Simmons Family 2007

Our Life in Color

Our Year

Have a Wonderful, Safe and Healthy NEW YEAR!!!
Love
Jenna, Craig, Charlie and Alison
and Jackson and Roxie (our furbabies)

Our 1st Disney Vacation~ (well post photos tomm)

I will first say that I had the time of my life and I am also very glad to be home....We leave our house Wed. Dec 12th at 7:30 in the MORNING and it is sleeting on us the whole way there. It is cold. We get through security and checked in and life is good, my dad and stepmom get there and we eat at the Chili's at the airport before we take off for Disney. We board the airplane and off we go for our first and only stop in New Orleans. And we are now on our way to Walt Disney World... We land in Orlando and we go downstairs and board the Disney Magical Express bus and go to our resort "Caribbean Beach Resort" and we get our room keys and so forth and we are staying in Jamaica. We drop off our luggage at the hotel, freshen up and we are off to Disney's MGM Studios for Dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. Finally we arrive at MGM and it's dinner time. After dinner we walk around for a little bit before going back to the hotel and get some sleep before our big day at Magic Kingdom.Thursday Dec 13th, we are up and going and at the Magic Kingdom at 7:15 for the Magic Extra Hours and the rope drop. At the room drop there was Alice and the Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald. We pulled Alison in the stroller backwards so that we could turn her around and take her photo when she see Cinderella's Castle for the first time, and wow her face made me cry. Now we are off for the Carosel (sorry tired can't spell) and then off for Space Mountain, Laugh Factory, Buzz, and then we got to meet Stitch and Buzz. Dumbo and Splash Mountain and so much more. We played all day and all night long. Alison and I watched the parade "Dreams" while Craig, Charlie, my dad and stepmom went and rode Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion. Then it was off to go and watch the Castle turn to the Ice Palace and then watch WISHES, and it was AMAZING. Then we head up to the monorail for Chef Mickey for dinner. This was a blast, Minnie was flirting with my dad, she kept kissing on him and covering my stepmom's eyes. Wait till I upload that video, lol....Friday Dec 14th, we are now going to Epcot and MGM studios. We started off our day with my dad and I on team orange and Paula and Alison on team green on Mission to Space. That was alot of fun. Charlie and Craig finally join up with us.. Then we are off to Nemo and then back to Test Track, I could ride that over and over... Off for more fun and then we go to MGM for a little bit before returning to Epcot. At MGM Alison and I go off on our way and then the other 4 go on there way. Ali and I watch High School Musical and then off to Playhouse Disney, and Ariel. The other gang went to Rock N Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror (Charlie loved it all). We meet Little Einsteins, And Handy Manny.. We later took the Ferry to MGM and off to Norway for Dinner and she meet Ariel and she was in heaven, that is her FAVE!!! And Jasmine was kissing Charlie and leaving kissy lips on his cheek.. After dinner we traveled the worlds and then went and let the kids play and get SOAKED in the fountain splash section. We got back around 1..Saturday Dec 15th, we are heading to NASA. But the prices just went up and WOW oh WOW.. It was almost 50 an adult and 40 a child, we said never mind to that and headed to Cocoa Beach and let the kids play at the beach before heading back to Animal Kingdom, wow all the animals and the tree of life was better than I thought. We loved the safari. Then we head back to the Magic Kingdom for a couple more hours of fun before dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern and the light parade. Sunday Dec 16th we arrive at the airport at 7am, and we fly to Pitsburgh were it was , then to Chicago were it was , then Saint Louis were there was on the ground and then to Dallas finally at 4pm. Same plane, just tons of stops. After 8hrs of flying from 9:30-4:30 we are tired and finally home, made dinner, and took baths and getting the kids into bed, it's now my time for a long hot bath and to crawl into my own bed for a good night sleep. Tommorrow it's back to the normal life....

The Bags are packed and we are ready to go!

We have a little over 24hrs till we are on the plane and headed to see MICKEY MOUSE.... We are all so excited and can't wait.... I am ready to be on the plane and up in the air. The kids are getting more excited every minute. I bought the kids each a book and I am wrapping them up and hiding them in my carry on bag and going to sneak them to either the person at check or to our flight attendant to give to the kids from Mickey Mouse, I think they will think that is the coolest thing in the world... The next time I will be on I will be in Disney trying to post not sure how it will go but I will try....

