Where did the year go???

I can't believe it is almost over! 2007 seems like the shortest year in history!!! Maybe it is because we were SO busy all year! The year started off great! Gary popped the question last Christmas at his parents house. Boy was I surprised!!! I had NO idea! So, we started the year out in high spirits. Unfortunately it didn't last long. The end of January we had to put our little man, Jack, to sleep. Oh the heartache. Now there was this huge hole in our daily lives. Shortly after that, we decided we needed to get another dog, not to replace Jack- there will never be another Jack- but a playmate for Jasmin. So, Dewy came into our home. OH BOY!! Do you know how much work a puppy is? And Jasmin was NOT happy with him or us. But, we adjusted, he was such a sweet little thing. Then in April we got another surprise. We were on our way home from a dirt bike hare scramble when we saw a dog hit on the side of the road about 2 miles from our house. We had to stop to check for tags, and that is when Gary saw something across the street. I swear it was a bag of trash. But, nope, it was Piglet! What a sweet little thing she is. We tried to find her home, or a new home, we already had 2 dogs, but it was just fate that she would be with us. So Dewy got a new playmate, and Jasmin had someone to keep Dewy away from her, all was right in the world again.
We had the Simpson family reunion in July. Boy was it hot! But we had a wonderful turn out, and a wonderful time. Hope to have another one next year.
Wedding plans were in the works, but come August, I spent two nights in one week at the hospital. Once when my niece Madison was born, and a few nights later, my "niece" Kaelyn was born. My brother and sister now have two little girls, Abbie and Maddie, and my best friend Tara welcomed her first bundle of joy Kaelyn into the world.
Our big day was September 15th, and I would have swore it was going to rain, but about 3:00 the clouds broke up and it was beautiful!! Besides me almost loosing it at the wedding, it was perfect. To have so many family members and friends around us really meant a lot! What a great day!
We honeymooned in Colorado, I can't wait to go back. We rented a small one bedroom cabin that had a unbelievable view of Pikes Peak from the hot tub. I would really like to go back there and maybe spend Christmas in the cabin. It was so awesome! We hope to maybe go back next year and take Ryan. I think he would get a kick out of the mountains! Every view is breathtaking.
Ryan turned 16 in September also. You know how strange it is for me to be 28 and tell people I have a 16 yr old step son. I have gotten some strange looks over that one. But, what is age only a number. Ryan is awesome. He is such a good kid, and I am so glad that he is more of a friend than a step son.
We traveled to Illinois for Thanksgiving, and stayed at Gary's sister Kim's house. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed spending time with all his family.
We had planned to spend Christmas with my family, but that didn't happen. My whole family had the flu. They still have it, so we are staying as far away from my parents house as we can. Hopefully we will get to have Christmas with them this weekend. So, Christmas was kinda a bummer this year. But, we did get Ryan a new guitar. He is really excited about it. Ryan spent Christmas in Illinois with Kim and came back to our house on Christmas day. Gary and I had a pretty quiet Christmas, but is was nice to have some quiet time.
Now, New Years is next week. Where did the time go? There have been so many wonderful moments in 2007 and a few very sad ones. As we say goodbye to 2007, it will always be a very special year in my life. We lost one of our best friends in January, and we still miss him very much everyday, he will forever be in our hearts. I also gained a whole new family!(And boy is it a BIG family!) Gary and I are very thankful for all the blessings in our life, and look to 2008 to be an even better year. So, goodbye 2007!
We hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Years. And, here is to hoping 2008 is a wonderful year!
From our house to yours, Happy New Year!
Love to all,
Gary, Lisa & Ryan

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and very safe new year! We will be spending Christmas at home this year! Both Gary and I are looking forward to a quiet weekend. We will be going to my grandmothers on Christmas eve, then to the church service. Christmas day we will be at home with our babies, and then off to my mothers house for dinner. Ryan is suppose to be back from Illinois with Kim sometime on Christmas day.

Sending lots of love!


The Simpson's

Ready for Christmas???

Well, I decorated for Christmas, but am far from ready for Christmas!! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! As most of you know Gary, Ryan and I traveled to Illinois to spend the holiday with Gary's family. We had a wonderful time. Kim, Gary's sister, really out did herself on all the wonderful food! It was really nice to spend time up there with his family. And, his cousin Steve came over Thanksgiving night so we got to spend time with him also.
We headed home on Friday, and on Saturday I began decorating for Christmas! The puppies thought this was all kinds of fun, they were such a BIG help! NOT! Sunday Ryan was back at the house, and he helped me put all the lights up on the house. I think he just wanted to get on the roof! Here are a few pics of the dogs helping, and a few I got of them with their Christmas hats on. They just love it when I put hats on them!!!!

Dewy & Piglet "helping"!



Dewy & Mommy with our Santa hats!

Thanksgiving!

We have had several calls from friends and family about the Thanksgiving holiday. So, I thought I would publish our plans! We will be traveling to Illinois to spend the holiday with Gary's family. We will be back in town for the weekend, so let us know if you will be in town, we would love to get together. I am sure we will have lots of pics when we get back, so I will be sure to post some next week. If we don't get to see you, we hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday!

What's next????

