Busy Weekend-

We had another super busy weekend, this coming weekend is going to be a stay at home and rest. Matheus flew home for the weekend, and the flight was majorly delayed thanks to crazy snow in Chicago. It was a late night and super early morning. Saturday was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby and Rafaele had a soccer tournament on Saturday as well. Later on Saturday we met my mom and stepdad at Bone Daddy's for some amazing dinner. Then it was off to the Mall for a bit. Then home for bed and up early for Church on Sunday and I had to meetings back to back, one for scouts and one for church. I am very Thankful for my hubby for making the soup for the church meeting. Ready for a calmer week and weekend.

Super Fun and Busy Weekend~

Another fun and busy weekend has come and gone. Friday night we stayed home, that is a first. I had the flu last week though so not wanting to rush anything. Saturday, Craig worked on some friends cars, my cousin and her hubby came out to visit as well, love seeing them. Later we headed to This Side Up with 4 families from church, and played Bingo. Rafaele won the big prize- 4 Studio Movie Grill Tickets, A Board Game "Sorry", two things of Candy and 4 Beanie Baby Bears. He gave one to Ali and one to Charlie and kept two. Rafaele got to go to Chick Fil'A and I think he is hooked, LOL... this has always been an exchange students favorite. Sunday we went to church, went to fix his phone, and get a book to read for English and had lunch at the Salad Stop. Afterwards we headed to Aubrey to meet Craig and the kids and they worked on the Pinewood Derby Cars. Them home for some Mexican Dinner, thanks to my cousin Freddie for bring two pans of yummy homemade enchiladas, and I made some mexican rice and beans to go with and can't forget chips, salsa and queso. And later Rafaele and I watched some Honey, Boo Boo and laughed so hard it hurt. I think this was a super weekend.

Back to School week~

Back to school for all three kids... Charlie and Alison went back on Monday. They are doing great. Alison is making more and more friends and really becoming herself. Charlie is excited cause this 9wks he has computer class. He is maturing more and more. Rafaele got registered and doing well, making friends and fitting in so well with everyone. He is truly a great young man. I went to the dr and I have the Flu and I am staying to myself in my room trying not to spread it to anyone else. Craig's mom is taking the flu meds to be on the safe side.

Long Day, Fun but Long~

This morning, Craig & Charlie headed out for the Cub-O Campout & event. So I got up at 6am with them, after only going to bed at 2am. We had to do all the packing up and get everything for all the scouts. So we left here at 9:30 for a trip to East Texas. We went to Wills Point so that Rafaele could meet LaJuan his reg. coordinator for the exchange program, and then to Van, Texas to meet and talk with one of my other students. And then back to Wills Point for lunch. After lunch we headed to Dallas, had to get my tire fixed, nail in it, again. Then it was off to my mom's. Rafaele got to meet my mom, stepdad, step-sister and then later we all met for dinner to say goodbye to Jacob (my sister-in-law's brother) who is in the Air Force. He got to meet more of my family, he got to now meet my Brother, Sister-in-Law, Jacob, John and Leslie and my nephew Lucas. So after a great mexican dinner we headed downtown Dallas so he could see the skyline, which he loved and then finally made it back home, Now Alison and Rafaele are both passed out at 9 pm and I am next.

New Year, New Student

It's a new year, welcome 2013. And we are starting our year off with a new exchange student, Rafaele from Switzerland. He arrived tonight, and is such a sweet and well mannered young man. He fits in well with our family already. After we picked him up, we headed to Ihop for Dinner, kinda a tradition with us and our exchange students. I can't believe that Rafaele is our 6th student..We can't wait to get to know him more, and him to know us more and learn and see all about Texas.

So sorry :(

I am so sorry for not updating in a really long time... SO much has been going on with three kids, working, sports, husband, family, sick mother-in-law, myself sick.. It's been really busy and crazy.. So lets see how much I can update and try to stay up to date.. Christmas, was normal and we stayed at home for the first Christmas in 5 yrs, we didn't go anywhere, we stayed in our jammies, watched movies, and relaxed. New Years we went to Houston, for the 2nd year in a row. The kids played on four-wheelers, went to the beach, the Galveston strand, dinner at Katz Deli, visited friends and really enjoyed our time. We did the New Years Countdown on top of a parking garage in downtown Houston and saw fireworks for miles and miles.. We finished Denton High JV football season, we got Kristian transferred to Ryan High, finally praise God... Got him into a better school, better sports and teachers and staff.. We got placed with another student for the fall, Vincent from Belgium. Can't wait to get to know him better and better. Soccer season started for Kristian, Soccer season started for Charlie and not to mention Charlie and Alison in scouts.. Charlie sold the most Popcorn for his troop, Alison sold the most pasta for her troop, they love to sell and I love to help them reach their goals... Craig and I celebrated 13 yrs of Marriage, his 50th birthday and my 37th birthday. I started watching two kids in the home, vs getting a job and putting kids in after school care or finding someone to grab them from school.. Just had Kristian's sport banquet and he made the 2nd team all district team, WAY TO GO Kristian!! Alison went with her daddy to the Daddy/Daughter Dance, she was adorable and had a great time.. Kristian and Alison helped Keep Aubrey Beautiful, great community service.. And now the sad part, Kristian is getting closer and closer to returning back home to Norway. I am excited on meeting his parents, they are coming Memorial Weekend and will stay till they all leave on June 5th. It truly breaks my heart, I love him as if he was my own. This is the hard part on hosting students. I will miss my SuperKid..

