Good Morning!

Cavy on picture day.

We are alive and somewhat well.  We've had sick kiddos at the Jones house.  Miss Shay missed three days of school last week due to an ear infection in both ears - ouch!  She was pretty miserable, the poor thing.  Yesterday we had Cavy to the doctor also...and he has ear infection too.  Grrr!  I told the hubby and the older boys that no one else was allowed to get sick.  We'll see how well they listen. :) 

I'm thankful Papa Edd was able to come to my rescue and hang out with my sickies so I didn't have to miss any class.  Thank you Papa Edd!!!  You are a life saver!  :)  I will have to update more later.  I have class this morning, and I need to shower to de-zombify myself.  :) 

Blessings~

15 Years!

Yesterday, the hubby and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.  It seems crazy to me that it's been 15 years!  That's only 1 year less than the age we were when we met and began to date.  Okay, that makes me feel a little old!  :)  I'm not really all that old...it's just that we married young (we had both just turned 20).  We didn't have to get married, I mean it wasn't a shotgun wedding or anything like that.  We had been dating for 3 years and it just seemed to be the next logical step.  Of course, what 19-year-old has the gift of good logic or wisdom?  Neither of us did, and the odds were stacked against us from the start (statistically, that is).  We've had our share of rough spots, doesn't every marriage?  We've learned over the years that the key to our relationship is communication.  The hubby and I talk several times a day on the phone (by choice), and then we always hang out at night to mull over our day, and just spend time together.  I can't imagine a day going by without talking to the hubby.  On the days I don't talk to him much, it's very lonely.  I can, without hesitation, and in all honesty, say that he is my best friend.  He's the first one I want to pick up the phone and call when something goes right...or when something goes wrong...or if somethings very funny.  You know what I mean, don't you?  He's like my best girlfriend and my best boyfriend, wrapped up into one big, handsome package.  I'm a lucky gal, and I am thankful for it too.  Not everyone is so blessed to have an attentive, sweet, and caring hubby.   I don't know...maybe we were pretty wise for being so young.  In a perfect world, love conquers all.  We're not living in a perfect world by any means, but we're still trying to conquer all with our love.  Happy Anniversary, Mr. Jones...I'd do it all over again! :) 

Bessings~

Happy Birthday!

We have a birthday boy in the house today...it's the Hubby!! Happy Birthday to the boy who stole my heart...and keeps stealing it...all the time.  I love you!!!

These little ones love him too.  (Sept 2005)  Yes, you'll want to pause the music (sorry)! :)

Blessings~

S

Groovy, Baby!

Gosh, it seems like it's been a while!  I've been looking forward to sharing some pictures with you from our murder/mystery dinner party.  We had such a great time (thank you Nikki & Ross), and laughed...a lot!  Laughing is always a good thing. :)  Our dinner party took place in July of 1969.  It was a "who-done-it" about a rock star named Hedda Leiss and a group of friends she invites to take part in a cross-country bus trip to "Beefstock" (Woodstock).  Only Hedda doesn't even make it out of her house alive...we had such fun trying to figure out who was the murderer.  I actually thought it was my character for awhile, but it turns out that it wasn't.  Here's some pics of the hubby and I before we left for our Hippie fun. :)

So, here is my "sheet" dress.  I sewed a drawstring under the bodice and along the sides of the skirt.

I rolled my shawl and dress differently for the tie dye to give it a little pizazz.

I borrowed a flower clip from Miss Shay to put in my hair.

The hubby in his hippie hair & women's sweater vest.  He looked way groovy!

On Saturday, Bear and I had a date.  He decided to invite his sister along, so the three of us had a grand ol' time doing some shopping and having lunch at my favorite restaurant, Biaggis.  It was delicious!  When we got home, Grandma Nancy was visiting and Papa Edd and my nephew, Alex, were down for the big game.  In case you didn't know...our Hawkeyes won (woo hoo!!!)!  Heath came down with baby Alexandria so Grandma Nancy could see her.  We all enjoyed seeing her; it's hard to believe she'll be one month old this weekend! 

Papa giving Bear a gentle tickle. :)

Grandma Nancy, Miss Shay, and baby Alexandria.

The hubby looks so sweet holding a baby. :)  He's a pro!

Baby Alexandria :)

What a sweet pea! :)

Me, reacting to Alexandria's yawn...it was so precious. :)

I didn't get to hold her very long, there was a little girl impatiently awaiting her turn...

...and here she is.

Once Miss Shay got to hold the baby, she did NOT want to give her up!

