Ready to go Home

Well it has been a long, fun and exhausting week! We spent a couple days out on the boat and the days between 'recovering' but since the kids would sit at the window and say stuff like "It's a really nice day out mommy" (which means 'lets go swimming' in Anna-talk) recovering usually included afternoons spent in the pool. The kids have all had a blast and are already looking forward to a visit next year and already missing the friends they leave behind. Despite all this, we are all looking forward to getting home. Dan and I miss our bed as usual, Eileen says she is used to sleeping in her sleeping bag and will continue to do so at home, but we'll see... :) Evie is the most ready to get home as she has achieved a state of perma-cranky (defined as the state a child gets into when they have been gone from home too long and spend every waking minute wanting to be held) Perma Cranky state is only interrupted for eating. So tonight, we pack and get ready for the long trip home.

Monday was Anna's Birthday and involved a couple friends coming over to eat and swim. Anna loved it! Especially her all pink cake with yellow frosting....


We had a blast out on the boat, and on Friday, we took Dan's friend Chuck and his son Sam. The kids had a great time with them and Dan and I had fun showing off our mad wakeboarding skills..... well - maybe that was just Dan - I just had fun wakeboarding.


The older girls, and mommy and grandma all went out for manis and pedis on Tuesday - it was a nice morning of relaxing and pampering and the girls just LOVED it. Well, Momma and Grandma might have enjoyed it a bit too.... :)



Wednesday the adults went to Medieval Times and had fun eating good food and cheering on the yellow knight, who didn't win... but oh well!


Now it's time to pack up and head home. And believe it or not - the kids are still excited to watch the same barbie movies over and over again... here's hoping it lasts for all 16 hours. :)

Happy Birthday Anna

I can't believe my little girl is 5 now - the last year has seen her grow up a LOT. With Eileen at school for much of the day she has really stepped up into a responsible big sister in many ways. She is so helpful around the house. She is getting much easier to understand and picks things up so quickly. She is so creative - she comes up with creative solutions to things that are bothering her all the time. She is patient (generally) with her little sister and good at playing with her.

Warm Texas Welcome

Well we have had a hot and busy week. Texas is showing us summer in true southern style - hot and muggy. But also in true southern style we have been welcomed back to our old stomping grounds with open arms.

Monday we went and played with the Tolberts, and had a great time. It was just like getting back to normal routines. The kids ran amok upstairs with the toys and we sat downstairs working on crafts and talking. I love my husband - he is an amazing man and an amazing listener - but nothing quite replaces the friendship of other women. And there are some women that I really missed leaving here.

Tuesday we spent swimming in the pool and playing around the house.

Wednesday we went out on the boat. The kids had a blast going on rides in the tube with mommy and playing in the water. Mommy and Grandpa had fun wakeboarding - but both found to our chagrin that we are out of shape and tired quickly! Evie didn't much like the loud noises of the boat and spent the whole time either snuggled up to mommy or snuggled up to grandma. She wanted to get in the tube when she saw me out there with her siblings, but once out there she was eager to get back in the boat - with mommy of course.


Thursday, we headed down to the Dallas Zoo. We started off with a carousel ride and even Evie liked it - all the other kids at this age hated the carousel - but she loved it and said 'wheeeee' over and over. We strolled around the zoo seeing the animals, watching the new bird show and feeding the birds, riding the monorail, eating lunch and looking at butterflies. Evie loved anything to do with birds and spent most of the day yelling "BIRDIE!!!" When feeding the birds, she really wanted to see them and touch them - but as soon as they came near her she would panic and run away. At one point I was holding her and one landed on me and she panicked! Eileen couldn't get enough of the birds and didn't want to leave. All 3 older kids got to hold the birds and feed them. Even Aaron loved it! After a hot and long morning, we all went home and took long naps.
Friday was another fun day with friends. The Tolberts came over and swam with us and had lunch, we had a fun morning and as usual, we were all exhausted come nap time.

