The Simmons Seven

Where does the time go?

2011-12-16T16:32:00.001-08:00

So I cannot believe that 2011 is about to end! Where did the year go? Where did the last two years go...Social media got the best of me and I have completely abandoned our family blog! And once again this year I am not sending out Christmas Cards...instead I will update our blog and try to be better about doing that. It is funny that I am so poor at blogging and yet I am obsessed with reading blogs! So what has happened this year? A lot of fun things for our family!

First Greg is still busy with work and a lot of traveling! He coached his 3rd grade team to win a championship which was very exciting!

Austin has been home from his mission for a year now and is attending UVU in Provo Utah. Which is great since Whitney graduated from HS in the spring and is now attending Utah State University in Logan, Utah. It has been fun for both of them to be close...but not to close! This is a picture at the BYU vs. USU game...BYU won in football but USU recently returned the favor by winning the Basketball game.

Whitney's senior year went by in a flash and it was very hard to see her graduate. In the spring we flew to Utah so she could try out for Cheerleader and she made the Utah State Squad which was very exciting. It was a great feat since just weeks before she had been in a cast! Yes after 10 years of club gymnastics she had a real injury- she had not qualified for state and was in the middle of competition cheer and was not happy about the cast. I had to admit that I think she lied to get it taken off early. So the cast came off she qualified for state and made cheerleader. whew!

Slade is about to turn 14 in a few weeks and is in 8th grade. He played 8th grade football and is busy with wrestling now. Wrestling is nice because it keeps him busy in between Football and Baseball...he is to tired to play XBox after wrestling practice that is 5 days a week. Slade is going to break the Mason mold this year and we are waiting to find out if he will become a "Man of Moeller" We are very excited for the opportunity to go to Moeller! Wish him luck!

Claire Bear is 10 and in 5th grade...She is my angel girl and the best big sister ever! She was very excited to move into Whitney's room when Whitney went to college...and yet still let's her Deacon come and sleep in her room! She has been very busy with gymnastics and cheerleading so busy so couldn't do fall ball which was very disappointing for her. Claire will start her Gymnastics season officially in just a few weeks as we will make our way to Cleveland for her first meet of the season. She changed gyms this year and is now competing for Queen City and loves it!

Deacon turned 5 in November and is an amazing kid! He starting playing baseball...his first game he got onto first base and asked me where he need to run to next...clearly he has not been watching the 100's of baseball games that he has gone to in the last 5 years of his life! He also started wrestling and it is the cutest and funniest thing that you have ever seen! I don't know what is cuter him in his singlet or him wrestling!

As for me...I am still working for KinderCare and loving it! It keeps me busy but flexible enough to add another activity to my schedule...I coached Claire's cheer team this year and was the President of MYF Cheer. It was a lot of fun and nice to spend time with Claire...of course Deacon can give you any of the Mason Cheers as well! I have spent a lot of time this year flying back and forth to Utah and spent more time in Logan in the last 9 months than I did growing up there! But it has been great to catch up with one of my favorite college roommates and spend time with my sister in laws and my mother in law.

So as we go into 2012 we are once again reminded how blessed we are! We have been blessed with employment, great friends, our health and amazing children that I am grateful for everyday!

W-

Happy Holidays 2009

2009-12-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas is over and thank heavens it is the close to the end of 2009! Our sweet family has had a year of many blessings and many challenges.

Austin has been serving in the Ventura California Mission. We are down to counting months for his return- He is doing great and we are very proud of him!

Whitney is a Jr this year and made Varsity Cheerleader- she had a lot of fun and enjoyed every minute of it. We are just starting her 2nd year of competing at level 8 in gymnastics. In the spring she made it to regionals which was very exciting!

Slade is in 6th grade this year and enjoying all the sports that he can! His football team won the CYFL championship this year which was very exciting since Greg was his coach.

Claire Bear is in 3rd grade this year and is dancing and cheering and being an all around sweet girl.

Deacon, we are so blessed to have this angel with us. Deacon was in a very bad accident the last week in August and had to have 6 hour surgery to reattach his pinky and reconstruct most of his hand. He spent 7 days in Cincinnati Children's Hospital. It was really awful, I will not candy coat it. His pinky did not take and had surgery 3 weeks later to have it removed. He is doing great though and he tells me that his fingers are all better.

We are blessed to have a lot of amazing friends that really took care of our family including an amazing home teacher that really supported our family, as well as the support of the people that we work for! It is during challenges like this that you realize how truly blessed that you are. I cannot begin to express the kindness that we saw from so many people, at times like this all you can do is except service from others, be grateful for the people in our lives, the companies that we work for and the love of a Heavenly Father that stayed by our side during this time.

As for Greg and I we are grateful that we have had many blessings this year.

