Keeping Up with the Joneses

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Time flies when you're having FUN!

It's been far too long since I have written. The thought to write and catch up creeps up on me and then vanishes before I have a chance to actually DO anything. I cannot fathom the thought of forgetting these moments, and I know that so many will fall through the cracks of my memory, so I will try to recap and retell what I remember.

Hunter: Hunter just started 3rd grade almost 2 months ago. The transition that I dreaded and anticipated as being a hard one has been anything but. He has flourished as I knew deep down that he would. He is doing so well in school and is getting back his first real number grades. That makes it kinda fun! He is playing on the Fire Soccer team again and practicing for that twice a week. In addition, he started minor baseball and plays that just on Sunday afternoons. He loves to play Minecraft and watch these Stampy videos that teach you the ins and outs of the game. He also loves to play Clash of Clans. Chris and I don't fully understand these games but they seem to really engage the design sense that Hunter is so gifted at.

Blake: Blake started kindergarten! I cannot believe my baby boy is in full time school now! He is loving every minute of kinder and doing so great. He comes home full of energy and has to run and play from the minute he steps foot in the door. I think by all accounts that he is really doing great in the classroom. We are practicing his letters and numbers still and he loves to read the beginning readers, the Bob books. He is playing flag football this fall and loves to play with the team that is comprised of mostly 1st grade boys. He had his heart set on playing that and decided to put soccer aside for the season. He is also just beginning in machine pitch minors this fall and has loved his game he played in so far. In a month, we will celebrate his 6th birthday and are planning a joint party with Luke. Blake and Emily still play so well together and pick up where they left off each afternoon. They are always in cahoots and making some mess somewhere....but they adore each other and are the best playmates.

Emily: Emily is in the 4's class with Ms. Pat and Ms. Beverly. She is having a great year and loving the group of kids in her class. She is taking her first dance class that has tap, ballet and jazz and really seems to like it. She is also taking her weekly gymnastics class. I moved her up to the 5-7 year old group and she is doing incredibly well. She has a talent for gymnastics and they have even asked her to join the pre-team. We are going to sit that one out for a while since she is still so young.

A BIG development in the Jones family....we MOVED! After 11 1/2 years, we sold our precious first home and moved. I knew all along for the many years that we looked and kept our eyes open that we would know when it was right. And thank you Lord, we did know. It was immediately an answer to prayer as it checked off all of our boxes of what we were looking for. It wasn't exactly what I envisioned, but has turned out to be better. Isn't that so sweet of the Lord to be so gracious? It was bitter sweet to turn over our old key and lock that front door for the final time, but God so perfectly arranged for a sweet family to make that home theirs and there hasn't been the least bit of doubt that it is all as it should be.

I even got a little part time gig this year. I am helping at the preschool in the motor skills class and having fun playing with the kids 3 mornings a week. It certainly means so many other things have to shift around to make it work, but so far, it's been doable and fun.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

What a difference a year makes….

A year ago, we took the kids on the Disney Cruise. Here are a couple of pictures from that trip. They have all grown a lot!

2013 (2 1/2)

4 years old

7 years old

2012- February (emily was 1 1/2)

Hunter was 6

blake was 3

3 1/2

Emily is 3 1/2. So here is a look back at what that looked like for the boys too…..

Hunter at 3 1/2.

Blake at 3 1/2

Emily at 3 1/2

Charleston, SC

Chris and I went on the 2014 Cavalier's Trip to Charleston the last weekend of February. It was so much fun and we definitely would like to go again. We had beautiful weather aside from a couple hours of rain on Friday. Other than that, we were able to walk around, be outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

We stayed at Charleston Place Hotel- it was so lovely. Here we are about to go walk around on Friday morning. It was a little icky out so we took an umbrella, our coffees and headed out.

We made our way to the pier and sat on the swings while it rained. It was still fun to be out checking out the city.

Here's Chris in front of the water.

We found this pretty little water-side park and loved the slate and brick patterns. It was a peaceful little park.

In front of the pineapple fountain. Charleston has pineapples all over as a sign of hospitality. We took home an ornament that is a pineapple to remember our (1st) trip to Charleston.

After lunch at Magnolias (yum!!) with the Walton's and the Conger's, we went on the 2 hour walking tour. It was fascinating and so incredible to hear and see all of the history. Then, we went back to shower and dress for Chris' class dinner at Fish.

Some of the guys (9 in his class went) in the lobby where the Cavalier's hung their own King's portrait next to some Charleston notables. Ha!!

At the King's Suite that Friday night. Fun fun!!

The boys were the bartenders. Kept things lively for sure!

On of the beautiful single houses. I loved taking pictures of houses the whole weekend.

A pretty window box. I want to do this here at home.

The last night we went to a hole in the wall little restaurant for Italian- just the 2 of us. It was wonderful and the atmosphere was amazing!

Selfies are tough to get right!

Back to night 2- at Fish with my handsome hubs!

February

February was a busy month for us! We had fun sending Blake to school for pancakes and pajamas day.

Emily got to celebrate her 1/2 birthday. She thought it was a pretty special day. And, her little Valentine's dress was so cute…even though it was freezing outside!

Her special moment in chapel with Mrs. Jane. She picked "Jesus Loves Me" for her song.

Mutton Bustin' 2014

Blake now has his very own claim to fame! He competed in Mutton Bustin' at the Rodeo this year and did awesome! He scored the 2nd place score and had so much fun.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Happy for 2014!

December was a fun month! As displayed by Miss Priss below....

This girl has so much spunk! She makes us laugh everyday. Where did she learn such attitude?

Blake and Chris at Blake's first ever Spurs game- they lost. 😕

Elfie returned for the month of December and boy was he fun!

An arctic blast came thru the first weekend of December- the same time as a big soccer tournament. Hunter's team played incredibly and ended up 2nd place. We froze our tails off out there but it really was a fun fun weekend!

Sha Sha and I took Emily to the Nutcracker Tea. It was so much fun and she loved every minute.

The girls...

Hunter turned 8! Seriously. 8 years ago? How has this happened? It deserves a post on its own but for now, can I just say that the past 8 years have been the greatest of my life. I'm not the same person as I was when I brought him home- we have grown up so much together. I wouldn't trade a single second- in fact, I would repeat every single one just to linger in this time a little longer. The thing is, that isn't possible so I will just look ahead fully anticipating the joy to just increase and increase as he grows into the young man God has created. I am one blessed mommy!