life

This sums up Zach's attitude these days...

2011-11-27T16:10:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T19:47:00.001-08:00

Wild Oak Ranch

This place is fantastic!! We even tried to stay an extra day. The weather has been perfect and we have even been swimming and floating down the lazy river.

Another Conversation

2010-11-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

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

Zachary: "Grandma."

I really hate to run...

2010-10-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

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!!

2010-03-17T19:26:00.001-07:00

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?

2010-03-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-16T20:20:00.001-07:00

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

2010-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

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.

A family divided

2010-03-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a crazy day. At the break of dawn, Steffen and Shea headed South to Sante Fe, Texas for an all day softball tournament and I headed North to Humble for a Tae Kwon Do tournament with all the boys. Thankfully, Aunt Celeste and Uncle Perry (and Erica) agreed to watch Zachary who would not have done well at the ALL, ALL day tournament. A big thank you to them!!! This was our first big tournament and we were not food prepared. Hungry boys and a hungry mom do not make for happy times. But, Alex and Cody did great and both got medals which really is the main reason to compete. Steffen and Shea were prepared food wise but elements were their problem. They had to fight the sun, wind and cold all day and both came home looking like tomatoes. Who would've thought to send sunscreen in February with cloudy skies? Shea's team, the Cobra's lost their first two games but killed in the third - 17 to 3. A busy day, but all worth it in the end.

Question

2010-02-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

"Mom, why do you make us match every day?"

Apparently my idea and kindergarten and second grade boys ideas of looking cute differ. Neither of them appreciated the outfits I picked out today so they dressed themselves. This question was posed after Cody make his debut in his "I picked this out all by myself outfit". Alex of course put on the shorts that are reversible that I bought to wear on the black side but he will not wear them except for on the green side. It is a very strange color green that doesn't match with anything. But, per Cody, why should they match?

The Anti-napper

2010-02-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

The two faces of Zachary:

All of my kids have a strange sleeping habit that causes much dispute and annoyance from everyone else in the family. Shea, well, she just doesn't go to sleep. Alex needs a night light some nights, needs it totally dark the next night and is easily distracted by anything. Put these things together and it makes it really hard to share a room. Cody sings himself to sleep. He has done this pretty much since birth. He is not really partial to any particular song but Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and I Love to See the Temple are regulars on the line up. He has stopped singing as much lately and it makes me a little sad because this has always been his signature move. Alex and Cody recently started sharing a room and putting these two personalities together has proven to be a challenge. Everyone tells me it gets a easier, but I am still waiting. Zachary is in a league totally of his own. He hits his head on his pillow. He has done this for all of his almost two years. He also moans and groans and makes so much noise I can hear him at night. Noone really believes the noise level is what I say it is so this past summer Grandma thought that Grandma, Mom and Zach could all sleep together in a very tiny camper. Zach's rocking literally rocked the camper. I was worried he would rock it right off the blocks. Because of this, Zach sleeps alone. His noises often wake the boys in the next room. So, now to the point of this long blog. Zach is down to a one hour nap. It takes him on average 45 minutes to fall asleep and then after a short sleep, he is up rocking and moaning and groaning and calling for every family member in hopes of rescue. In the past I would leave him in his crib until he really started crying but being the crazy kid that he is, he has started climbing out of the crib. He shows me how he gets out and it is an emergency room visit waiting to happen SO, he is rescued much faster than in the past. Gone are long four hour naps, gone is the baby

A quick update...

2010-02-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

Like I have said a million times, life really gets in the way of blogging. But the quicker my kids grow up, the more I realize how much I need to slow down and watch them grow.

Christmas at the cabin

Weekend in Austin

The newest member of our family...Bounce Vesper Jones

Besides Alex, I am the primary care giver for Bounce. I feed her (yes, there are dead, frozen mice in my freezer), well, Alex dangles the mouse above her head, but I am in charge of defrosting the little critter prior to feeding, and I also am in constant contact with many local snake experts. If anyone has ANY questions, I am now pretty much an expert.

On the hunt...

2009-12-12T20:08:00.001-08:00

...for alligators. We braved the chilly air and went to Brazos Bend State Park. It is known for having lots and lots of alligators and last time we were there they were basking on the trail and easier to see, but this time it took some looking. We did see five, but this was the closest and the easiest one to see. The kids had fun but kept saying "this is a really big lake...how much bigger is it?" That was their version of, "Are we there yet?" Nothing beats quality time out in nature.

Mom, how'd you get those lines on your forehead?

2009-11-19T17:25:00.001-08:00

Cody hit me with this one this morning while the kids were brushing their teeth. Try as he may, he could not make his forehead wrinkle. He tried pushing his eyes together. He tried looking mad, but, to no avail. I wanted to explain to him that at some point, lines and valleys appear out of nowhere and seem to deepen overnight and that when you look in the mirror, you wonder where the lines and valleys came from but then, a scream, a hit, a cry and oh, yeah. Four kids.

