2009 Recap (set to a tune)

Over the 12 months of last year that '09 gave to me...
12 months of Mike working

11 rows of tomato plants

10 trips to public market

9 pages scrap booked (I'm way behind and I'm hoping I actually did more lol)

8 years of marriage

7 tests over 95%

6 viewings of Twilight (at least)

5 awesome concerts

In April I turned 30!!!! (4th month)

$3 in savings

2 days away with Rachel! New Kids on the Block Baby!!!!!!

1 new baby boy on the way

Overall we had a great year in the Simmons home. I hope you all had a great year too! Here's to starting a new year with new goals and higher aspirations for our lives!

10-a-Day GIVEAWAY – The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

10-a-Day GIVEAWAY – The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

Christmas Card

If you didn't get one in the mail already, I'm sorry. I probably lost your address. I tried to recover the ones I could. Leave a message or send me an email with your address so I can add you to my list for next year! I would love to send you one!

Merry Christmas.

SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN

We ventured out last night in the weird sleety weather to visit Jolly St. Nick. The kids were so excited, including Tyler. We went at the perfect time 5pm and there were about 3 families in line ahead of us. The kids were able to talk to Santa each by themselves and then we took a group shot! Santa was great with the kids. He even told Seth and McKee (who asked for pricey gifts) that alot of children were asking for that this year so he couldn't make them any promises. That got my thumbs up!
The kids were anxiously waiting in line and spotted him through all of the pretty decorations.

We followed that fun event with going to Bama and Bampa Simmons' house to get some fun Christmas photos. It was the least painful experience we've had yet with pictures with the kids! I'm not going to post those yet though because one of those is going on our Christmas card. Enjoy the cuteness that is my children!

I have been totally lazy and I'm ok with that!

Well, I just finally emptied my camera of hundreds of pictures dating back to October and I'm sure before that. That's the problem with having a camera card that holds so many photos. I will be sorting them and posting a little bit later. I have such cute kids and am so grateful for them and my husband and want to share and document some great moments we've had lately!

Big Boy Bed

Tyler spent the night last night...well...let's let him tell you.

He called it his bunk bed. But it was his crib mattress on the floor next to Brooke's bed. (We have to paint Seth's room before we move him into there into the real big boy bed.)

Tyler has been climbing out of his crib. I realize he's really too big to be in a crib anyway, and all of the other kids were out by now. BUT it has been nice to not have to fight with him during nap times and bed time! Here are some pics of him. This is how I found him this morning!

I got him to climb back in bed and pretend he was sleeping! He's a good sport to humor me!

And here he is so excited about his "bunk" bed.

W7QPF

Lillian Margaret Christensen

Lillian Margaret Christensen Hatch

1920 ~ 2009

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully due to causes incident to age on October 14, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband Noal, who passed away in June, 2005.

Lillian was born December 11, 1920, to Danish immigrants Marinus (Max) and Anna M. Christensen in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. She was raised in a home learning both English and Danish fluently, and always loved speaking Danish to those who could understand. She married Noal King Hatch on November 5, 1943, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. At the time of their marriage she was taking pilot lessons and had soloed with the intent to help in the Women's Air Corp during World War II, but Noal's work in the war effort took them to San Francisco before she could receive her license.

She was the first woman in Utah Valley to receive her amateur radio license, call sign W7QPF.

Because of her outgoing cheerful personality, she was able to make friends wherever she was. Her Danish hospitality was always apparent, and in any visit with her and Noal she offered treats or gifts.

She was always active in the LDS church and served in many callings, but her favorite was always in music. She led the Provo 3rd Ward choir for over twenty years during which time they recorded a choral album. She sang soprano in "The Accents" quartet, and performed in the Madsen Memorial Choir. She had hundreds of songs memorized, and if any topic were named, she could immediately sing a song about it.

From the 1960s to the '80s she helped Noal in his work as a television news correspondent for Channel 4 news, including filming and writing many news stories. She was active in the Women's Council of Provo in which she also served as president.

In retirement, she and Noal served as Temple Workers in the Provo Temple. She was steady and sure in her love of God and testimony of the Gospel. She was a great example of charitable service and love to all. She cherished friendships with many people, and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren loved her and enjoyed visiting with her.

She is survived by five children, Ron (Genie) of Orem; Roger (Sylvia) of Lehi; Rebecca Simmons (Rulon) of Rochester, New York; Robert (Janeal) of Sandy; and Rosemary Millet (DeLayne) of Goodyear, Arizona; 25 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

The family expresses appreciation to the many healthcare workers who have assisted in her care.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the Berg Drawing Room Chapel of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Provo. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo on Friday evening from 6-8pm or on Saturday one hour prior to services. Interment Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to info@bergmortuary.com.