Sandy Toes and Popsicles: Smores: part 3

Sandy Toes and Popsicles: Smores: part 3: smores on a cone!!!! yep....soooo yummy. roasted marshmallows, chocolate and caramel toppings and sprinkles all in a sugar cone. my kiddi...


This looks cute and easy!!

Sandy Toes and Popsicles: Apple pie play dough.

Sandy Toes and Popsicles: Apple pie play dough.: to follow the theme of doing apple activities all week, Kyle and i made apple pie play dough . i saw that i already had all of the ingredi...


This looks like it will smell amazing, hmm I think we will be making some of this and soon...

Sandy Toes and Popsicles: Salt Dough Conversation Hearts

Sandy Toes and Popsicles: Salt Dough Conversation Hearts: okay, so i lied. i do have some cute hearts in my house! the kiddies and i made some s a l t d o u g h c o n v e r s a t i o n h e a r t...


So need to make these with my kids, and how cute and easy... Jenna

For our Christmas Cards 2011

Thanksgiving in East Texas....

Kristian and Alison

Playing around in the Party City store and trying on all the hats and everything else they could find... and these two are something else!!

Kristian being Kristian aka Paco Taco, lol

Kristian is our new exchange student from Norway and he is a funny guy.. We never know what we are going to get with him. He is always making us laugh. He went to a party and they were told to wear mask and he went with the Zorro mask and he had to add the mustache as well, and he kept calling himself Paco Taco...

Homecoming

Just a cute photo of Charlie and Alison and their homecoming MUMS... GO EAGLES!!!

Happy 9th Birthday Alison~

Alison's 9th Birthday, was celebrated at Thunderbird Skating Rink in Plano. We had a great time. We skated, Alison got to go in the money box and she got $3.00 and then time for Cake, so loved her cake!! And then we all went for lunch at Fuddruckers afterwards.. After her party she went to her bff Megan's birthday party. Megan's birthday is the day before Alison's so it's always a big birthday weekend... And they both had an amazing birthday weekend and got American Girl Dolls and so much more.

Simmons Family Reuion in Kansas

Since I had to work this weekend in the ER, Craig and the kids and my mother-in-law went to the reunion without me in Kansas.. After the reunion they went our on the lake with Craig's cousin Glen. I think the kids had a great time, they went swimming, fishing and just being goofy with each other.. I miss them alot, and on top of it all, I worked only on Friday and was sick on Saturday and Sunday with no voice, ear pain and wheezing.. Good times, but I got alot of R&R...

Yes we have another exchange student, Kristian from Norway...

Craig and I said that we weren't going to host this year, or at least this fall. Since we have our two kids and their busy schedules and Matheus is back in the states and going to College in Michigan and we want to visit and have him visit here and so forth. Well God had other plans. Kristian was first placed with another family, but due to reasons he was placed with another family, and sometimes things don't work out, personalities, etc. So since I am his area rep, he came to our house. Well we all meshed well, the kids, and everyone. That Craig asked if he wanted this to be his home and he said YES. So Kristian is now with us. He is a sweet 16yr old from Norway. He will turn 17, four days after Charlie turns 10.

First Day of School 2011-2012

Can't believe that my babies are growing up so fast, Alison is in 3rd grade and her teacher seems so caring and great and Charlie is in 4th which in the school district that we are in this is the last year of elementary and next year he will be in Junior High, that makes me sad.. His teacher also seems so caring and great... They both already are running for student council, choir and everything else that they can find to sign up for... they so take after me on that part...

One amazing moment, that is priceless...

On Good Friday of this year my husband accepted Christ, and then in August he was baptized.. I am so proud of my husband...

Swim Team

Charlie and Alison did swim team this year... they did really good and we are so proud of them, they won many medals, ribbons and a cool trophy.. Below is a photo of their amazing Coach Carey Littleton, who happens to be the wife of a good friend from high school back in the Houston area and we live less than 3 miles away now in North Texas.