Christmas

We made our annual trek to Denver this year to visit my family. I was especially excited because my Grandma Schaper was going to be there this year. She was looking forward to meeting and holding her new great-granddaughter, Danielle. Our trip out was mostly uneventful. We stopped in Tulsa for dinner at Chipolte. :) We spent the night in Salina, and headed for Denver about 9am. Unfortunately Brian was having some intestinal troubles, or maybe kidney stone issues, and we had to make many pit stops in the little towns in Kansas. By the time we got to metro Denver, it was just in time for 5pm Friday evening rush hour traffic. UGH, once again I am reminded how much I love living in Little Rock, with no traffic.

We did some fun things while we were there. We got our family pictures taken, the kids made an animal at Build a Bear. Shopping and eating were of course on the agenda. We even went to Park Meadows Mall the Saturday before Christmas. What was I thinking? There were more cars in the parking lot there than in all of Little Rock! We spent the day with Steve and Erin at their house in CO Springs. The kids got extra time to play with their cousins, Kaitland and Logan. They played great together and had a wonderful time. They had yummy snacks, and and wonderful dinner. Thanks guys!

Kaitland and Emily dressed up like princesses

Logan and Brian were playing dinosaurs (I think)


All of the kids together

Grandma Schaper got into Denver on Christmas Eve, so I got free time to wrap and do other stuff while she held Danielle. Everybody loved it. Brian wrote a note to Santa on Christmas Eve, and left cookies for him and carrots for the reindeer.

Our matching P.J.'s

Steve and Erin and the kids came to mom's Christmas morning. We opened presents, in a somewhat orderly fashion this year. We played, we ate, we played, we visited, we ate, and played some more. A typical Christmas for our family. I love it that our kids get to see "Grammie" and the rest of my family, it is such a special time of year.

Uncle Steve and Danielle

Mother nature cooperated very well for our travels. They were no weather issues, and the roads were clear during our travels. But Mother nature didn't provide a white Christmas, so the kids didn't get to play in the snow or go sledding. They were a little disappointed about that. Maybe next year.

Grandma Schaper with all of her great-grandchildren

I Am Thankful For...

Cheap Gas! I filled up the minivan for $20.00 yesterday. Gas prices are about $1.40 in Little Rock right now. I cannot remember when gas was this cheap. It has definitely helped with the finances, and made our road trip to Denver for Christmas more affordable.

I Am Still Thankful but...

I have been busy and have been sick. I had been trying very hard to avoid the cold bug that the rest of my family has been carrying around, but I lost over the weekend. So tis the season, I am busy, and now I am sick.

Well this brings me to the next thing I am thankful for. Health! I hate being sick and I feel so sorry for my little ones when they are sick. It is no fun. I am so grateful that my family is healthy and happy. Hopefully I will be able to get my 25 Thankful posts before the end of the year.

PIGGY TAILS

We have been doing Emily's hair like this...

Since she had enough hair to put it up in a little pony tail. Here is one of the first little pony tails...

But then for Halloween, I did her hair like this...

Because that is how princesses do their hair. Eddie really likes it this way, but it isn't very practical, it falls out very easily. So the other day, I wanted to try Piggy Tails. Her hair is long enough that I thought it would stay up pretty well.


Aren't they soooooo CUTE? They don't stay as well as I thought they would. And this is what they look like when you get up from a nap.

And this is how Emily usually looks after a nap too...kinda grumpy

I Am Thankful for...

Sundays. I love Sundays. I like to think of Sundays as the beginning of the week, not the end. It is a great day to relax, go to church, reflex on the past week, and plan for the next week. The Sabbath is thought of as the day of rest, and for me it is also a day to recharge, not only the physical, but the spiritual batteries as well. If I miss church, I feel a void and often my week is not as good. We definitely need a Sunday each week!