7 Days and Counting~

We have 7 days until we leave for Walt Disney World. I am so excited and can't wait to be boarding the plane and heading to the happiest place on Earth!! I am starting to make my list, and starting to pack so I am not running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I will try to update on the blog our day to day fun. I have 2 books and Steve who is giving me hints and tips along with Michelle. They are great help! thanks you two.

Well I am off to fix dinner, and make 2 dz cookies for Charlie's school for the Holiday Market.

I hope that everyone is doing great!

Photos of Baby Caleb!!

Caleb Joesph Moore is HERE!!

Today my Best friend Michelle and her husband Nathan and there daughter Taylor welcomed Caleb Moore into the world on

Thursday November 29, 2007 at 8:08 a.m. weighing in at 7# 5oz and 19 1/2 inches long.

I am so over the moon for them all, Big Sister Taylor is so excited it hurts. I got her dressed in her "I'm a Big Sister" t-shirt and Nathan came and took her to the hospital to meet her new baby brother. I can't wait to go to the hospital and meet the little man..

I will post photos later, I have to download them....

Our Family Christmas Photos 2007

Our Christmas Photos for 2007

A friend of mine Kandi who is also a photographer did our photos for Christmas and I couldn't be any happier if I tried. Craig and I are so very pleased. Now just picking out which photos I am going to order is a challenge in it's own.

Thanks again Kandi, you rock!

Long Busy Weekend

This weekend was a long and busy one at that.

Friday, went to have lunch with Craig, opened a new bank account. Then off to pick up Charlie at school and head to Central Market for some yummy food. The we rush home, unload the groceries and make homemade pizza and clean for a "Once Upon a Family" home party. Craig and the kids went to play Black Light Putt Putt and play some games.

Saturday, I get up and go and get Craig four new tires on his truck and he attacked the garage and cleaned it out and threw out alot of yucky trash. We found some things that got to me emotionally (good and bad). We all took showers and went to go eat and then off to the movies. The movie was great, we all loved it, "Wonder Emp."