I ended the conversation by telling him that the lines are magic and that it takes years to get enough magic to make really good lines. This seemed to pacify him for the moment. Why scare him?

GQ, anyone?

2009-11-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

This was just too cute and I couldn't pass up a blogging opportunity...although it has been 7 months since my last post.

But, I am back.

Wolf Creek Park, 2009

2009-04-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

We went camping over Spring Break. We usually go the last few days of the week and the kids look forward to it every year and they talk about it all year long. This year was perfect weather it was, as always, a great time. No major injuries and everyone (well, not mom and dad) , even Zachary slept very well. Next year: cots for mom and dad.

Alex discovered fire this year. He found that even as the morning fire was dying down, he could "make a fire" by throwing pine needles on the coals which would produce amazing amounts of smoke and if he was lucky, he would see a small flame. I think our fire was hot all day long.

Boys will be boys.

If Shea is missing, she is up a tree. She can climb any tree, any where.

Cody tried to climb the same tree, but Shea's feet were as high as he could get.

Boys and their sticks.

Even Zachary carried a stick around. Well, dragged it around.

Alex

2009-04-02T19:50:00.001-07:00

Alex is 7. Ahh, how time flies. I must say, he is a cool kid. I am constantly amazed at how his mind works and how he can figure things out. Anything. He has a personality and a giggle that are contagious and he genuinely wants everyone to be happy and goes out of his way to make others smile. His imagination and story telling (which to me sometimes falls into the "fib" category) are endless and he can spin a yarn with the best of them. I watch in awe as he grows up before my eyes.

To add to the party atmosphere, the first graders had Reading Restaurant today at school. The parents make a reservation and the kids have a menu and we get to choose a book (or 3) off the menu for the kids to read to us. It is really fun to see Alex interact with his friends at school. His teacher says that he is a friend to everyone - what more could a mom ask for?

Alex, we love you and Happy Birthday!

This year I had strict instructions for a cake. Half chocolate, half vanilla. Chocolate frosting on the vanilla side and vanilla frosting on the chocolate side. The sprinkles were just a bonus. (Notice there is a faint finger print in the chocolate frosting)

Stars Wars is big in our house this year. The card that Grandma and Grandpa sent even played the Star Wars theme.

Grandma, just so you know, this is already 1/2 put together.

$75. Nothing more can be said.

The new bike. I was concerned that it might be a little too big, but try telling that to Alex. Off he went without a second thought.

Zoomin' by

The three amigos...yes, Shea DOES ride her bike with her eyes open.

Zachary Taylor Jones

2009-03-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

My baby turned 1. For me it has been a huge day. It has been a hard year for our family and I strongly believe that it was Zachary who kept us all together. Shea, Alex and Cody love him completely. Yesterday at school Alex wrote him a book (it made me cry), Shea picked something very special for him from the treasure box, and Cody just could not believe that we would have a party without party hats. He kept telling me it was time to "get this party started." They get excited about every milestone and they put up with extra attention that a baby needs and they realize that sometimes he has to come first. But it makes me sad that the baby days are almost behind us. Zachary gets more independent every day and needs me less and less and that breaks my heart. But, I look forward to the first hugs and first kisses and first "I love you's" that I know are close by. So, Happy Birthday Baby Zach. We love you.

With this new found freedom, Zachary has found his sense of adventure. Here are just a few of his escapades.

He loves the fridge. I am not sure why. It is cold and wet and things fall on his head but as soon as the door opens, somehow he always appears.

This he did all by himself. Opened the dishwasher and climbed in.

Yes, that is cord in his mouth. Talk about a safety violation.

The Sea Wall, Galveston Island

2009-02-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

It all began very innocently. A simple trip to the beach. Galveston has finally reopened and we wanted to see what changes had been made since Hurricanne Ike. The most amazing thing we saw was the sailboats randomly placed in parking lots and the sides of streets with for sale signs attached. No trailer. They were still where the hurricanne left them. What began as maybe the kids will put their feet in quickly turned into a day at the beach. It is a good thing moms always bring extra clothes. Even Zachary couldn't resist the water.

Like mother like daughter. I was always the first one in, too.

Zachary had a very love/hate thing going with the water. He hated it while he was in it but then would crawl directly back.

Brotherly Love.

Is is seriously January???

2009-01-04T12:12:00.001-08:00

This is January in Houston. 85 degrees and warm enough for sprinklers and bathing suits. But tomorrow there is supposed to be a windchill of 30 degrees so it is almost impossible to know what to wear day to day. But, I take this unpredictable weather over snow ANY DAY!

Butterflies

2009-01-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Shea is really into butterflies - she found this one over the weekend.

Alex

2008-12-29T07:52:00.000-08:00

Alex has been wearing a tie to church since he was two. For Christmas this year, he asked for a suit. Not just a jacket like he already has, but an entire suit. He loves to wear ties and he has so many, he informed me last night he needs a tie rack. Have you ever seen anything so cute???