Although my year started off a little rough with the death of my sister, I have much to be grateful for. I am still working for Kinder care and loving every minute of it- I cannot believe that I have been there for 2 years- they have flown by! I guess that when you work for and with amazing people and work with children all day there is not much to complain about! I am looking at PhD programs but have not had the nerve to apply for one, I am sure that by the time that Deacon gets into Kindergarten that I will have picked one out!

Greg's company just went through a reorganization and he was promoted-so I have not seen him very much since October...but I am very proud of him! He coached Slades football team this year and is looking forward to coaching his baseball team as well!

So as we close 2009 and look forward to 2010 we are grateful for all of the challenges and blessings that we have had look forward to a new year!

2009 Sidewinder Baseball

2009-07-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

Slade Sidewinder 2009 season

2009-07-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Creation Museum

2009-05-20T18:04:00.001-07:00

For spring break we were lucky enough to have my sister come and visit us with her family. We did fun things around the cinci area. One was the Creation Museum...even Whitney Lu gave it 2 thumbs up!

Watching the Reds

2009-05-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

On one of the most beautiful and rare days this spring we got to go to the day before opening day for the Red's. It was a beautiful day that we all got to enjoy including Deacon who got to enjoy his first MLB hotdog. It was a good family day!

W-

Pictures from the mission field

2009-04-05T16:39:00.001-07:00

Claire's Babtism

2009-03-15T18:32:00.001-07:00

Cayman Vacation 2009

2009-03-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

Off we go!

2009-02-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

So it is the first of February and Greg has a meeting in the Cayman Islands...we decided that it would be easier to take the kids as well as less stressful to take them! After the drama of getting Whitney's passport we left the Dayton Airport Feb. 4 at 9 am after a horrible storm on Tuesday that made the mom of the family very worried about getting out town.

Slade's Birthday

2009-01-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

Slade celebrated his 11th birthday by going to dinner at his favorite resturant BW3's. He recieved his Ohio State t-shirt, a new DS, and a Ihome for his new Ipod that he got for Christmas.

New Pictures from our missionary

2008-12-31T20:17:00.001-08:00

A Christmas call from our Missionary!!

2008-12-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

The presents have been opened the Turkey has been cooked and eatten and we have pictures to post. But the best thing about Christmas at the Simmons is that Austin called us! He sounds great- a little home sick today...but very happy. It sounds like the members are taking good care of him. We sure miss him but we are sooooo proud of him.

Thanks to everyone that sent him a goodie in the mail- he was very grateful and happy!

W-

Deacon Meets Santa

2008-12-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

Santa came to Claire's dance studio on Thursday- Deacon was not to impressed neither was Claire- I did manage to coax them into taking a picture!

Deacon's first Haircut...and a visit to the doctor!

2008-12-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

Yes all in one day! Deacon just turned 2 and up until Dec. 2 had not had a haircut yet! But he was waking up starting to look like his dad with morning clown hair- so he got a haircut. But the real reason that mom found the time to do that was because he wasn't feeling well and mom was taking him to the doctor. To bid the time deacon took some of his own pictures of his doctors visit.

Pictures from the Mission

2008-11-22T16:35:00.000-08:00

There are more pictures of Austin posted on his website!

Deacon's 2nd Birthday!

2008-11-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

Slades GrimesBowl touchdown

2008-11-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

the end of football season

2008-11-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

So this weekend we will be done with football until next fall! We have had a great season- what a difference a year makes! We made it to the division championship!!! We have had a lot of fun. These are pictures that our team mom barb has taken and believe it or not these are only a few from the hundreds that she has taken over the season.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T19:21:00.001-07:00

So Deacon had his first trick or treating...and his mom put him in this super cute dog costume- he already hates us for making him wear it. Slade is a crazy Ohio State fan and Claire is from High School Musical.

Deacon made it to about 10 houses- he didn't get what all the hubbub was about...why in the world would we make him walk around the neighborhood for candy when he had a huge tub at home...and he was dressed like a dog.

Happy Halloween

W-

Mission...Started!

2008-10-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we are back from Utah and dropping Austin off at the MTC (Mission Training Center) It was everything that was promised! Lots and Lots of tears!!! But we are soooo proud of Austin and we are excited to watch him grow in the gospel.

It's the final countdown...

2008-10-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we had the opportunity to take Austin to the Columbus Temple. You can tell from the leaves that it was a beautiful fall day. It was a great day to spend with our son whom we are very proud of.

Austin gave his "farewell" talk today and it was a great talk- I started crying half way through it and then after he spoke Deacon ran up to sit on his lap. It is becoming very real that he is leaving to serve the Lord for 2 years and I am full of emotions. We leave this coming Saturday to go to Utah and I know that this will be a crazy week.

Austin enters the MTC on October 29-

Whitney's Homecoming

2008-10-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

This week-end was homecoming for Mason- Since Whitney is a JV Cheerleader she got to cheer at the Varsity game for homecoming.

