Back to School

August 27th 2008

It is hard to believe that summer vacation was here and is now gone...but it is true. We sure had a lot of fun this summer!

After a few weeks of school shopping, open houses, filling out paperwork and getting everything ready...the big day has finally arrived. I was relieved to see the kids become excited about starting school again, the closer that it came. Surprisingly, this is one of the first years where I am sad to see them return back to their days away at school and school work. I really enjoyed having them home here with me. This summer our family finally felt like we returned to a sense of normalcy again and I really enjoyed my boys.

Dylan sporting new threads, new shoes, and a fresh haircut ready for 8th grade
Kyle has been the most enthusiastic of the bunch about starting school. He loves new adventures! He was so excited about starting the 7th grade this morning...he didn't even want to eat breakfast.
Dylan and Kyle go to the same school...Arbor Hills Jr. High

(Notice the height difference. This could be an interesting year if Kyle starts "shooting up"...we'll have to see how close they are in height at the end of the school year.)

Luke ready for his first day of 5th grade at Maplewood Elementary
Nicholas ready for his 1st day of 2nd grade at Maplewood Elementary.

Nicholas has been the most reluctant to start school this year. If he had his way...he would stay at home with mom forever and never leave. Sadly, I can't take him up on his desire :(

It's a Girl

Well it's official. Grandma Knicely is a permanent part of the Simons' household.

(We were determined to get our "girl" one way or another.)

When we discussed with Grandma whether she would like to return to her own home
or stay with us... She emphatically agreed that she is much happier and healthier staying here with us. She fits right in and enjoys all of our wacky ways :)
Therefore, we spent the weekend moving the boys all in to one bedroom and getting Grandma's bed over here for her. We were hoping to get it all over here this weekend, but it turned out that time was not kind to us...and we ran out of time and energy much faster than we anticipated. Our household is definitely very crowded now, but we still have everything we need and our home is filled with lots of love~the only essential ingredient in a home.

Plummer Park Fountain Fun

We had some time to kill today, so we all ventured up to Plummer Pool and Plummer Park. The pool and park are just a few blocks from our house. The kids had a great time playing on this fountain... that is up until they got kicked off by the lifeguard ;). Grandma and I sure enjoyed watching the adventures of boys in play :)

Kyle playing in the water fountain
Luke balancing on the mound
Nicholas running to create a whirlpool
Kyle sitting on fountain
Luke sitting on the fountain. They all seemed to enjoy doing this the most :)

Grandma is loving being a daily part of our lives.

She is never happier than when she is able to be in the midst of her family. Nicholas having a good time!
The kids playing on the fountain
Dylan sits on the fountain
Luke cheering over becoming King of the Mountain

Dylan
Kyle
Luke
Nicholas ~ King of the Mountain
Nicholas cracked us up when he found this weed and came up to us saying

"Look Mom, I found a weed. He is going to be my friend. I'm going to keep him forever."

Sadly, it didn't take Nicholas long to forget about his new found friend, but we enjoyed

it while it lasted.

Doctors, doctors and more doctors

August 17th, 2008

If there is a couple of words to describe this past week for us...it would be doctors appointments.

Monday was taking Grandma to Flower Hospital to have lab work drawn.

Tuesday was a doctor's appointment with Grandma's cardiologist.

Wednesday was an Opthamologist appointment for Luke and Dylan to have their eyes checked.

Luke had a bilateral strabismus (lazy eye) surgically repaired when he was a tyke and Dylan was born with a congenital nystagmus that needs monitored.

We had good news...Neither one of the boys need glasses to this point and the surgery we have been postponing for Dylan's eyes may never need to happen.

Friday was a doctor's appointment with Grandma's primary doctor to get things rolling for her newly acquired diabetes.

Grandma is really enjoying staying with us and she may become a permanent addition to our household. She likes the company of having family around, and a nurse who makes house calls.

Therefore, doctor's appointments will be a likely fixture in our weekly scheduling.