I Am Thankful For...

music, even though I cannot carry a tune, play a musical instrument, or even dance to the beat. I really enjoy singing and listening to music. I love to attend musical performances like rock concerts, Broadway Musicals, or even my son's church and school performances. I appreciate the talents of others who have a wonderful singing voice, or can make beautiful music on the piano, violin, or drums. I love different types of music too. I grew up on rock and roll, I have learned to like country music, and love church hymns. Each week at church I love being able to worship through song. Singing the hymns in sacrament meeting is my favorite part of church. I also love children's songs in primary too. My favorite part of primary is singing time. I even play the children's primary songs in the car. Music is the perfect way for the spirit to touch my heart. Music makes me smile, it makes me cry, and it helps when you are having a rough day. Christmas is the perfect time of the year, I get to listen to Christmas music at home, at the office, in the car, and while shopping. We get to sing the Christmas hymns in sacrament and during primary. I am grateful for all of the music the fills my life.

I Am Thankful For...

technology. How did we ever live without all of the cool things we have now. I love my iphone, and I am so glad that we have cell phones. I use my iphone hundreds of times each week. I remember my first cell phone from the early 90's. It looked like this:

I love computers, especially my laptop that I can use in the living room while sitting in my comfy chair typing blogs. I love the Internet, especially now that it is high speed. I remember sitting, waiting for a dial-up page to load. I love all the cool things on the Internet. I can find anything I need on google; a map, reference information, or a special item I am shopping for. I love shopping on the Internet, browsing one of my favorite forums, finding friends on Facebook, and reading other people's blogs. I love email, it is so quick and easy to keep in touch with friends and family.

I love my digital camera, such immediate gratification in seeing that you capture (or not) that perfect little smile. I am having so much fun editing my photos in Picasa3. Then I can share them with friends and family, and put them on my blog.

I love our GPS. We didn't run out of gas in the middle of Louisiana, (or was it Alabama) because the GPS will find the closest gas station. I love that I don't have to print out maps. I feel so free setting out on our journey with just a destination, and the GPS telling us where to go. I love that it will find the closest Chipotle to my location.

I love DVD's and that we can pick one out, and have it in our mailbox in a couple of days. I love our new 46" Sony Bravida HDTV. I can remember when a 19" TV was big, heck I remember when we used to have to get out of the chair to change the channel. I am thankful for satellite tv that we can get hundreds of channels, and even watch the broadcast of conference on BYU TV.

Technology has changed so much in my lifetime. It is so awesome! I am sure in 10 years, we will read this and laugh when our children ask why we used to get DVD's in the mail.

I Am Thankful...

I live in Little Rock. I know you are thinking, how can she be thankful for that! It is true that I have made no secret of the fact that I really didn't want to move to Little Rock. I didn't even know quite where Arkansas was when I found that is where Eddie is from, I had to look on a map. I am from the West, I had always lived out West, and had only limited travels into the Midwest. I knew nothing about the South, well only what I had heard and that wasn't good. It was humid, there were lots of bugs, big bugs, and well it was the South. But after living here for 6 years, I have learned to appreciate living here, maybe I even like it a little bit, but don't tell anyone I said that. I am grateful that we own a comfortable house, with a backyard for the kids to play in. I am very thankful that there are no traffic jams, and long commutes. The people here are very friendly. The church is the same no matter where you live. There are lots of fun things to do with kids here. The state is beautiful with all of the trees, and large lakes, lots of great camping and fishing spots. Maybe some day we will even have a Chipotle.

Christmas Party

Tonight was the Annual Christmas Party at church. It was really nice this year. We had ham and turkey for dinner, with all the usual potluck sides. I especially like the cheesy potatoes, and the green bean casserole. The primary children acted out the Nativity, as the narrator read the story of Jesus birth. Brian played a wise man, he did a great job and was so cute. Then Santa came to visit the children. This year I had two out of three sit on Santa's lap. Can you guess who?

Isn't he just the cutest Wise Man

Hold the Press...