Shay kept fixing Alexandria's blanket - she'll make a fine babysitter...someday!

Bear snuck in a turn with Alexandria.

Cavy wanted a turn too. :)  He kept looking at her tiny fingers.

Awww...

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Wishing you peace and love, my friend...

Blessings~

S

Finally Friday!

Even though this week was a short one, I am sooo glad it's Friday!  Tonight we have our murder/mystery dinner party!  We will be dressing up in our Hippie garb, and I will be wearing my sheet/dress that I sewed last weekend.  I can't wait to share pictures with you!  Saturday is also a big day in the Jones house; it's the day of the BIG game!  Every year we look forward to the inter-state rivalry game and cheer on our Hawkeyes!  It only seems fitting since we were married on game day in '95 (and our Hawks won that year)! 

The kiddos this morning before school - showing their colors!  Black and Gold!! :)

Our neighbor, Cory (also a Hawk fan - see his sweatshirt) waited patiently while I snapped a few pics. :)

Shay and Mr. B cheering on game day in 2007.

We found Miss Shay a new cheeleading dress (on sale - bonus!).  :)

2009 Team Pic

The word is fight, fight, fight for Iowa!  Let every loyal Iowan sing! 

Wishing you a blessed weekend no matter who you're cheering for! ;)
Blessings (and Go Hawkeyes!)~
S

Looking Back

On this day...in 2005, my 3 year old little girl began her school career with her very first day of preschool.  Gosh, that seems like a long time ago.  I still laugh when I look at the pictures from that morning.  She was a spunky little thing! :)

Those were quite some bows, huh?  I didn't think they were so big back then.  Ha!  I had so much fun making them for her.  I'm glad I did, because she's getting to "old"  to wear them now.  Oh, how quickly they grow.  Stop and smell the roses today.

Blessings~
S

Labor of Love

How was your Labor Day weekend?  It's hard to believe that fall will be upon us shortly.  The summer flew by so quickly and furiously.  I'm okay with fall approaching...I LOVE fall, it's my favorite time of year.  There is so much beauty to behold as the leaves change colors, and the air becomes cool and crisp.  Labor Day weekend presented itself as summer's last hoorah.  We had some rain, some wind, but mostly the weather was quite lovely. 

Mr. B finished his 1000 piece Photomosaics NASCAR puzzle.

What an accomplishment!

"Beach Party Day!" - Last Friday

Hang on!  Bear wants to be in the picture! :)

The Jones house was busy with football, company, and creativity.  I slaved away on my "costume" for the murder/mystery dinner we're invited to - which is coming up this Friday evening.  I didn't have a pattern, so it was literally a snip here and a cut there and a stitch here - you get the picture.  It's amazing what you can do with a sheet.  :)  Shaylen sat attentively as I sewed and asked question after question.  I took some time to introduce her to sewing and even let her try a thing or to.  She was pretty excited about it!  :)  When I finished piecing my creation together, Miss Shay helped me tie dye it (my first tie dying experience).  We had some extra dye left over, so we had some fun making some shirts.  While I had my sewing machine out, I also whipped up a sundress for my girl - which I've been wanting to do for some time.  I'm hoping I will be able to do a few more projects while I have my mess on the dining room table and before the Hubby puts up too much of a fuss about it.  :) 

My sheet - before the "fun."

Tie dye fun!

Some of our creations.

Shay's sundress "during" and "after" the sewing process.

The weekend wasn't all work and no play.  We broke out the fire pit Saturday night and roasted some marshmallows.  Sticky, ooey-gooey fingers + lots of giggles + the warm crackling of the fire = a wonderful night under the stars with those I love most.  The kiddos spent lots of time jumping and flipping around in the trampoline like little popcorn kernels in a hot pan.  They are so fun to watch - and watch you must - or you hear the repercussions, "Mommy, look at me!  Mommy!  You weren't looking!!  Mommy, watch this time!!  See, Mommy?  Did you see me?"  Yes...you have to pay attention, because these are the moments that you wish time could freeze...happy smiles, buckets full of laughter, and peaceful contentment.  Life is good. 

Cavy & Miss Shay playing "Pa & Ma, " which I assume was supposed to be the hubby & I.  Ha!

Today is back to normal, and back to class for me.  The kiddos had an extra day off, to which I protested was "Not fair!"  My pouts were only met with laughter, plus they got to spend the day with Papa Edd..so they got a bonus.  :)  I hope you got the chance to spend some of your weekend doing something you love, and more importantly with people that you love. 
That's what it's all about...

Blessings~
S