Where Has the Time Gone?

So I felt the urge to change my blog background. (I do this in place of changing my nail and hair color.) Do you like my girly "bling" background? This is about as girly as you're going to see from me! And while I'd love to be more girly. Me trying to be girly would be perceived as just that, TRYING to be girly! Basically it would turn out in epic fail! But this entry isn't about my lack of girly know-how. It's about the fact I haven't posted in almost a month! A MONTH! I almost went the entire month of April without a post. And while I'm still new to all this blogging stuff, I feel like I've let my followers...all 7 of them down! :)

So I asked myself what had me sooo busy that I was 2 days shy of 1 month without a new post? And then I remembered.

The first weekend in April Eric and I, along with our awesome neighbors Shane and Amy, went to Oklahoma for the Kenny Chesney concert! It was so much fun! The four of us were able to eat dinner without ordering off the kiddie menu, have adult conversation, and stay out past bedtime. Oh, Kenny Chesney was pretty good too!

Then the next weekend ROOKIE Baseball began. While we've had practices weeks leading up to this, it was our first tournament of the new season. Since then we've had our first out of town tournament, and we picked up another tournament for this Saturday. Unfortunately we've placed 2nd in both tournaments so far, something these ROOKIES aren't used to, but I'm pretty confident we'll get our first place trophies soon! The upside, we've watched Cade pitch himself out of a horrible inning, pitch a nearly flawless 2 innings, and hit his first OUT-OF-THE-PARK-HOME RUN! Way to go Cade!

We've also had soccer! Something Eric and I were totally regretting doing, but something Cooper has totally excelled in! He's had a blast. It's so fun to watch him. He's aggressive and really goes after the ball. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, tonight is his last game. But no worries, tball will be starting up soon and he's already been outside working on his catching, throwing, and batting!
Then came Easter. Because the weather was crazy, I offered to host the Dellasega Easter. (Mainly because I needed a reason to clean my house.) I was hoping the 30% chance of rain would go to 10%, but no such luck and the house was cleaned, the Dellasegas all converged, and a great time was had! After waking up the kids to go to 7am mass, we headed home, hunted eggs, and took it easy the rest of the day. (FYI...If you go to 7am mass thinking everyone is home hunting eggs, you are wrong!)

Sprinkle in Cade's spring music concert, baseball practices, soccer on Wednesdays, baseball, Eric's week long trip to Denmark, soccer, baseball, family math night at school, homework, more baseball/soccer, Cade reading at church, and the fact I've been lazy and haven't uploaded pictures and you can see how a month can almost slip by without a peep from me. So with Eric on the road again, and the house still somewhat clean, you can prepare yourself for
Simmons' Blog overload.

(By the way, it took me over 4 hours to write and post this, so chances are the overload will be slow and sweet....if at all.)

I sense an uprising, and I'm losing!

I'm sending out an SOS. They've taken over my house! Every square inch of my house. Their stuff has even made it's way up to our room. The room I thought would be our "retreat" after a full "work" day.

I'm embarrassed to even post these pictures. But while I've spent time cleaning out closets or emptying the dishwasher, they have managed to destroy whatever room was somewhat clean. No, it's not a rat problem. And we don't even have a dog to blame it on.

No, it's them....the four of them. And they are winning!

I bought these magnets when I went on the Alcatraz Tour and when I looked at them today and thought of my messy basement, my loads of laundry, and the horrible state of the playroom, I couldn't help but laugh.

In a way, I feel like these little "inmates" of mine are taking over. A revolt is brewing and it looks as if they are going to win. At least for now! Little do they know that the chore chart is in it's 2nd revision, that any toy I step on or trip over will be subject to lockdown aka the trash, and that visitation rights from friends will be subject to how kept up their cell, I mean room, and recreation yard, I mean playroom, is!

Welcome to THE ROCK....I mean HOME!

:)

Date Night With Cooper!

A few months ago the boys and I went out to Applebee's and then a play performed by SMC. We called it our Date Night because Eric stayed home with Colton. Ever since then Cooper would ask me when we could go on a "date" just the two of us. So finally, after getting back from our trip to California, Cooper asked Eric if he could watch the kids so we could go.

Once we got the babysitter lined up, it was decided that we'd go to Chili's because he had never been. He couldn't wait to go! He'd ask me every 10 minutes if I was excited because we got to go on our date to Chili's. And if you know Cooper very well, you can hear him say it. He usually begins a sentence with "Aren't you excited?" or "Didn't I do a good job?" or "Aren't you so proud of me?"

