2009 was a great year!
If I am fully honest here, I will admit that it has probably been one the toughest of my life on a day to day basis. Not because anything happened, but because I spent the first half of the year sick with pregnancy issues (a first in pregnancy for me) and the second half worrying over a fussy baby angel who has forced me to change a lot of the way I live. I think that at least one or two other babies of mine were this difficult, but there was just more of me to spread around. With the brood growing, it is hard for me to have as much time to focus on a child who may or may not be allergic to most everything I eat. But, I do it. Why? Because I choose to. Not because I HAVE to, but because God gave me these angels and they are all I have ever wanted in life. Sure eliminating dairy, nuts, and for a while eggs was hard... still is, but what is one year? I was given these blessings to take care of, and I will do everything in my power, I will give all that I have in me, because I am MOM. I am loved unconditionally, and it is my job to love unconditionally back. I will drive a hour if only to watch my son play baseball for 10 minutes from the car while feeding 4 other kids. I will be Room Mom when I know I should let someone with more brain power and ability. I will work daily one on one with a child who does not seem to understand that (as an educator) I cannot let him go to Kindergarten next year not knowing every letter and sound. I will make my own baby food and I will get up 3 times a night and nurse a baby who should be able to sleep through the night just fine. I will drive to speech classes at the worst time of day and sit in the car with2 other kids for 45 minutes so that she can reach her potential. I will not fear when my 9 year old son goes to a third world country with his dad to minister to the less fortunate. I will do whatever it takes.
I am so thankful to have a husband and family that supports me. I love this life, even when the days are hard. 2009 was a good year, OH I CANNOT WAIT to see what is in store for 2010!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas at Muber and Pa's House
I am having trouble with Blogger uploading my pictures this morning, so I will leave you with just these two.
My grandparents Muber and Pa with my kids. There are 4 other GREAT grandbabies with one on the way just any day now. In the past year they have gotten a GREAT grand child from one of each of their grandchildren. Each of the other three contributed a girl... I of course contributed my precious boy.
Christmas Eve at their house was always part of my Christmas Tradition. As was Boiled Custard and Muber's tray full of homemade chocolate and candy goodies. Even though we changed the day this year and I did not get to partake of any of the milk laden goodness, it was still a Christmas to remember.
My grandparents Muber and Pa with my kids. There are 4 other GREAT grandbabies with one on the way just any day now. In the past year they have gotten a GREAT grand child from one of each of their grandchildren. Each of the other three contributed a girl... I of course contributed my precious boy.
Christmas Eve at their house was always part of my Christmas Tradition. As was Boiled Custard and Muber's tray full of homemade chocolate and candy goodies. Even though we changed the day this year and I did not get to partake of any of the milk laden goodness, it was still a Christmas to remember.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas with Nommie and Gandie
(and Bubba and Julie)
Nommie and Gandie are so good to us, they come here Christmas morning. First to see what all Santa brought, and then to have Christmas with us from them... and of course a huge breakfast.
This was Bubba and Julie's (and Jackson and Georgia) year to spend Christmas in Texas so they were not here with us this year. We missed them and I am already excited about spending it with them next year. Bubba and Julie prepared in advance and their presents to the kids have been under the tree for a while now torturing the kids =). We finally opened them when we opened Nommie and Gandie's gifts.
Thank you Bubba and Julie! Every boy needs a machine dart gun and every girl needs a doll that pees!! (They all loved their gifts)
Nommie and Gandie are so good to us, they come here Christmas morning. First to see what all Santa brought, and then to have Christmas with us from them... and of course a huge breakfast.
This was Bubba and Julie's (and Jackson and Georgia) year to spend Christmas in Texas so they were not here with us this year. We missed them and I am already excited about spending it with them next year. Bubba and Julie prepared in advance and their presents to the kids have been under the tree for a while now torturing the kids =). We finally opened them when we opened Nommie and Gandie's gifts.
Thank you Bubba and Julie! Every boy needs a machine dart gun and every girl needs a doll that pees!! (They all loved their gifts)
Santa's Visit
The kids were spoiled rotten this year... AGAIN.
They are so good at waiting at the top of the steps... yelling for us and waiting for us to come so that they can come down.
Baylor even went and got Cruz.
They are so good at waiting at the top of the steps... yelling for us and waiting for us to come so that they can come down.
Baylor even went and got Cruz.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Twas the Night Before...
It has become a tradition (for us) that Christmas Eve we get to open one gift, read Twas the Night Before Christmas and the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2.
Baylor opened a first baseman's mitt, and loved it. He hopes to be able to play at first some this season.
Callan got Lego's. You can't miss with getting Callan Lego's. He LOVES them. As for me, I am getting tired of finding Lego's all over the house. But I know someday I will miss it, so I just scrape them into piles and keep bins of Lego's everywhere.
Silas who used to be our crazy PJ boy, has now become naked boy. He stays in his undies day and night no matter how cold... but he still loves his PJ's. He got some new Batman, and Superman PJ's, and he got the rare Artic Batman for his Batcave.