We interrupt the regular scheduled programming of the 25 Days of Thanksgiving to bring you this breaking news.

We put the kids to bed together in our bed the other night, because there was a thunderstorm, and Brian doesn't like the noise. Emily came out of our room to tell us that Brian was falling out of bed. I walked into the bedroom to find him like this. At first I thought he was just pretending to be asleep. Nope he was really asleep, dead asleep. Eddie let me leave him like this long enough to take a picture. I was laughing hysterically! But then I find out something even funnier. Eddie has always said that our kids may look like him, but the rest of the genes came from me. One proof of this was that they sleep like me.

Yep, that's it, that is exactly how I sleep. However, Eddie now tells me that he used to fall asleep on the couch when he was little and his parents would find him flopping off the couch with his head on the floor, just like Brian! OK, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I Am Thankful For...

those 2 missionaries that wandered up the stairs to my condo, who were looking for my neighbor. Although, I had been born and raised in the church, I had been inactive for about 10 years. I had a good friend from high school that was a member, (and had also been inactive for a number of years, but had since gone back, and had gotten married in the temple), who would call me periodically ask me if I was thinking about going back to church. One time when we talked, I remember telling him that I was waiting for my personal invitation. Well that day I received my personal invitation. Before the next Sunday, a very enthusiastic member from the singles ward called me.

Her: "Hi, this is Crystal from the Cherry Hills Ward, I am picking you up for church tomorrow at 1:00 pm."

Me: OK

I know that my Heavenly Father knows me and knows what I need when I need it. I know that he listens to prayers. I went to church that Sunday, and I immediately knew that it was the place that I should be. I have never looked back. I met Eddie while attending that singles ward, I met some new friends, and reconnected with some old ones.

I Am Thankful For...

the beautiful earth that we live on. I love the majestic mountains. I grew up in Colorado, and loved to go for a drive up to the mountains when I was little. I love to see all the evergreen trees against a snowy backdrop. I love the aspen trees that change a beautiful gold in the Fall. Each year when I visit, I drive on this one stretch of road where you can see the entire mountain range, and I fall in love all over again. I love the powerful ocean and just sitting on a beautiful white sandy beach, watching the waves crash in. It is very relaxing. I am fascinated by volcanoes, and the cooled lava. I am in awe of the Grand Canyon. I love rivers, lakes and streams. I love flowers, plants and trees. I see the beauty all around, and I am constantly reminded that these things are all God's creations.

I Am Thankful For...

Danielle, our newest addition to the Jones family. She is very easy-going, and has been since before she was even born. She "baked" the longest of all my babies and came in her own sweet time, 3 days late. I am thankful that she is so laid back. She eats when I get around to it, sleeps while we run errands, and only wakes me up twice during the night. She is beautiful with her dark hair, she does have pretty blue eyes for the time being (they will probably change), and she is so strong. She can already hold her head up well, and she has a good grip. Her smile is contagious, she tolerates her brother and sisters endless hugs and kisses, and laughs for her daddy. I feel very blessed to have this sweet little girl, she is a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father.

I Am Thankful For...

Emily, my first daughter. I love that Emily looks a little like me, the Jones genes are strong, but I think she got a couple of mine. I love her beautiful big brown eyes, even though they are not blue like mine. She is fiercely independent, which I love and I hate. I know that she will be a strong independent woman someday, but it is hard right now when she wants to do everything herself. She does let me "do" her hair everyday, which is my favorite thing about having a little girl. I love her sweet easy going personality, she is such a joy. She is so smart, she has been talking in complete sentences since she was 18 months old, and hasn't stopped since. She is definitely 3 going on 30. She loves to make messes, but is allergic to cleaning up most of the time. She loves to play dolls and dress up. She is very imaginative, and independent when she play too. I am so thankful that this sweet little spirit is part of our eternal family. She brings peace and joy to our lives daily.

I Am Thankful For...

