Christmas 2010

What a Christmas season we have had! Normally, if we are in town we go to Grant, Alabama for Christmas Eve with Mickey's side of the family. This year, Mickey's grandma was not well, so activities were cancelled up there. I had a procedure on the 23rd and knew that I wouldn't be up to cooking...even for our family. So Mickey took control of Christmas Eve. It was wonderful. We enjoyed the kids, a small dinner, read the Christmas story in the bible and even opened a present. While I worried it would be the worst Christmas ever for my kids...I think it was the exact opposite.

Again, I worried about Christmas Day. But to my surprise, we woke up to a beautiful snow storm! The kids were spoiled by family, friends and the man dressed in red. Then off to play in the snow. We were going to be stuck home all day and had decided earlier in the week to eat out (gasp) on Christmas Day since I didn't want Mickey to cook and clean a big meal. I thought Cracker Barrel was open but it turned out it wasn't. So we looked up our favorite Chinese buffet and found them open. We had our own Christmas Story Christmas dinner. :) All in all, the day was a huge success and Mickey feels like a Chinese dinner would be a great Christmas tradition....me not so much. ;) While I missed seeing family, I think our intimate Christmas festivities were just what the doctor ordered.

A look back....

I started this blog as a way to journal. And I wanted to have an easy way to show family and friends what we were doing. Since the pregnancy/birth of Maggie I have failed miserably at this blog. :( So more for me but here is a recap of an exciting Jones' family year.

• Celebrated Mickey's birthday with our friends, the Cowans.
• On the way home a deer ran into Maggie's door.
• Beth sang Fireflies by Owl City in her school's talent show...it was awesome.
• Maggie sat up in February! Yay. This girl loves to be held.
• Beth and Jacob played basketball in the Upward league.
• We had our annual Family Valentines dinner with fancy pink drinks.
• Went to Chattanooga during spring break. We also went to the Mayfield Creamery...YUM!
• I spent a lot of time outside with the kids while they rode their bikes.
• Put the house on the market...and it still is.
• Had a visit from my sister, Tina, and her girls.
• I started the Couch to 5K with my sister.
• I ran in 3 5k's this year and improved my time!
• Mickey was called into the bishopric at church and I was released as the YW president.
• Beth played in her piano recital and even Grandma, Grandpa, Tina and her girls were there.
• Spent July in Michigan and got to see all of my siblings except for Allyson.
• Celebrated Maggie's first birthday at a water park and followed it with a homemade cake from Grandma.
• Kids started back to school. Beth is in 6th grade, Jacob is in 3rd grade and Emma started kindergarten.
• I have had to adjust to having only one baby home.
• We have taken some nature walks in beautiful areas.
• Mickey took the kids fishing.
• The Nina and Pinta replicas sailed into Ditto Landing, so we toured them.
• For fall break, we headed to Tennessee and saw historic places followed by some fun in Pigeon Forge.
• Mickey and I have both lost a little weight. Yay!
• Maggie, who refused to crawl, finally walked at 14 months.
• Beth and Jacob are in basketball again. But this time Emma signed up for cheerleading.

We have had a wonderful year and I hope to be better about posting. :)

A Big Thank You!

A few months ago, a friend put up a give away on her blog. I was super excited when I found out I won. So I asked if we could wait until the fall and then do a family picture. I loved the end product. Becki is a wonderful photographer and friend. Thanks for doing these. http://agalwithacamera.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-give-away-winner.html

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I own the cricut and I would love to get this one. I would love to do away with the cartridges.

Ohhh, a new craft gadget....check it out.

http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6344

Annual YW Spaghetti Dinner and Auction

This year we had another successful fundraiser for the YW of our ward. The YW did a great job with the flower decorations and desserts. We hold a free* spaghetti dinner for the ward and anyone who wants to come. (*We only ask for a dessert donation or a donation for our silent auction if possible.) While dinner is served, the silent auction is available. We had cute homemade crafts, children's gift sets, jewelry, gently used items and some services. At the end of dinner, we close the silent auction. After every one's bellies are full, we start the dessert auction. I was amazed at the creativity of the entries in our dessert contest. We had a bunny rabbit cake, a Beauty and the Beast cake, a death by chocolate cake and so many other yummy things!! We had a great time and earned enough money for our camp program. I couldn't have asked for more!

