Where you been???????

Tail between legs, here I am.

It has been the usual amount of busy at the Jones house, but with a few complications and human defaults. Old, slow computer. Old, tempramental camera. Cell phone dropping in the toilet. Potty training. Eight baby gifts to make and a slightly tremendous increase in my sewing creations. All of these things are my excuse. Well, and a couple of other things that you really don't care about, but anywho...

Got a nifty new little cell phone that I am a tad addicted to. The camera is working for the moment and when it isn't, the cell phone will do. My new phone has allowed me to do a lot more, therefore I am feeling a little more organized and back on track. Plus, summer is here!!! Hey!!! We all feel a little better about things when summer arrives!!!

I have been running my own little sweatshop here at the house, and want to show all of the pics but am having trouble with uploading the slideshow that I created to the blog. So, I guess I will just upload a few pics at a time to posts as I go because you don't want to spend your whole day scrolling.



Oh, the kids!! Yes, they are still here. School has ended at it was a really good year. Mac has mastered the alphabet and their sounds and we are just going to work on some word recognition over the summer. He also has shown a great interest in geography, so Michael has been working with him diligently on learning all the states. He is up to 48!! I am so proud of my little pumpkin!

Lily Kate was potty trained over Christmas and is doing really well except for a pull up at night. I'm fine with it but Daddy feels otherwise. She is just as sassy as ever. So animated...our little actress. The arteest.

Jack is hanging in there...just wants to sleep all the time so we do all we can to make him comfortable. He is healthy as a horse though!

Michael's work has kept him pretty busy. Between him cleaning up the crime brought on by the economy and stupidity, and an office that is a few men short, he stays quite tied up. He is gearing up for his annual camping trip at the beach with some guys. Did I say gearing up? I meant counting down. Seriously counting down.

We also just finished a 13 week Dave Ramsey class through church. We met one night a week, but it felt like that one night took 3 days off our week. It was really great though...we saw a huge difference in our finances within the first few weeks of the class.

I'll post more later, but hopefully this brings things up to date!!!

Sassy Do for a Sassy Girl

It just got ten times harder to tell her "no". That girl...I was toying with the idea of chopping off her hair and boy am I glad I did. I am way biased, but she's so cute..I can't stand it. I almost wrecked coming home from the kids' hair appointment because I kept turning around to look at her. The pictures aren't good because she will NOT be still for a second, but hopefully you get the idea. I am still sewing away...hope to post more about all the things I've been making soon. Most of them are gifts, so I can't yet! Otherwise we are just LOVING the weather here and looking forward to "balemtimes" day!!! Happy hearts to you!!!

He's Home!!!!!!

Our sweet dog is home!!! The surgeon had no reservations about doing the surgery and did so yesterday afternoon. He came home today and isn't himself because he is so groggy and exhausted, but that's okay. His incision and stitches really scared Lily Kate, she cried a lot to be exact. We told them that his hair would grow back and he would be back to normal in no time. Thank you to everyone who had him in your prayers!!!!

Well, well, well....

Hmmmm, let's see. Straight shooter I am, even if it takes me ten minutes to get there..so here it goes. Our computer is so slow....so slow that I dread checking email, facebook, anything. I haven't felt like posting a thing because of this and many other reasons which are to follow. Our camera is pretty much dead..I've been relying on the photos from others and we all know that is frustrating...well frustrating for us who have blogs. The holidays...they were wonderful but like everyone else's, busy. The new year has been quiet until recently. The kids have been sick off and on with various things. For a month a tummy bug was in our house; we all took turns having it. Seasonal depression; yes..it's here. And last but very much so not least is the current situation with our precious and very loved dog Jack. He's old...twelve in May to be exact. I had a strong feeling just after the new year that this would be his last. He has had trouble lately with getting winded very easily. We took him to the vet last week and as I write this post he is being seen by a specialist. I have prayed numerous times today for him and ask that if you are reading you will say a prayer too. He has a condition called laryngeal paralysis...it effects his breathing and sounds horrible...like he's a victim of emphysema or something. It can be fixed, but he has to be a candidate which is what we will find out today. Bless him...bless his bones. He's our baby...Michael and I have had him since before we were married. I just keep thinking of my babies and how to make them understand should he not be a candidate. Such a mixed kind of a day...not only is today a big day for the family puppy, but it is also my sister's birthday (shoutout AMU) and God reminded me that today five years ago I found out I was pregnant with my precious little pumpkin pie...Thank you God for a ray of sun in such a cloudy day.
Speaking of cloudy...would the sun just come out already?? I mean seriously...we can't help the emotional grayness of our problems...be it Jack or the economy or the world, but could we just have a little light??
Mama's been sewing a lot...got a new toy for Christmas...a SERGER. Yummy! I've been tackling projects left and right since I love it so AND I happen to know of like 8 babies that will be here by April. Wish it were in my water!
We've been working hard with Mac on learning letters and sounds. He is doing well..last night we let him watch Wheel of Fortune. We try to keep the kids guessing on our teaching tactics around here....hehe.
Lily Kate could care less about colors and shapes...God help here and us. She is so sassy...shaking that finger and everything. She really would just like to learn about fashion and makeup.
So...I will try to upload some pics today to go with the post, but don't bet on it. We are alive and could use your prayers...we covet them. Blessings to you all.