What a girl wants

2008-12-17T08:45:00.001-08:00

Shea does not like to shop. She is not into clothes. She is very picky and very plain. I try and try but lately I have succumbed to the fact that she is just a jeans and t-shirt type of gal. And I am fine with that. BUT, when she expresses a desire for something cute and semi-stylish, off we go. We were at the store (Target, of course) Monday night and she saw these brown boots with fur and tassells and she just had to have them but we were in a hurry and they were a size too big. They were the very last ones. She begged and begged. That night I could tell they were still on her mind so I told her that if she wanted them that bad she had to pay for them with her own money. So last night I told her to grab her purse and off to Target we went. The brown boots were gone, but yeah!!!, there were pink ones. And they were a size bigger than the brown ones. I tried to convince her to wait and I would check another store but we all know that when you fall in love with a pair of shoes, size doesn't matter. $23.99. The tag said $23.99!!! I thought that would change her mind but she reminded me that she had five gift cards in her purse and a bunch of cash. Where does a 7 year get that much money? Lots of lost teeth, I guess. To make long story short, here are the boots. Jeans tucked in and everything. We'll see how recess went with fur and tassels flying in the wind as she tried to run.

Some Santa's are better than others

2008-12-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

A bank in the neighborhood advertised that Santa would be available for a visit and pictures so we loaded up the car and dashed on over so the kids could spill their deepest desires for Christmas goodies and splendor. We did this a few years ago and waited for hours for our turn with Santa and Shea and Alex were both screaming in the picture so it has taken a few years for us to go back. And like I said, some Santa's are better than others. Sometimes Santa just needs to fire some of his helpers but this Santa was fabulous. Alex brought a note and a list of what he wants. It isn't long, but very straightforward and to the point. Santa sat and listened and asked the appropriate questions like, "Have you been good this year?" Of course Alex nodded his head while looking in my direction, like he was just begging me not to contradict him and Santa said that maybe he could make it happen. He even laughed when Zach pulled at his curly beard. The best part? NO LINE!!! This is probably the most successful Santa/kids picture we have ever had and they don't even match or have their hair done. Oh well, lots of Christmases to go.

Doorbell Ditchers

2008-12-08T18:43:00.000-08:00

"Thank you" feels very inadequate for what I feel right now, but thank you to whoever rang our doorbell tonight. Thank you for thinking of us. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you.

The Christmas Elf

2008-12-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

His name is Casper but we just call him The Elf. He lives with us during the day, watching our every move, making notes for Santa. After we are all asleep his flies with his magic to the North Pole to report our naughtiness or our niceness. If he touched, his magic goes away. As proof that he leaves every night, he moves around the house, choosing a new place to perch himself for the day. Well, with this cooler weather, The Elf hasn't been able to fly to the North Pole at night (or is someone just forgetting a nightly duty???) and boy are the kids getting mad at The Elf. So, today he took his journey during the warmer daytime hours. I hope the kids appreciate his sacrifice.

7, not 6

2008-12-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Cody is a very clumsy child. He falls...alot. He is very coordinated, but he also seems to hit walls, floors, doors more than any other child. The other night, I asked him to run (my mistake) and get some toilet paper for Shea. He took off and two seconds later I heard the crash. I always check for blood first and this time, it was gushing. Once we were downstairs I checked the wound, it was long and wide. I have learned from past ER visits that these two things together usually mean glue, stitches or staples. So, off the ER we go. Cody was being so big in the backseat all by himself holding the towel on his head. The ER was full so we waited and waited. Cody ran around a little bit. He colored. He begged for candy. This whole time I am double thinking my decision and debating whether or not to leave. Finally, they call us in and the nurse checks him out. He tells Cody he will need staples and begins the numbing and cleaning. After seeing how bad it really was, I was grateful that I didn't leave the ER. It was not fun and since he cried, Cody keeps trying to tell me that he wasn't brave, but I think that to endure what he did without moving was extremely brave. In the end, the nurse told us there were six staples (beating Shea's 3). The next morning we counted and there were actually seven. The nurse was wrong. Here is the kicker. That night I was walking Cody to bed and I noticed a dent in the corner of the wall and the paint and drywall were cracked. I think we were lucky that only seven stitches were needed. Maybe a new wall.

The Exodus Begins

2008-12-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

(Yes, I am stealing Marni's word).

Alex's teeth are very, very close together. It is a chore to get floss between those chompers. He has been waiting and waiting to lose his teeth and FINALLY, it has begun. This picture is of the tooth getting "stuck". Because his teeth are so close, there is no wiggle room. He had to twist his tooth. It just so happened it got stuck in the twisted position. Ten minutes later, it was out. The next morning I was told that we had a very cheap tooth fairy. Apparently $1 is not the going rate for baby teeth. It is closer to double digits. I then felt I had to inform him that you can not change tooth fairies. You are stuck with the one you have.

