Another Conversation

Situation: Mom and Shea eating medium spicy salsa. Mom also doing dishes, feeding Zachary and refereeing a light saber fight.

Shea: "Mom, is there easy?"

Mom: "Is it easy to make?"

Shea: "No, is there easy?"

Mom: "I don't know."

Shea: "Ughhhh"

Hours later. Light bulb moment for mom. Easy salsa...not medium salsa. MILD!!!

A conversation

Mom: "Zachary, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"

Zachary: "Grandma."

I really hate to run...

This is my friend Julie. She is a real runner! She was there at the finish line to cheer me on. If it were not for her, I would not have any pictures.

In January we had the Activity Days girls write down their goals for the year. In a very weak moment I wrote down that I would like to complete a half marathon. I kind of forgot about it until around August when I found out about a marathon benefitting adoption. So, I had to do it. I started training. I am not a runner. I do not get that "runners high" that everyone talks about. I curse the entire run. But, Saturday when I crossed that finish line UNDER my goal time, it was an amazing feeling to hear my name announced over the loud speaker. Not only because I finished, but I actually accomplished a goal (maybe it it time to move on to cooking more) that I had made on a whim.

Adoption is very near to my heart and even though Shea and I sometimes just can not see eye to eye, I can not imagine my life without her as my daughter. I am so thankful for the sacrifices that had to be made by one person to make me a mom. I hope that by my running, someone else can get closer to what they want to be.

Cody's big day

Happy Birthday!!

With Cody around there is never a dull moment. The things that pop out of his mouth...and various other body parts, are sometimes inappropriate but are also impossible not to laugh at. He is an amazing brother to Zachary, who idolizes his big brother, and Cody puts up with the beatings from Alex with stride. For his birthday dinner this is what he wanted (without a hesitation):

hot dogs (moms kind)

cooked onions

marshmallows

cheetos

brownies in the shape of hearts and stars with frosting drizzled all over and sprinkles

Cody, we love you!

Happy 6th birthday!!

The Beach

Our biannual trip to the beach was amazing. We usually go in April and October right before it gets to hot and right when it starts to get cooler. It makes for a perfect day. The water was a little cool but it didn't stop Shea and Alex from jumping the waves that were extra big from the wind or stop Cody from shooting us all with his crayon squirt gun (thanks, grandma).

Once he got past the "yucky" on his hands, Zach had a blast.

Chasing the one with the ball...hmm, where is the ball? Does Shea really have it or is it just reason to push her down in the sand? Who knows.

Whoops, I missed.

We have taken this same picture since Cody was a baby. The line just continues to grow.

A Pact Between Friends

Last week Cody came into my room at 2:00 in the morning and wanted to sleep with me for a while. After a minute or two, I carried him upstairs and when I returned to my room, Shea and Alex were asking Steffen if they could watch a little TV. I couldn't figure out how they got by me and they proceeded to tell me that they had been up since 1:00 playing their DS's in the playroom in their little fort. They had made a pact to wake up at one and sleep in the fort. Only Shea would really wake up. All this would have provided a good laugh except for the fact that it was the first school night after Spring Break. I mean seriously, they couldn't have pulled this stunt two days earlier when I would have laughed about it?

Playing Catch Up

What a crazy week. We will start off with the cats. One morning we could hear crying from across the street and of course, the kids had to investigate. They found three tiny kittens. They had appeared in our neighbors bushes the day before and she didn't know what to do with them. The kids became a little obsessed with them and the next night, the cats moved across the street to our house. That night it was going to get a little chilly so we caught the kittens (which was no small feat) and made them a bed. I spent all the next day trying to find them (in the beginning there were three) a home. I called all the shelters and homes and noone had a place for them. So, Lindsay had the bright idea to try Craigslist. Brilliant!!! Five minutes after I posted the kittens we had found a home for one of them. The next day animal control came and got the others. The kids were crushed...but I am not a cat person and besides, they knew Grandma would never come visit if we had cats.

CHEESE!!

It was slightly warm and sunny and the kids were begging to go outside and get wet. As a nice mom, I said yes, knowing that in five minutes they would end up like Shea. The boys lasted a littel longer but in the end, jumped inside and asked for hot chocolate.

A few thoughts about sickness and the medicine that cures it

Last Wednesday, Cody came off the bus a little sluggish. He put his head on the counter and didn't move. I asked him what hurt and he said his throat. I grabbed the nearest flashlight and took a look. Bright red with a few white spots. I have a little history with Strep so I grabbed all the kids and ran to Wal-Mart. Why Wal-Mart? They have a new clinic that I consider amazing. We walked in, filled out a little information, Cody got a Strep Test, bought a few groceries, got the test results, was given medicine and 25 minutes later, we were out the door. This sure beats the three hours we would have spent at the "real" doctor. It was obvious that Cody would have to stay home from school on Thursday, but I was not ready for what walked down the stairs Thursday morning, "Mom, I feel totally better". You have got to love the brilliant invention of penicillin. The above picture is of Cody on his sick day. This was after ChickFila and after many, many games. I am so glad I do not have to entertain a five year old all day...sorry Lindsay.