Brian, my firstborn. Brian has taught me a lot about myself, about being a mom, and learning to be patient. It started when he arrived almost 6 weeks early, he taught me that I cannot always be in control. He has taught me how to let things go, and savor each moment. I love that he "stops and smells the roses" along the way. This has taught me patience, something I definitely needed work on. He is smart, is a pretty good helper around the house, and he is great at making sure everything has batteries. I am grateful for his unconditional love, because heaven knows I am not perfect, and often lose my patience. His smile is contagious, he makes me smile, makes me laugh, and makes me cry. I am so happy that he is part of our eternal family.

I Am Thankful For...

Eddie. I am grateful for a righteous husband who holds the priesthood, and was able to take me to the temple so we can have an eternal family. I love that he takes care of me when I am sick. He held the family and the house together this year when I was pregnant and too sick to do very much. I love that he does dishes, helps with the cooking, and folds and puts the laundry away, in addition to the "husband" tasks like taking out the garbage, cleaning the garage and mowing the lawn. I love that we team teach the little Sunbeams at church, going on four years! I love Primary. I love that he indulges my little whims, like going shopping on Black Friday at 4am. I love that he took family vacations to Disneyworld and Disneyland. I love that he wanted a balance between family and career, having his own chiropractic business allows him to spend time together as a family. I love that we like to do lots of the same things, going to see movies, reading, and enjoying the outdoors. I love that he is "handy" he has fixed the washer and dryer, the cars, toys, and leaky faucets, and he can build stuff, a bookcase, a swing set, and a train table. I love that he loves to help people feel better by taking care of their bodies. I love that we have similar ideals about natural health, we limit the use of medication, don't vaccinate, and have drug free births. I love that he was able to "catch" our third baby. I love that he was a Boy Scout, and focuses on "Being Prepared". He is working hard on emergency supplies, food storage, and preparedness for our family. I love that we have a dream of traveling the country in our own RV someday. Someday we would also love to live on our own piece of land, in our dream house that we build, and have our own cow (for milk) and chickens (for eggs and chicken). I love that he is the father of my children, and loves to spend time with them. I love that he reminds me so much of my father. Before my dad died, he told me he was grateful that his kids were grown, and he knew that we would be OK, and that Eddie would take care of me. I think he's doing a wonderful job, living up to my dad's expectations.

I Love Fall

My favorite season, well it just depends, Spring is my favorite after a long cold winter, I don't really like to be cold. But Fall is definitely my favorite after a long hot summer. I love the smell of that first crisp cool night. I love to see the leaves change color. I love to hear the rustling noise the leaves make as you walk through them. I love the morning frost that coats the lawn in a white blanket, and makes a great crunching noise when you walk on it. I love putting on my warm sweaters. I also love Thanksgiving, eating turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy, YUM! Spending time with family and friends. And to celebrate Thanksgiving this year I am going to do a 25 days of Thanksgiving posts, so I can share all the things I am thankful for.

Brian Listens at School

Today Brian came home from school, with this piece of information...Barack Obama is the 44th president. Yes, that is correct. Eddie and I didn't really know what else to say. And the headlines are reading "Change has come to America," Barack Obama is the first African-American leader of the United States of America. We will just have to wait and see what this "change" will bring. However, we are preparing for this change by making sure that we follow the counsel of prophets: 72 emergency kit, food storage, get and stay out of debt, etc. We will continue to stay the course and endure to the end.

First Smile

Danielle has begun to smile in the last couple of days. Only daddy can really get her to do it, and he was able to capture a cute smile on his cell phone camera today. Now daddy has voluntered to go and take portraits so we can get a good smile:)

P.S. It kinda looks like she had two bottom teeth, but it must be a glare, because she doesn't have any teeth yet!

