Sunday, November 20, 2011

Dylan's birthday celebration

 Typically we go out to eat as part of our birthday celebrations, but Dylan's birthday was on Sunday. 
So we had to improvise. 
We asked Dylan what menu he would like served up on his birthday and he chose...
Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, potato soup, homemade bread with homemade strawberry jam, and fruit pies with ice cream. 
I think this boy knows how to eat!

 Grampa Cady made giant chocolate chip cookies
 Dylan and Samantha
 Birthday Pies
 Singing Happy Birthday
 Dylan said this was his best birthday ever...
He got to go to Northview's Production of Wizard of Oz on Thursday
Camped with the Scouts on Friday
Went to see "Breaking Dawn" on Saturday
and spent time with the family, eating good food, and playing games on Sunday

 May all of your birthday wishes come true
 Mar showing Dylan his birthday card
 Dylan hugging his Parker
Dylan got to choose which gift he wanted...he chose the cash
We love you more than words Dylan!

17 years with Dylan

 Jonathan Dylan Simons
born at Flower Hospital on
November 20th, 1994
at 3:33 am weighing 7 lbs 11 oz
to Jonathan and Maria Simons
 I remember back in 1991 when "Father of the Bride" was released starring Steve Martin, how funny it was when he would have these visions of his daughter as a little girl.  At the time, I was just a young girl myself anxious to start my own life and my own family...feeling quite grown and unaware that I could possibly have parents looking at me in the same way.  I had little concept of just how quickly "babies" do grow.


20 years has flown by and I now find myself a wife and mother of four awesome boys!  I never imagined that I would ever find myself the mother of four boys, much less the mother of a 17 year old son quite this soon. 

 I am grateful for the many moments I have cherished with you.  Rocking and singing you to sleep as a baby each night before you went to sleep, going for walks, playing with you, snuggling you close, teaching you new things, helping you to discover the world around you, watching you grow, witnessing your loyalty to those you love, listening to you talk to me about the things you are interested in along with your hopes and dreams, watching you develop into the young man who stands before me now.  And hoping through it all that you might see yourself with the same eyes that I see you...with all of the greatness and potential that you have within.

  We are like creatures! 
 From the beginning, I have always had an innate understanding of who you were and what you needed.  
It took me a while to realize that it was because we are so much alike. 
You get me...and I get you! 
We may not always agree, but we understand where each other is coming from...which can make all of the difference in the world.
We enjoy time together and I love knowing that more than just my son, you are my friend.
 You have taught me so many things about myself I never knew existed!
You have made me believe in who I was and what I had to offer you as a mother.
You have made me want to be better and do better to show you a better world.
My world is a better place because you are in it.
You are a great big brother!
Because of the example you set, it is natural for your younger brothers to follow suit.
Making my job as a parent 10 times easier!
There have been many times, you have been there to teach, protect, and guide.
You show them the way and help them when they need you the most.
Family activities are a lot of fun with your exuberance and enjoyment in even the little things.
As the realization becomes more and more real of how quickly 17 years have gone by, and I look and see the young man you have become...
I am filled with an amazing sense of gratitude for the knowledge that I have that you are forever mine! 
17 years...30 years...50 years...even 100 years would never be enough time to have you as my son.
Always remember...
 I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living,
My baby, you'll be!

Love, Mom


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Krisi's Baby Shower

 It's a What???

We had a baby shower to celebration the upcoming arrival
of Alexander Steven Vadnais
to Krisi and Sean Vadnais
 Table of Yum!

 Krisi and Sean's Baby pictures
Krisi and Divya
 Dipping into chocolate
 Krisi and her Mom
 Krisi and Me
 Krisi and Shauna
Mary, Shauna, Melissa, Karen and Krisi
 Lacey Garber, Kim Buck, and Pierrette Dagg
 Andromeda and Desirae
 The parents to be
 Ready to eat
The Gifts
 Melissa and her little guy Max
 We played a purse game and they planted fuzzy handcuffs in my Mom's purse

Naughty little minx!
 Beginning to open the many gifts they were blessed with




Thursday, November 10, 2011

Nicholas' DARE Graduation

 Our DARE officers from the Sylvania Township Police Department
 Mr. Josh Tyburski, Principal of Whiteford Elementary
 Officer Jeff Matuszewski

Chief of Police, Robert Boehme
Presentation of Certificates
Nicholas waiting toward the end of the line...they went alphabetically
Nicholas graduating the D.A.R.E program
The D.A.R.E program teaches the children to resist drugs and violence.
 Nicholas with OfficerMatuszewski and Mrs. Melchert
 Nicholas really enjoyed the D.A.R.E program and pledges to remain drug and alcohol free