time for an update

It's long past time for an update. We have been doing some fun things this Fall. The first few pictures are of our highly intelligent little boy reading his chapter books. He also wanted to wear Daddy's boots, always cute. I have pictures of me wearing my Daddy's boots when I was Ian's age.



We went to the Refuge Roundup at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. It was fun.


Ian loves "choo-choos" so we road the light rail into downtown Denver. My sweet boy had so much fun.





Delo and Christina think he looks like an orphan child in the last picture. I say, at least we're feeding him. :)
I can't believe this guy will be 2 in less then a week.

Ian at School

Silly

Untitled from Bethany Simpson on Vimeo.

Broncos and a Boy

Thanks to Hassan, John and I got to go to the Bronco's home opener last Sunday. Besides the fact that it was 96 in Denver and we were sitting in the sun, we had a great time. The Bronco's beat the Seahawks and we saw John Elway. His box was right behind us. Pretty sweet. John says he looks huge and old.

John's big day - and Ian is happy

Book List - Updated

1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Sheffer
Read and really liked. It was a quick and easy read.
2. The Unnamed – Joshua Ferris
Tried to read and I hated it.
3. Run – Ann Patchett
This was a really good book. Not much else to say about it.
4. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home – Rhoda Janzen
Hate. I can't say enough times how much I hated it. I like the reviews and discussions here -
http://100memoirs.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/laughing-out-loud-mennonite-in-a-little-black-dress/
5. The Lacuna – Barbara Kingsolver
I could probably write about this book a lot. You have to pay attention to every single word. It is a beautiful story of an American boy who grows up in Mexico. There are so many themes and stories - communism, his friendship with Frida Kahlo, WWII, etc.
6. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible – AJ Jacobs
I'm reading this book now and so far I love it. It is very interesting and funny.
7. Last Night in Twisted River – John Irving
Oh how I love John Irving. Here is the best line from this amazing story -
"We don't always have a choice how we get to know one another. Sometimes, people fall into our lives cleanly--as if out of the sky, or as if there were a direct flight from Heaven to Earth--the same sudden way we lose people, who once seemed they would always be part of our lives"
8. Bite Me: A Love Story by Christopher Moore
9. You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore
10. A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

And because I know most people really only want to see Ian, here are a few pictures of that guy -

Operation Ohio Surprise

On Friday I surprised John in Ohio. He didn't think I was coming, but he was wrong. I told Ian, and thankfully he kept the secret. Here is John's face right after I said "SURPRISE!"

i'll see you next time around

"If I should go by in the wink of an eye
Do not worry for me where I'm bound
Beginnings and endings are only pretendings
I'll see you next time around."

Monday Funny

The great white North

This batch is from our first few days in Alaska. We drove from Anchorage to Kenai and the drive is amazing. On the way is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. They have black and brown bears, reindeer, moose, porcupines, bison (did you know there are no buffalo in N. America, except maybe at the zoo. They have never been buffalo - our elementary teachers lied), eagles, owls, musk ox, and elk. Ian enjoyed seeing the animals and getting out of the car. Then we arrived in Kenai where we stayed for the first half of our trip. We were hoping to see moose roaming the streets, but alas, they stayed away. We did see several along the side of the road. From Kenai you can see Mount Redoubt, an active volcano (which you can see in the distance in the picture of Ian and me). We ate at the coolest little cafe called Veronica's. I fell in love with Kenai when we were there. Next time - Seward and the Kenai Fjords Cruise.