13 years....

I was looking at these pictures, thinking in 13 years the first of these three boys will be going on a mission. I wonder what the pictures will look like then?

I love my nieces!

Here's a few of my adorable nieces, Kayla, Breea, and Katie. Aren't they the most beautiful blondee's? You throw me in the middle and you can see why they have more fun. But not only are they cute, but their all talented, smart, loving, and good righteous girls. I'm so grateful for good examples for my little girls to look up too. Thanks girls.. I love them and we have a bunch more where they came from...

More from the blessing day.

Ok so I know this is a little late and I've posted lots of pictures of the blessing but Kristal just sent these to me and I LOVE them. Thanks sister!

The first white dress!

So I've never put much thought into the symbolizm or excitement of the three white dresses a girl wears in her life, however I have to admit that the first white dress for both of my girls has been a big deal and a LOT of fun. First is the shopping for the dress. I remember shopping with my Mom for Kendall's and we had such a nice day, and pick the perfect dress. For Taryn's my mom was in the valley, so Vonda and Danica came with me, and we had so much fun. It's odd that less than a year ago we were shopping for Danica third white dress for her wedding. Anyhow, we made the perfect pick again for baby Taryn.

Next is the dressing of the baby. We've been blessed to have blessed all of our children at Vonda and Bill house which makes it even more special. We (meaning all the girls) go back into Von's room lay the baby on her bed and begin the dressing. Oh, the excitement!! It became very apparent that Danica is very baby hungry.

Last is the presenting of the child for everyone to Ooow and Auhhh! And the pictures.... Thanks again Kristal. I love the pictures.

What a wonderful day. I'm sure we'll enjoy the hubbubaloo over the other two dress even more.

Sweet Taryn

Here's a few shots of sweet Taryn Lillly. I feel like I'm not fully documenting her early years because I'm so busy chasing the other two. So here's a little about her.

• When she crys she does this very ethnic tongue roll thing. It sounds like a pirring - R roll sound. Anyways, it's cute.. I love to hear her cry. Maybe she'll be good a spanish?

• She LOVES Garrett. He walks by her and she starts kicking and smiling. Garrett loves her too. He wants to hold her everyday and his favorite is to baby sit her in the toy room while I cook dinner or fold laundry. I love my little helper. Kendall, she tolerants and is learning to endure. I'm sure they will become buddys.

• She refuses to take a bottle, which is driving me crazy.

• Those crazy long black hairs on the top of her head refuse to lay down. They are always sticking up. It's kindof funny too because the rest of her hair is like a light brownish, redish, blondey sorta color.

• She's getting so good at following me with her eyes around the house. And she's starting to try and grab things that are infront of her.

• Everyone says she looks like Keith or a Jones, but I see Kendall and I in her. She does look the most like Garrett. Maybe that's their connection.

• She is the best baby ever. So easy going and hardly ever crys. She love to just sit in the toy room and watch her siblings play.

Kids can sleep anywhere.

So last night Keith told me to go check out Garrett. I was prepared for him to be naked, because the kid is a little spaceheater, and takes his PJ's off all the time.

Let me explain the scene.... Garrett sleeps on my old daybed with the trundle pulled out becuase he flops around like a fish. Well, last night he fell half off the top bed with his back arched in a very ackward way, but he found it comfortable and sleep that way for quite a while.

Evolution of the FHE group...

About a year or so back I started a Family Home Evening Exchange group, thanks to the inspiration of my good friend, Denise. It was a blast to get 10 new FHE kits every other month. However, not so much fun to color, cut and plan the FHE kit. Lately we've all decided that we are all filled up on FHE kits, so I suggested that we turn ourselves into a craft group. I have a lot of friends and sisters in Arizona that do this sorta thing. So we decided that each one of us would take a turn being in charge of a craft every other month. Like a Super Saturday sorta thing. One person pulls their hair out going crazy getting everything ready for everyone else to just show up one night put together a craft and go home with a completed project. But then the rest of the year she's off the hook and can just come enjoy, while another one of our friends makes herself crazy being in charge. I love to doing crafts, but I hate getting everything ready or I don't know how to do them, and then I always get them done halfway. My basement is full of half completed crafts. Uagh!! So now we are all out looking for good crafts to share with our friends. I hope I didn't offend, but I made it clear that we don't want any "crappy crafts". You know that kind that breakless then a year later, and really you don't want to put them up in your house. Here's an idea that I got from my little sister, Kristal

Dinner groups

Last night our ward had dinner groups. We were invited to the Emily and Jeffery Merchant's home to dinner. The Cherry's and the Grovers (sp) joined us. We brought the kids so that Mia and Maggie could play the Garrett and Kendall. Garrett and Mia had a GREAT time together. She's a planner of amazing adventures and Garrett is all about the fun, so good times were had by them. Plus Garrett doesn't mind following around a cute girl dressed in a princess gown. Kendall and Maggie gave each of glances but Kendall was a little shy about the whole experience.