Sunday, I went out with my friend Jackie for a couple of hours, to come home and get ready to leave for our 4:30 Christmas Photos with my friend Kandi. I think the photos are going to be great, I can't wait to see them. Then we took the kids to there favorite place to eat "Double Dave's". Then we came home, and I had to make cupcakes for snack today at Charlie's school.

~~~And we have 23 days till we leave for Disney~~~

WOW it's been awhile since I posted, sorry!

Well lets catch everyone up to date.

Alison got a wonderful stomach bug and was very crabby and clingy. She is better 'Thank you God'. Well then Charlie got the bug and was down. Then he past it to me, they can't share toys but stomach bugs can and it bites! Charlie is still doing SUPER in school.

On the Calendar:

Thanksgiving~ yeah I am ready for this.

Alison's ballet recital, we can't wait to see this, she is so excited.

We are counting down till we fly away to Disney World, man we are getting so close.

Christmas with the kids.

Craig and I are doing super, I can't believe that on Dec 21st we will be together for 10yrs, and married almost 9. Where did the time go, it doesn't feel that we have been together for so many years. But then again we have a 5yr old and a 6yr old. Craig's work is going well and that is a nice feeling. My photography is getting more and more off the ground and I am enjoying it alot. I am also a sub. teacher for Denton ISD.

Charlie just lost his 2nd tooth. I was looking at photos this weekend and see how much he is changing and getting rid of that little boy look. He is talking about girls more and more, he is in love with a girl in his class "Isabelle".
Alison is talking more and getting a little more clearer. We are working with her letters and sounds. She isn't into boys (which Daddy loves!)

Tonight we went to see a movie as a family and it was wonderful and a great movie "Wonder Emporium" great, clean movie... Tomm we are getting our Christmas Family photos done and I can't wait to get them...

Well I think that is pretty much it and it's way late...

Our Family in Color~ 2007

Great Weekend!

This was a super weekend~

Charlie went to school, then Alison. I came home and made 4 dz cupcakes for the school fall carnival. Went to the bank, had lunch with Craig (gotta love the hubby). Went to pick up Alison and then head to the school to get Charlie. They both had a super day and Charlie one a free ice cream for turning in money he found on the playground. We came home and got things ready for the fall carnival and silent auction. We leave and Craig is going to meet us with his truck and trailor for the hay ride. I worked the silent auction and then Pepaw and Grammy made it there. Alison won a cupcake, Charlie through pies in the teachers faces~ life was grand. Pepaw and Grammy won 2 of the baskets "The Chocolate" and "Ice Cream Social" and then Craig and I won the Young Chef Academy Basket for 2 children. We say our goodbyes and head home and we have two children that passed out faster than anything.

Saturday I get up and take the kids to my grandmothers while I am at a photo session at the Dallas Arbo. for a family that just adopted a little girl, I did this today on behalf of "Celebrate Adoptions" it was a great session and a wonderful family. Afterwards I go and pick up the kids and my grandmother and we head to our house. She stayed the night with us. I made cakeballs, and dips and so forth for Sunday. Later we watched "Elizabethtown" it was a pretty cute movie.

Sunday we get up and clean the house, and get ready for the family and friends coming for Charlie's birthday party. It was fun, Charlie got tons of stuff from money, clothes, remote control truck and so on. Charlie and Alison played outside almost all day and finally got them to come in and eat dinner and take baths and great ready for school tomm.

All in all it was a super weekend.

Can't wait!

Attention all Walmart Shoppers~ NOT, LOL

My son got to go to Walmart with Amma & Andy and he got to pick out what he wanted for his birthday. Well Charlie said he wanted the Cowboy and Indian Handcuffs. My mom said I don't know if your mom would want you to have those, when my son spoke up saying it's ok cause my mommy and daddy have a pair, SHOCKING, and so untrue! We don't have handcuffs, that is not our style, now all those people in Walmart are thinking so different. LOL, he is our clown...

My Charlie "Wildman" is now 6yrs old!

Playing Jenga!Alison Playing Jenga!
JENGA!

Charlie "Wildman"

It is hard to believe that 6yrs ago I was in Memorial City Hospital having the wildman. And now he is in school and doing great and turning more and more into a little man.. This morning Craig stayed home and we made cinnamon rolls (his favorite thing) and we had breakfast together as a family. Then Craig leaves for work and I take Charlie to school, we took cupcakes for snack at school today. He was so excited that today is his birthday and everyone was fussing over him. Today I am going shopping for his gift, Alison is going to get him something as well. Last night we gave him "jenga" but this one is yellow, red and blue and you roll the dice and have to pick what ever color you landed on, this was a blast!!

A Great and Fun Weekend!

Michelle's "Baby Caleb" BellySilly Alison at the Pumpkin PatchMichelle and Taylor at the Pumpkin Patch

Well this past weekend we went out of town and went to Houston! Well like normal I wanted to leave by 5:30-6 and that has never happened, we leave at 7 as normal... Well after 1 hr of sitting on I-45 in Ennis for a semi truck accident we were again on our way and we get to Michelle and Nathan's around 1:30 in the morning (us moving 1hr north of Dallas and then 1hr south give or take from Houston, life is a blast)