By the way...the pictures of the kids in red pj's was from a ride on the Polar Express...complete with hot chocolate, a bell and a visit from Santa. Mac realized in all the excitement that he had forgotten to give a hug to Santa...which explains the picture above! The kids are still talking about it! Thank you Nanna and Pawpaw for the trip!!!

My Apologies

Although the below post doesn't make up for it, I do apologize for being slack on the blog. I have been looking for the motivation, but couldn't find it anywhere. The post below is one that I had been working on and didn't finish until recently. Sometimes I just wish I had some balance!! All I have been doing lately is sewing (aren't those turkey outfits just precious??), especially with the holidays coming. I am having a lot of fun with it! Other than that, the Joneses are finally on the mend...we are all healthy, happy and busy. Soccer is finished for the season and now we are gearing up for a big trip to the mountains for Thanksgiving with the other Joneses. Here are a couple of pictures that will hopefully bring you some Thanksgiving cheer! We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and know that even as tough as times are for so many, remember that it can always be worse. There is so much to be thankful for!!

And the beat goes on....

So...it has been yet another eventful week in our house. Shall I recap???
MONDAY
Mac's four year checkup. For those of you with older kids (lest you forget) or none at all, this particular doctor visit means shots...four to be exact. Everybody say it with me, TRAUMA. I prepared him for it. Told him it was going to happen and that I knew he could be brave. Even told him if afterward we would get a special treat. Cool as a cucumber was he. Ignorance truly is bliss. He howled, kicked, screamed so many tears..Mommy too. A second nurse had to come in to hold him down after the third shot. After the tears had been wiped dry and we were leaving the office he looked over at the nurse who held his legs down and said, "I'm sorry that you hurt me with the shot." Bless him...at least he has manners!
TUESDAY
The funk returns as Mac has a horrible, horrible cough. It drove him crazy because he couldn't even stop long enough to eat his food. We soldier on through the day as I really think it is just the beginning of a cold.
WEDNESDAY
PJ day at our house...Mac needs the rest anyway. Mommy gets to finish a sewing project she has been working on..a new purse!

THURSDAY
Mac's first field trip with school! Mommy went along with the class to the pumpkin patch and Daddy met us there. There was a hay ride, crafts, story time and we still have that horrible, horrible cough. I probably shouldn't have let him go, but he has literally been talking about it every single day for three weeks.




FRIDAY
Halloween...Mac completely gets it this year and they are both so cute! Papa and Ganny suited us up well with Halloween bags and lights for trick or treating, along with lots of other goodies! Michael took them out while Mommy handed out candy. Mac was Mr. Incredible and Lily Kate was a bumble bee. Happy Halloween all!!!

SATURDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!! While our day was busy with errands and activities, Daddy liked that he wasn't the center of attention. Sunday we celebrated with a cake and dinner. WE LOVE YOU DADDY!!!!!! Mac did make a trip to the doctor today because he began complaining of his ear hurting..sure enough...ear infection. Well, at least he will now be on the mend! Maybe the funk will decide to go somewhere else this week.

Busy Weekend...

I swear, our kids social schedules are killing us. I cannot complain...we have the best friends ever, but I do know that it will only get worse!
Last night I trekked with the girlies to Columbia for a birthday dinner for Sugar..so much fun. I miss her so much and wish I could kidnap her to bring her back to the ville' for selfish reasons. I know I am not the only one who feels this way and thus wouldn't even have to ask for help in committing the crime. Plus, she would so meet us at the end of her driveway! It was great...I just can't say enough. We did miss our Clairee..it wasn't an outing with out her.

Next we had two birthday parties and soccer practice all back to back. Luckily, the practice was cancelled so it did give us some reprieve. The birthday parties were super fun; a rockstar party and then a monster party, ROAR! Mac had a blast at both and I was caked out!! On top of all of that, there was football on TV, company over for dinner, etc. It did turn fall sometime during the day and I luckily had dusted off my jacket. Maybe the cool weather will stick around.


Lastly Sunday brought church where Mac sang during the offering. I love it...I have been so excited about this. Wish I could have taken pictures during, but I didn't want to be the Mom who embarasses the kid, yet anyway. I spent the rest of the day at the sewing machine...what I had been pining for all along. We hope you all had a fantastic weekend and that all of your teams you were rooting for won!