The meal was delicious and the company delightful! I am sooo bumbed, I took my camera but completely forget to take pictures. Uugh! Thanks Merchent's for a great time! Can't wait to do that again.

Mothering heart...

Odd... lately I'll have all my kids around me playing and I'm holding Taryn, who is only 3 months old, then I get the trange feeling that one of my kids are missing or I need to go up stairs and get her?!? I'm sure it's just the hormones talking. I know we'll have more children but right now seems a little early.

I know a lot of people pray and have strong feelings about the timing and number of children they will have, but I can't say I one of those people. I did knew that after we had Garrett and were trying to have another, that we would have more children. As always, my timing and date wasn't the same as the Lords. We wanted to get pregnant 9 months after Garrett was born, but we didn't get pregnant with Kendall till a year later, which seemed like 12 years. I know that there are many, some dear friends that struggle with infertility and my heart aches for them.

God has placed in women the desire to nurture a child of your own, it hurts not to be able to fill that yearning.



Oh.. that reminds me today we were at Costco and all the kids were in the cart, a middle aged lady walked by us the turned around and looked at me and with a little bit of uglyness said, "Are all three of them yours?" I just smiled and said, "Yes" She shook her head, as she walked away and replied, "Your busy lady!" Funny I didn't really feel that busy, if anything we have to slow down, for little feet walking beside me, naps, playdates, singing repeative songs that require hand motions, and talks about why ladybug only live on the southwest side of our house. I do feel touched to death, because my children are all at a very loving, huggable, "Mommy can you help me?" phase of life. But I know this phase will pass faster than I want it too. Until then it's nothing that a long shower to unwind, or date with my sweet husband can't fix.



This reminds me of the discussion that was had at the Worldwide leadership training last week. We were counseled to not judge the amount of children others have or and spacing.

My sister Paula sent this to me and it made me giggle.

Ponderisms

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. But it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Taryn's first trip home to Arizona

On Taryn's first trip home she became friends with two important people. The first was Grandpa Jones, who loves to "bouncey-bounce" the grandbabies on his knee. Taryn had the biggest grins for Grandpa. And Grandpa was pretty fond of her too.

The second is her built-in buddy, cousin Whitney. The two girls were born two week apart. I'm sure they will grow up to be good friends.

We love "Aomie"

The transformation of Kendall's hair....

Well, it's time.. Kendall has been sporting these pitafull pigtails for months now. Her hair is so thin, or nonexsistant. So we are chopping it off to try and thickin it up.


Kendall's first hair cut. Many more to come.

Baby Forest Gump!

Sweet little baby Taryn was dyagnosed with hip displacia at three weeks old. That's when the ball and socket of the hip do not meet or are not fully formed. They immediately put her in a Wheaton body Harness, that made her look a bit like a baby Forest Gump. She has never complained or fussed at wearing the harness, unlike her mother. It was a bit of a pain to change diapers. Note to others who may have to enjoy this adventure, buy one size bigger diapers and clothes. They fit under and over the brace better. Also trying to figure out how to restrap all that velcor at 3:00 am, sometimes seemed like a puzzle I could not solve. And velcor does not clean well. But we survived and now she's out of the harness. We hope and pray that the correction has been made complete, and she won't have any other complications with her hips.

Through our every other week visits to the Radiologist for ultrasounds and then two days later to the Pediatric Orthopaedic Dr. in DC, I realized there are so many children suffering with much worse situations. I am so grateful for knowledgeable Doctors who take such good care of our children. And for insurance, I know copays are a drag, but 35 bucks is doable compared to the $150.00 that a single ultrasound would cost!

My Happy Lovers Day chair!!

For Valentine's Day Keith and I decided to buy each other a chair. Yes, we are really romantic. Actually, I reallly wanted the chair, so Keith agreed that we didn't but each other anything for Christmas, so we can go a little crazy for Lover's Day.. Yipppy!! I wasn't expecting tulips to boot. What a bonus!! Thanks, lover.

What brings a mother joy.

My husband has often told the story of one of the few times he has seen his mother cry. Maurine, my mother-in-law is an incredible women and amazing mother, and nothing gives her greater joy than her roll as wife and mother.

Here's how the story goes..... I guess Darrell, Keith's younger brother was being honored in high school, so they asked him a few questions. One of the questions was who are your heros? His response was my brothers. Maurines commented that one of the greatest joys as a mother is when your children love and care for one another. She has truely taught her children to love one another.

In the past week I have had my family relay events of my Aunt Claudette's funeral to me because I was not able to be there. It sounds like the funeral was one of love and tribute to my dear Aunt Claudette. One story of a loving and good older brother touches my heart. Even with his own pain, he saw the mourning and pain of a younger sister and reached out to hold her while they laid their mother to rest. How Christ like, "mourn with those who mourn, yea, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort..." I know that my Aunt Claudette's joy could not be fully than at that moments. Well done, Ian.

