What a difference a year makes!

Wow! Ya think Jackson has grown? And not to mention our tree?! Boy we got a much more "full" tree this year!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

Happy 1 Year Anniversary!

In honor of my 1 yr anniversary of our blog I will do a *December 2009 recap*. I know most of you just fell out of your seat in excitement so buckle up here we go!

*We've been to some baby showers in preparation for 2 special babies! Is this a giveaway on whose they were for?? Counting down days for baby Jones and Wolford. My guess dates just so you know arrival date for Ryan Aislynn=January 8th & for baby boy Wolford=February 1st. My gender predictions were 100% so we'll see if the dates are close. April I can't wait to see that preggo belly soon to predict yours! Boy did I miss my calling...can there not be a job to get paid to predict baby genders before the doctor tells you?!

*Learned as a parent to ALWAYS have an spare undershirt for your child. Jackson did not with this outfit and was exposed nonstop. Boys are mean! By the way here's to looking this good in maize and blue in our late 20s (ps almost 30)!

*Ally May celebrated her 6th birthday (42nd in doggie years)! Every year we give her a spoon full of peanut butter. Go ahead and say it...we're amazing parents.

*My sweet "Little Miss" turned 3!

*We got to go to steak 'n shake three times. Holler at your boy! That's right, I just said "holler at your boy?" This also of course goes in hand with our annual trip to Tennessee. Which flew by way too quick!

*Jackson enjoyed his first snow! Don't you love the totally random outfit we threw together. Josh was actually the one that was completely dying to go play in the snow! The sled is actually a top to a storage tote. We Jones' got really creative.

*Back recap: Had MRI done and they found a bulged disc. Before MRI took SEVERAL meds that didn't help. After MRI had a cortisone shot on Christmas Eve and feeling a little better. Hopefully won't be a constant issue. Fingers crossed!

Christmas pics to follow! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year!

"It's beginning to look a lot like,..."

" ...Kelly is so behind on Christmas!" I mean "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"! Boy do I feel so behind. Haven't finished shopping or decorating (just took down my harvest flag and pumpkin off my porch, maybe 4 days ago) or done a Christmas card. PS: don't be offended if you don't get a card,...it's probably b/c this year I may not do them. We were going to take family pics for it, however Jackson decided he was going to play around and headbutt mommy and give her I nice shiner under my eye. Anyway, back on topic, I have started to get into the Christmas spirit. It just feels like December has just snuck up on me this year. Josh calls me a Scrooge up until after Thanksgiving b/c I don't start listening to any Christmas music til the Friday after Thanksgiving. Not that I don't enjoy the holiday melodies, it's just my weird thing I guess.

Us Jones' have already started doing some of our Christmas traditions.

1. Hunting for our perfect tree (aka: short and fat,...like me :) and we SO found it! I don't know who gave Josh a saw, but watch out! We even had this cute little lumberjack to help us find our Griswold tree!

2. Decorating our tree as a family. Buddy attempted putting on the star.

3. Camping out in the living room on the night we decorate our tree. Notice the containers of puppy chow and chex mix that I just decided was a necessity that our camping out could not continue without.

4. We also leave for Tennessee next week! So excited. Something we look forward to every December. Hope that the drive down won't be too crazy with a 18month old! Wish us luck!

I'll leave you with those few traditions of our family. Anyone have any others that they do with their family? Would love to hear them!

Enjoy the rest of the week! :)

Restless

Within the past 3 hours I recently found out that one of my friends from high school (played ball with her) husband had past away unexpectedly. 26 years old, working on a degree to be a doctor at UVA with a 13 mo old little girl and just recently found out they were expecting their 2nd child in June. He had gotten stuck in a cave in Utah. May have seen it on the news here:http://www.newsleader.com/article/20091130/NEWS01/911300310. It's been heard about nationally.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and Josh and I decided to start a new tradition for our family. Before we left to run around for the day, the 3 of us sat down and prayed together in our living room floor. Thanking God for all of our many, many undeserving blessings. Yet thanking Him for the people in our lives, our jobs, our home, cars,...I never once thanked him for my life here on earth. Each day is a blessing from God. Even if we have a bad day and think that things just possibly couldn't get any worse,...it is still so much better than we deserve!

I am just in complete shock about this news. I am emotionally heartbroken for my friend. I have probably sat in front of my computer for hours dumbfounded and bawling for her. She is such a strong woman of Christ and I know will get through this. Emily you and your family are in our deepest thoughts and prayers. Even if we don't understand, God always has a plan.