Saturday we drove down to Dallas Fair Park. We visited the aquarium there and played in the fountain for a bit. The kids loved the aquarium - They got to pet some horseshoe crabs and see sharks and eels and piranhas. Evie walked all over the place shouting "FISHIE!!" and squealing excitedly. By Saturday afternoon we were all waiting anxiously for Dan to get in. But his flight kept getting postponed. He finally got in nearly 4 hours after the scheduled time. In the mean time, the kids and I kept our dinner date with the Tiltons and loved spending time with friends. The kids had a blast and didn't want to leave and I enjoyed the time with Megan. We probably would have stayed later than we already did if we didn't have a daddy to get home to.

We went to church up in our old ward today. It was nice seeing everyone again and catching up on the news - lol - lots of new babies born or on the way. It's such a great and friendly ward and it was so funny to see people look at us - and then take a minute to realize that it's unusual for us to be there now. In a lot of ways it still feels like coming home.

Texas or Bust

LOL - well here's the promised picture of my Grandpa and the girls all dolled up for the Grandpa-Granddaughter dance at his church. Look at those beautiful girls and that handsome Grandpa of mine!

We spent Monday and Tuesday of this week up at the cabin - we had a great time hiking, playing in the dirt and picking dandelions. I was amazed at how well Evie did with the hiking - she walked most of the time all by herself and only wanted to be carried when Sophie and Mocha (Frank and Tina's dogs) ran near her. It was a nice couple of days - the weather was just beautiful and perfect for being outside.

Wednesday we headed back to town in the morning so i could get laundry and packing done to leave Thursday morning. Thursday morning we were on the road by about 8:30am and on our way to Texas. We stopped in a little no-gas-station town (at least not that I could find!) and found a park to eat lunch at. We made a bathroom stop or two and a dinner stop - but otherwise we just kept driving and finally arrived around midnight our time (or 1am Texas time) We quickly passed out from a long and tiring day of sitting in a car.... :)

We have spent the last couple days getting settled in. We have swam in the pool a couple times, went to the lego store at the mall and gotten me a couple pairs of capris - since all mine have mysteriously vanished.... :( I was able to find a couple pairs that i like though, and even managed to get them all on big sale - 50% or more off! We are looking forward to a week of fun next week too - and hopefully i will be able to figure out how to get the pictures onto my parents computer so that I can put some here for you....

Where did the kids go!?!?!

Well - I have a couple pictures for ya - but not a whole lot.... mostly because my plans for the week went a bit awry... I had signed the kids up for swim lessons, and had planned on lots of fun swimming pictures... well when i showed up at the pool on Monday morning.... the only person there was another person looking for lessons - the pool was totally barren. The other lady and I checked the times and date, tried calling the pool and could figure out NO reason why we had been stood up. We called and left messages, but received no answer - to this day - nearly a week later - I have not received an answer to my calls and messages. So swim lessons were a bust - as you can imagine - the kids were rather disappointed.... didn't really think you wanted pictures of grumpy kids sitting on concrete....


Tuesday we went to the park in the morning, then that afternoon, my aunt Tina picked the kids up for a sleep over at their house that night so Dan and I could go out. We went out to see the new X-Men movie, then for dinner (we had a late lunch and weren't hungry before). The kids had a great time and slept out in a tent that night. The next day Tina called and asked if the kids could stay a bit longer. They ended up staying most of the week. Dan and I went up for dinner on Thursday so Dan could say goodbye to them, then on Friday, I went up and picked up Aaron and Evie. Eileen and Anna stayed one more night with Frank and Tina - then on Saturday night they went on a Great Grandpa-Great Granddaughter date with Great Grandpa Francone. His church was putting on a Daddy-Daughter dance. The girls got to dress up, put on jewelery, got corsages, roses, and went to a banquet and dance with Grandpa, Uncle Stuart and Cousin Lucy. They had a wonderful time - They told me all about the dancing, the food, the chocolate fountain (yum...) and other small incidents like not being able to find the water fountain and going to the bathroom.... But they had a marvelous time - then they spent the night with Grandpa. The next morning - I picked up two very excited girls and we all went to church. Grandpa took a bunch of pictures - but I haven't managed to get copies yet....

