Visit to Pennsylvania and Carter's Baptism!

  We were able to fly to Pennsylvania this weekend for Carter's special day.  We brought Grandma and Grandpa Hamblin with us and arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 2nd.  Tanessa and her girls, Brielle and Addisyn flew in from Orlando and joined us there.  We rented a couple of cars and drove into Catawissa to Jaron's house.  There they were all waiting for us!  It was great to be there and see all the kids and get hugs from all of them.  It's been a long time!  We just got reaquainted that night and everyone lined up with sleeping arrangements.  Jaron's heating was out and we were all wrapped up in coats and blankets trying to keep warm...it was about 55 degrees in the house!!  But they got it fixed by about 11:00 that night, and the heat started pouring out!  By morning we were all toasty warm again!

 On Friday, Jaron wanted to take us to Ichiban, a Japanese grill for an afternoon dinner.  So we all set off to Williamsport for food!  It was snowing light flakes when we got there...Addi was way excited to see SNOW!

 Jaron was excited to get his sushi!

  

 The kids loved watching the chefs toss the food around and seeing the flames come up from the grill!  It was nice and warm in there, and the hot food tasted so good!

 All of us know that Ashton is one that speaks what he's thinking...so we all laughed when Heather told us the story of Ashton visiting Ichiban for the first time.  He had asked if it was Chinese food, to which the chef told him, "No.... Japanese!" (In his VERY Japanese accent!)  to which Ashton looked him straight in the face and replied, "I can't understand a WORD you're saying!"  haha

 Friday night, we gave Carter his Birthday/Baptism present.  He was pretty proud of his new Scriptures and his carrying case, and excited to try them out!

 Saturday morning everyone was on the move to get ready for the Baptism.  Grandma and Jaron were busy making Texas Sheet Cakes for the refreshments...Tess, Heather, and I were trying to help all the kids get their baths and their clothes on, hair done...and Carter looked so handsome in his new suit!

 The little girls were all so cute in their red Christmas dresses...Brielle did not want to be in the beautiful picture, however!

 Jaron and Heather's darling family!

 Our handsome Carter...ready for the baptism by his dad.

Carter Jaron Simonson...December 4th

 We were so very proud of Carter that day.  He not only looked handsome...he was just so sweet and pure!  At the baptism, Emmy and Carter sang the special number about the Holy Ghost...they did such a great job!  We were very priveledged to be there!

 Saturday night, Grandpa and Grandma Hamblin wanted to pass out their Christmas presents to the little kids so they could be there when they opened them.  The kids got so excited to get to open presents early!!

 

Lilly

 Carter

 Emmy

 Addi

 

Ashton

  Of course, Tess' girls got presents too, since they won't be here for Christmas either.

Little Brielle

 Tanessa had presents of her own to give to Jaron's family.  She had drawn his name for Christmas, so they got to open their presents early also.  

Here is Jaron opening his new Temple picture from Tanessa and Jake.

 Sunday...the Simonson family after church.  They all look so cute!

 Carter's family with the Grandparents and Great-Grandparents!

 Little Brielle is growing up...she is so adorable, and we just love her to death!

 Miss Lilly!  She loved to have her picture taken!  She is getting so big!

 Emmy has grown into quite the young woman...she is such a special girl!

 Last but not least...Carter.  What a sweet, tender spirit he is!  He has grown up so much and is so caring and kind.  There wasn't a day go by that he wouldn't come up to you to give you a couple of hugs or so throughout the day.  He is a great young man, and is happy to be the newest Simonson member of the church!  We love you Carter!

We set out for our journey home on Monday morning with hugs all around for the kids.  We drove down to Amish Country in Lancaster County.  It was fun to see all the farms and green rolling hills (and yes, they were still green!)  Tanessa and Brent really enjoyed seeing everything.  We spent a couple of hours at the Kitchen Kettle Market, tasting the food, admiring the Amish handicrafts and such.  Then it was back to Philly for some last minute Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and then on the plane for home!  It was a very fast trip, but wonderful to see everyone and Jaron's and Heather's 'new' surroundings...their three story 'mansion' house was so big and interesting!  Thanks to them for their hospitality, and we had a wonderful time....congratulations Carter!!  Love you all...

Happy Birthday!

 

This month is such a special one, it's Birthday time for Carter!  On the 23rd, Carter Jaron Simonson turned 8 years old, and will be baptized this coming Saturday!  Carter is such a sweet and caring young man.  He is very loving and a super good brother to his siblings.  He has a tender heart and is quiet, yet charming.  He loves to play video games and Pokeman cards...and he loves Lilly, his little sister!  I am so very proud of him and what a great person he is becoming.  I can't wait to be there and give him a hug and watch him be baptized!  Happy Birthday, Carter!  I love you!

On the 30th, our little Brielle Lynn Larsen will turn 1 year old!  I am so very excited to be able to see her again also!  Both Carter and Brielle live WAY too far away from Grandma, on the other side of the country!  Brielle is a brilliant little girl...learning to crawl and walk so very early.  When it was time for her birthday, I had a hard time believing she was only 1!  She has been walking for some time now, and loves to jabber and toddle around.  She loves her big sister Addi and will follow her and jabber at her for attention, and she has the most adorable little smile!  She can melt your heart!  I love you Brie-brie and wish you the happiest birthday!

