Mell of a Hess (Thank the Heavens for Mothers)

What happens when you cross two parents, a nasty viral bug, and a cranky, constipated, 2 month old who won't sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time? You get, as my mother would say, a Mell of Hess.

That is the exact scenario Nick, Connor and I found ourselves in over the weekend. Nick came down with the bug Saturday morning. Thinking I might be able to save myself and Connor from any infection, we packed up and headed to Valentine to spend the night. In hindsight, it turns out that was a bad idea. Seeing as I was apparently already incubating the bug, I likely only succeeded in exposing my poor parents and my brother who happened to be back for the weekend.

By the time Connor and I got home on Sunday I was going downhill fast and Nick hadn't gotten much better. After comparing our ailments for awhile to determine who was the sickest (I won, or perhaps lost depending on how you look at it), Nick did his best to take care of Connor while I went to bed. But seeing the writing on the wall, we both knew we'd never make it through the rest of the evening and the night like we were. So what do you do when both parents are sicker than dogs and can't give the appropriate amount of attention to an already cranky baby? Call in the calvary! Which, in this case, is more commonly known as Grandma Cindy.

My wonderful mother came up to spend the night to take care of Connor so Nick and I could sleep and try to mend. It was still a long, feverish, restless night, and I'm pretty sure Mom didn't sleep a whole lot either, but it definately helped! Thank the Lord for Mothers! No matter how old you are, they'll always come to the rescue!

What technology can do

An old Cody-Kilgore Cowboy and a future Cody-Kilgore Cowboy watching the current C-K cowboys playing basketball. What fun!

Look how much I've grown!

Look how much I've grown!

Snow Much Fun

With all the snow and cold, yucky weather we've had lately, it's been a bit of a challenge for everyone. I woke up the morning after one of our latest blizzards to a very amusing sight.

You've heard the phrase "burying your head in the sand", but have you ever actually seen anything like it? I have.

The snow and wind had created a drift over the animals' heated water dish. Apparently, these little determined cats were rather thirsty!

(For the record, while I did find this amusing at first sight, I went out to uncover the dish after I took the picture - I'm not cruel!)

My First Christmas

Now that Christmas is over, my mom says it would be a good idea to tell everyone what our first Christmas as a family was like. Since Mom is busy with laundry and cooking dinner and boring stuff like that I volunteered to write this blog. Besides, if left it up my Mom, who knows if this blog would ever get written!

We had a really nice Christmas. To be quite honest, I didn't exactly know what Christmas was in the beginning, but Mom told me the whole story so I get it. It's a pretty neat story. I especially liked the part about the little baby being born in a manger (which Mom said was kind of like Dad's barn) with all the animals around.

Anyway, our little Christmas starting off with a strange letter coming in the mail for me. The return address said it came from the North Pole. When we opened it, we found out it was a letter from Santa Claus. Of course, Mom had to tell me the who he was, but she read me the Night Before Christmas. I think he sounds really neat and from now on, I'm going to try my hardest to be a good little boy every year.

After I got the letter from Santa, I got even more mail. My Mom's friend Kayla sent me a really cool Christmas stocking that had my name on it! I really like it and on Christmas when we got home from Grandma and Grandpa Wobig's house, I discovered there were some little toys and book in it!

Speaking of Grandma and Grandpa; Mom, Dad, and I spent Christmas Eve with Grandma Cindy, Grandpa John, Uncle Jake, and Great-Grandma and Grandpa Peterson. We had lots of fun. There were lots of cool decorations and cookies. Everyone but me and Mom ate Oyster stew. (Mom was feeding me instead, but she told me, secretly, that she didn't really mind missing the oyster stew all that much) Then, after dinner, we all opened lots of presents - well, everyone but me and Grandma Cindy and Great-Grandpa Carroll. We looked at the shiny lights instead. Mom and Dad opened my presents for me. I got lots and lots of cool books and rattles and toys.

Grandma says I'm the most kissed kid in Cherry County - at least since Uncle Jake and Mom were little!

The next morning, we got up and found our stockings were full and Santa had come just like he said! Then, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Jake, Mom and Great-Grandma Jean worked hard on Christmas dinner while Dad and Great-Grandpa Carroll entertained me. My big cousins Scott and Kevin and Great Uncle Randy and Great Aunt Lana came for dinner.

Mom took this picture of one of Grandma's kitchen counters. Mom thought it was funny that it was covered with nothing but wine, pies, and lots of Christmas cookies and candies, because, she says that's just what we do this family.

I guess it was all really good, but I decided to take a nap instead.

After dinner we went into Great-Grandma Betty's house in town to see my Dad's family. I hung out with Grandpa Bob, Aunt Joyce, and Great-Grandma Lois for awhile. Then I spent some time with my aunt's Tara and Tracy. And no, you're not seeing double (like I thought for a minute!) they're twins! I know, it's crazy, isn't it!

My Dad, and Uncles Aaron and Oliver thought so too!

After a day as crazy as all that, Mom and Dad and I went home in my Mom's Christmas present

to the ranch where we settled in to have our own little Christmas together. It was fun. I laid under the Christmas tree for a little bit to look at the lights, then we all went to bed.

That's it. That's our whole Christmas. Mom says to wish everyone a happy new year, so Happy New Year everybody!

A Time For Everything

Ecclesiates 3:1 says "There's a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

Those words were especially poignant in our growing family this weekend. Nick's grandpa Don passed away earlier this week. His funeral was Saturday, however Nick and I didn't quite make it.

Instead, we made a surprise visit to the hospital. At the very moment so many were gathered to honor the life of an old cowboy, a brand new little cowboy came into the world.

Welcome Connor Paul Simmons!

Born November 20, 2010 2:39 p.m.

6 lbs 9 oz, 20 inches