Christmas Morning

Nativity 2010

Christmas wouldn't be the same if we didn't act out the nativity. And doing it with in-laws, brothers, and sisters, makes it fun because we have enough people to cover all the parts and some. :-) This year's cast:

Baby Jesus - Clara
Mary - Ella
Joseph - Kristen
Donkey - Cooper
Angel - Addison
Shepherds - Annie, Jaimie, Sean
Wise Men - Tyler, Blake, Cody
Film crew - Caitlin
Narrator - Mom & Dad Jones
Audience - G&G Chambers

Addison was very excited to be the angel and she was so graceful as she flew in and out of the room. But after wards she asked me where her wings were. :-)

The wisest men I ever did saw.

film lady

Christmas Eve pajamas from Grandma Jones

I looked out the window...

...and what did I see???

Popcorn balls popping on the tree!!!

It's been a long Eric & Kim Jones tradition to take all the kids to G&G Chambers right before Christmas and make popcorn balls. As soon as I heard about this tradition I was all over it! Who doesn't love popcorn balls!? We're so grateful that they still let us raid their house. :-)

No Grandma! That's not a popcorn ball! That's Tyler's hand!

Cute couple

Marble fun!

Grandpa Chambers, Aunt Jaimie, Uncle Blake, Clara

Crimped Cutie

I got a package in the mail from my mom about a month ago. It's contents:

- My old crimper from the 80's

- My waver

- Bows and accersories I wore as a kid

Now here's what's scary...

it is all in style again! But let me tell you - they don't make things like they used to. I doubt my flat iron will make it past 2 years and my crimper is over 20 years old!

Puzzle Fun

The holidays aren't the same if you don't sit down and spend time doing puzzles. I absolutely LOVE puzzles but can never seem to find the time to start and finish one. (I've started many...) Well, come to find out that Cooper also shares my love for puzzles so we put together this world puzzle. It was so much fun!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Every year we go caroling in Lehi with Grandma Jones and family. It's so fun to see the cousins and the kids have a great time. I'm grateful that we get to go because I don't know that our kids would know what caroling is otherwise. :-) (I think it's a dying tradition these days.)

Grandma Jones brought this fun hat for the kids to share. The tip of the hat dances around as it plays "Jingle Bell Rock". He has been wearing every day since.

Mom, Me, and Clara (behind the blanket)

I love these two!

She can melt my heart in seconds with that little grin. :-)

The cousins...Really Tyler's cousin's kids. But who wants to try and explain 2nd cousins to their kids? So we just tell our kids that these are their cousins. :-)

Can you tell Ella loves caroling!?

BFF - Glen and Cooper

Every year Grandma Jones makes the most AMAZING candy trains for each family. The kids love them and love the candy! :-) She's been making them exactly like what you see in the pictures since Tyler was a kid. (Even the Santas are the same every year.) They're so fun and a really special tradition!

Addison thinks this is all hers! She is our candy girl. :-)

Happy Birthday!

I had a wonderful birthday this year! It fell on Sunday so we had our Ward Christmas Program in sacrament meeting. The choir was wonderful and I always enjoy hearing songs about Christ's birth. Our primary class sang "Happy Birthday" to me and we acted out the nativity. After church I talked to family and then we went and saw Blake get set-apart as Elder's quorum president. Afterwards, we had dinner and dessert at Tyler's parents'. Tyler made a cake for the FIRST time! (thanks babe it was yummy!) And then we headed home and I skyped my parents.

Here's to another great year...1 year older, and hopefully wiser too!

The kids made me pictures for my birthday. Those are my favorite types of gifts!

Cooper helped me read my birthday cards...he can even read cursive!

Good Friend

Addison is so good with Clara. She is always want to help with everything - bathing, clothing, feeding, holding, loving, playing. Someday Clara will realize how blessed she is to have Addi for a big sister.

I'm not sure if this is love or torture. :-)

Just when I think Addi is driving Clara crazy, she gets a smile. And Clara still hasn't smiled at me or Tyler - only Addi.

6 weeks

Girls Just Like to Have Fun!

Now I don't know about you, but my idea of fun is shoveling dirt/mud for 3 hours in the rain! Let me explain...

We are building a pool in our new backyard (yes, we moved and I haven't blogged about it yet) and we've been trying to stay in budget which means that we get to perform manual labor. Yipee! Manual Labor = Exercise (I'm trying to think the glass is half full) So on this special occasion we were trying to make sure that we passed our final inspection which meant that you could only have a max. 2in. space between the bottom of the pool fence and the ground. In certain areas we had as big as 1 ft. between the fence and ground. I called Tyler and he was going to have the inspection called off for another day since it would be dark by the time he got home from work. But I didn't want anymore delays. I got the kids situated with plenty of snacks, busted out the hat so rain wouldn't get in my eyes, and went to work. I have to be honest it was a little harder than I thought it was going to be. :-) I started with a wheel barrow, but that only lasted thru 3 loads because the wheels became caked up with inches thick of mud. So then I just started getting dirt/mud from anywhere I could and eventually I made my little mounds. And guess what!?....the next morning we passed our final inspection! Swimming here we come!!!

my lovely mounds of mud

Dance Recital

Ella had her dance recital and the dances were all so cute and I couldn't believe how well they all did! They all knew their stuff! It was a really fun night!

I love that Ella loves to dance! Here's a little Jones' family secret: After dinner Tyler will take our itouch, turn on some jazz music, and we'll all dance while we clear the table, clean dishes, and get the kids ready for bed. Yes! This is the same Tyler that will tell you that he doesn't dance! :-) I'm glad he's willing to do it behind closed doors because the kids love it! And Ella hasn't gotten some of her moves from her dad! :-)

Ella and her amazing teacher Miss Michelle

Dance Baby Dance! 2010

Thank you Grandma Jones for coming out and supporting Ella!

Think Ella's favortite part of having a dance recital is being able to use Mom's makeup. :-)

Four Weeks/One Month

Clara is one month old now and she amazes us each day with her tricks. Her newest trick...holding her head up like she's 6 months old. :-) She is so strong and loves to play peek-a-boo over your shoulder. And eventhough she doesn't smile at us yet, she makes us smile everyday! She is our little peanut. :-)