big kisses.  Our hearts melt everytime.

He doesn't say to many words, but he does a lot of pointing, "huhs", shaking his head no, pulling our finger to where he wants us to go.  So for the most part we understand him and since he is the fourth child I know it will all come through time!!!  We are enjoying this stage to the fullest, all of us-us 5 spoil him rotten!!!

Olivia and her "Big" Friends

I know I am Olivia's mom, but I have to say she is a sweet little thing with an extra large happy personality, people of all ages enjoy her happy little self.  Living in our neighborhood we have a bunch of fantastic older girls that have babysat for us or we just know them well that are so sweet to all of my kids.

Olivia's dance team has recently gotten new costumes and they just had their class pictures taken, well Taylie had to do a class project so she thought it would be perfect to have them two of them dressed up in the dance costumes get their pictures taken.

They turned out so cute!  Olivia was loving being with the "Big"Taylie (she has a friend Taylee that is close to her age also).  I love how she looks up to these older girls, they are great young women!!!

Recently they had the High School Cheer tryouts. A few of our friends were trying out so Olivia and I went over to support them.  It is quite the night, I am glad that I have a long time to go with Olivia, it makes me nervous just thinking about it!!  Olivia was so cute when we were walking into the gym to see if they made it she said, "Oh I hope our people make it!!!"  We were so happy that "our people" made it.  We can't wait to watch them this next year.

Olivia and Whitney.  Whitney is a Senior this year, it is hard to close this chapter of life, but she is such a darling girl with such a great attitude that we can't wait to see where her next chapter will take her!

Olivia's "people" made it!  We are so excited for Kaitlyn and Taylie!!!

Fun with Friends....

Marcus, Jarett, Alec, Olivia, and Brooklyn

I feel so blessed that my kids have such good friends.  One night we had a house full of kids for awhile and then a few were able to sleep over with the kids.  At this point it is nice because all the kids and their friends get along so well.  I feel lucky that Marcus and Alec play so well together with their friends.  Whose ever friend is over at our house makes sure to all ways include the other brother.

Pantry Clean Out.....

One thing that I really enjoy is organizing behind the scenes....  My house my be falling apart on the outside, I could have laundry piling really high, but at least behind the closet doors they are cleaned!!!  One day I was watching Studio 5 and they were doing a pantry makeover, so I jumped on it.  My pantry now has lazy susans, it is wonderful(I know I am crazy!!!!).

I got all of my containers and lazy susans at Ikea.  It was a very inexpensive clean up, but we all love it.  My kids have been great putting things away were they go.  Everywhere for sure has its right place!!

Big Daddy's Big Day!

{3.20.11}

Our Big Daddy is one year older and wiser too!!!  Man he is getting old!!!  A few days before his birthday we went out to dinner, we tried out Goodwood BBQ.  It was really quite tasty.  My two boys and our little friend Brooklyn had ribs, they thought it was great that it was "okay" to get their faces dirty!

On his actual birthday we had a pretty laid back day, it was on Sunday so we didn't do to much.  I do believe he had a wonderful day.  I know they kids loved having it be his birthday.  Payton thought it was great every time we sang Happy Birthday to him!!

We are so grateful for our Big Daddy and for everything that he does for our family.  We are thanking our lucky stars that we do not have to send him away this year!  It has been wonderful having a set time that he gets home every night.  I am so lucky that he is an involved Daddy.  Big Daddy we hope you have a wonderful year being old (hehe) and that all your wishes come true!!!



St. Patrick's Day....

{3.17.11}

St. Patrick's Day seemed to sneak up on me, the month of March has flown by!  When I woke up I realized I had nothing planned really fun for my kids, this is just not like me.  I hurried got out of bed and went and made some hot chocolate for the kids.  I made vanilla so that I could add in some green food coloring.  After I turned on the cocoa latte I hurried out of the kitchen and then when I walked in Marcus saw that it was green.  I loved it my kids honestly thought the Leprechaun turned it green.  Alec's cute teacher  the day before had them make traps, that is all Alec talked about was how he hoped he trapped the Leprechaun!  I love little kids and their innocence.

I ended up taking the kids lunch, they had all green things to eat!  Although it was a smaller holiday and I didn't do to much, I loved how happy this day made my kids.  It is sometimes all the really small things that make big moments in our lives!