Church was an adventure - as it usually is with Dan gone - thankfully our ward is forgiving and patient with my crazy kids..... Especially Evie when she realizes I'm not in nursery with her. The kids spent the afternoon "making stuff for Daddy" - but I'm not going to give details in case he is reading this. :) Now begins the insanity....

I've Got Music

Music is a big part of life in our home. The kids run around the house all day singing songs. Generally it starts out as a song they they know from somewhere - movies, church, kids CD's, me, stuff like that - then the song slowly morphs into a whole different creature about whatever they see and are doing at the moment. Eileen is taking piano lessons right now and as a result, she also spends a fair amount of time playing the piano, which has inspired me to spend more time playing the piano. Plus she has decided that she is going to teach Anna how to play also - so Anna spends a lot of time playing the piano now too. Even Evie often walks around the house clapping at me and yelling "CLAP CLAP" trying to get me to sing 'If you're happy and you know it'

This week has been even more full of music for me than the normal. I had my normal rehearsal on Wednesday, and then 2 concerts this weekend. I love to sing. I love music in most of it's varieties and any opportunity to sing is welcomed. So a chance to spend my weekend singing music from some of my FAVORITE Broadway musicals was an exciting opportunity - especially since it's out of the norm for me. Broadway isn't usually in my performing repertoire. But I love it all the same.

My Dad just happened to be driving through Colorado on the night of my first concert - so he stayed the night at Casa de Jones and came to my concert along with Frank, Tina, Frankie and a friend of theirs. The whole evening was a lot of fun - I sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady as a solo and I believe it went well. For the second concert - I got to sing to the man at who's house I was first really introduced to musicals. My Grandpa came on Saturday and as I was singing and listening to other solos, a whole flood of memories of watching musicals like "The Sound of Music" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" at my Grandparents house each summer came back to me. In so many ways - my grandparent's love of music shaped my own - which is in turn shaping my children's.

We also got to have Zoe come and spend the night - She and Eileen were thick as thieves all day and night - Anna was not feeling up to par - but they all have lots of fun together. Zoe is usually not even out the door before Eileen is asking when she can sleep over again.

As I was on my way to my second concert, I was flipping through radio stations and caught part of an interview with a man who was talking about how so often in today's society, guys aren't taught to be Men. He talked about how many of society's problems would be solved if guys were all taught by their fathers how to be men - real men - manhood as defined by our Savior. As I listened to the interview, I reflected on how grateful I am to have real Men in my life. Men who follow Christ's example, men who are responsible, caring, honest, kind, (this list could go on all night) I am so grateful to be married to such a man - and the father who raised him. I am grateful that I have uncles and a father and grandfather who are all real men. I realize it's a bit early for Fathers Day - but I don't know of a more fitting tribute - and I am truly blessed.

LOL - sorry no pics this week. :) I promise more next week :P

The Insanity

Ok - I realize that with 4 young kids I probably have it easier than some, and harder than others. I knew that with Eileen starting school this past year that life would start to get a bit busier outside the home. Knowing that it will and living it are two totally different things! Funny thing is that it seems to have gotten busier now that she is out of school for the summer. We look at our family calendar and there are things going on all week. Now some are not terribly exciting - e.g. - MONDAY - laundry, grocery shopping, piano lessons, FHE. Nothing wrong with any of those things - but they are a normal part of life. Some are much more interesting - e.g - SATURDAY - go see cousin Frankie in Sleeping Beauty, go on a date with my handsome hubby!

They called this spoon the 'sharing stick' because they were all stirring together.