Post-script

2008-11-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

My mom told me that I needed to clarify that Shea does not spend all of her free time watching Hanah Montana. It is just her chosen escape from the craziness that sometimes happens around here.

Build a bridge and get over it

2008-11-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

Never in my life did I think I would quote Hannah Montana...or is it Miley Cyrus?? Who knows. Anyway, this has become our family motto. The boys were fighting the other day and Shea burst out with this little gem. Not only are there these wonderful words or wisdom, but there are hand actions too. She proceeded to tell me exactly what was happening when Hannah/Miley said it, but that went in one ear and out the other. This has stuck with us and know Shea has taken it upon herself to throw it out at every little squabble that goes on around her. That is of course, unless she is part of the squabble. When that happens, it has become my responsibility to quote the teen diva myself. I guess there is something to be said for the what seems like hours upon hours Shea spends watching the Disney Channel. Yeah Disney Channel!

It was all my fault

2008-11-17T08:06:00.000-08:00

Zachary has adopted the method of screaming to get attention. Sometimes it is fun because he mimicks the kids yells and laughs along with them. Other times, not so cute. Post-dinner is one of those not cute times. He sits in his seat and screams and screams and eventually everyone but good ol' mom has left the kitchen and his screams in search of quieter surroundings. So, the other night I gave Cody the task of keeping him happy. I was absorbed in the dishes and didn't even think that it was strange that Cody was pushing the high chair -with Zachary in it- past me. I was just so happy with the peace and quiet that I was over looking whatever plot was forming in Cody's very "evil" mind. If I could see in his mind I am sure I would have seen the wheels spinning out of control. After a minute or two, I began to hear the giggling in the corner and noticed that Zachary was nowhere to be found. Not just Zachary, but the chair too. Then I noticed that the pantry door was in a not closed not open position. I opened the door and there was Zachary, just as happy as could be, in his little cave. Serves me right for putting Cody in charge.

In the blink of an eye

2008-11-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

From this.....

to this.

Yesterday at Alex's baseball game Zachary fell asleep in my arms - something he hasn't done well, since birth. He is not a snuggler and would rather be doing anything else than snugglin' with his mom (much to her dismay). So when he crashed on my shoulder I knew something was off. This is my baby today. Sad eyes and a constant whine. The good news? He slept until 7:00 am! Yeah!!!!

Just simply, Shea

2008-10-21T12:21:00.001-07:00

Shea is Falcon of the Week this week at school. She made a poster of her favorite things and Steffen and I got to go to her class while she did her presentation and it got me thinking. I feel like all I ever do is complain about her so to balance that out, I figured I would have an entry dedicated just to her. Shea and I don't always get along, in all honesty, we argue about everything. BUT, I think in my heart of hearts it is because we are alike in so many ways. I love her so much but sometimes I wonder if she really knows how much. I thought I would list just some of the reasons why I love her, just so she knows:

She is an amazing friend.

She loves her brothers and will stand up for them at any time (her "boyfriend" Garrett was being mean to Alex so she broke up with him - granted they are 7, but how cute is that?)

She loves High School Musical (we are going on Friday to the opening...are we crazy?)

She loves Troy.

She really wants to be good.

When she is genuinely happy, she glows.

She has great hair.

She loves to sing in the car with the music low so that she can hear herself sing.

She has so many talents that if given the chance, she will find them and there will be no holding her back.

She is very patient with Zachary when he screeches (that is a whole other entry - maybe tomorrow)

She gives tight hugs.

She is still scared of thunderstorms and knows they are coming before the weatherman.

She loves to climb trees and get dirty.

She has a special connection to her Grandma.

There is a special reason she is in our family. I firmly believe that I was meant to be her mother and that the rest of our family would not be here if she was not my daughter. So, Shea, I love you, sweatheart.

The perfect fall day

2008-10-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

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Cody has been in a playgroup since the day he was born. Of course it started out as a chance for the moms to get together, but now, we do it for the kids. This year we finally made it to Dewberry Farms. Cody drove a tractor, played in hay, fed a goat and among many other fall activties, found the perfect pumpkin.

The Mixer

2008-09-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

I do not bake. I don't enjoy the mess or the clean-up. It doesn't make me feel any less like super mom to open a package of pre-made dough and call it a day. BUT, for some reason, yesterday, in a moment of weakness, I bought chocolate chips. We were going to make cookies, gosh darn it. When we hit a peak of good behaviour, I started compiling the ingredients. Cody was digging in the fridge looking for the package of cookies. I tried explaining to him that we were going to MAKE the cookies but his 4 year old brain could not comprehend something it has never seen. My son did not know that cookies could be made from scratch. Has he ever seen flour? At an even weaker moment than the purchase of chocolate chips, I pulled out the Kitchen-Aid. Now I know Cody has never seen this because it has been in the box hidden in the pantry for ten years. So, Cody and I made cookies. I now remember why I don't bake. I ate at least a dozen cookies while they were still in the dough stage. Cody enjoyed the fruits of his labors with some milk at the end of a hard day. I debated whether or not to keep the Kitchen-Aid close at hand but in the end it went back into the box in the corner of the pantry. I'll try again in ten years.