Halloween

Brian and Emily Trick or Treating in Style

Brian and Emily were so excited to go Trick or Treating. I don't know if they wanted to knock on doors or eat candy? Brian was a Storm Trooper, and Emily was a Cinderella (what else would she be) and Danielle was a Pumpkin. We just walked around our little neighborhood, Brian got to take his Grave Digger, and he escorted his sister when she got tired of walking. We have a candy tradition, when they get home they get to each as much candy as they want and then the candy fairy comes and takes it away. Really this method is easier than fighting about it for weeks afterward.

A Storm Trooper, a Pumpkin, and a Princess

Eddie does a great job carving pumkins each year.

Ta Da

It was just a confidence issue! Brian was just hanging on to those training wheels as a safety net. Now there is no looking back. He even told the neighbors "We took off my training wheels, and I am never going to need those again."

Siblings

I love that my kids have each other. Even though Emily and Brian have a love/hate relationship, they are so cute together. I remember how much fun my brother and I had playing together. Emily and Brian both love Danielle so much, (it will be a miracle if she survives being an infant). The want to hold her, play with her, and take care of her. It is actually a big help sometimes.

My girls in their matching PJ's

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Brian went on his first field trip with his Pre-K4 class. They rode the school bus (I don't know who was more anxious about that, me or him?) to the Pumpkin Patch in Mayflower. They played, had lunch and icees, and had a hay ride to the patch to pick out their pumpkin to take home. I gave him the option to ride back home with me, he choose the school bus, I guess I was more anxious.

The wheel of the tractor that pulled the wagon for the hay ride.

Crawling through the hay tunnel

Moving On Up

Many of you know that Little Rock is not where I am originally from. I was drug out here kicking and screaming (well at least crying) 6 years ago by my loving husband and Arkansas native. I agreed to come only because there was a Target in town. However, I did not realize that Little Rock was a "little" short on retail an dining options. So for the past few years I have survived by getting my fix when we travel back to Denver to visit family a couple times a year. One of my favorite casual dining restaurant is Chipotle. Well we still don't have a Chipotle, so I will have to get by on a close runner up, until we get a Chipotle.

Announcing the grand opening in Little Rock, AR on October 1, 2008...

I have already been there twice.

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday

All of my children now share a birthday within a month of each other. Danielle is September 12, Brian is September 23, and Emily is October 10. So we had a big birthday party while my mom was still in town. We had a pink princess cake for Emily, and a cool Star Wars cake for Brian, cooresponding decorations and lots of presents. We sang happy birthday twice and blew out candles twice.

Emily got lots of princess stuff, a Sleeping Beauty doll, princess bedding, and dress up stuff

Brian's Star Wars Cake

Brian got the ride on car he had been wanting a Huge Monster Truck; Grave Digger

Emily's Princess Cake

Danielle's Blessing

We decided to bless Danielle last Sunday, while my mom was still in town. We had brought her a white dress, I had shoes that Emily had worn, and I picked up a pair of tights at Target. But I still needed the Blessing Bouquet just like the one Emily had when she was blessed. Cynthia Johnson had brought it as a gift when Emily was born, and it is so special that I wanted Danielle to have one too. I had looked online trying to find one, but was unsuccessful. Finally, I called Cynthia to ask her about it. Turns out she makes them! No wonder I couldn't find it anywhere. She was working on one for Danielle. Now we were all set.

I got up early to get ready for church (it starts at 9:00am) to make sure that everyone would be ready and on time. I also wanted to get our traditional family picture before we left for church. Sometimes even best laid plans don't always work out. Just as Brian finished breakfast, he said his tummy felt sick, and then he threw up. We were going to scrap the whole thing, but everyone else was already dressed, so I figured we would at least take a picture. So we got him ready too, and he seemed fine, and we went ahead to church.

Danielle was blessed by her daddy, standing in the circle with him were her Grandpa Ralph Jones, our friends Bud Bailey, and Dave Deschampes, and Frank Opitz who is the second counselor in the Bishopric. It turned out perfect. She looked like the most beautiful little angel in her white dress.