Well Saturday morning I get up and start painting their kidos rooms Taylor and Caleb's (I guess she didn't want pink for their little boy, lol) So after painting a little that morning we Chell and I take the girls to a school carnival and then the pumpkin patch and then back to the house. I am back painting and Nathan grilled some yummy steaks. I finished while they ate and then I ate and we left at 8:30 for som GO CART FUN!!! that was a blast, I think Craig and I and the kids needed that, thanks Chell and Nate!
Sunday morning, Craig helped Nathan install the ceiling fan and then we left to go to my grandparents, It was great to see them and to see him having a great day and playing with the kids. My grandfather suffers from stage 5 Alezheimers. We had a yummy lunch, thanks to my grandmother. After several hours we were on our way, to the book store LOL, then a quick drive by for a hello to Mark and Lynn and family. Mark and Lynn were sleeping but we got to see Kristen, Kevin and Madison (Kristen's mini me, 100%) we are now on our way home. We got home at 9:45 tonight, kids in bed, car unloaded and I cleaned up around here. I will post some photos tomm.

Super Day!

I love Thursday and when it is MOPS. I get so much from my mops group. It is such a nice fellowship and brunch with a great group of ladies. Today we made some nice journal books, and I think I am going to make some Charlie and Alison's teachers.
After MOPS Alison and I went and saw my dad (her pepaw) and it was nice to see him. He has been working alot and I haven't got the chance to see him in awhile.
I rushed over to pick up Charlie and he won a Gator bracelet and an award for great Behavior for the first 6wks. Then Charlie and Alison and I went to check out a preschool program for Alison as I am going to be subbing at Charlie's school. Then we are off to ballet. We paid for her recital costume and she is on the front row for the performance and she is excited about that and the fact that she is getting a emerald green tutu for the recital.
It's dinner time and a busy day so off for a healthy fast food at Subway, and home for baths and getting ready for bed. All is quiet in the Simmons House!

Well I did it!

I went and filled out papers for fin. aid and to reg to start back to school in the spring, I want my degree!!!!!

Getting Ready for the Fall Festival and Silent Auction

Today I took Charlie to school, went and got Craig medicine (he is home sick still) and came home and then off to Charlie's school to work and get ready for the Schools Fall Festival. We works from 9:30-3:00 making the signs, banners and so forth of the sale.
While I was there we had a fire drill, that was fun haven't done that since I was in school. Then I had to go to the teachers work room and saw my son in the office, he was turning in money he found on the playground and was given an award for "Gatoriffic Behavior" way to go Charlie!!
They are have an awards ceremony in November and Charlie is getting one for his behavior for the first six weeks and those that are caught doing something good...

Way to Go Charlie we are so PROUD OF YOU!!!

Started Another Blog for my Aunt and family

My cousin Micah passed away December 15, 2006 and his birthday is this Saturday October 20. He would have been 17yrs old.

We want to keep his memory alive and we started this blog for our family to tell stories and share photos and etc of Micah.

www.peanutsfromheaven.blogspot.com

I will post photos tomm....

WAY TO GO CHARLIE!

Charlie got his report card and it was perfect all around!!! He really loves school and says that math, science and art are is favorites... I had our Parent/Teacher Conference and was told that Charlie has been observed by the Director of EXPO which is for the gifted and talented. They are working on the papers and so forth and I should have them in November for Charlie to be in the program. I am so proud of our little man...

Thanks Grandpa Gene and Grandma Betty for the money, I am taking it to DISNEY!!!

Pumpkin Carving done by the drawing of Charlie!

Our Big PumpkinMommy cleaning out the pumpkin with two littel helpers
Charlie getting his hands icky!Alison taking a turn, getting all yucky!

Making Sure it looks right!

Telling me it looks like the picture!

The Pumkin all done and on the porch!

Craig and I asked Charlie and Alison how they wanted the pumpkin to be carved and they drew what they wanted. So that is what we did and here are the results..

Another Sick Day in the Simmons household..

It started with Alison, then Charlie with Croup, then myself with Bronchitis and now Craig has it. He felt bad on Friday and then came home on Saturday after work and went straight to bed at 7:30 p.m. and then we went to the pumpkin patch yesterday and when we came home he felt warm and sure enough he has a fever and stayed home today sick... Nothing like have a grown man sick... I think they whine to whine... He slept most of the day on the couch and he did get up to eat and go with Ali and I to pick up Charlie from school. He is now sitting on the couch watching T.V. I feel bad and just give him a hard time, all in fun...

Today in the mail Alison got a shirt from our friend Jackie and her two children Nicholas and Cassidy from our "Labor Goes On" mommy board (part of the shirt swap, sending a shirt from somewhere in your town) well they live in Penn. and this is Alison's shirt from Hershey, Penn. Alison is head over heals in love. She also got another shirt from the Donut Shop that she says she is wearing tomm.

10-14-2007 Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch (warning photo heavy)

Today after church Craig and I took Charlie and Ali to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. It was great... Tons of fun and pumpkins. From Face Painting, to Shaved Ice, Kettle Corn, Bounce Houses and a Field full of pumpkins. They both loved jumping of the hay bales, and Charlie loved pulling his sister in the wagon through the pumpkin patch. We had a great time and then we were of to Craig's parents to visit who live just down the road from the pumpkin patch.