So, Wal-Mart Round 2. I woke up Monday not feeling so hot, but because it was Spring Break, what choice did I have but to move forward? We went to the rodeo (see earlier post) and had a fabulous time but I was just not 100%. That night, I just could not pull it together. So, Tuesday morning I grabbed all the kids once again and we headed to Wal-Mart. The same guy was working and so he kind of rushed us through the registration process. He took all my vitals and then shined his little light in my throat and just laughed. He must have seen the same white spots that I had seen earlier that morning. After he finished his little chuckle he asked if I wanted him to actually do the test or just give me the drugs. I saved myself ten bucks and just said, "give me the drugs". Twenty minutes, in and out.

Zachary. Zach has been a little off for a few weeks and because of the Strep thing bouncing around, I decided to take him in yesterday. Because he is still just a little guy, I did take him to the "real" doctor. Our normal pediatrician was out of the office so I saw a new lady. We usually wait between two and three hours for appointments so imagine my surprise when we were called back before we finished even one book. The nurse did her stuff and said the doctor would be in shortly and lo and behold, 20 seconds later in she walks. She checked both ears - double ear infections and his throat which was bright red. I was out of the office 25 minutes later.

So, in conclusion, I am now fully stocked in three different forms of penicillin. All given with different doses and on different schedules. Why do these things always happen during Spring Break?

Yikes, Cody lost a tooth!!

Is he really old enough to lose a tooth? In our house we love the tooth fairy so she better be ready for another stop!

Could it be...Shea is a girl?

Because we didn't go anywhere during Spring Break, I gave each kid a day. They get to choose a parent, a restaurant for lunch and an activity. Today was Shea's day and surprise, surprise, Shea chose me, Souper Salad and Justice. She also talked me into a new outfit. The shoes however, were her very own purchase. She loves them! I think they look incredibly uncomfortable. But, whatever makes Shea want to look beautiful is good with me and I have to be honest, the shoes work for her.

More Zachary

Uncle Scott gave us this Superman years and years ago. I knew it would come in handy some day.
Last time it was the dishwasher, this time a fridge toy.

It's Rodeo Time

We love the rodeo. Steffen and I have gone every year since before we got married. I love everything about the rodeo, even the smells and the messy walk ways. I hope that my kids will grow up loving it as much as I do.

We walked and walked and walked and Zachary was so good and just sat in the stroller the entire time (with just a little time out to eat lunch) without any complaints. We saw a baby chick peck at his egg and emerge and climb out of the egg. We saw a baby cow that was 12 hours old. We saw 14 baby pigs that were one day old. Where else can you see all of these things? There is nothing better than the rodeo. It was a great day.

All cowboys need a tractor.

Rodeo Treats, Yeah!!!

Cody didn't make it on the first try...

....finally.

My baby turns 2

Zachary Taylor Jones is 2. I can't believe how fast time flies. These past two years have flown by and now I look at my little one and there is a part of me that wishes he would stay small but the rest off me is so excited to see who he will become. We love our baby Zach and we are so happy he is part of our family. He has an incredible desire for everyone to not be sad and will comfort anyone (even strangers) who might shed even a little tear. Zach, we love you. Happy Birthday!

Dinner at Orient Cafe and killer Won Ton Soup

This is so my day

Cheese!!

I love Elmo!

Why is everyone starring?

One, two three...blow!

Cake!!

Should I take a bite or eat the entire piece?

FAMILY

Daddy building the Buzz bike

Uncle Scott building the car

Giving Grandma loves

My Buzz bike...don't touch

My car...don't touch

Me and my mom

Star Player Shea

Shea and Steffen had a very long day of Cobra Softball. A parade, pictures and two games. The first game Shea hit a home run (which I missed) and the Cobra's won 25-1 in five innings. The second game Shea threw the ball from third base to first base getting the winning out, score of 20-0 in four and a half innings. Shea is the fastest runner on the team and takes that title very seriously - she loves to run and stepping on home plate makes it even better. It was a perfect day.

Alex was sick today but toughed it out

Grandma and Zachary

How Cody kills the time

If I had to guess, I'd go with Doritos

Shea and Grandma

Zachary...again

Zach pretty much runs our household. I never load the dishwasher while he is around because he will just, well, unload it. He uses it as his own personal lounge and has decided it is a perfect place to eat his snack. Yes, that is cereal in the soap dispenser.