I had to take all of the boys with me when I took Dylan and Luke to the opthamologist.

Both Luke and Nicholas thought these eyeball stickers were cool!

Interestingly enough, Luke chose a blue eyeball...he has blue eyes.

Nicholas chose a brown eyeball...he has brown eyes.

Luke wearing his sunglasses outside...since his eyes are still dilated from the doctor's

Nicholas looking through binoculars

Triclops Luke

Sunday Dinner

We often times will get together with our family on Sundays for our traditional Sunday dinner. This Sunday was especially special because the kids were able to have supper with both of their only living Great Grandparents...Great Grandpa Newbold (my mom's father) and Great Grandma Knicely (Jon's mom's mother)

The Simons Boys with Great Grandpa Newbold in his bedroom
The Simons Boys with Great Grandma Knicely at Mar's house

We've been able to get a lot of extra time with Great Grandma Knicely this week. She spent a night in the hospital last week, and we wanted to keep her with us for a while to keep an extra eye on her. She very happily agreed to come and stay. She especially loves being around the boys and the boys love being around her.

Kyle receives the Aaronic Priesthood

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

In our religion, when a boy turns 12 years old, he can receive the Aaronic Priesthood. This priesthood is a preparatory priesthood before they receive a higher priesthood called the Melchezidek Priesthood. There are different offices of the Aaronic Priesthood...the first one being the office of Deacon. The responsibilities of a Deacon include...

1. Gather fast offerings.

2. Pass the sacrament.

3. Serve as the bishop’s messenger.

4. Care for the grounds and physical facilities of the church.

5. Assist in service projects or welfare assignments as assigned by the bishop.

6. Watch over the Church and act as standing ministers (see D&C 84:111).

7. Be involved in missionary and reactivation efforts (see D&C 20:58–59).

8. Assist teachers in all their duties as needed (see D&C 20:53, 57).

9. Give talks in Church meetings.

Kyle has anxiously been awaiting the opportunity to gain this privilege and responsibility. Therefore, today was a very important day to him.

Morgan Ethington, Harvey Miller, Jonathan Simons, Jeffrey Lake, Michael Richter, and Brian Kijowski all participated in Kyle's ordination

Kyle standing with Daddy, Uncle Jeff and Uncle Mike

Kyle in the Aaronic Priesthood room where Kyle was ordained with proud Mom and Dad

Dad ordained Kyle to the Aaronic Priesthood

Dylan~Deacon Quorom President

Excited for Kyle to join his Quorom

Kenny Chesney Poets and Pirates Concert 2008

Saturday, August 2nd 2008 at Ford Field

Jonathan and Dylan in their concert gear

This was Dylan and Maria's very 1st big concert. It was a great 1st time experience. We were glad to share it with one another.

Maria wearing Dylan's hat.

BTW~I seem to have someone's missing chin (note the extra one on my face). If you discover who it belongs to... I'd be glad to return it to its rightful owner :)))

Dylan having a great time!

"She thinks my tractor's sexy!"

Lee Ann Rimes with her Detroit Lions jersey on

Luke Bryan 2nd act

Gary Alan

Gary Alan sings

Jonathan and Maria having a great time!

Keith Urban sang "Stupid Boy", "Told You So", then "My Better Half"...it was like he was journalling the last few years for us.

Keith Urban playing the guitar

Keith Urban is Dylan's favorite performer. He put on a great show and we all enjoyed his show thoroughly :)

The stage was higher than Keith had anticipated. No worries...the audience helped him down

Dylan cheering for Keith Urban

Kenny Chesney's intro screen

Kenny Chesney serenades

Kenny Chesney in true Detroit Lions spirit

Kenny Chesney ~ Storyteller through his songs

Let the good times roll!

The one picture I wish we had gotten was Dylan sitting in his chair writing "his book" while the first few acts played. He said "the music inspired him." He ended up writing 5 extra pages while we were there. Everyone around him was fascinated watching him write throughout the acts.

That's my Dylan!