Family Home Evening is usually one of those things that we do because we should - but we are lucky if we get one kid to listen and pay attention - all 4? Don't know that it has ever happened... until this week. We had one of those miracles where the kids paid attention, learned, and participated - all of them! Last Sunday was a bit of a crazy day - after church the kids all seemed to forget that it was the Sabbath day and that the Sabbath Day is supposed to be different. I was getting increasingly frustrated with the kids and the situation until I had had it! In a burst of inspiration (instead of blowing up at them and kicking the other kids out and banishing them to their rooms) I called them in for a talk. I asked them what day it was, I asked them what things we should do on Sundays. I asked them if the things they had done all day had helped them feel like it was Sunday and a special day. After discussing this I brought up my grand idea. We decided that for FHE, we would make a Sunday Activity Jar. We would fill it with ideas of good, fun things to do on Sundays. So Monday we sang a song about the Sabbath Day and we started making our jar. All 4 kids participated - Even Evie loved putting the papers in the jar - even Aaron gave his ideas for Sunday Activities. After we had used all out strips of paper, we put the jar aside. This morning at 7 am I was awoken by Eileen - jar in hand - wanting to pick out an activity and get started. So today after Church, instead of the kids running amok while Dan and I took naps (well i still squeezed a little nap in) we played games together, read scripture stories together, made banana bread, and took a walk to a friends house with one of the banana bread loaves. So much more fulfilling and fun than the norm!

This is Evie with pig tails - YES - i can finally get little pig tails in her hair - and they are so darn CUTE!!!!

Friday was great day. The husband of a friend of mine was going through the temple for the first time, I wanted to be there to support that friend - Dan was kind enough to take the afternoon at home so that I could go. It was a wonderful afternoon! That evening the priesthood brothers got their families together for pizza, games and fun. The kids had a blast running amok all over the gym and eating more junk than they usually get in a month. Dan had fun trying to cheat at Apples to Apples and still losing. I had fun winning - I always enjoy winning - just wish I did it more often! We all came home exhausted - but happy.


Saturday we went to see my cousin Frankie in Sleeping Beauty. The older 3 loved it - they sat enraptured the whole time. Evie got cranky when she got goldfish and the rest of the kids got candy.... But the play was a lot of fun and I love giving the kids those kinds of experiences. Then we picked up the baby sitter and Dan and I went out for dinner and a movie. I always enjoy spending time with the amazing man I am married to. I enjoy talking to him, laughing with him and just being with him.

Welcome Summer???

Well - Eileen is officially done with Kindergarten and is now on summer break - the weather is still insisting that it is spring though with rain and lots of overcast days. This week was kinda busy with end of school year stuff. On Wednesday was Eileen's little preschool graduation. I had fun watching her and seeing her excited happy face. She has had a good year and made some good friends. On Thursday afternoon was their end of year assembly - Eileen said they were singing the song that she has been walking around the house singing all week during the assembly. So Dan and I went with 3 tired and cranky kids.... It was a very long assembly.... but watching her sing at the end was worth it! She is so cute!! I tried to get a video of it - but my camera didn't cooperate... just know that she was very cute and if you ever want to see her sing it - just ask her to. She will happily cooperate - and Anna might even join in.
And my tired little girl who had not had a nap at all - and ended up with a fever the next day... poor baby!!! She is so full of personality - and her hair is getting a little longer - i managed to get it into pig tails for church today. I'm sure she grew up on me while I was gone.... NO MORE DOING THAT EVIE!!!!

Aaron decided he wanted to be a big boy and wear underwear a couple days ago - he made it a day and a half with no accidents - and now he's tired of it and wants diapers again.... sigh... maybe this will get done some day.... the problem is convincing him that he wants to wear them again....Diego and Thomas the Tank Engine only worked for a little while. Any suggestions anyone???

Home at Last

This weekend was another reminder of why I don't like to fly anymore.... but before I get to that....

