Too busy to blog...

We haven't been too busy, but when it is nice out, we stay outside as much as possible. Alyse loves playing with Amelia and Sadie (her "cousins", that live down stairs.) She also loves the climber that their Grandma bought them!
Our humble garden, we have tomatoes, peas, green beans, cucumbers, pumpkins,carrots, jalapenos, green peppers, lettuce, broccoli and onions. Hopefully, it will all grow!

You know you have lived in Vermont too long when your daughter starts hugging the trees!

Alyse's "cousins" Amelia and Sadie having an after dinner snack of popcorn.

After dinner and a full belly, "Princess Alyse" calls it quits

Our up the hill neighbors have built a sandbox and have told us to come anytime, which Alyse loves!

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Plattsburgh,NY to look for a new canoe (we sold ours on Craigslist for an upgrade) while there, we stopped at the Naked Turtle for lunch. Alyse made good friends with this huge dog. He liked her Nachos!

This huge Popsicle came with her meal, not 5 bites into it did it all fall to the ground-

Hello!

The climber in the backyard, I love it almost as much as Alyse-

Hours of entertainment and we don't even have to leave the house.

Farewell to Granny...

Last week, Ryan's Grandmother passed away. She was 89 years old. What a full, fun life she led. Those who spoke of her, only had kind words to say, she spoke no ill of others and was a great woman to be around.

When any family member speaks of Granny, they have to mention her cooking. I hear her biscuits where phenomenal and she always kept some in a pot on her stove. We have a few things that Granny crocheted, one of our most treasured is a tablecloth she made us as a wedding gift. Granny was getting older and her hands we failing her. Ryan and I weren't even dating yet but Granny said she was getting to old to wait on Ryan to find a wife so she went ahead and made it anyway with the hope that someday she could give it to him and his new bride!

In March, we visited Granny for what would be our last visit. Alyse met her, gave kisses, played with her wheel chair and slippers. And played in her Great Grandma's lap, how I wish she could of known her better.

Granny was a sweet, sweet woman with an even sweeter spirit.


She will be missed by all of us.

Take me out to the Ball game...

On Mother's Day weekend, we headed to Boston. Ryan cashed in on his Christmas present of Red Sox Nation Green Monster tickets. We had a great time. It is really fun sitting up there and it gives you a great view of Fenway. - "America's Favorite Ball park". We couldn't leave The Green Monster without a little grafiti. Next time we go, we'll have to see if this little hand is still there!


On Sunday we went to the amazing Boston Children's Museum. Alyse could touch anything she wanted and not get into trouble! For what I thought would be her favorite exhibit, this huge climbing structure, she was actually intimidated.


We then headed to " The Barking Crab" A great sea food restuarant right on the water, it was delicous.

After lunch we headed home where Ryan and Alyse gave me my Mother's Day Present- A wheat grinder. I will never have to buy wheat flour again!






Going to the Game, or Vegas!

The Simmons Family is proud to present...

"Blue"

Alyse's very first pet! He is a blue Beta. Alyse loves him and the first thing she did this morning was to go over and say "Hi" repeatedly. Ryan gives it two weeks before Blue is a fishstick.

Montshire with Max

Today, Amy and I took good friends Max and Alyse to the Montshire Musuem, The Montshire Musuem is a hands on Science Musuem located in Norwich, VT. Max and Alyse loved the bubbles, the awesome tree house, the cloud machine and we saved the best for last and went outside to the hands on stream. You put a ball in at the beginning of the stream and then follow it all the way to the end. Max wasn't to happy about getting wet. Alyse didn't seem to mind. Thanks Max and Amy for sharing your day with us, we had a great time!


Alyse loved the dry ice cloud feature, so much so she wanted to taste it!
Bubbles!

Making the pennies spin down the tube

Lining the sailboat up, then the wind would blow it to whatever track you put it on

Spinning the wrench, I think you were supposed to turn it in a circle, Max and Alyse just liked making it go back and forth.

Watching the ball float down the stream

Waiting for the water to shoot up from the ground, she didn't get to wet, although she did put her foot in the stream!

Goodbye until next time

Note the smiles and the good time had by all, we asked the kids if they had fun, they both replied "NO"!

Free Cone Day

Every Year, Ben and Jerry's says Thanks for being a loyal customer by offering a free cone day. Living 3 minutes from the Ben and Jerry's factory, how could we not go?!

Montreal Biodome

A few weekends ago, while trying to decide what to do, Ryan had the idea to head up to Montreal. So we packed up and headed North. We had never visited the Biodome before so we didn't know what to expect. What is the Biodome you ask, well, here is your wikipedia answer:

Not to be confused with Montreal Biosphère.
Biodôme de Montréal
(Montreal Biodome)
The Montreal Biodome (Biodôme de Montréal) is a facility located in Montreal that allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. The building was originally constructed for the 1976 Olympic Games as a velodrome. It hosted both cycling and judo events. Renovations on the building began in 1989 and in 1992 the indoor nature exhibit was opened.


We walked through those four ecosystems, and had a lovely time. Alyse loved the fish and the otter. I liked the tibur, and Ryan liked the Gators.


We then headed to Ikea, then to dinner and then home. Guess what, in Canada, they have peanut free chocolate, Yay for Alyse!

Ryan and Alyse in the rainforest

Alyse with the fish, she sat there for about 5 minutes, just watching.
Alyse's close relative The Monkey

I believe this animal here is called a "Tibur"

A view of the Biodome