Happy Anniversary

8 wonderful years!

Laziness...

I'll admit it, I've been too lazy to post anything. We've been busy enjoying our summer and I've taken lots of pictures of the kids at the playground, the spray-park and soccer games. I've just been too lazy to post them here. We are going to our family reunion picnic this weekend and I'll be taking pictures there too. My plan is to post some of those when I get back. We'll see I guess! :)

What They Found

The old adage "when it rains it pours" can be so true at some point in everyone's lives. Apparently it's my turn! I went to the dermatologist on June 3rd for a biopsy of a suspicious looking mole on my back. He removed it and I've been anxiously waiting for the results, trying to not to get freaked out...(I may have a tendency to assume I have cancer most of the time, no matter what the test is I'm going for.) Well, I got the letter in the mail I've been waiting for and the mole was a dysplastic nevi. What does that mean? It's benign but may become cancerous, so I have to go in for a check up in 4-6 months. Here is my "new" lifestyle awareness plan as found on the Skin Cancer Foundation website.

Dysplastic Nevi Prevention Guidelines
Anyone who has an increased risk of developing melanoma must be particularly vigilant. Do any of these risk factors apply to you: light eyes, hair, and/or skin; freckles; many moles; personal or family history of melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer; sun sensitivity; inability to tan; repeated and intermittent sunburns; a very large mole present at birth, or dysplastic nevi?

The best advice is “Know your skin.” Each family member should become aware of all moles on his/her total skin surface to minimize the risk of melanoma progressing to life-threatening stages.

Anyone, especially someone with an increased risk of developing melanoma, should:

* Examine the skin completely each month, using a good light source (to illuminate the areas being examined), a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. Ask a family member or friend to help in examining hard-to-see parts of the body. A hair dryer is useful when checking the scalp. Also, examine the bottom of the feet and between the toes.
* Seek prompt medical attention if any of the warning signs of melanoma described earlier are found.
* Have a head-to-toe skin examination by a physician annually or more often. If moles are changing, as they may during adolescence, they should be checked at more frequent intervals. Inform your doctor about any moles that have suspicious signs, symptoms, or changes.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DYSPLASTIC NEVI

If your doctor suspects dysplastic nevi, one or more moles may be biopsied — removed in a minor surgical procedure for microscopic examination. It is not necessary to remove all dysplastic nevi. However, if moles show significant change or signs of melanoma, or if new moles appear after age 40, they may be considered for removal by your physician.

When the diagnosis of dysplastic nevus is confirmed microscopically, it is advisable to:

* write down a complete family history of unusual moles, melanomas or other cancers. Discuss it with your doctor.
* have regular complete skin examinations at intervals suggested by your doctor, and advise family members to do the same.
* supplement regular medical checkups with monthly selfexamination of the skin.
* reduce sun exposure. Excessive exposure may stimulate formation of new moles or even cause melanomas.
* check with your doctor about having a set of full-body photographs taken, especially if family members have dysplastic nevi or melanoma and/or you have many moles. Changes can be more easily spotted in this way.
* have any unusual or changing skin growth examined promptly by your doctor.
* check with your physician to see if an eye examination is recommended, since moles and melanomas may also arise in the eyes.
* be concerned, but don’t worry excessively.

With regular self-examination, professional examination, and common sense, you greatly reduce your chances that a melanoma will grow to a threatening size before it can be detected and removed.
PREVENTING SKIN CANCER

While skin cancers are almost always curable when detected and treated early, the surest line of defense is to prevent them in the first place. Here are some sun safety habits that should be part of everyone’s daily health care:

* Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
* Do not burn.
* Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
* Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
* Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
* Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
* Avoid tanning parlors and tanning devices.
* Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
* See your doctor every year for a professional skin exam.

One of the Sister Missionaries That Taught Me

Plays a mean violin! I was blessed to have her perform at my baptism. Here is a video of her jammin to Metallica!



She has a youtube channel too. Go check her out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SETH!

It seems like it was just yesterday that Seth was born. I was actually talking about our adventures in the hospital on Saturday and I mentioned that it seems like it just happened. Seth was so tiny when he was born, he was a month early, but he was so cute. I held him for only a few seconds after he was born and then I finally got to really hold him 4 days later. Mike and I are so grateful that he is healthy.
Seth on his first birthday! I was finding cake stuck to the walls behind him for months after his birthday! He was such a bald, little mess!
I'm 2! Seth LOVES the slides at the playground! He finally had some hair too! He's such a little peanut, but you wouldn't know it from the way he acts!
Seth has always had a love of animals. He has a short temper, but is sweet and kind to animals. When he turned 3 we had a zoo party for Seth! I painted animal faced on the kids and they ran around like animals, it came easy to them!
BATMAN! Seth became obsessed with Batman at a very young age! By the time he was 4 years old, it was all he wanted to do and talk about. This is a birthday card that Grandpa Don had commissioned for Seth, it's awesome!