Oh and by the way - this post is dotted with the pics I have been promising for the last 2 posts :)

This last week for me has been wonderful. I have spent so much of the last 6 years receiving service at the hands of the amazing women I have been blessed to know. I will always be grateful for that service - this week, I got to pay it forward a bit. I spent the week cooking, cleaning, and mending for my sister and just trying to do whatever it was that would help her make the difficult adjustment to being a new mother. I left her with a full fridge and fairly clean kitchen, and all the sewing she wanted me to do, done. In addition to all this, we went out and spent a day at Nauvoo. I watched the baby for an hour while my sis and her hubby went to the temple, then we walked around the town and explored the historic site. I really enjoy that kind of stuff and Sandi and Jon indulged me. :) We all had fun taking lots of pictures and enjoying everything. Plus the weather was just beautiful - we couldn't have picked a better day... literally - the rest of the week was drizzly.... Jon's parents and my dad came in at the end of the week for the baby blessing, and so Saturday we all went out bowling.

Now that sounds like fun... and I enjoy bowling, the only downside was that while I was bowling, I was supposed to be home.... I got up at 6am on Saturday morning and went to the airport where I was confronted by a long line at a very small airport. Why the long line? Because United had cancelled all their flights out. So they rescheduled me for the next morning.... Then that flight got cancelled - Dan made sure they got me on another flight, so they put me on an American flight (that airline had been making all it's flights for the last 2 days...) and finally got me home this afternoon. It's so good to be home - and it's nice to know that I was even missed a bit by the kids who are always telling me that they like Daddy better. :) Plus I got to come home to a heart shaped cookie and home made cards!

So what did the kids do while I was gone? According to Dan - they did nothing and ate junk food... no wonder they think I'm the mean one!!! LOL This week will be Eileen's last week of school - I can't believe it's over already!! And last but not least - a pic of me with my handsome new nephew!!

Welcome to Peoria!

Well here I am - in Illinois and states away from my hubby and kids on Mother's Day. Instead i spent it with my sister who is a brand new mother and her ADORABLE little baby boy! I missed hearing my little kids singing "Mother I Love You" but hopefully I am being a helpful and useful big sister. I did get to talk to my hubby and sweet little kids. Anna told me that they made a 'aprise' (surprise) for me, then told me to guess what it was. I made some silly guesses without revealing to her that Eileen had told me about the cards just a minute ago. I even got to talk to little Evie who with some help from Daddy said "mama, I love..."

The kids are loving their time with Grandma and Grandpa Jones. Evie took to them quickly, thought generally wary of people she doesn't recognize. Aaron will even ask them to change his diaper - he won't even let Dan do that! Out house is now much cleaner and more organized and the backyard has a trimmed tree with 3 rope swings hanging from it. I have lots of pics - but they will have to wait until next week since I'm not on my computer. :)

Since it's Mother's Day - I just thought I would say thank you to all the amazing mothers in my life - not just my mother and mother-in-law who are both amazing women - but all my sisters as well - my sister, my sisters-in-law and my sisters in the church who inspire me and teach me by their examples and love. My aunts who are all different - but wonderful examples of wonderful mothers. Finally my friends - those who live back in Texas - yes I still miss you! The new friends I've made in Colorado, the wonderful friends I've had for longer than I care to admit, and the awesome friends I have made online. Y'all brighten my days and inspire me. I love you all! And happy Mother's Day to you - whether you are a mother, or just have a 'mother's heart.'

Let the Madness Begin

The house is clean(er) and the air mattress is set up and the kids are bouncing off the walls with excitement. Dan's parents get in today and we are all looking forward to it! The kids have talked of nothing else and have been helping me clean up for the last 2 days to get ready. I told my hubby that we were trying to get the house to look like a house where 4 kids lived - instead of like a house that got hit by a tornado and left..... I think we mostly succeeded. :) Now we have a couple days of playing with Grandma and Grandpa ahead of us and then Daddy comes home and I leave to go see my sister and her new little baby!!!!