By lunch time I hadn't worked out yet, so I still had my hair in a ponytail. And before I dropped Coop off for school, he asked me to wear my hair down, because I looked pretty when I did. (Yes ladies, he will melt your heart!) So I worked out and got dolled up. Well, dolled up by my standards. As soon as he got home from school he asked how much longer till Dad got home. And he continued to ask every half hour. He was so sweet. He must have tried on 4 different shirts before deciding on the red one.
FINALLY Dad got home and we were off to Chili's! We had a GREAT time. The food was great and the conversation even better. Cooper was the perfect gentleman. He told me I was gorgeous, wanted to hold my hand in the parking lot, opened the door for me, and even let me sit down first. But I'm pretty sure that was by accident. We talked about school, the food, his "real" girlfriend, and even where our next date was going to take place. (I get to choose this time!)

After we finished eating, it was decided we'd head to Braums for some ice cream and we'd bring some back for Dad and the brothers. They were kinda jealous that Coop and Mom got some time to themselves. So, it looks like I'll be having regular dates with my boys more often. Can't wait! The boys are so much fun when you get to spend some alone time with them. And I need to take it all in now, because pretty soon they'll be wanting to take someone else on a date.

Oh, and ladies, you'll be happy to know that Cooper and his girlfriend broke up. It was mutual. So he's back on the market. :) Of course, you'll have to win the approval of his Mother! Just a heads up.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

MARCH MADNESS BABY!!!!

It's March 1st and normally at this time I'd be on my computer scouring the KSHSAA website looking at sub-state pairings and potential state tournament match-ups. I LOVE this time of year. And when I took the high school girl's basketball job in 2002, the State Tournament was my ultimate goal. I was fortunate enough to play on the court of Bramlage Coliseum at Kansas State both my junior and senior year. They also made a state appearance the following year, but the girl's team hadn't been back since 1996. I took the job because I wanted to get the program back to where it once was!

I inherited a team that finished the season before at 8-14. My first season as head coach, we not only won our first game, but finished the year at 9-13! The following year we saw a little bit of improvement going 10-12, and then the following season we finished above .500 with a 14-8 record. A winning season!!!! Things began to click and we went 18-5, losing to Sedan in the Championship game of sub-state. That loss hurt the most because we were so close I could taste it!
In '06-'07 we opened the Fieldhouse and found out we were going to host the sub-state. As a player, I played in the first game to open the Activity Center where we beat St. Paul in a nail biter. As a coach, I was there to open the Fieldhouse and watch my girls take it to Jasper! We went in to our sub state the #1 seed with a 19-2 record. Talk about pressure! And with a packed SMC Fieldhouse, our girls brought home the sub-state trophy and a trip of their own to Bramlage. The next 3 years we pretty much dominated. :) And, to-date, have made 4 consecutive trips to the class 2A State Tournament. I was so fortunate to coach for the team I once played for. And since God blessed me with 4 boys, I felt very blessed to have coached many fine young ladies! My eight seasons are memories I will always cherish and look back on with pride.

And while I won't be the one standing in the coach's box tonight to begin sub-state week, you can bet my heart and spirit will be with them! (I'll just yell louder at them from the stands!) Win or lose, they are an amazing group of girls that have accomplished so much. I just hope that the winning tradition we have worked so hard to get back, will continue to get stronger and better as the years go on. Here's wishing the SMC Girl's basketball team and their coaches the best of luck as they go for state appearance #5!

KAWCCPKA TOGETHER!!!!

Dear Scrapbook Room, oh how I've missed your original purpose!

When we first looked at this house 6 years ago, I was sooo excited! At the time we were living in a 3 bedroom, 1500 sq. ft house. We had one living room that was filled with a ball pit, tool bench, ride-on toys, and a big screen tv. All the bedrooms were spoken for, so my scrapbooking supplies were neatly tucked away in an armoire in our bedroom.

About that time, my good friend Amy Lomshek and I would regularly attend open houses! We joked we'd be those old ladies that always came, but never bought. That we would have been inside every house in Pittsburg when all was said and done. Well, one open house we came to Woodland Terrace. We gave our own self-guided tour since we were regulars and the Realtors gave up on us. And after dragging Eric back with me, and showing him the potential for a really cool "Man's Cave" in the basement, we put in an offer.

I was so excited. It had 4 bedrooms, so we'd have an "extra" and it had a small room down in the basement. I immediately claimed it for my scraproom! It had UGLY pink rose carpet, but I didn't care. I was going to have a place I could decorate as "girly" as I wanted and let my creative juices flow!!! That was the PLAN anyways. So I painted it, decorated it, and organized it. I was all set up to scrapbook! And then......I never did.

Since buying this gem of a house (That has cost us a new hot water tank, air condition unit, plumbing the kitchen sink, fixing cracks in the basement so water would stop running down our walls, and now new siding.) I haven't really used MY room for it's original purpose. I haven't even finished Cooper's 1st year album, let alone started on the other two boys' books. (You know, the two boys that took away our "extra" room and has forced someone to share living quarters.)