Seth's obsession with Batman turned into an obsession with bats! This is his bat cake. I think it's his favorite one yet. 5 years old and heading off to kindergarten in the fall. How did 5 years go by so fast? Seth is so smart, he's already well on his way to reading and loves to learn. Seth Simmons...what are you going to get for your 6th birthday? A NEW CAR! Well, you're kind of short to reach the pedals...how about a new bike! Seth's really grown alot in the last year and is too tall for his old little bike, so we bought him a new one! Grandma and Grandpa bought Seth a new helmet with Spiderman on it! He loves it! He's so cute!
Seth is 7 years old! I can hardly believe that 7 years have passed from that first day I laid eyes on him. It has been a roller coaster ride with this crazy boy. He can be so sweet and then like a switch he's the naughtiest kid...but we love him anyway. Seth will be very successful when he grows up, it's something I've felt from the time he was born. At only 9 months old when we were in the hospital getting his blood drawn the tech came into the room and stopped when she looked at him. She said "that boy is going to bring the word of God to the people some day." I was amazed at her statement, but whole heartedly believe it. Seth has a way with words, he's so funny sometimes making words rhyme and making up new words. This talent with words is not limited to fun, he's so good at remembering scriptures that have touched him and his little world. Seth dreams of being a veterinarian some day, he loves
animals and begs for a pet almost daily!
A few stats:
favorite color, red.
favorite food, pop-tarts.
favorite animal, penguin.
best friend, Karlee.
favorite toy, light saber.
favorite place to be, zoo.

Seth, I love you. I am so grateful that you are part of our family! You are a special boy.
Happy Birthday!

Time Out for Women

These are the awesome presenters from the conference I attended last weekend. I highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go. Call me, and if I can, I'll go with you! :)



http://deseretbook.com/time-out

New Moon Countdown Official Poster

Here is the poster! I'm so excited for New Moon! I'm going to the premier at midnight again and I can't wait!

Like Daughter, Like Mother

Thank you Crystal (for having the nose of a dog!)

Just like when Brooke saved the house from fire almost 1 year ago to the day, on May 15th 2008, Crystal saves the house last night (May 11th 2009) from what could have been an even worse fire.

See, last year Brooke finally got the attention of her dad who was ignoring her cries of "DADDY! DADDY!" and brought it to my attention that she found the grill had spit fire from it's rusting base and had caught the dry leaves below it on fire. Sure, it was stupid to burn right there, but the point is my beautiful daughter stayed safe, yelled for help, and saved the house from possibly going up in flames.

That was at dinner time, with all 6 of us up and awake and ready to run if needed.

Now, almost 365 Gregorian days later (I'm leaving the word Gregorian there because Fire Fox didn't spell check underline it, and it might make me sound smart to someone...whether I am or not) Crystal busts out some pregnancy nose techniques and smells plastic burning while in the upstairs bathroom. When she comes back downstairs and tells me, she says it's coming from the dishwasher. We put this brand new dishwasher in a few months ago, and it's worked pretty good. Well, I open it up, find nothing wrong, and run the cycle till it's done.

Yesterday, Crystal runs the dishwasher again while I'm gone at work, and stops it mid way through because of the smell of burning plastic again.....go go gadget dog sniffer (of course, that's not meant to be mean, but go ahead and think I'm a jerk if you must...most people do based on my writings.)

I get home from work and she tells me it's from underneath the dishwasher. So, reluctantly (because I'm lazy and not a dishwasher repairman.....but I do show a good crack when I need to) I open up the bottom access panel and call for my flashlight. The flashlight didn't come on it's own, and didn't even think to bring me my slippers, so Crystal got it for me.

I laid there on the floor for a few minutes looking mostly at the left side of the parts. Then, I looked to the right and found a melted plastic wire nut.



It was melted in half. It was melted to the wooden floor. It was a fire hazard laying in wait.

Crystal possibly saved us from a fire that could have happened at anytime (think, running the dishwasher as you go up to bed, delayed start to finish before you wake up....)

We'll never know if anything tragic really would have happened from it or not, but either way, I'm very grateful for a wife who has the nose of a hound dog (and a face of an angel), and who listened to the little voice in her head that said the dishwasher was evil!


PS - I'm taking applications for an electrician and a dish washer. Payment for services in rice and beans only.

PPS - I'm sure Crystal will take offense to your request that she sniffs out drugs in your children's bedrooms, but, of course, if you make that request with a few thousand dollars, she may just do it!

