My First Two Teethers!

Right at 7 months, Chase sprouted his two little bottom teeth.  He wasn't fussy at all- he's such a happy little guy.  The only problem was that he was drooling so much that I had to keep changing his soaking wet shirts.  We called him our little 'droodlebug'.  I finally resorted to stripping him down all together- just one of the many perks from living in a warm climate!

Playing with Brigham and Raegan

Paul and Trisha won a fun awards trip to Milwaukee so we got to watch Brig and Raegan for a few days.  We were so excited!  They were so well behaved and the kids loved having them around to play with.  Blake commented, "so this is what it was like when you were growing up with 6 kids in your family"

Blake loved playing football and wrestling with Brig and Jackson.

Audrey loved having a 'little sister'.  Her and Raegan played dolls, tea party, dress-ups and she read her stories in her bed at night.

The Super Heroes saving the Princess!! Isn't Raegan adorable?  She really is such a sweet little girl.  Brig cracked me up dancing around to spiderman music.

Fun times with the Cannon cousins!  (Maybe next time they could stay a little longer..."like 20 more days" would be nice:) 

Jackson's First Day of JOY School

I took a deep a breath and decided to join up with some other moms for a Joy School group this year for Jackson.  We get the lessons online and I take my turn every 6 weeks.  Jackson, of course, loves it and... SO DO I!  I was a little nervous and hesitant at first but after my first turn, I remembered how fun it is to teach small children, especially my own.  I've been released from Primary for awhile now, so this became my new outlet to be silly, tell stories, play with puppets and make up actions to songs.

Jackson loves his Cars backpack.  When he wakes up in the morning he'll ask if it's Joy School day.  If it is he'll get dressed and then he puts his backpack on.  School doesn't start until 12:00 but he'll wear it around the house all morning waiting..."Is it time for Joy School yet?"

First Foods!

So my pediatrician told me since we didn't have to worry about Chase gaining weight that I could wait to feed him solids until he was 6 months old because of recent research done on allergies.  Whatever, I'll I heard was that I could put off smashed bananas in my hair and green beans all over the high chair a little longer.  A few days before Chase was 6 months, we dug out the high chair and sat him down for his first bowl of rice cereal.  He, of course (having my genes) loved it and gobbled it right up happily!

A few days later, it was time for Peas!  It was the funniest thing ever!  Every bite he shuddered and gagged but he kept opening his mouth and eating them.  He didn't spew them out like I was expecting him too.

We have "learning to like" lessons at our house.  If you whine and complain about a certain food, you then receive double.  If you politely just ask for a small helping and take a few "courtesy bites", then you're okay.  I guess Chase already knew the rules.  He took his  bites like a man without one complaint.  You're mommy's so proud of you Chase!  Way to eat those PEAS!

Grubby Little Knees!

I went for a walk with Audrey, Jackson and Chase to visit our neighborhood lizard.  I started visiting with a neighbor and the kids ran off to play.  They ran around and jumped on the tramp while I was talking.  They came back looking like this- oblivious to the dirt covering them. We had to scrub really hard in the bath that night but how I love grubby little knees and hands!  

First Day of School

School starts so early in Arizona and I still haven't figured out exactly why.  Blake was excited to start fourth grade because his best friend, Joseph W. is in his class again.  His new teacher, Miss Bentley, is from Utah and had "Mormon" written all over her; sure enough, she is.  Blake loves her.  Audrey's teacher, Mr. Bailey, is extremely organized and an excellent teacher.  Audrey loves the second grade and is doing so well.   Yes, I too take the "First Day of School" photo in the front yard.  I did it all my life, I'm just following tradition!

Oro Valley Splash and Dash

Blake and Audrey decided to join with some of their friends and participate in the Oro Valley 'Splash and Dash'.  It consisited of a short swim (400M) and a one mile run.  They "trained" with their friends for a few weeks before.  It's quite entertaining as a parent to see the differences in your children; Blake and his friend Cash are both super competitive and try their hardest to get ahead.  Then there's Audrey and her friend Tatum who just skip along, making friends and enjoying the scenery.  Neither one did it in record time or anything but they both finished and had fun!  They felt pretty cool with their numbers on their arms.

All the kids after the race!  Cannons, Petermans, Haymores, Gardners, and Spaldings.

Jackson Turns 3! Monkeying Around

For some reason Jackson had his heart set on a "MONKEY" party for his birthday this year.  We had just returned from our long trip so we just kept it simple and small.  The movie 'Space Chimps' had just come out and Jackson giggled every time he watched the previews so we packed our snacks and headed to the movies.  The kids loved it!  All the way home they were singing..."I am Titan I am strong... No one wants to sing along!"

Jackson wanted "the lots of monkey's in the red bucket" for his birthday. 

 I was able to figure out that he was talking about a 'Barrel of Monkeys'

Uncle Paul and Raegan came over for presents and cake. 