Our Devastation

2008-09-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Family Clean-up Day. Hooray!!!

These branches and a leaning fence is the extent of our damage...once again proving how lucky we are.

Ike came and went

2008-09-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

We survived!!! We lost power Friday night at 9:30 and after 21 hours of family togetherness and heat, power was finally restored. The storm didn't seem to be that much worse than what we have had in the past so we are very blessed and lucky that our little part of Houston was sparred. The only damages in our area is mainly downed trees and fences. Everything that people thought they were hiding in their backyards is out in the open for all to see. Makes you think twice about keeping your back yard looking nice! So, all in all we are fine.

What do you do to prepare for a hurricane?

2008-09-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

You go to the park!

Hurricane Ike is on it's way. But, not till tomorrow. Just as a precaution school was cancelled today. Stores are closed. Windows are boarded. People are evacuating. But, we still have blue sky - Steffen is playing tennis at this very minute. Right now we just wait. Wait for the sky to cloud over and 100 mph winds to rip through and pray nothing goes through our windows. We are all glued to the TV (especially Shea) watching Ike inch it's way towards us but it is hard to be worried when the sun is shining.

Not my kid, but oh so cute!

Zach's turn to shine

2008-09-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

I keep being told that I don't have enough pictures of Zachary, so here are a few of his shining moments. He loves his bath. In fact, he will sit there long enough for me clean the bathroom. I got the tip to put him in the Bumbo thing from a friend of mine and it has saved my life.

He doesn't suck his thumb but for some reason he chews on it in the bath tub. Yeah, it's a little strange.

Just look at those baby blues!

First Day of School...belated

2008-09-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

School started and everything went off without a hitch which is why it didn't seem too blog worthy. Everyone is happy and Shea keeps telling me how easy second grade is...if she only knew what was coming.

Apparently we had a brown shirt thing going that day. It was not intentional but it looks great for the picture!

Notice Shea's short hair!!!

Part II

2008-07-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Shea went about today like boarding a plane alone was just an everyday thing for her. She did great!!!

Shea - have fun with Grandma!

We miss you and love you!

A nail bitin' night - Shea's big day, Part I

2008-07-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Shea embarks on an adventure. She is flying to Utah ALL BY HERSELF. It started out as just an idea and I was perfectly fine with it thinking..."oh, she'll be fine. She can take care of herself." Duh! She is 7!!! Now that the it is pre-flight night, I am starting to get a little nervous. So is she. She told me she won't sleep at all tonight because she is nervous and excited. These are my fears: Will she really get on the plane? What if she has to go to the bathroom? What if the plane has mechanical problems and the plane has to land in Dallas for 4 hours and there is no one to take care of her (supposedly the airline is responsible for that, but what if they forget?)? What if she has to sit by some scary guy? Or, even worse, a nice old lady that just wants to make conversation but Shea is too shy to reply? What if she is just plain scared and there is no one to hold her hand? The only reprise from my worries? She is flying first class. It was the only seat available and all she cares about is that the seat is bigger. So, tomorrow, part II.

Road Trip #2: Comal River, New Braunfuls, Texas

2008-07-03T21:18:00.001-07:00

First matter of business: Drop Zachary off at Aunt Sarah's. Zachary spent the day with his cousin Rebecca. He was happy and smilin' when I picked him up - Thanks Sarah!! (Sarah took this picture. She is an amazing photographer - you can see some of her work at www.unhistoricacts.com)

A road trip. A beautiful day. A river. A tube. A few rapids. A big tree. What more could you ask for?
Today we went tubing down the Comal River. So, this is how it went. It is our turn to put our tubes in the river. Alex throws his in and jumps on top and says "See ya." Alex is tubin' down the river like a mad man. Okay, in reality, the water is barely moving but when you weigh nothing, you move faster than those of us with a little meat on our bones. Alex is long gone. After a while we send Shea after him. Two gone, one to go. Then comes the shoot. It has a little kick to it and when we get to the bottom, Alex is on the opposite side of the river and Shea's tube is spinning in the current. No Shea. After a brief heart attack, she comes running down the bank of the river. She had a little heart attack of her own, freaked out, evacuated her tube and swam against the current (thank you swim team) to the other side. Twenty minutes later we are all back together and Alex wants to go again. He and Steffen haul their tubes back up to the top of the shoot and go again. Shea, Cody and Mom watch from a safe distance. Who knew Alex was such a dare devil? At the end of the river this truck hauled us back to the car. It was great! A perfect day.

Tubing can work up quite an appetite so we went went to Gruene for lunch. There were 40 of in our party (Thanks to the Richards for organizing this trip!!) so the kids went crazy. Use your imagination...20 kids, one tree.