Spring Break 2010

We had some fun over the spring break. We spent a lot of time with friends including a trip to the Chattanooga Zoo. Mickey and I wanted to have take the kids on an overnighter to Chattanooga but we could only get away for a day trip. So we headed up to Athens, TN to the Mayfield Dairy. We got to sample some of the ice cream goodness! They even had a special parking spot for Maggie. :) I must say that they pink hairnets were a.ttractive. We decided to take a detour and ended up in Sweetwater, TN where we went to a cheese farm. Oh my! The cheese was so yummy. We had cheese and crackers for lunch and loved it. We decided to head back to Chattanooga but we didn't have time for the Aquarium, so we decided to walk around downtown and play at the playground. While we were there, we saw a bunch of people sliding down the hill on cardboard. The kids (including Mickey) decided to try it out. I thought we would never move from that place. :) They had a great time. We finished our day by walking along the river. We had a great day!

Hmmm...where has all the time gone?!

We have had a lot of fun during the last few months! Our very first digital camera has been having a few charging problems (after 4 years) and it made me tired. :) Hence, very few pictures have been taken. But Mickey surprised me with a new/fancier camera in May and I have been having a blast. The kids have labeled me the paparazzi. Aren't they sweet? Seriously, I can't get enough of them on the camera. I personally think they are the cutest, beautifullest, sweetest, adorablest children in the whole world. Can you blame me?

Maggie's first lollipop

We were watching the kids' basketball games and some clowns brought around lollipops. Maggie was interested in Emma's, so we let her try one.

Maggie really liked it. All smiles.

Mickey took it away. And we were left with a crying mess. :0

She won. Mickey let her have it back and we could have a little peace. Gotta love this kid.

January and February 2010

Beth and Jacob played Upward Basketball this season. This was Beth's first year to play any type of sport and she had a blast. She had a sweet coach and learned a lot. She says she is going to play next year! Jacob has played for 3 years now. He loved his team and played well.

Snow in Alabama? We have had quite the winter this year. The kids loved the "snow" days. While I normally love winter weather, Maggie has been sick too much and I feel like some spring weather is all she needs.

Who might this beauty be? Beth sang Fireflies by Owl City in her elemementary school talent show. She was fantastic. I am super proud of her ability to get past nerves! When they announced her song, the crowd went crazy since they all love that song.

Maggie learned to sit up. Where is the time going? She is growing up way too fast for me.




















We have a family tradition to eat a candlelight dinner on Valentine's Day. The kids love to drink pink smoothies from fancy glasses and eat a yummy dinner. The kids have started to plan it for me. I love them.

"Lots of Firsts" Christmas

So I am doing really well on my blog. I keep thinking I will just skip some events but I want to remember this stuff. So here is Christmas. Maggie had her very first Christmas, along with her first solid food and the first time she rolled over. Beth had her hair highlighted for the first time and it turned out adorable. Mickey and I had our first trip to IKEA and loved it so much we stopped at another IKEA on the way home.

We went to Michigan to celebrate the season with my parents, my sister Tina and her family, and my favorite little sister in the whole wide world. :) We had a great time and look forward to next Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2009

Ooops, I don't really know where the time has gone. Here is me catching up. :)

We had our family Thankgiving on Saturday. Mickey and I were thinking about an unusual dinner plan for that day since we would be all alone on the actual day. But we were invited by our dear friends to spend the day with them. The food was great and the company even better. The kids were super cute while making a masterpiece of yard items. LOVED it! (I should have got an after picture!)
This was a picture at Canette's home. Maggie was having a wonderful day as always. We had a fantastic time with Mickey's side of the family. I think we ate enough to keep us feed for at least a month.
I need to take more pictures.