PPPS - My wife can catch bigger fish than your wife. Na Na Na

Crystal Wins

The other day Crystal and I went fishing. She caught the first, the biggest, and the most. She wins!





Give a woman a fish....and she'll eat for a day.
Teach a woman to fish....and she'll out fish you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

35 YEARS OF FUN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE!

Today Brooke is 5 years old! I can't believe it. I've been super emotional all week and couldn't figure out why, but I think there's just something that tugs at your heart strings when your only baby girl is growing up. Here are some pictures from her last 5 birthdays.

Brooke's final moments in utero! This was just minutes before they came in and broke my water!It's my birthday! Mommy, Daddy and Brooke just hours old.
I'm ONE!
2 Years old!
I'm "free" (3)!
4 years old!
I'm 5 and I'm the birthday princess!

Brooke's favorite colors are pink and purple. Her favorite animal is the elephant. She loves to dance and play with balloons. Brooke is the sweetest big sister, most of the time. She likes to help Tyler use the potty and change diapers. Brooke is so gentle with babies and loves to see pregnant women. Her face lights up every time she thinks someone has a baby in her belly. Brooke's dreams are to grow up and be a missionary and get married in the Temple and be a kid dentist! She has started to read and does a great job with writing and math. She loves to learn. I'm so proud of my baby girl. I love you Brooke.

Mike's List

Well, I thought I'd make a list today:

Mike's List
The Great Wall of China
Mick Jagger
Rectal thermometers
Lego's
Hide and go seek
The Great Salt Lake
Disposable diapers
Toe nail fungus
Cashews
The (fish-less) desert
Mandarin oranges
Clothing
Non primary color names
Taxes
Cockroaches
Snow
Enemas

Oh, I guess I could have named my list "Things that are older than Crystal, and less enjoyable to hang around with than her."

Happy 30th Crystal!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

(You don't look a day over 29.....but, maybe a 1/2 day over 29) :-)

10 to 4 (and 1/2 if you ask Mike)

So, in need of some rest and relaxation, i took my wife fishing (for the 1 hour left we had with grandma watching the kids). We ended up at my favorite local puddle and shared the only 20 feet of shoreline this place has to offer.

I was fishing a damsel fly nymph under an indicator and quickly connected with a fish!





I then caught another one, and was leading the competition with 2 fish to Mrs. Oatka's zero.

Well, sure enough, she wanted to switch rods so i gave her mine and I took her rod that had her favorite fly, a red tailed sperm. A classic fly we've fished successfully for years to get bluegills on the surface.



Unfortunately it's a bit early for this fly so i had no success with it either. Mrs. Oatka on the other hand had my damsel fly and was starting to catch up.





I decided to switch to a Czech nymph and started casting.

Well, things started to deteriorate even more, and my lead was wiped out, and she had caught up, 4 to 4. Well, at one point I cast my line out and she catches another fish, but couldn't get the hook out. So, with my line still in the water, I hand her my rod and she hands me her fish. As I'm releasing her fish, she catches a fish ON MY ROD!!! (i had a picture of her with 2 rods in hand, fighting the fish, but until LG makes a phone with features I think it should have, then the pictures will consistently be lost due to closing the phone before it's completely saved.....dang you LG!)

Well, at this point, she must have started to feel a little sorry for me, and for catching more fish, because she handed back my rod with the damsel fly. Well, it might have started off as a kind gesture, but apparently the fish had started to catch on, and knew not to eat that anymore. So, Mrs. Oatka, now armed with a new to the fish Czech nymph, starts pulling them in with that fly.....and I sit there practicing my cast.

"Get a shot of the fight! This one is big!"



Now, we've gone from a nice hour out fishing together, to full on smack talk. She's dishing out the smack like she's Dig'em Frog!!!



Well, I let her continue (since of course, this was an RR trip for her)

Here's one of my favorite shots!!!



By the time it was all said and done, I caught 4 (4.5 if you count the fish she caught on my cast), and she caught 10.....and she wouldn't let me forget it. She even TOLD THE KIDS!!! How can I live that down now?


So, after a little lunch and putting my youngest down for a nap, I did what any self respecting fly fisherman (who just got spanked on the water) would do......I took my 4.95 year old daughter out fishing.....to prove that I could out fish a girl!!! well, we got there and it had started raining, and got worse, so I didn't pull out my fly rod. She had on a Czech nymph and had 1 fish on, but lost it after a few seconds!



(although I was out fished, by 2 girls) it was a great day!!!

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Coming Soon...

As soon as I sort through my over 500 pictures from the concert this weekend, I'll tell you all about it! It was the best weekend ever!

With Easter Right Around the Corner

I think it's really important to remember this...


see more pwn and owned pictures