So while my husband is in Las Vegas for "work" with his good friend and boss, I'm going to tackle my scraproom and attempt to get back to the hobby that I use to enjoy so much. I'm going to print pictures and break out the papers I bought over 3 years ago for that perfect double page spread. The kids enjoy looking back at their albums (or at least Cade does, since his is the only one done.) so I want to finish them FOR them. Sorry daughters-in-law, the boys will be coming with albums!

"MY" room has been taken over by bills, toys, paperwork, and is a catch-all for everything we own it seems. And that cute little kid in the picture, he doesn't help things much. So here's to a week of cleaning and hopefully scrapping! If nothing else, we'll all be more comfortable hanging out in "my" room when the tornado sirens go off! Enjoy your week!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly about LEGOs

"Oh, I love LEGOs!" or "My kids have a TON of LEGOs." That's usually the first words I hear when I either have to explain what my husband does for a living or when I go to a show with him and people come up to the booth to talk. Let's face it, the LEGO trademark is pretty well-known all over the world. I know Carston could tell me what it is, and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Colton will start saying LEGO!

Before I met Eric, LEGO was just a toy I played with. Didn't have millions of them, but sure, I built stuff. Now since knowing Eric, or at least when he started working for my Dad, LEGO has meant even more. And it's meaning increased when he began working for LEGO Education directly. So here's the good, the bad, and the ugly about LEGO. Happy building!

The GOOD - Eric working for LEGO means I get to stay at home and play LEGOs with my boys! LEGOs give my boys and Eric something to work on together. And is even at the center of game nights thanks to LEGO checkers, LEGO dominos, and our latest game LEGO Pirate Cove. (It's actually a really fun game.) LEGO has also allowed me to travel to places I've never been. Eric's territory has taken me to Oregon and Las Vegas! Here in a couple weeks I get to go to California. (Not because it's his territory, but because it's a national convention!) All of those tiny little LEGOs that you vaccum up in your Dyson, those little things have provided very well for our family!

The BAD - We have a TON of LEGOs! I'm sure there are people out there with a lot more than us, but they are everywhere. We have big LEGOs, small LEGOs, medium LEGOs, motors for our LEGOs, wheels for our LEGOs, a LEGO table, LEGO cases, LEGO soccer balls, LEGO magnets, LEGO picture frames, a LEGO jello mold, LEGO keychains, LEGO pins, and even a LEGO cookie cutter. (I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting something.) I also have a playroom that's overflowing. A playroom that drives my wonderful husband crazy! It's also the same room where I put all the LEGOs he brings home for our kids. Really....like we need even more. Lucky for us, our children have never put LEGOs in their mouths, ears, or noses, so we've been blessed. Having to go to the ER to retrieve a LEGO from somewhere it shouldn't be, would definitely be bad. Of course, we're not out of the woods yet with Colt. Give it time and I'm sure he won't disappoint.

The only UGLY I can think of is stepping on a LEGO. It hurts! BAD!!! Especially when it's 2am and you have to try to find Mickey Mouse so someone can go back to sleep. Yeah, not cool! So while I'm tired of seeing all the LEGOs around the house, I love watching the boys (big and small) build their contraptions. I'm also very thankful for what LEGO has given us. (Of course, Eric is a pretty good sales rep!) And who knows, maybe one of our children will go in to construction and build my dream house some day. Hopefully...not out of LEGOs.

Valentine's Day 2011 In the Books

What a wonderful (and busy) Valentine's Day!

I first woke up to these beautiful flowers from my 5 boys!

Then I was invited by Cooper to a "T" party at school. They sang a few songs and we enjoyed "T" brownies, grapes, and "tea" aka apple juice. He also gave me some beautiful flowers that he made.

We got home from school and I got to work! Cade LOVES spaghetti and meatballs, so I decided to surprise him for dinner. I even made a run to Pallucca's for Eric because he loves the sausage! I also got some help from Carston. He loves to help in the kitchen.

Dinner was a HUGE success! Eric was busy fixing his truck, so the boys and I were able to have a wonderful dinner with great conversation. And to top it off, I made them Oreo cookie dessert! If that meal doesn't just scream LOVE (and calories) I don't know what does.

At least I know Colton liked it.

Thank you boys for making Valentine's Day such a delight for me. You all really know how to make a girl feel special. I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day.

And while it's always nice to get flowers, candy, and the romantic card. We should all strive to make every day a little bit like Valentine's Day. You don't always have to do something big, but just something that let's your loved ones know you care about them. Sure wish the Jayhawks had shown a little love last night! Hope your Valentine's Day was the start to a wonderful week!XOXOXOXOXO -The Simmons family
Aren't the flowers Cooper gave me beautiful?