Then some how she talked her dad and I into going to the Homecoming dance with a group of her friends- it is not like when I was in HS- if you didn't have a date you didn't go...but I guess in 2008 life is a lot different...that and her mom and dad did not allow her to have a date.

Finally some new pic's

2008-09-30T17:27:00.001-07:00

So I am finally loading some new pictures...scroll on down! This is a football celebration dinner at BW's...Of course Deacon wanted to sit right in the middle of all of the boys!

This is the bear cheering at MYFC night at the high school- she got to cheer with the varsity cheerleaders- she had a lot of fun.

Deacon and Mom

2008-09-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

Oh yes...with the 43rd birthday came the reading glasses!!!

Whitney's JV Cheer Picture

2008-09-30T17:12:00.001-07:00

Whitney is very center on the bottom row- what a gorgeous girl!

1st Football Game of the season

2008-08-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

This is the football star that we call Slade the slammer Simmons

This is his fan base in the stands...Deacon "Jones" Simmons future Hall of Famer

This is Slades personal Cheerleader

GAME ON!

Slade changed from Marshall Faulks number...out of respect for his jersey being retired- and has moved on to Steven Jackson's number. Now his mom cannot remember what number he is-

Austin Recieved his mission call!

2008-07-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

We are soo excited to announce that Austin received his mission call- he has been called to serve in the Ventura California Mission. He reports to the Mission Training Center October 29, 2008.

We are soooo proud of him for making this huge decision to serve the Lord for the next two years-

W-

Claires Softball Party

2008-07-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

Taking one for the Team

2008-06-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T15:09:00.001-07:00

2008-06-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Under Construction

2008-06-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry... some of the pictures have disappeared...our blog is under construction and the contractor is not the sharpest crayon in the box!

It is true we are waiting for a mission call!

2008-06-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

It is official! Austin has all of his paperwork completed and the Stake President sent it in this week! So we are officially waiting for Austins mission call...I don't know who is more excited his parents or him!

We will let everyone know as soon as we know! It seems like just yesterday when Austin was a baby...then in kindergarten...getting baptised...oh these years go by way to fast!

W-

Claire's very late b-day party

2008-05-25T11:01:00.001-07:00

Claire's birthday is Feb 1...but we had her party a couple of months later. We went to the movie and had a sleep over-the girls had a lot of fun! Greg was out of town so I took all 8 girls and Slade to the movie. Austin was a good sport and helped transport.

Slade...The Reds Fan

2008-05-25T10:54:00.001-07:00

Deacon at school

2008-05-25T10:49:00.001-07:00

Look at this cutie pie!

The D-man at school

2008-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here is Deacon at school- these were taken on one of the weeks that we got snow and the teachers brought it in so that the babies could play in it- I think that Deacon ate more than he played with.

Walk for Babies

2008-05-03T17:01:00.001-07:00

Here is Deacon before the March of Dimes walk for babies started....

Deacon was exhausted after his three mile walk...he fell sound asleep on the way home!

Our State Champion!

2008-04-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Whitney had an amazing season- winning all around at every meet! She capped off her season by winning her age division All Around for Level 7! She took 1st on Bars, 2nd on Vault, 3rd on Floor and 4th on Beam. This was actually the first meet that she didn't win 1st in every event. But her consistency helped her win all around!

Easter 2008

2008-04-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Snow in March

2008-03-24T19:20:00.001-07:00

I remember not that long ago that when I would watch the news and I would laugh at the people that lived in the mid-west and say why would anyone live there? So we have lived here almost 4 years and I still wonder that! Especially after the first week in March it started snowing at 8:10 on Friday morning and did not stop until 5:10 on Saturday evening! It was crazy snow! The kids loved it until they had to help shovel the driveway! Church was even cancelled! Once we go home we were in the house until Monday morning! I went to Costco Friday morning and stocked up on the essentials and we "honkered" down for the weekend.

Deacon's trip to the hospital

2008-03-09T19:13:00.001-07:00

Deacon had tubes put in his ears and here is the adorable little man wearing his hospital outfit.
He did great- we left 2 hours after we arrived. Mom stayed home with him for the day and he was ready to go to school the next day...mom is very boring compared to his little friends at school!

Our trip to the Pro Bowl

2008-03-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Greg and I "had" to go to Maui for his work...it was grueling for me as well! While Greg went to meetings all day I laid by the pool and enjoyed the sun! Then on Saturday morning we hopped on the plane and went to Oahu and went to the Pro-bowl! We had a great time! We actually had seats in the family section...we sat by the Hasselbeck family-in front of us...Julian Peterson's wife sat behind us. Tory Holts's dad was over a section and down a row.

The cutest was the mom's wearing their son's jerseys-

I think that this may have to become a annual trip!