 (Poor Brig was sick so he and Trisha couldn't make it.)

Jackson got a pet monkey and a new backpack for school. Blake and Audrey gave him some new cars and GR. C. gave him a cool Lightening Mcqueen shirt and plate set.

Raegan and Brigham gave him a BATMAN, and GR J. gave him a Nash jersey, 

cars sheets, and a few other fun toys.  He also really wanted the little orange cat from the Smurfs, Ahzriel, that he had spotted in Vegas.  He was pretty excited about that one.

Audrey was very willing to watch over Jackson's new pet baby monkey for him while he was busy with presents.  She carefully showed him how to properly feed and care for it.

Time for Cake!

Of course Jackson wanted a monkey cake.  He talked about it for the next week or so.

Happy Birthday Jackson! We Love our little MONKEY!

Jones Reunion- LAKE TAHOE

It's been a long time since we've gotten together with the extended Jones clan.  Lake Tahoe seemed like the perfect meeting place.  I drove over with Jen and we had fun chatting and texting boys.  We then picked up Matt at the Reno airport and headed in to Tahoe.

The last time I was here was in college.  Uncle Milt's cabin looked the same from the outside (don't you love the mormon mini-vans) but the inside had some major remodeling.

Here's what came out of all those mini vans!!

Chris got all the families together for pictures just like Aunt Marj used to do.

The first morning we went river rafting.

Laura started off in a boat with Dan and ended up switching with Kimball to ride with Jen and me.  I think she was paddling wrong or maybe she just liked the song that Jen and I made up "rowing along".

Grandpa can't escape.  Blake tells me that he was tying up some loose ends at work while waiting for all the rafts to roll in.

We headed to King's Beach to play and have lunch.  Of course it was so much fun having all the cousins there to play with.

The kids loved the beach.  Matt rented a canoe and took each kid for a ride.

Jackson and Cooper quickly became best friends,

Audrey and Zach created an amazing sand castle together,

and Blake and Tyler had fun catching crawdads, playing catch and just being silly.

The best part was the program that night where the Asays handed out crocheted hangers, Nanny goodie bags, and yellow roses in memory of Aunt Marilyn.  We sang, talked, ate, laughed and cried; remembering old times and grateful for the new ones to come.

Audrey's Surprise Party!

We decided to throw a surprise party for Audrey's 7th birthday since we knew we would be driving home all day on July 13th.  We gathered the cousins together at Grandma Jones' house, and with help from my sisters and mom, we pulled it off.  She was very surprised!

Aunt Ferfie was in charge of games and I need to hire her for all my kids parties.  The kids made bracelets, played pin the nose on Mickey and a bunch of fun water balloon games.

Aunt Erica made this special apron just for Audrey.  She loves to wear it when she helps mom in the kitchen.

Aunt Laura and Ferfie gave Audrey a cute new dress complete with matching hair bow. The Joneses gave her a complete make-up set which she uses almost every day.  Grandma spoiled her of course with a stuffed puppy, a "Max" & Otis video, some clothes and a few other surprises.  Mom & Dad got her the monkey she wanted from MGM Grand and a framed saying for her room...

"You've been a blessing from the start... I love you daughter with all my heart." 

 Happy 7th Audrey!

Mommy's Little Chunk

I love watching Chase grow and develop!  I always get comments on how "healthy" he is, and he really is just a healthy and happy little guy!  He just sits and takes in the world around him and I'm so thankful to be part of that world.  He makes me smile every time I see his chubby little cheeks and I can't help but to kiss all over them.

Fourth Of July!

We started the day off at Murray Park for a morning flag ceremony.  From there Dan and I took off to race in a 5K in which my mom had signed us up for without telling us until the night before.

After we ran, we had to sneak Blake in to the kids fun run because they wouldn't let us sign him up late.  He came in third place but declined his medal because we hadn't paid.  He was more than happy with my (paid for) shirt  that I swapped for a smaller size.  I know we're naughty, but the kid wanted to run! We then had the typical pancake breakfast and candy throwing parade.  Blake got soaked by the Murray baseball team and their squirt guns and Audrey won free movie tickets. Later the kids got to dig through sawdust for nickels and then spent those nickels on a few games and rides.
Later that afternoon we headed to Provo to meet up with Matt's family.  Everyone was congregating at his cousin Jeremy's house.  The house used to be Grandma and Grandpa Watt's house in which Grandma Cannon grew up and Matt used to live while we were engaged, so it was fun to see it again. 
We did fire works and waited for our favorite thing; watching the fighter jets fly overhead for the Stadium of Fire.  The sound of freedom, as Matt calls it.
Jackson calls Uncle Howard, "his friend" and they love to play with the parachute bombers together.  We walked to the nearby church and watched the fireworks to end a wonderful Fourth of July!  So proud to be an American.