Stampeding....Part 1

 So the Stampede is here, in full force!  Every year we look forward to it's onset, and every year, we are glad when it's over.  It all began a week ago with the first dinner (Woo, hoo...Papa John's Pizza) and Brad and I were the only attendees from the family.  Friday night was a different experience, though.  The Bunkhouse was packed with concert goers looking forward to seeing Jake Owens.  A yummy steak

 

dinner was provided by the Boot Grill and we were joined by Kristi, Wendi and Jessie.  Personally, I thought the dinner was the best part of the evening!  Saturday was a crazy, busy day starting with Corbin's soccer tournament.  He played 4 games and was pretty exhausted after the last one....defended with a couple of balls to his head!

 During a break between games, Gabi and I went to part of the annual Garden Tour and she really enjoyedit, especially the fairy garden at one of the homes.

Saturday night was a rock concert, so we gave our tickets away and everyone regrouped!  Sunday morning, Brad played golf with Jeff and then when he got home (and after a long conversation with Gramma and I while he was gone) we headed to Ft. Collins to check on the status of Doug, whom Gramma had not heard from for several weeks. We went to a Starbucks so that they could visit (another"first" (Starbucks) for Gramma!).And of course, in the way of every meeting they have, he had his hand in her purse!
Sunday night was the Billy Currington concert.  Carrie and Amie and I took Gabi, Sophie and Corbin to their first concert!

It was too bad that it was a work day the next day, as we had to leave early, but the kids did enjoy it.
Monday was the "Pink" rodeo.  Good to have Kelly join us for dinner while her son, Skyler spent time with Emma, Elijah and Rory at the Carnival.

 

With plenty of Dramamine on board, the rides were a success!  Did I mention Carnival food?

 

 Good thing it's only once a year!  Grayson (as well as the other kids) really enjoyed the rodeo (his first) and sat (?????Wow!!!!) on Amie's lap for the entire performance.  Tuesday night was the younger kids time for rides, and again, Grayon aka Mr. Fearless, thought he was a six year old, wanting to do everything the others did.

Scariest moment?  Grayson riding the big ferris wheel with Corbin, Curt, Sophie and Gabi.  We onlookers were holding our breaths!

  Happy July 4th!  More "Stampeded" stories to follow!

Summer (officially) begins

The week started off not so great with Corbin and Gabi's car (driven by babysitter Kelsey)  rear ended on Monday (Thankfully, only the cars had injuries) while on  their way to VBS.  That gave  all of us a few more gray hairs!  Tuesday, Carrie got a call from VBS saying Gabi was complaining of a headache and abdominal pain, so after consulting her pediatrician, Gabi was checked out at the ER. It turned out to be a very expensive strep test!  She rallied and made it to her dance recital that evening at the UCCC.  We took Gramma, Sophie, and Amie and everyone (with the exception of Corbin) enjoyed it.  What 5 year old boy WOULD like recitals?

 Friday night we decided (Spencer's idea) to go to a drive-in movie in Ft. Collins.  Crazy, but the adults, (with the exception of Brad and I and Spencer) had never been to a drive-in!  We talked about our drive-in experiences as kids (no, not as teenagers!) with my family loading into the 1955 Ford station wagon, along with a grocery bag of popcorn and jammies and pillows, and heading out to the closest drive-in on Evans (Denver).  I did kind of miss those bulky speakers hanging inside the window of your car as opposed to listening to the movie on our car radio.  We saw the Dragon movie and not one kid made it through the whole movie.....Maybe it was the fact that the movie started at 9:30!

Of course, in the usual Simmons fashion, my car battery gave out twice and I hit a pole getting out of the parking lot. Ahhh, good times!
On Sunday, we celebrated Grayson's birthday again with a pool party. The pictures tell the story!

 After swimming, a game of volleyball began (hopefully Brad and Carrie aren't too sore today after their falls) then we came back to the house for grilled burgers and hot dogs (family favorites).  We broke up the party early as everyone was pooped!  Happy Monday!

Father's Day/Grayson's birthday

As you know, we Simmons try to fit as many things into one day/weekend as possible, this one being no exception.  Little Grayson turned three on Saturday, and we celebrated in "Grayson fashion" by attending the Wheelie Wheelie show put on by the hospital, showcasing all of the biggest and best vehicles the city has to offer. 

 Naturally, he had to climb on every one of them!

 

 Saturday was also the beginning of Corbin's first 3V3 soccer tournament held in Littleton.  After the  games, Spencer and Carrie picked Mom up (who lives close to where the tournament was held) and brought her back to Greeley for an overnight stay. Brad and I played bridge Saturday night after dinner, playing until 10:00 with the 2 Moms.  They both seemed to enjoy it.  And then, early Sunday morning, we loaded up (or should I say overloaded?) for a trip back to Littleton for round two of the soccer tournament.  At the last minute (as we were pulling out of the driveway, Gramma decided she really wanted to go with us, despite the agenda we presented to her, so we crammed her, and her walker into our already stuffed vehicle (5 chairs, a tent, a cooler, a suitcase, 2 kids and 6 adults) and we were off. It was a beautiful day and both Grandma's enjoyed the sunshine, with Gramma actually going down a grassy hill with her walker!  Doubt she has walked so much in decades!
Corbin's games were fun to watch.

 

 After dropping Mom off at her place, we drove across Denver to Dave and Buster's Sports bar ( a favorite "Dad" place and had some snacks and let the kids (and adults) play some arcade games.  Then it was back to Greeley to meet at Santeramos for dinner.  We got there a few minutes early, so the kids played outside (they have a beautiful yard) after being in the car for so long.

 We had a nice dinner and then went back to Amie and Curt's for birthday cake (thanks, Meredith!) and presents (both Father's Day and Grayson's birthday)

 

 Trucks and trikes were the theme (and he wouldn't let anyone touch his trucks except Gramma) and of course, no one could wait to open his bike and put it together.  He rode it like a champ!

 We are so blessed!