Christmas 2014

Ho Ho Ho...a week late, but hey...at least I have some cute pictures to share! :-)

One morning before we left on our trip, I woke up and found the boys like this....cuddled up on the floor, sharing a blanket and a book. :-) LOVE their love of books.

The boys school has a yearly Breakfast with Santa. Fun chance to see lots of friends, visit with Santa, and get a little bit dressed up. 

This year the annual Farrell Christmas was in Galveston, TX. There were 21 of us this year (Lindsey brought Daniel - a wonderful young man we are all hoping to see again). The 7 bedroom house had a heated pool, 10 person hot tub, ocean access through a canal, and lots and lots of deck space. We had a 6 person golf cart to get us to and from the local convenience store and beach. Great time had by all.

 Amy received a "selfie stick" for her iPhone. There were lots and lots of great selfies taken. :-) Beckett is wearing SpyGear night vision goggles...and a singing Christmas tie. :-)

 I love Grant's face in this one. :-)

 David and Peter received superhero pajamas. 

 a great pic of the Simmons clan - Grant (7) and Beckett (5)

 David and I making Santa cups for Christmas Eve dinner

The whole clan - front row - Amy, Beckett, Connie, Macie and Grant

middle row - Randy, Megan, Drew, Aileen, Morgan, Lindsey, Imelda, Conor

Back Row - David, Peter, Karla, Cap, Roger, Jen, Daniel, Ryan

 Beckett caught a flounder in our little ocean canal!

 The girl cousins - front - Aileen, Lindsey...Middle - Megan, Morgan...back - Jen

 David's wonderful attire for our beach football game. In case you can't tell, those are penny loafers on his feet, Superman boxers, MD Home tee, and Santa hat to round it all off. :-)

 Beckett and Ryan ready for flag football

 The Farrell 5 - David, Connie, Amy, Barbara, Pete

 Grant - the man with the plan

"This is a football. We need to run it to the other end of the field. That is all."

 2 of Cap's favorite things - University of Texas and beer.

 Grant and Connie playing SpotIt

 Riley completely worn out from 3-4 walks a day and 3-4 games of fetch. I don't think she has really moved since we got home. 

 Grant helping Aileen cut out elf costumes

 Grant and Macie playing SpotIt

 Beckett and Ryan building a LEGO creation

 Pete gave Grant a penny collection and lots of books to put them in. He LOVES it.

 Howdy!

 Aww...it's black dog. Even black dog got into the holiday spirit! :-)

 Beckett just loves his little Black Dog. As Beck told me the other night...he will always love him.

 David made up an amazing game based on Farrell stories and trivia. Here is Grant telling his story in front of everyone.

 We are READY TO ROCK!!! Flag football...here we come!

 Ryan and Conor bought these hats for the boys....

 and as you can see....the boys now all matched. :-) LOVE this picture.

 Meg talking trash and Macie getting pumped up!

 The beach flag football crew

 Another pic of the crew - I am in this one. Although I didn't play (hurt foot)...I was the official photographer. :-)

Beckett and Ryan...ready

So Busy...So Far Behind

I was just thinking...hmmm, when was the last time I updated the blog? Oh geez....it's been a month. Grant's birthday. So, here we go...

Halloween Up First

This year we went over to a friends house for pizza and then headed out from there. Kamryn is Grant's age and Ashlyn is a year younger than Beckett. It's always fun to get a house of all girls together with a house of all boys. The costume differences...prep, detail...is always entertaining. My boys show up in their pjs...just needing to add costumes over the top. Not the girls. Braids, glitter, sparkles, and big princess gowns. So fun. :-)

 Boba Fett Grant and Sir Beckett

 Sir Beckett and Princess Ashlyn

 We added a few before leaving

Ran into this motley crew along the way. And of course we knew most of them from school. Love our neighborhood school!

END OF SOCCER

We had a great time playing soccer this time. Beckett adored his coach - he is a detective, drives an old supped up Bronco, and has all boys of his own. He was great with Beckett. Both the boys really grew a lot as soccer players. Beckett stopped flopping on the ground and really tried to "control the power." Grant really grew in both skill and strategy. So fun to see!

Grant's School Projects

Grant makes a ton of presentations and projects in Quest. The latest involved Amelia Earhart. Who she was and wondering what might have happened to her. Then they had to make a rescue aparatus out of a shoe. Grant made a boat that he named the Red Baron.

This is Grant's turkey in disguise. Meet Sargent Feathers. He's in the turkey army, fights in Mexico, and plans to hide in the bushes for Thanksgiving. Sargeant Feathers wants to eat Hawaiian pizza and strawberry ice cream for Thanksgiving dinner.

THANKSGIVING FEAST

Every year Parkside has a Thanksgiving feast - full Thanksgiving dinner served during lunch. This year Beckett packed a ham sandwich. :-) At least Grant bought lunch...although he was very disappointed that there wasn't any cranberry chutney (his favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner).

Indian Beckett

 

TURKEY TROT

Another tradition at Parkside is an annual run called the Turkey Trot. Kinder and 1st run a mile (2 laps around the school). Then it goes up to 4 or 5 laps as they get older. I ran with Beckett this year. Those hills are a killer!

 Beckett and his good friend Cooper.

I didn't run with Grant - they needed volunteers to man the course. He did great.

Then after the Trot, Beckett's class was participating in the Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast. So off we went to watch the kids. Its the same thing Grant did last year. So fun to see both kids doing the same things. 

 I love how big his hat is. And see that little black spot on his white collar? It's a bow tie. :-) And that's his friend Breely behind him. She played soccer with us.

Grant trying to cool off and stay out of the bedlam...

Video of their performance.

whew. now we have a week off. Yay! hoping the kids decide its a good time to sleep in!