Whitney's Meet

2008-01-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

Whitney had her 2nd meet of the season today. She did terrific! Two weeks ago she competed at the Queen City meet and took 1st all around and 1st in all 4 events. It was great! Today she took 1st all around, 1st on floor, 1st on vault, 2nd on beam and 3rd on bars.

Hannah Montana

2008-01-21T19:48:00.001-08:00

We got tickets for Hannah Montana in Detroit! So Whitney, Claire, Slade and I took a road trip to see the queen of Disney. The kids had a lot of fun! The funniest was when the lights went off in the arena and the shrill screams of little girls in unison...holy cow! Slade and I looked at each other and couldn't quit laughing. Our ears were bleeding but we couldn't quit laughing.

Christmas Morning 2008

2008-01-14T18:29:00.000-08:00

The Ram game...St.Louis

2008-01-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

Greg and the three oldest made a journey to St.Louis to watch Marshall's number be retired. For those of you that know Greg well know that this was the trip of the year!

Deacon's first up close with the Christmas tree

2007-12-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

Claire playing Soccer

2007-12-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

Snow Day

2007-12-22T19:59:00.001-08:00

We woke up and it was not snowing...within an hour the snow was coming down so fast and furious that it was no surprise that soccer and basketball games were canceled. So we were at home for the day...what a nice change! Then by 3:00 it was raining and the snow melted away. Today it was actually 62 degrees which is pretty crazy with last Saturday it was a snow storm!

I love Chocolate!

2007-12-08T08:24:00.001-08:00

Anytime that the refrigerator is open baby d heads for one thing the Hershey bottle. His favorite thing to do is sit on the ledge. It is very cute!

We have been busy as usual- Wendy started a new job as a district manager for Knowledge Learning Corporation in the Kindercare division, and she is loving it! Greg is busy with his promotion and is ready not to be doing two jobs. Austin is busy with work. Whitney is done with Cheer and getting ready for competition season to start for gymnastics. Slade is playing on two basketball teams. The bear is busy with gym and being the bear. It snowed this week and she was dying to play in the snow...I don't know if we will ever get her in the house! Deacon is walking around and is quite a character.

Year End MYF Comet Video

2007-11-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

Football

Here is the Video that Greg made for his football team for the year end video...Slade is number 52.

Deacon...not so happy Deacon

2007-11-22T20:24:00.001-08:00

The D man did not want his picture taken...or his mom to put him down like a common baby to take his picture.

Birthday Boy...Deacons 1st Birthday

2007-11-16T19:27:00.000-08:00

Halloween

2007-11-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

Here are the Halloween pictures...Claire was a High

School musical cheerleader and Slade was TJ Houszmanzadah I probably spelled it incorrectly.

Slade Playing football

2007-10-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Slade has had a great year this year...last week he made a touchdown which is always exciting!

Disney World

2007-10-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

We just got back from DisneyWorld...we had a great time! We met my two sisters and their husbands and kids. It was fun for the kids to spend time with their cousins.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-10-15T18:39:00.001-07:00

The "Bear "Cheering

2007-10-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Claire loves being a cheerleader- I wonder if she knows that she is cheering for her brother...we have fun I have a hard time focusing on Claire and the game. Deacon likes the cheerleading- not a big fan of the yelling.

Deacon...I am soooo tired!

2007-09-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Slades Football Game

2007-09-10T19:28:00.001-07:00

Here are pictures from Slades football game- Slade made a touchdown but it got called back because of a flag. Slade was not happy about it. Here is Claire and her friend Hallie- Claire loves being a cheerleader.

Sunday

2007-09-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

It is Sunday and we just returned from church...except the sick dad that stayed home with the sick baby. We cannot seem to get rid of what ever it is that is going around. It has been a rough week and I am glad to be starting a new one!

One of Greg's Assistant Coaches passed away this week and it has taken a toll. It is very hard to see a family lose a member. But it helps to put things in perspective again...what is important and what we should be focused on.

I am supposed to be relocating a store...but on Friday we did not pass the fire inspection. Long story of trouble and turmoil...I just want it to be done.

Deacon will be moving from the butterfly class this week to the panda's...I am very sad! I cannot believe that his first birthday is around the corner.

Whitney was busy this week-end. She helped at Race for the cure this morning and went to a soccer game for special needs kids. I am proud of her!

Hopefully we will have a smoother week this week!

W-

Whitney Lu

2007-09-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight Claire Deacon and I got to go and watch Whitney Cheer- She is a Freshman cheerleader this year and she is as cute as can be...here is the football cheerleading squad for Mason High School.

Labor Day Week-end

2007-09-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day the Simmons had a mandatory Kings Island Water park day...it was very fun to have everyone come. Mom even went on the toilet bowl...I do not think that is really what it is called but that is what we call it.