Well...the big day is almost here. Craig is getting married on Saturday. He and Megan spent Sunday with us watching general conference and having dinner. Craig even took Megan out in the afternoon to teach her to drive a stick shift. She did pretty good,only killed the car once.
Molly and the boys will be arriving on Friday. Lance won't be coming because he has school and can't get time off. :( I'm grateful that he is letting Molly spend a few days with us. It's been a long time. Andrew and Danielle will arrive late Friday night. We'll see them Saturday, along with Aunt Vicki and Uncle Jim, Sonya and Elizabeth, and Grammy. Good times ahead.
Molly is going to help me with my blog when she gets over here so maybe you won't even recognize me the next time I log in.

Molly said I just need to write what I've been doing so here goes....
I've been busy with canning the last couple of weeks. Tomatoes, Salsa, green beans, pickles, etc. More tomatoes this week and some pears. It nice that Larry likes to can. He helps a lot. He'll probably be canning the pears this week while I'm at work. Aren't I lucky. Sure will be nice this winter.
It's been good having Craig home. He and Megan have been busy getting all the arrangements made for their wedding on Oct. 10th. I'm looking doubly forward to it because Andrew and Danielle, Molly and Lance, Isaac and Mark will also be here. It will be a quick trip for all of them but I'll get a chance to see them for a little while at least. Molly is going to take Craig and Megan's wedding pictures. I'll get in as much baby time as I can get.
Of course we will be seeing them again after Molly has her baby in December and Danielle has her baby in January.

Well, I thought I would shock everyone and let everyone know that....yes..... I am still around and that I am actually enjoying reading everyone blogs. I've watched so many of you grow up it is so fun to see you in a whole new setting of being married, having children, going to college or missions. I hope you haven't minded that I have used other blogs to get updated on many of you. Mine are so boring I hate to even write anything. I have noticed that many are privatizing their blogs. I think that is such a good idea. At this time I'm not going that way, but will in the future.
I need help right now with costumizing my blog site. How do you get all the cute Layouts?? Can someone with the time help me out?
A couple of updates with the family. Molly and Lance are expecting a new baby in December. Craig is marrying Megan Wright October 10th in the Portland Temple. The reception will be in Eugene. If anyone wants an invite to the reception let me know. Andrew and Danielle are expecting their first baby in January. Amanda is feeling left behind. Most of this everyone probably already knows, but at least I'm writing something.

Family gathering

Well....I thought I would surprise everyone and finally write something on my blog. So much has happen since the last post. We had a great time at Molly's for Mark's blessing. Larry, Craig and myself drove to Reno. Craig and Larry were able to be in on the Blessing. Isaac warmed up to Uncle Craig and they were good buddies. While we were there we were able to help Molly and Lance move to a new apartment. Thank heavens Mike and Marilyn were there also.
For Thanksgiving we went to Grammy's house in Bend for a Family Reunion. It was so great! Molly and Lance, Isaac and Mark came from Reno. Isaac even remember us. Andy and Danielle flew in from San Diego. Craig came with us and also my niece Wendy. Cousin's Corey and Sonya with her husband Wade and daughter Elizabeth were there. Aunt Vicki and Uncle Jim. Everyone but Amanda and Mike made it. It always seems like we miss someone, but someday we'll make it with everyone. We had a wonderful time, lots of yummy food and siblings reconnecting and meeting the babies. Cousins Elizabeth and Isaac really hit it off well together. Mark was a true joy. Such a little sweetheart. He can hardly wait to be running around with his big brother. Andrew flew off to Wahington D.C. on Friday and we got Danielle all to ourselves. The older cousins even got to get away for a hike up Smith Rock while Grandma, Papa and Aunt Vicki and Uncle Jim got to babysit.
All in all it made my heart very happy to have everyone together. I love all my kids and grandkids and extended family. Thanks for all the effort you made to get to Bend.

Forgot my Password

I can't believe I got on. It's been so long since I posted I forgot all the stuff I was suppose to remember to get on. So I tried this again at work and I don't have time to write so I'll write something after I get home tonight.

Well, we are off to visit Molly and Lance and the Boys in Reno. Mark is being blessed this Sunday. Larry and Craig get to assist in the blessing. This will be the first time Craig has seen Mark and the second time he has seen Isaac. We will also get to help Molly and Lance move to their new apartment. It is closer to UNR, so it will help with gas. Molly will let everyone know all about their new place on her blog. We are anxious to see Molly and Lance and to see how much Isaac has grown and how much Mark has changed. It will only be a short visit but we'll do our best to get some quality hugs in. I'll update after we return.

I can't believe it's been this long since I posted anything. A lot has happened since the last post. Number one on the list is we now have a new adorable little grandson. Mark Hinckley Simmons. Isaac has a new baby brother. We arrived in Reno July 11th. We were able to spend a few days with Molly, Lance and Isaac before Mark arrived. Mark was still hanging on waiting to be born. The doctor said she would induce Molly on Tuesday July 15th if she hadn't delivered before then. Which she didn't, so with some inducing he arrived. All 9#1.5 oz. of him. Molly did great and was anxious to get home but had to stay for 24hrs. according to the doctors. We had to leave Thursday morning to go pick Craig up at BYU-I because he was checked out of his apartment. We didn't get to be there for his Homecoming but was able to take Isaac to see his brother for the first time at the hospital. He was fascinated with him but couldn't understand that he was real and that he was coming home to live with him.
We were able to have a couple of days one on one with Isaac which was so fun. He taught us how to use the DVD player, and serenaded us on the electric guitars and played Leggo's with Papa and showed me were every snack was and how to get to them. He is quite the charmer. He loves Star Wars, (Chewie is the best), Elmo, learning sign language, snacks, bananas, singing songs, writing, coloring, he like to help pick up and put things in the garbage. He showed us all around the public library and which tables were the most fun to play at.
While waiting for Mark to come along we played the game Farmland which is similar to Monopoly which I've never liked, but this game was ok. I didn't loose the farm, livestock or my wheat and corn crop so I felt pretty good about myself. Lance made us homemade tortillas and thanks to Marilyn getting them a window air conditioner we were able to survive the unbearable
heat that Reno has in the summer. I know this is long but who knows when the next entry will come.
We are enjoying Craig being home. He is working full time at a landscaping business and is enjoying home cooking and being at home. Andrew is at Virginia Beach doing some training and should be returning to Iraq sometime in September. Amanda has been spending some time with her cousin Wendy and working occassionally. That's about all for now. Hope everyone is healthy and enjoying their summer.