Life's finally slowing down...catch up time!

In JANUARY...we came home for a week to spend New Year's here.  We were able to spend Corgin's Birthday with him on the 1st, and also we were able to spend Grandpa Simonson's last birthday with him and the family also.  We got to bring Jacob and Grant home with us during the holiday break, since we weren't going to be here for that long.  It was really a fun week here!

Then it was back up to Lewiston for Me, Jake, Janelle, and Grant.  We drove two cars and helped Janelle move up to school.  And I went back to stay with Miss Ali and Grant while their mom and dad went to Hawaii!!  We had a few mishaps while they were gone...the first one being only a few hours after they left...Grant happened to be running right in front of Ali when she swung at a ping-pong ball with the Wii remote!  It caught him right beneath his right eye and split it open.  Thank goodness we had medical info, and a GPS, and Janelle to hold Grant!  We got him steri-stripped up, and hopefully good as new!

Grant and I were also sick while Trisha and Danny were gone, but he was so good to take his medicine, and I didn't have much to do but relax and read...and we felt much better when they came home!  Then it was time again to say good-bye and head home.  Always the hardest part for Grandma!  Grant was ready for me to leave...Ali, not so much...and me neither!

I was only home a few days and then I flew out to Orlando to see Tess and Jake and the little girls.  Tanessa was feeling a little homesick after spending the holidays at home this year, with no visits home.  So it was great to see them!!  Florida was cool...as usual when I go to visit, but Jake and Tess treated me to a really nice vacation!  One of the first things we did was go to Steak-n-Shake...MY FAVORITE!!  They also took me on a little adventure to St. Augustine.  On our way, we stopped by the Datona International Speedway!  We had gone by there before, but this time, they were running some trial runs and letting people come in for free to watch the race cars.  It was so fun to get to go inside and hear the thunder of the cars!

Then it was off to St. Augustine.  What a beautiful old city that was!!   It was a little chilly, but the sun was shining, and it was just a gorgeous day!  We went and saw the old fort right on the beach and then walked around town to see all the fine buildings and such.  It was really pretty!

 

After St. Augustine, we went on up to Jacksonville and met up with Tanessa's friend, Tenille and her family.  We had a good visit and got to eat at a great chicken place with them.  It was a really fun day!

Also, one day while I was there, Jake arranged for Tess and I to take the girls into Disneyworld, and we had a really fun day there, just walking around and taking the girls on a few rides...always fun!

 While I was there, I was able to spend Birthday time with my son-in-law, Jake, the end of January.  Jake is such a blessing to our family, always positive and optimistic and full of hugs and smiles!  He is a great husband and father and treats us with the utmost respect.  We enjoy having him around...wish he didn't live so far away in FLORIDA!!!  But it was fun getting to spend his birthday with him...We love you Jake (Happy Belated Birthday)...again! 

Then of course, it was home again, only to face the rather abrupt passing of my father-in-law, and with funeral, family stuff and all the kids coming home suddenly, it was kind of a whirlwind...but a very blessed one!  My how we enjoyed all the kids being together with us for a few short days!

Then FEBRUARY started off with our Sweetheart retreat at the Leslie's cabin in Island Park.  We couldn't have asked for better company, better snow, or more fun!  We have some really awesome friends and enjoy laughing, riding, and eating together.  A special thank you to Holli...she is AMAZING!!  We love having special things to do and to eat...and she is always prepared...even with a heart shaped box of chocolates left on everyone's bed pillows!  We enjoyed great fajitas, a chocolate fountain with tons of fresh fruit, Belgium Waffles...and much, much more.  And the snowmachining was great this year!  Lots of snow, and smooth trails...tons of sunshine and fun sleds to ride...it started off our second month of the year JUST RIGHT!  

 

Now...it's time to settle in for a little down time, a lot of dieting...and some quiet nights at home!  I'll keep you posted.....

Thanks for the memories!

This last week, we were so privileged to have all our kids here for the weekend.  Even though it was under circumstances that were not so good...it was a wonderful weekend for Brent and I.  We had a great time visiting and reminiscing, and felt that we had some very special moments with each and every child.  We cried together, laughed together, and just felt a special spirit.  We have 5 wonderful kids...who have made good choices in their lives, who have chosen good partners to spend their lives with, who have followed the counsel of the prophets, who have served missions, married in the temple, and are true and faithful.  We see the Gospel being lived in their homes, with taking their kids to church, teaching them how to pray, having them blessed and baptized.  For all of this, we are so blessed and so thankful.  I never much felt like a "good" parent, but I have always known I had "good" children!  Thank you to each of you, for living the things you were taught, for doing the things you know you should...and for the wonderful weekend we had together last week!   To us it was priceless.  I love you, I know that Dad loves you, and we appreciate all the sacrifices you had to make to be with us at this special time...

February! Did I hear "a birthday?"

Happy Birthday today to Ashton...who turned 6!  He is just a good looking young man!!

Ashton is full of life and always so animated about everything!  He is a cutie and we miss him so, so much!  Happy Birthday Ashty-poo!!  We love you!

And tomorrow, is our Daughter-in-law, Katie's birthday!  We won't tell you how old she is...but we are so blessed to have Katie in our family and part of our lives!  She is a great mommy and wife, and is so very accepting of us!  We are glad that her and Clint live so close to us...and we wish her the very happiest of birthdays!  We love you K-T!

On the 17th is also another special birthday...our oldest Grandchild...Emmaline!  Can you believe that she is 10?  I can't!  She is such a sweetheart...she cares so much for her family, and is such a good big sister to her siblings and a great help to her mom and dad.

Happy Birthday Emmy!!  We love you and miss you so very much!

And since February is also a time for love with Valentines and everything... I can't pass up the chance to wish Trisha and Danny a Happy Anniversary!  My first kids to get married, and already 11 years now...wow, how time flies!  Seems like just yesterday they were here and we were having so much fun together, going to lunch, watching movies...etc, etc!

We are blessed to have Daniel in our family, and Trisha and Danny both are so good to us...we get to do a lot of things with them, and feel so welcome in their home...for that we are so grateful.  We love you both!  Have a very Happy Anniversary!

Funeral

On January 27th, Brent's dad, Von Simonson passed away.  He had fought Alzheimer's Disease for the last 10 years.  It is a blessing for him that he can finally be free of this crippling disease, and that he can be in a better place.  It was hard for all of us, probably because we didn't expect it this soon, so it was kind of sudden.  All of the kids wanted to be here and started making arrangements immediately to fly home.  By Saturday afternoon, they had all arrived and it was good to have all our kids under the same roof again!  

Jaron (32), Trisha (30), Clinton (28), Tanessa (25), Jacob (21)

 The Family Viewing was on Sunday and the funeral on Monday.  All of the grandkids sang at the funeral, "How Great Thou Art".  It sounded so beautiful!  And Jaron and Tanessa sang Grandma's favorite love song, "Somewhere, My Love" which was really touching.  Brent had to speak right after, and it was hard for him to get his emotions in check, but he did a wonderful job.  It was a beautiful funeral and a great tribute to his Dad.

 Brent's family:  Eric, Linda, Wilma, Paula, and Brent

 All of the Grandsons were pallbearers.

 He was laid to rest in the Grace Cemetery

All of the Simonson grandchildren (except Dustin)

 The Von Simonson family:

Brother - Eric and Eva Jean Simonson

Sister - Linda and Randy Hubbard

Mom - Wilma Simonson

Sister - Paula and Terry Larson

Brother - Brent and Kristi Simonson