SATURDAY WITH POPPIE AND BUBBY

We just returned from a wonderful Sunday morning brunch feast at our favorite Brigs Restaurant where we met Daddy Jason and Mommy Meredith to return Amelia after a fun visit at the Raleigh Grandparents.

What fun we had yesterday visiting the horse farm on Leesville Road right down the street from Bubby's and Poppie's house. When we returned from our tricycle ride, we took a car ride to Lake Lynn. We saw swans, ducks, Canadian geese, mallard ducks, and even a few turtles. Amelia loved the entire afternoon while her Daddy and Mommy were shoppoing and out to dinner. Poppie and Amelia read lots of books and played with "Tickle Me Elmo" while Bubby was cooking a delicious dinner. We played for a while and then off to bed. She was so good about going right to sleep and slept until 7:00 a.m.

We loved our afternoon and evening with Amelia. We cannot wait for another overnight visit!

LOTS OF FAMILY AT THE HOLIDAYS

Spending some holiday time with the West Coast Simons....It was great to stay with Mike and Cindy Simon. One day we took Irene to the Claremont Hotel for lunch and met Vicki, her family, and Valerie at breakfast. Hopefully there will be many more visits. We all had a HAPPY HANNUKAH!

MORE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS

We had a special HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION for Caren, Aaron's girlfriend, at the Christmas day lunch (even though her birthday is the day after Christmas). We also wish Grandma Simon a happy 91st birthday as well!

2006 CHRISTMAS

It sure is quiet today. Earlier this month we went to California to spend a few days with the Simon Family. Irene seems to be doing well after the loss of Oscar last August. We got to spend a little time with the entire Simon Family. We even visited with Bruce, Carolyn and Steven Simon.

This past weekend we had a great holiday with Great Grandma Cooper, Jane and Peter who all came up for a three day visit from South Carolina. Aaron and Caren were also here as well from New York City.

Amelia loved being the center of attention for the entire holiday weekend. We had lots of relatives and lots of family meals together. Our traditional Italian "Spagetti" night on Saturday, Peking Duck and other Chinese favorites at the "Jade Garden" on Sunday Christmas Eve, and a great combined effort of the "Dueling Grilling Chefs" as Aaron and Jason made lots of great grilled foods like shrimp on skewers, trout, and marinated steak (recipe from Alton Brown on :THE FOOD NETWORK"). The pouring down rain did not keep them from making a great meal. Well, we will all have to make trips to the gym later this week to take a few of the pounds off that we put on over the holidays.

As you can see in the photos, "Tickle Me Elmo" from Santa and the Fisher Price Piano from Uncle Peter and Aunt Jane were big hits. Since Amelia has grown so much recently, everyone bought lots of clothes to refill her closets and dresser drawers. Amelia's family will have lots of fun shopping the after Christmas sale with all of the checks under the tree. We hope that they will find the toy box that Bubby and Poppie ordered to be suitable for Amelia's room full of new toys.

We hope that all family and friends that read this BLOG had a Happy Hannukah and a Merry Christmas. We hope that we see you all in the New Year. Come see us in Raleigh at ANY TIME!
Have a great 2007!

GOOD BYE TO UNCLE AARON AND CAREN

We had a quick good bye dinner at the Jade Garden Restaurant before Bubby and Poppy took Aaron and Caren to the airport. Amelia seemed to enjoy most of the Chinese food but did not acquire a taste for the "bland" white rice. Once again she behaved so nicely at the Chinese restaurant. She also had an opportunity to wear one of her animal birthday hats.

AMELIA'S 1ST BIRTHDAY

Amelia had a great time at her 1st birthday party despite the fact that she did not have much of a nap that day. All of the one and two year olds were happy, played with each other, and had lots to eat. Even the little rain showers did not cause a problem.

Amelia shared her birthday week w/ her Mom on September 21, Uncle Aaron on September 23, and her Dad on October 3. Bubby and Poppy need a "raise" after all of the birthdays! Happy Birthday to all of the Simons!

