Celebrating with Friends

Today was Grant's friend party. After much debate between 2 places, he chose SoccerPlex...an indoor soccer arena right by our house. We invited 8 friends, but one couldn't come, one was sick and then one just didn't come. So in the end there were just 6 kiddos, including Grant and Beckett. Everyone had a great time!

For the first hour we were on the small field. It's the field used by the kiddos 8 and under. Then we moved onto the BIG field. The boys were so excited to get out there! There was a score board and everything! Great time.

 Heading to the party

 Go Beckett!

 There go the Simmons boys!

 Getting so big. :-) and :-( 

 Go yellow!

 One of Grant's friends is the son of the school's PE teacher. The boys were pretty psyched to have him out there running the flag football game. We played flag for the last 30 minutes or so. 

Go red!

 Gotta love the red face and sweat!

 Left to right - Beckett, Jud, Grant, Charles, Greyson and Max

And of course a goofy one. :-)

Little video of the flag game.

Grant's actual birthday is next weekend! Nothing like celebrating your birthday for a week!

Picture Catch Up

Here are some pictures from the last month or so.

Goofing around at Costco while we wait for our pizza to cook.

Beckett was King of the Day in his classroom. Each student has a chance to be King/Queen of the day. Your day comes complete with a crown and a book of drawings from your friends.

More soccer photos.

This one cracks me up. Grant seemed to think that he was guarding someone in basketball or something....really not sure what he was thinking. That's his teammate behind him trying to score a goal and Grant is guarding the goalie like it's basketball. He was super embarrassed after this.

GOAL!

Alaska Represents at Parkside Elementary!

Amy came for a day visit this weekend...always with a book or 2 in tow.

Then we desperately needed haircuts. Thanks Amy for being a good sport and tagging along!

Before

Before

After - 

After

Soccer Saturday

Soccer has started! YAY! Our first game was last weekend and it was FREEZING! We had a cold front come through and so it was rainy and 60. These Texans just didn't know what to do with that! Roger on the other hand was in 7th heaven. :-)

Grant is ALL about soccer. He's very focused on the strategy of the game and how to improve his skills. Beckett just wants to have fun. :-)

 Beckett all ready to play!

 Grant bundled up on the sidelines.

 Beckett meeting with Coach Tyler and his team before the game. Coach Tyler is a police officer and drives an old sooped up Bronco. Beckett thinks he's wonderful! :-)

 Beckett on a break from the game. (Don't know why all the colors are so weird...silly phone)

 Grant and Dad strategizing during a break

 Beckett's turn to be all bundled up.

Here are pictures from today...our second soccer game. Both the games were at 9 this morning. Luckily their fields were right next to each other so Roger and I hopped between the fields. Grant scored 3 goals (got one on the video). Beckett didn't score this week but definitely had a good time.

 Cool and collected on the sidelines

Dad and his boys. :-)

A Few Random Pics

Found a few pictures we have taken since school started.

 Beckett ready for school!

 Love this one and the next. The boys walking up the hill with their good friends - Luke in the lead. Grant right behind. And Beckett is chatting with Kamryn and Jud. All such good friends...makes me smile. Plus all their backpacks are HUGE! :-)

 Grant and Luke in the lead with Kamryn, Beckett and Jud behind.

 No more soccer practice for Beckett...he's done!!

Had to bribe Beckett with a corndog because we had to go to a meeting after school. He enjoyed it in style! :-)

Watch Out Parkside!

Both Simmons boys started their new year this morning with Parkside Elementary! Grant is in 1st grade this year with Ms. Paulsen. Beckett is starting Kindergarten (yikes!) and has Mrs. Schneider (Grant's teacher last year.)

Last Thursday we had Meet the Teacher. Both boys were beside themselves with excitement. I was nervous as all get out to see who their teachers were going to be. I have some reservations about Beckett being placed with Mrs. Schneider. She is strict. Beckett likes to push the limits. At Meet the Teacher she seemed genuinely excited to have him in class and he was very excited - HUGE hugs. And his best buddy Greyson is in class with him. Hopefully they will find a way to balance his exuberant personality and her orderly classroom.

Grant was very serious about the night and ready to get down to the business of learning. He chose a desk at the front of the room so he could "get in the most learning possible."

 For Meet the Teacher and Kinder orientation, Beckett's Kindergarten group made tye-dye tees. Easy to spot in a crowd and easy to find your friends. :-) Grant's group made them last summer.

 Grant wanted to look nice for his new teacher - not that you can tell from this goofy photo! 

Beck and Greyson. Not sure why Beckett looks like this. He has been bugging out in pictures lately.

And today was the first day of school. Both of the boys were VERY ready. I cried a bit, but not too badly. :-) Looking at the pictures I realize that I didn't get too many of Grant and it's because he really just wanted to get to his desk and get to learning!

 I really like this one for some reason.

 Typical goofballs...hugging the tree for some reason.

 I have one of Grant and Roger last year. :-)

 Walking up to school.

 Mr GQ himself! :-)

 Grant reading his morning message before going into class.

 Beckett settling into his new classroom.

Beck and Greyson at after a long first day - Beckett even lost one of his shirts! :-)