I guess there are times when we are just one, big happy family. I did miss my baby but sometimes the big kids need to get out and make some memories. I hope this is a good one.

When big boys gather....

2008-07-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

The night in before a holiday, Steffen and his buddies get together to play Risk. I don't know how to play, nor do I have any desire to learn, but tonight Steffen hosted the shin dig. From eavesdropping I gather that the game has something to do with conquering countries. Anyway, I had to take a picture. They are gathered around the table with their game and their little snacks. I have listened to every conversation tonight and they chat...just like us girls (they also ate my celery and watermelon).

Road Trip #1: Blue Bell Icecream Factory - Brenham, Texas

2008-07-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

So, we are getting a little stir crazy here in our house ALL together ALL the time so we decided to brave the open road. We have tried to visit the Blue Bell Factory twice before, forgetting both times they are closed on Saturdays so this time, we thought we'd be safe on a Tuesday. The tour starts out with a little movie about how the company came to be and then you get to see the actual icecream being made and "squirt" into the tubs. Now, for those of you who are not Texans, Blue Bell is considered THE BEST icecream around. For example, we went to a going away party last week for some friends and a few of us brought icecream. All Blue Bell. It is a Texas tradition. Here are a few snapshots of our trip, because, afterall, what you really want to see is the pictures.

Supposedly a real delivery truck. Maybe...

At the beginning of the tour Zachary loved his hat. At the end, not so much.

If you can read the fine print on the window, it says no sitting or standing on the vintage truck... Yeah, didn't see that one in time.

At the end of the tour, each tourist get a sample of the icecream. The tour used to be free with a sample at the end. Now, you have to pay for the tour so technically, it is not a free sample any longer. But my goodness, is it worth it.

Once again, not so happy a baby.

If Shea had her way, she would have a flower in every picture.

How cute is that?

Shea is sporting the Texas Longhorn sign but what she really means is "Go Aggies!." She just got it backwards. We are working on that.

On of the best things about Texas is the fruit stands on the side of the freeway. How could we leave Brenham without a watermelon? It was HUGE and had to be cut up on multiple parts to fit in the fridge.

My Quirky, Kooky Cody

2008-06-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

Cody has many, many little quirks that make him loveable (one of which makes Grandpa call him Dangerous), but his most recent is about to throw me for a loop. He packs things. Suitcases. Backpacks. Target bags. Bags that toys came in. Baskets. Anything that can hold a toy. This morning he packed his baseball hat with various items and took it to swim team all loaded up. Lately, he has started what I am calling, clustering. Here is an example. This is a list of the items in this cluster - for an item to make it into the cluster, it must be able to hang:

A U of U hat (Go Utes!)

A car from the movie Cars

2 old cameras

A small Magnadoodle

A medium Magnadoodle

A Spiderman cover for a lollipop

A toy from Chick-fil-a

One of those things that has beads along a cury metal rod

A batman mask that seems to travel with us to various destinations

This packing was very cute at the beginning, but it is getting out of hand. Today Will, Cody's cousin, was over and they told me they had a suprise party in the game room. They had piled all of their packed luggage (they go to Grandma and Grandpa's house every day they are together, complete with the drive to the airport, the plane ride, and the ride to Grandma and Grandpa's house) on top of each other. The pile was taller than them. Needless to say there are no empty backpacks or baskets or toy bins in my house.

Summer 2008 - Project #1: Tie Dying

2008-06-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, a little bit of boredom has set in so I am having to get creative with projects to do at home. Because really, how many hours a day can we sit at the pool? (AND, shouldn't baby Zachary get a least one nap in his bed?)

Tie dying was a two day project that left my hands pink for those two days but the outcome was great. The kids loved it and keep asking me when we can do it again. Time for project #2.

Zachary is full of smiles

2008-05-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was recently told (by my mom) that I never have pictures of Zachary on my blog. My justification behind this is that the other kids are doing so many things that are picture worthy that I forget that Zachary is growing and changing every day and that eventually my baby will be big. BUT...how cute is he? He is all smiles (as long as he is full and dry) and will smile at anyone that will give him the time of day although I am positive that he saves his special smiles for mom.

Cody's new summer do

2008-05-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Before

Cody got a haircut today...a BIG one. I was totally amazed at how much hair I was cutting off - we were standing in piles of hair!!! Doesn't he look handsome?!! He wasn't quite sure about the short hair until I showed him that it could still be spikey.

After

My baby girl is 7!