Not a very positive weekend at our house. We had to take Dewy - our little boy- to the vet on Saturday because we thought he had an ear infection. Well, he does, but along with that, he is going blind in his right eye. He is only 10 months old. WHAT IS THE DEAL??? Can we not have a normal dog? Poor Jack had seizures and probably a brain tumor and we had to have him put to sleep. Piglet chews out her stitches and part of her intestines which resulted in a very long and complicated surgery to put her back together, and now my poor baby won't be able to see out of one of his eyes!!! Jasmin has been doing well, but has been gaining her "winter weight". She is a chubby little girl! Needless to say, Gary and I are a little depressed over the whole thing, but Dewy doesn't seem to really notice. He is just as goofy as ever. Dr. Tom- the vet- said that since it is only one eye, it is probably caused by trauma. If it had been both eyes, he would say that he probably has diabetes. So, we will be watching him closely for the next couple of months to make sure his other eye is okay. Say a little prayer for our baby!!

Happy Birthday Mama!!

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. We went to my bro & sis in laws house and made her dinner. Dad got her a really cool cake with Otis (their dog) on it. And my niece made her the princess for the day!!!

The cake...
Princess Mom and Abbie...

Abbie being silly...
Abbie in Mom's sweater
And Otis, with his stitches and cone... poor baby!

Weekend in Illinois...

Last weekend we went to Litchfield to help Brian and Lisa with their house. I also got to see Little Kevin play his last football game. That was fun! Anyway, here are a few pics of Gary working on the insulation in Brian's shop. He makes me so nervous sometimes!

Gary getting ready to work...

He gets so excited...
Were do we begin...
Finally... Working. PLEASE!! Don't fall!
Oh yeah, then they had to fix my tire... I had 2 nails and 3 rocks in it! Gotta love our gravel road!

More wedding pics..

We received the photos from the photographer. I am posting some right now, and will try to get more up before the end of the week. Some of them are really great, but most from the reception did not come out, so if anyone has any pics from the wedding or reception, please send them to us, we would love to have them.

Weekend...

We will be traveling to Litchfield this weekend. Going up to help Brian and Lisa with the house. Had a pretty calm week, spent the evening Tuesday at Sheri's house (One of Gary's sisters). Had a good time, got to know her, Erin and some of their friends a little better.
Hope all is well with everyone.
Oh, we will also be picking up the photographs from the wedding this weekend, so I will try to post more next week!!!

Not a lot to say...

I just read Kristi's Blog, I swear everytime I read it, I just want to cry!! But, hopefully the babies will be home SOON!!!
So, not a lot going on at our place right now, just work. We are going to try to make it up to Litchfield either this weekend or next.
Wanna see a silly picture???

This is our little boy Dewy! He is so silly.



This is Piglet, someone dumped her and we found her, so now she is our "Little girl"


Here are the two little rug rats, Ryan dressed them up!! They are so rotten!


Here is Dewy all grown up, he is such a pretty little boy!


And, here is MY baby! LOL Jasmin. She is the "Big Girl" at 105 lbs.

Hope all are well!!

Lots of love,
Gary & Lisa

Ryan jamming...

On Wednesday nights, we sometimes take Ryan to the Ice House so he can play his guitar. Here are a few pics of him playing with James Clay a few weeks ago. Ryan took it upon himself to learn one of James' songs. He is so awesome, I couldn't even begin to play a musical instrument!!!

Blue Moon Golf Tourn.

The Wednesday before the wedding was the 5th Annual Blue Moon Animal Sanctuary Golf Benefit. This is also the 4th year that I have helped out with the tournament. Blue Moon is ran by 5 ladies that have all the animals at their own personal homes, they take in abandoned and abused animals. We raise money by golfers, hole sponsors, donations, and we also hold a silent auction.
This year has been the best year yet, we raised over $27,000 ! Here are a few pics from the tourn. I am in the "Big Dog" outfit. For some reason, I am the only person short enough to fit in it!

Me with a couple of the agents from my RE/MAX office. Marty Gum, Phil Shafer, Jeff Krantz & Frank Christensen (my boss) I have his cigar and golf club.



Here is Big Dog with Traci (she works at our vets office)




This is Big Dog with Mike and Susie Berra- they are the two realtors who put the whole golf tournament together.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

Today is Ryan's 16th Birthday!!!!! We love you!!

Dad & Lisa

Mr. & Mrs. Gary Simspon

Since I am changing my last name, I decided that we needed another change from just e-mail. SO, we decided that a blog is the fastest and easiest way to let everyone know what is going on in our lives. ( We have enjoyed keeping up with Kristi and the babies on her blog !) Here we go...

Most of you were able to make it to the wedding, but for those of you who were unable to attend, here are a few pics that were taken with our camera. We will try to post some of the ones that they photographer took when we get them back.

Aren't we just the cutest couple? LOL

Ryan, Lisa, Gary & Alex



Also, we just got back from our honeymoon to Colorado. It is beautiful there. We really didn't want to come back, but we missed our dogs. Here are a few pics of us in CO, hope you enjoy!

This pic was taken from the back deck of our cabin, it is the sun setting on Pikes Peak.

Hope you enjoy, and we will post more soon!

Gary & Lisa