Revelations 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away"

My friends, please be in strong prayer for this family.

Quick Recap!

Okay so I've become a total slacker on my blogs recently! Not that many people actually read it, but still, don't want to disappoint my readers (bahaha)! So here's a brief recap of the Jones family.

As of this past Sunday we have looked at a total of 11 houses already and we just put our home up for rent. Pretty scary, but hopefully will work out. If it does, in the long run it will be a good investment over time. Exciting! :)

Also Jackson had his 15month appt last week (although he's 17mo right now). The doctor was really pleased with the improvements on his eczema,...thank you allergist & dermatologist! During his visit I had given Jackson a cracker with it being during his snack time. He said "peas?" aka please for it, and once I handed it to him he said "tank you" aka thank you. P.S. your welcome for the subtitles! Doctor Gard actually made the comment that he wished his 3yr old was that polite! Sorry I don't mean to brag but I was a proud mommy at the doctor's office. Jackson is starting to blossom in to quite the little toddler. He set perfectly still during his 3rd hair cut today with Daddy. We also recently bought him this flip-n-sofa.

He loves it. Thinks he's just big stuff with a couch and tries to be a stunt man.

Also we can FINALLY watch something besides The Backyardigans! Jackson is going through an Elmo faze. I thought this day would never come.

We also just had our 4th annual Friends Thanksgiving. It was super yummy. We actually got to sit down at the table for 2 minutes and all 10 & 1/2 were able to hold hands and pray before we ate. God has blessed us with some special friends that we are truly thankful for. Look at these two handsome fellas eaten their turkey together. Sam actually set the table for him and Jackson.

Group shot! For the record, this was the ONLY group picture that didn't have buddy screaming his head off. The chicfila ball was to the rescue! Helped him find his happy place.

Happy Turkey Day all!

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?

Not me, then who, couldn't be, then who????????????

(PS Does the picture give it away completely)

At the grocery store we got the new "white choc covered oreos" (by the way, super yummy). How could you not give this precious little face a little taste as he so sweetly says "peace!" (aka in Jackson language: please)?!

Needless to say Jackson had his first white choc covered oreo,....and last! :) Happy Wednesday!

Halloween Fun!

This fall has been so much fun. Fall is my favorite season, like I've already said and since Jackson is older this year and has been able to experience several different things! Pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating,...etc. Check out some pics below. Enjoy our precious little monkey! Isn't he getting so big!?!?

FRIENDS

Tribute to my fellow bloggers and in honor of our annual Friend-Family Turkey day coming up soon. I found this website called: faceinhole.com and saw this. It was perfect b/c it had 6 of us! I think Tony's is the best! Happy Saturday. Love you friends!

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Shoe Fetish!

Thought I would share something silly on a Monday. For a while now, Jackson has been very interested in shoes. He'll go into all of our closets find them and trying putting them on and walking,...most kids do that right? Do they do this too? Heels?

You know that's a problem when Mommy can barely walk in those shoes and Jackson can! Have a great week everyone!

Did I miss something??

Lately I've been seeing count downs on facebook, decorations in walmart, commercials for Sears,...already for Christmas! HELLO, Did we miss fall? NOT ME!

Fall is one of my most favorite times of the year so his is my top list on how I know when it's fall:

1. My hair color changes....to at least closer to it's natural,...darker.
2. Football season has started,...in which means Fantasy Football league at work has started! Watch out for "Indiana Jones". I'm making a comeback this year!
3. Pumpkin Spice Latte has come back to Starbucks!!
4. Halloween costume shopping for buddy. Last year he was a cute little ninja, this year a monkey!
5. Fall soccer is back in swing. GO SABRES! Also weight-lifting for the high school is soon approaching.
6. My fall decorations are out.
7. Flip flops are now probably frowned upon, although sometimes I'm guilty of this.
8. Friend Family trip to the Pumpkin Patch. $6.oo for a pumpkin, hayride, little animal zoo, horse rides, corn maze,...oh my what a deal!

Enjoy your fall!!!!

An Extraordinary weekend!

This weekend I went to the Extraordinary Women's Conference in Roanoke for the first time. It was an amazing weekend. There was TONS of women there! Several speakers, comedians, music artists, and authors,...including my favorite Karen Kingsbury. Picture is a little distorted,...I was a slacker and brought my camera on Saturday instead of Friday. This was taken from my phone. I had her sign one of my books and a children's book titled "Let me hold you longer" (PS if you haven't read it, buy it or youtube it,...so sweet and a tear-jerker) for Jackson.