2008-05-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

When Shea is truly happy, it is obvious in her eyes. They sparkle. On her birthday (which is on the 23rd, so yes, this post is a few days late), her eyes were aglow the entire day...she even told Grandma it was the best day ever. We didn't do anything too spectacular but she knew the day was all her. Steffen and I kidnapped her from school and took her to lunch - her choice (which was Souper Salad...she is definitely my daughter) which she thought was very cool. She was even able to pick up her cookie cake with me and take it back to her class. She was queen for the day!!! She got to open just a few presents from mom and dad. The first one was a diary (which Cody calls her diarrhea) with a lock and key so she can write down all her secrets. The second was a "floor desk" with her name on it. (Shea's new love is playing school and she will drag anyone who is willing into her classroom). She thought those presents rocked and mom was awfully proud of herself. Nana and Paca gave her some workbooks because what self respecting teacher doesn't give homework? Then came Grandma and Grandpa's gift cards. Shea bought a white board and tons and tons of markers and we haven't seen much of her since the board went up. She gives herself spelling tests and phonogram tests and she always gets 100%. Yeah!!! It was a full day and she went to bed happy. In the end, that is all that matters. Happy Birthday Shea...we love you!!

We are the Champions...

2008-05-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

Tonight Alex's baseball team, the Indians, won the league championship game!!! It was a very big deal - they went undefeated throughout the tournament. Alex got some VERY big hits and had a blast playing for the VERY BIG trophy.

Steffen was more stressed about the outcome of the game than the players...I guess that is what a good coach does.

Go Indians!!!!

Once again, too much time has passed...Time to play catch up

2008-04-17T19:45:00.001-07:00

Shea was the fastest runner again this year so she was chosen to carry the torch on Field Day.
Alex graduated to Green belt (he has GREAT kicks)!

Cody loves his little brother

Shea is playing soccer for the Falcons. In the first game she scored 4 goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. The coach pulled her aside and told her that the rules state that any player can only score 3 goals per game. She would have to start passing the ball.

Alex turned 6! Yeah!!! Another gift, another potential injury.

Zach is still a wonderful baby but for some reason has decided not to sleep at all during the day. What is up with that???

Our first family photo shoot

2008-03-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

All of us together. Not too bad!!!

Take a look at those personalities!

Easter...a few days late

2008-03-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Coloring their one egg.......over and over and over and over.

Grandma and Grandpa's Easter Egg Hunt - lots and lots of toys and fun! This is the first picture with the cousins. (Alex, Shea, Zach, Cody, Will & Tayson)

Okay, so I am a little behind. I am finding it harder and harder to find the time to blog. So, once again, I am setting a new goal to keep up with my life.

Easter this year was a little anti-climatic. It felt like Easter went on for two weeks. Cody's Easter parties were two weeks before Easter. Shea and Alex's Spring parties (they are not called Easter parties) were the week before Easter. We had an Easter Egg hunt with Grandma and Grandpa the Wednesday before Easter. So, when the actual day came along, we were all about done. I even forgot to buy eggs to dye. I had three in the fridge so they each got one egg to dye. To their credit, not one of the three complained.

We have a tradition that the Easter bunny hides the baskets and the kids have to find them. Shea had found them all before the boys made it down the stairs. The Easter bunny will have to think of better hiding places next year. Alex said that the Easter bunny brought boring stuff this year...I guess the Easter bunny was just having an off year. Next year will be better.

It's Rodeo Time!!

2008-03-27T09:32:00.001-07:00

The boys are convinced that real cowboys tuck their pants into their boots.

I love Texas. I love being a Texan. I love that my kids are being taught to say "Yes, mam" and "Yes, sir." I love that it never snows. BUT, my very favorite thing about Texas is the Rodeo. It is one of the biggest in the nation and it is a constant party for two weeks. I have not missed the Rodeo since I moved here 11 years ago. Even this year we took Zachary at 15 days old. We wear our boots and walk through cow poop and watch chickens hatch and look at baby pigs.

The weather was beautiful and the kids were great, considering we walked for five hours straight - there is alot to see at the Rodeo!

Sleeping Babies

2008-03-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than a sleeping baby?

Zachary has become the best baby ever!! I personally think that he knows he doesn't have a choice because there will be times when he will just have to cry so he really just doesn't cry much. He loves to be held by Shea, Alex and Cody is usually content to just sit in their arms and hang out like one of the big kids. We love him and we are so glad he is here!

Welcome Baby Zach!

2008-03-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

Zachary Taylor Jones

6 lbs. 0.9 oz.

19 1/4 inches long

Emily and Zach are doing great and will be coming home on Sunday!

Recent Snapshots

2008-03-03T13:27:00.001-08:00

Did I mention there were popsicles?

2008-03-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is March 1 and my children are in bathing suits, playing in the sprinkler, and eating popsicles. Isn't it still winter? It is hard to believe that summer is still months away when it is warm enough to do summer things. Shea keeps telling me what a perfect day it was. I guess it is the simple pleasures in life that keep us smiling.

The socks were Cody's attempt at maintaining winter attire. He definitely jumps to his own beat.