  

Ouch!

  So I went to peel an apple for Corgin yesterday, and while I was using the knife Corgin kept saying..."Grandma, be careful!"  "Grandma, don't cut yourself, ok?"  "Grandma, don't cut your finger with that knife!"  And so on, and so on...to which I reassured him each time that I wouldn't.  Well, after it was all peeled and cored (the more tricky part) I simply set it on the granite to cut the piece in half...and it slipped off the granite and the knife proceeded to chop my thumb instead of the apple!  Good job, Corgin...you jinxed me!  lol

 

You can see the flat part where I cut a chunk out of the tip of my thumb.

 

MoDgE - POdGe

 

I had a chance to get away for a few days and run up to Lewiston to see Trisha's family and Jacob over the Halloween/Grant's Birthday weekend.  The drive up there was so pretty with all the leaves changing colors, and fall well underway.

 It was fun to make cookies with Grant and Ali for Halloween!

 Ali was a cute sourceress for Halloween...

 

 and the man behind the Iron Man mask is our very own little Grant!

 

 Then there was Danny..."you might be a red-neck..."

 

 Their Ward had a nice Trunk or Treating and the kids got tons of candy.  Grant was a little shy to pose with this weird stranger sitting on his Dad's truck!

 

 Ali, or course, recognized her Dad right away...not much difference!

 

 Then it was the big day Grant had been waiting for!  Birthday time!!

 

 We got up before the sun came up, to open presents...

 

 We gave him a new little scooter...he got lots of fun things and was a very happy boy the whole day!

 

 

 I thought this was a great picture of Trisha and the kids!

 

 Our very own big 3 year old!

 

 This was the sun rise just breaking before the dawn that morning!  It was gorgeous!

 

 Then it was time to come home...and with the last trip in the fall...you never know when it will start snowing and the weather will turn bad.  This year, it came a little early, November 9th!

 

 We got about 4 inches, and it snowed all day!

 

 A look up at the ski resort...still buried in clouds and snowing!

 

 I guess it's time for the holidays...a fun Thanksgiving, with Trisha and Danny and Jacob and the kids all coming home...Yay!

 

And then we will be ready to fly to Jaron's for Carter's baptism!  We will get to see all the kids and Tanessa and the little girls will fly up to meet us there...So I am very blessed to have Clint living here close, to have Trisha and Jacob coming home to visit, and to be able to see the other two, Jaron and Tanessa just a week after that!  My kids are all spread out now, so I am thankful to be able to see all 5 within such a short period.  Look forward to LOTS of pictures!! 

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Already the stores are putting up decorations, the radio stations are playing Christmas Music, the toy catalogs are arriving in the mail!!  And to think it's still three weeks til Thanksgiving!

Anyway, this is my early plea for all my family out there...I NEED CHRISTMAS WISH LISTS!!  I need to start my shopping early, because I will be going to Pennsylvania right after Thanksgiving, and I also will need to send gifts with people, or in the mail...due to lack of attendance this Christmas!!  I love you all, but have no ideas what you need, want, or are wishing for unless you tell me...so PLEASE!  You can respond to this blog, or email me your personal list at bksimonson@hotmail.com. 

 Those who don't wish, can't complain!!

Happy Halloween!

I headed up to Lewiston/Clarkston to spend a few days with Trisha and her family for Halloween and Grant's Birthday.

Grant was excited to make some cookies and decorate them for Halloween!  

He was a pretty intense cutter...

With a little help from mom to get them in the oven... 

But he didn't need any help when it came to deocorating them or eating them!

Ali is a great cook, and an old pro at making cookies now!

She's pretty artistic and talented when it comes to decorating.  Can you spy the "twins" she made?

It was fun to spend time with the kids and get to see them out in their costumes "trick-or-treating"!
Ali was a cute Sourceress...and of course...Grant was Iron-Man!

We're not sure who the 6'6" tall "Joe Dirt" person was in the center, but he creeped me out...alot!

I also got to go to Ali's last soccer game of the season.  They will get to play in the tournament next Saturday!  They only had one loss all season, and we were able to be there when Ali scored a goal for her team back in September, but she had gotten even better!

It's Birthday Time!

On Oct. 29th, our little Addisyn will turn 4 years old!  She is a funny and charming little girl, with quite an imagination.  She loves to have tea parties, and "cook" all sorts of things for you.  She loves her movies and to be in her "princess world" where she can dress up and pretend play.  She is such a great big sister, and so loving of her Grandparents who live so far away.  She is delightful and smiley, a gracious little sweetheart and we love her tons!  Happy, Happy Birthday Addi!  

Addisyn Edie Larsen - age 4

 

November 1st is a special day for our 6th grandchild.  Our little Grant turns 3 years old!  Granty-poo is chucked full of personality!  He is the most smiley child...and loves to tell you all sorts of stories or sing you his creative songs.  He loves to watch his favorite movies or ballgames with his dad.  He is very talented at throwing balls, playing soccer, and especially batting!  He is loving and sweet and such a happy little guy!  We want to wish you the Happiest Birthday, Grant!  We love you 

soooo much!

 

Grant Von Evans - age 3