I am sure Aunt Claudette has joy in all the love and support her children are giving to one another and to their own children. We teach our children to love one another by how we love one another, even when it's not easy to do. This is what I wish for my children also.

Things I love about Virginia....

I hate sand boxes, but my kids love it! Any tips on how to get the stinking sand off their little bodies before they come in on our newly cleaned floors?


Now if I can just keep Kendall from stepping on them or eating them till spring.


Kendall's cheezey smile. She can't see for 2 second while she smiles, cause she sqwents her eyes so much.

So today the kids and I were outside playing and enjoying the break from the cold weather. But instead of fully enjoying the moment I was thinking about things I miss about Arizona. So I decided to make a list of things I love about Virginia. becuase I really do love it here. So here it is and in no particular order.

• Watching the tulip push through the red clay to greet the warm weather, not knowing that it will be snowing two days from now. Poor tulips!




• Acorns. I never realized that so much fun could be had by small children with an acorn.




• Slugs. Ok I don't like em, but Garrett LOVES them and it keeps him busy for hours running around the house checking under all the drain pans for those slimmy little friends. Then he either puts them in the bug house or lays them out on the pavement to roast in the sun or be smushed. We haven't the heart to teach him the salt trick. He tortures them but the loves them.




• I guess I love that it snows, because I get all excited and geared up by making warm yummy soups, and fun stay inside projects like beading aka "beaning" as Garrett calls it. That's another blog..... As a matter of fact, we love all the seasons here. The spring flowers and cherry blossoms are simply lovely. They make you want to wear pastels. The summers are great here. A few days of humidity, but then you always get a break with a few day of perfect weather. Unlike, Arizona weather were from May until October, you can bearly walk from your car to your house without breaking out into a sweat. The Fall has to be my favorite. The leaves are so thick, bright and beautiful. There's just enough nip in the air, that you can wear a sweater and jeans. Love that.




• Like everyone who lives on the east coast, I love that there is never a shortage of places to visit or things to do. Particularly, I love the historical sites. I love learning and growing to appreciate our great country. I can't remember a thing that I learn, but fortunitly I have my walking encyclopedia right next to me and he remembers everthing he has ever rid. Love that about him.




• We love our house. I love that the kids can play outsides without me worrying about traffic or much other immediate danger. We love all the windows and space. (I don't love the hardwood floors but that's another blog.) We love that we are close to everything, but still outside of the busy city. I love that Keith's work is so close that he can be home rather quickly. We also love that it's big enough that people can come visit and we have space for them to feel comfortable. So sisters come visit!!!




• We love the people. I know everywhere has great people, but we have really enjoy our neighbors, church, school, and work friends.
  
  
  
• Well, I know there is much more I love about Virginia, but this is enough for now.

Dinner and Stake Conference

I love the Saturday adult session of stake conference. I love going to dinner with Keith and friends before the meeting. I love not having childen tormenting me through a church meeting, which makes it possible for me to hold Keith's hand, and really listent to the talks. I love talking with friends after the meeting and not being harassed by my children while I visit. This sounds like I don't like being around my children, but it's not just that. Last weeks Leadership broadcast, and stake conference this week, both seems to have talks that were just for me. Ya, I know if you go with an open mind and and willing heart the spirit will speak to you. But at both of these meetings most of the topics discussed were geared toward women, mothers in particular.
The messages by our church leaders was one of encouragement and support in our efforts to raise a righteous generation. I just needed to hear a little pep talk, I guess.. Thanks!

I hope this brings me joy!

I'm all new to this blogging experience. I hear it brings you great joy and is a easy way to journal and keep in touch. But I have to admit that I'm a bit ensecure going in for three reason. The first is obvious, I'm a horrible writer. I tend not to make sense, my grammar is horrific, and my spelling even worse. Second, is that I am a complete retard when it comes to the computer. (Ask Kristal, Vonda, and my husband, they are my tech support team.) And third is that I'm bad about making time to do one more thing in a day. But with all that said, I'm in.

Thanks Vonda and Kristal for getting me started.

The three little cute things at the top bring me the greatest joy!!

A quicker way to make orange juice

Grandma Jones told Garrett he could pick some oranges from the neighbors tree and make orange juice if he could get his Dad to help him..... Garrett decided to take matter into his own hands, with a couple of baseball bats from Grandma back yard.
Cousin Ben came over and joined in.


Oh, and to add to the difficulty of the task, Grandma had just planted roses in the flower bed right below the tree.
Not only do they have a nice swing, but they have to balance at the same time!



The dump truck in the back yard made for a good mode of transportation to get the product from the tree to the kitchen. After they had been beat to death by a bat.