Amelia and her friends wore their "animal party hats" briefly....but you can see from the photos below who enjoyed the hats the most!

ANOTHER FEW PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP TO GREECE, ITALY, AND FRANCE

A MEDITERREANEAN RETIREMENT TRIP AND A VISIT TO CALIFORNIA FOR A SAD EVENT

Here are a few photos from our trip last week to San Francisco for Oscar Simon's Memorial Service. Oscar always loved having all of his family at gatherings. Jason, Meredith, Amelia, Aaron, Caren, Maury and I all were there. Irene did amazingly well over the weekend. Oscar made sure that Maury and I left on our two week "retirement cruise" to the Mediterreanean before he died. He always thought of everyone before himself. We will all miss him.

KNEE HIGH FINGERPRINTS

Amelia sure is getting mobile as she holds on to everything trying to take steps. She was especially cute yesterday as the stereo was on as she bounced up and down to the beat of the music...laughing and trying in her own way to sing. She is really loving trying out her "Simon vocal chords" with her high pitched shreaks.

She loved standing against the front door peaking out as Bubby watered the flowers. She is also getting pretty good at crawling up carpeted stairs with a little help from Daddy Jason.

Great Grandma Emily and Bubby brought Amelia home some treats from their recent work related trip to Nashville, TN. She especially loved the touch and feel Rain Forrest Book.

Amelia's favorite was the fresh organic blueberries that Wanda Green brough over for Amelia to try. We all got to sample them. They were much better than the store bought ones. Amelia LOVED her frst try of Bubby's home made lasagna. What a special treat! Yum, Yum!

We are all amazed at how much she has grown this past month since we have not seen her in about 3 weeks. She is growing like a "weed"! It won't be long until Bubby has to put everything up on the top shelf as Amelia begins to walk.

A GREAT VISIT CAME TO AN END....

We will all miss Amelia and her family over the next couple of weeks as Poppie is going to San Francisco to visit Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Simon and Bubby is going to Nashville, TN and Greensboro, NC with Great Grandma Cooper to go to some work related conferences during that same time..

PLAYING WITH MOM AND DAD AFTER DINNER

I love playing with Mom and Dad at Bubby and Poppie's House. It is easy to scoot on the hardwood floors.

How about a "BABY BACK RIB" for me?

Those ribs smell really good! Amelia wished she could have tried one!

My first real "people food" from Bubby's kitchen!

Amelia ate like a real little lady. She tried for the first time, cheese, tofu, watermelon, blueberries, strawberries. Then she finished up with her favorite, applesauce. Only one piece of food on the floor! She did really well in the new special "big girl" chair with the tray that her Grandma Steele bought for her.

Something smells good...Here I come, Ready or not!

Helping Bubby Cook for the 4th of July

It won't be long before Amelia is up on the counter helping Bubby cook for family dinners!

Pre-Fourth of July Celebration...A barbecue feast at Bubby and Poppie's House

I love coming to Bubby's and Poppie's....I like getting presents....even if it is clothes!

THE YOUNG AND OLD PROM QUEEN

Little Amelia won the first of many contests....the 2006 Prom Queen of the Raleigh Day Care. She raised the most money from friends and family to help support the daycare. Since her head is so small and there is little hair to hold her crown in, Bubby proudly holds it on as Daddy Jason snaps the shot.

We cannot wait to see how much she weighs! She feels like she is over 20 pounds now. It won't be long before she is walking and running. She got crawling down pat, pulling up on everything, and looks like she is ready to be adventurous, let go, and begin walking. It should be an exciting summer!

A WEEKEND OF FUN!

Aaron began the weekend sitting in LGA airport waiting on a seat to fly standby as his father booked the wrong date on his holiday flight. He managed to get home and enjoy the family and visited with friends.

Aaron and Caren bought Amelia a new vintage knitted hat from Brooklyn. We all loved it! We hope it still fits next fall when it gets cold again.

Jason and his family had a huge party /cookout for many of their friends on Sunday afternoon. We could not believe all of the babies! The food was great! Thanks for inviting us. Aaron had a fun time too!