Easter Fun

We had a fun but busy week. In addition to the usual, we had Dan's cousin and his family over for dinner on Thursday night which was a lot of fun - and we even got to eat Easter cupcakes! :) Tuesday night was another Skate party for Eileen - I got to take her this time. I haven't been in a place with so many falling kids in a long time :P Eileen does really well for her age. I was more out of practice and more wobbly than I care to admit - but still we had fun and did remarkably little falling down. We had the daughter of Dan's cousin (who is close in age to Eileen) spend the night on Friday night. She stayed, played and had fun with us Friday night and Saturday morning. They made animal cookies together, watched movies and played with toys. The girls really had a great time together and were all begging their parents to let them do it again soon. Saturday Daddy came down with a cold :( - he's been trying to drown it in OJ - but what he really needs is sleep - hard to get with screaming kids jumping all over you.... despite this, he let the kids decorate Easter Eggs while mommy went to go sing in her Choir Concert.
I had concerts Saturday and Sunday - they went really well - And a sweet friend in our ward offered to watch the kids so Dan could come to the concert on Sunday.

Easter was pretty low key - between Church and my choir concert we went and had chips and guac and some dinner with Frank and Tina and Frankie - but nothing huge. Just really yummy food and good company. :) The ward choir sang in church today - with me directing - I am really enjoying this calling - the people who come and sing with me are amazing and we pulled off a beautiful Easter number thanks to the spirit and their hard work.

I finished the blanket for Baby Taz this week - but pics will have to wait - don't want to wreck the surprise for my sis! (not that she reads this much, but just in case....)

Fun and Games

This week has been eventful - even not counting all the stuff I posted previously. We had the normal stuff to keep us busy, Daddy coming home, choir concerts, friends and fun.

The kids went to stay the night with Uncle Frank and Aunt Tina so that Mommy and Daddy could have a night together. We went to the temple and then out for a bit of dessert. The kids love Frank and Tina and love sleeping over there. Mommy and Daddy love the break. :) We picked them up the next morning in time for some house cleaning and some play before I had to head off to my concert. The concert went well. The music is beautiful and I'm looking forward to the rest of the concerts this season. For more info - and to find out how to come see one - check out the site here.
Eileen has another tooth that is hanging by a thread and Dan keeps trying to convince her to let him pull it out. She won't consent to let him... I can't really blame her - but at the same time - I wish it were just out already!!!
As always - it's wonderful to have Dan back - he took Thursday and Friday off and spent them with us (and getting a couple things done...) :)

Babies!!

My kid sister (lol - well she's 28 so not really a kid - but you know.... :) and her husband welcomed a new baby boy (and their first child) into their family this morning!! I am so excited and when I get more info - I will add it here :)
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Baby Taz was born 7 lb, 2 oz. He has a colon issue that will require surgery tomorrow morning - Sandi is fine, but tired and understandably upset. Keep them in your prayers - I am.
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I was told that while trying to check the baby's temperature rectally - they were unable to do so - which first alerted them to the problem - They have decided now that since they are still unsure of what the problem is exactly, that they are not going to be doing the surgery tomorrow after all. He is in NICU and Sandi hasn't even gotten to hold him yet. :( My mom should get there either some time tonight or early tomorrow.
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Sandi is getting to hold him now! I'm told he has lots of reddish hair and I am pestering people for pictures!! You can see some pics HERE.
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Sandi is getting to spend more time with him now. My mom has arrived safely. The doctors won't know for sure what will need doing until the surgery tomorrow, but are optimistic about it being minimal.
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Baby Taz had surgery this morning - all went well - they put in a colostomy and will do the pull through when he gains some weight. Baby is doing well and parents are relieved. :)

Houses....

Any one know someone looking for a nice house in the DFW area in Texas - great schools - great house for a young family.... if so - point them our way... that's right - out house is back on the market...again.... sigh....