We also got to meet her and Candace Cameron Bure aka DJ Tanner from Full House. Her testimony was awesome! Such an eye opener.

I had such a good weekend. I went with a group from Bethel and my Ma and mother in law, Marty came as well. It was such a good time to fellowship with friends. I saved the best picture for last,...since I use Em for my own person photographer (b/c I'm that important to take my photographer everywhere I go-phew jk) Em was officially taking pics of us waiting to get Candace Cameron Bure's autograph. We couldn't pose for a pic so this is Em's shot of her and Candace. Check out both of their faces!! You know she's got to have an awesome personality to go along with this crazy chic! Oh and yes by the way, I know, don't you just love that I am using her first name like we're bff?!

Can't wait til next conference in 2010. For all you ladies who couldn't go, you missed out. Please make a point to come next year. It was amazing!! :)

Should I be concerned...??

Okay so every evening after we have jammies on, Jackson and either Mommy or Daddy will read a book or two before bed. This evening was a little bit different....we had something else accompanying reading time...

Yes ladies and gentlemen his "fooball". I guess I should have known. He's been living in Salem for 15 months now and I'm surprise we don't already have him his own personalize set of football pads. Salem Mules get ready... Jackson Jones will be eligible for rec football in 3 years and 9 months! :)

Calling all "Marthas"!

Our Friday evening started out here buying our supplies...

...to make these. Oh and just in case you're wondering, yes we're in our twenties and we CAN pull this off! HOTNESS!

Aren't us Martha's so stylish! Amy made a Michigan one for Rew, Meghann made one for Ryan (yay), I made one for Ashlee's dog Carmella (her 1st bday is next month, won't she look precious in her birshday tutu??), Em made a PH one for Sissy (look Em I'm even calling her that now instead of Charley Bird), and Cam made one for her neice Landry.

This is where we left the boys. Downstairs distracted by playing a season of Madden.

A huge thank you to the Dowdy family for hosting us in our first Tutu/Madden Party. And a speacial thanks to Miss Martha Stewart herself, Emily! It was so nice to find my inner "Susie Homemaker" and having some girly time! Next night,... either carving pumpkins or blanket making! WAHOO! I'm excited!

Olde Salem Days 2010 watch out! We have some crafty women coming! :)

Oh and P.S. here's one of our cute models

I know it's just wrong but isn't he cute!? Don't show his daddy!

Cheers to a 3 day weekend!

The Jones family started off our 3 day weekend by getting up at 5am on Saturday to head to Richmond for Josh's u19 soccer tournament. Jackson (and mommy) made it through 2 out of 3 games which I thought was pretty good. While waiting back at the hotel for daddy, Jackson decided since we were away we could do things that we aren't allowed to do at home.

Once he realized that I was watching the whole time, this is what he turned his game into. Sneaky thing,...he started wiping the floor like he was trying to help clean. Who did he think he was fooling? :)

We also have found that we are not just avid Steak N Shake and Chili fanatics. We have discovered a "Tropical Smoothie Cafe". It was A-MAZING! Jackson got his first smoothie, banana-strawberry, YUMMY!

On Sunday we got the whole Friend-Family together for dinner. We now have to get a table for 10 1/2! :) Ladies I have much more pics from this evening, however I couldn't figure out how to do a slideshow on a blog, so I'll have to email them to ya!

Boy are our kiddos growing like weeds. I do have to say, those are some cuties! :)

Man it's nice to have a long weekend! Oh and by the way, Josh's team won the Richmond cup! Huge accomplishment speaking that the team that hosted the tournament and that they played in the championship was ranked 5th in the state and we were ranked 16. Not anymore! :) That should have bumped our standing up. Go sabres!

We've reached the "mimicking stage"

Trying to be like Mommy....

Trying to be like Daddy...

Trying to be like all 3 of my grandpas... (PS...b/c we know he isn't picking this up from Mommy or Daddy)

My inner photographer!

I finally got a new camera! I'm probably gettting a little bit too over the top taking pics but I just can't help it. I love my new camera and lets face it, this little fella just totally attracts it! :)

The night I got it (few weeks ago) I got a crash course lesson from Em. Still have quite a few lessons and playing around to do with it. It's exciting though! Here are some of my camera's first shots as a new wannabe photographer:

How many kiddos can you fit in this vehicle??

The Dowdy children were much more patient with me taking pics than Jackson.

Stay tuned for more Kelly Jones' Photography! :)