A Grandfather's Love

2008-03-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Shea did Jump Rope for Heart. She practiced and practiced and practiced (for weeks we had to walk around in fear of being hit by a jump rope). The big day came and it just wasn't what she thought it would be. Shea was crushed. Her Grandpa Jones sent her this oh so cute necklace to cheer her up - it was just what she needed. Sometimes Grandpa's really do know best.

Thanks Paca for making Shea smile!!

We love you!!!!

The things we do to occupy time...

2008-02-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

Monday was a random school holiday, so we searched for random projects to fight the boredom. We found paint. I even painted a Z. All three kids painted on their own without any help. They chose colors and then changed their mind and changed the colors and then changed their mind again. I think in the end, their "projects" turned out awesome.

I am sure that teachers need a day to prepare and get ready for the upcoming weeks, but come on...

Cowboy Cody Hits the Trail

2008-02-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

Every year the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Trailriders travel past Cody's preschool. The kids get dressed up in their western garb and sit on blankets and watch the riders go by. It is a huge procession - miles and miles of horses and cows and covered wagons (okay, there are a few trucks and ghetto blasters blasting western tunes) and the kids absolutely eat it up. The animals are so close you can smell the horses and cows. We have been talking about the trailriders for a month. And to top it off, no western day is complete without a picnic of pigs in a blanket and marshmellows.

I love Texas!!

Hiyah!!!!

2008-02-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

With one more advancement behind him, Alex has advanced to second level Camo belt - Lion level. He is so good! During the testing his teacher even acknowledged that he can do his forms and one steps without a helper. That is a huge accomplishment and says volumes about his dedication to acheiving his black belt. At the end of the ceremony, Mrs. Frentz called up one student from each belt and gave them a special pin that signifies a student that pays attention and behaves well. Alex received that pin and was just beaming. Maybe I should try giving out pins at home!!! This testing was a special one because Grandma was there for the first time. Grandma's rock!

How did I get myself into this?

2008-01-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

I have always had a fear of motorcycles. I think they look cool, but I have never and will never ride on one. I swore they would never be part of my life. Then I married someone with two. I have discovered there are more drawbacks to the motorcycles than just danger...there is the upkeep of the bikes. On the weekends that we don't go riding (by "going riding", I mean Steffen, Shea and Alex ride, Cody and I sit and wait until the day is over. Now, you might say, "just stay home." But what would happen if they all crash and I am not there to pick up the pieces?), Steffen spends his Saturday maintaining the bikes. This is a whole new world for me. Now that the kids are getting a little braver and they are ready to push past the riding in circles stage, I find myself dreading the weekends we go riding. It is a long day of stress and sitting. But on the other hand, Alex and Shea love it and it has to do something for their confidence to do something that mom is scared to death to do.

Just a day in the park...

2008-01-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

Today we tried a photo shoot. We learned that this can not be a one mom show. How can I compete with flying ducks?

But, we got a few choice shots that let a little personality shine through.

Let's try this again

2007-11-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows I have such good intentions with this blog, but this time I hope to actually land on the bandwagon and not just jump.

Here are a few pictures to keep our far away friends up to date.

Cody is, well, 3. He has his moments of perfection and then reality hits and he acts his age. He is my shadow and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Alex is 5 1/2 and loves anything that creeps or crawls (we are on our 3rd & 4th lizards). He just finished his first season of T-ball and can't wait until next season.

Shea is 6 1/2 and a budding gymnast. She is constantly doing cartwheels and hand stands. Noone is safe when she is around.

Two down, one to go

2007-07-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Shea and Alex are at CampNanaPaca this week and so Cody and I are definitely having a little one on one time. It is amazing how obedient he is without anyone prodding him along and using him as a scapegoat for all the wrongdoings that seem to clutter our lives. So, with Shea and Alex MIA, Cody and I have a very open social schedule. We are at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Utah, but Grandma and Grandpa are in Europe so Cody and I are literally, alone. What do I do in a house that is clean? With no laundry to do? With no dishes to wash? When it is 100 degrees outside? How do I fill the moments? Well, let's see. We have watched Go, Diego, Go a thousand times. We have watched the Wiggles, The Big Red Car a million times. We have completed the set of four Spiderman puzzles at least 20 times each. I must say, the kid has a knack for puzzles. I have come to appreciate his personality and his unique spirit. He is a very intuitive little boy that loves a good adventure but also keeps mom within sight. I catch him watching me out of the corner of his eye. I wish I had a week alone with each of my kids. Everyone needs a little one on one every once in a while. Here is the gold at the end of the rainbow. We saw an ice cream shop tonight and Cody asked if we could go there someday. I said sure, thinking this was the best idea he'd had yet. His reply was: "Not until Shea and Alex get home." He misses them as much as I do. I know they are having the time of their lives, but I miss them just the same. Do they miss me??? Probably not.

This is just the begining...

2007-07-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well, here I go. I am finally jumping on the bandwagon. Every family in America, well actually the world, has a family website to show off their wonderful families and share life's tragedies and triumphs. So with much anticipation, here come the Jones'!