Sissy asked Santa for a Mermaid. She has been watching Little Mermaid and loves it. (Mom's dream come true. It happens to be one of my favorite, and she stares at me funny as I sing the songs word for word.)
Cruz got a rolling drum toy. He loves the music. (Forgive the "chillaxin at home" and hunched over baby to fit in photo look)
Baylor opened a first baseman's mitt, and loved it. He hopes to be able to play at first some this season.
Callan got Lego's. You can't miss with getting Callan Lego's. He LOVES them. As for me, I am getting tired of finding Lego's all over the house. But I know someday I will miss it, so I just scrape them into piles and keep bins of Lego's everywhere.
Silas who used to be our crazy PJ boy, has now become naked boy. He stays in his undies day and night no matter how cold... but he still loves his PJ's. He got some new Batman, and Superman PJ's, and he got the rare Artic Batman for his Batcave.
Sissy asked Santa for a Mermaid. She has been watching Little Mermaid and loves it. (Mom's dream come true. It happens to be one of my favorite, and she stares at me funny as I sing the songs word for word.)
Cruz got a rolling drum toy. He loves the music. (Forgive the "chillaxin at home" and hunched over baby to fit in photo look)
Christmas Eve
What do you get when you have 11 Jones boys, and 1 Jones little girl... a blessed Christmas!!
Here are all the grandkids under the tree- kind-of.
Papa wanted a photo of "his girls" on the couch with all their brood.
To try to have some kind of order. We allow the kids to each pick one gift at a time to open all together. That way we can at least kind of see what is going on.
I almost got everyone in the shot. Kodey, Jackson, and Cruz are missing. Eliza only squeezed in her legs.
Gran and "the baby" of the bunch.
Sweet Avery helping to give Cruz his bottle.
Here are all the grandkids under the tree- kind-of.
Papa wanted a photo of "his girls" on the couch with all their brood.
To try to have some kind of order. We allow the kids to each pick one gift at a time to open all together. That way we can at least kind of see what is going on.
I almost got everyone in the shot. Kodey, Jackson, and Cruz are missing. Eliza only squeezed in her legs.
Gran and "the baby" of the bunch.
Sweet Avery helping to give Cruz his bottle.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A sneak peak
Many of you have asked about the boys trip. I think it went great. Baylor took lots of pics, and Brent took lots of video. They had a wonderful time. I am going to try to put it to a montage if I can figure it all out. But until then, here are a few teasers.
The last day alone, they fed over 800 people and handed out 300 food bags that will feed a family for four weeks in a small village called,Paradise . Brent said it was so intense and chaotic that he sent Baylor into the bus for safety reasons with the "girls"(Maricela and China) who called Baylor their "little angel".
The last day alone, they fed over 800 people and handed out 300 food bags that will feed a family for four weeks in a small village called,Paradise . Brent said it was so intense and chaotic that he sent Baylor into the bus for safety reasons with the "girls"(Maricela and China) who called Baylor their "little angel".
Monday, December 21, 2009
Obligatory Photo
Our 2009 Santa photo. We have gotten one every year since Baylor was 4 months old... except last year when the thought of standing alone sent me puking much less standing in line with a bunch of people to get a photo with the Big Guy. I have some guilt issues with not doing it last year, so I was not going to miss out this year.
So, the Monday before Christmas we headed to the mall. I would have to say it was not as bad as I expected. I did have to have an adult chat with the family in line behind me about the "little ears" that were listening to their conversation, but I felt empowered in hushing their conversation, and then their continued OVER polite behavior the remainder of our time stuck in line together.
There is one child that is missing in this photo. Since he was only about 40 hours home from feeding hungry villages and visiting with orphans in a 3rd world nation, I did not push the commercialization of Christmas on a boy who had just been Christmas to some. He felt like he was too old, and although that makes my momma heart sad... I know that the past week had matured him in ways that he was still trying to get a handle on. He was there, watching the stroller and relaxing on chairs nearby and he and I had a moment. He knew I understood, and I knew he just needed some space on the matter.
So, the Monday before Christmas we headed to the mall. I would have to say it was not as bad as I expected. I did have to have an adult chat with the family in line behind me about the "little ears" that were listening to their conversation, but I felt empowered in hushing their conversation, and then their continued OVER polite behavior the remainder of our time stuck in line together.
There is one child that is missing in this photo. Since he was only about 40 hours home from feeding hungry villages and visiting with orphans in a 3rd world nation, I did not push the commercialization of Christmas on a boy who had just been Christmas to some. He felt like he was too old, and although that makes my momma heart sad... I know that the past week had matured him in ways that he was still trying to get a handle on. He was there, watching the stroller and relaxing on chairs nearby and he and I had a moment. He knew I understood, and I knew he just needed some space on the matter.
My brother... THE REVEREND
I guess boys and their tooting jokes never get old... thanks Jared for the giggles!
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Saturday, December 19, 2009
Christmas at Nanny's House
We had our Christmas at my grandmother's house the Saturday before Christmas. Brent and Bay missed out on it because they were in the air on the way home from Nicaragua. We had fun hanging out and visiting with family.
My mom, my Nanny, and my Aunt Cheryl
Four generations!
The GREAT grandkids (minus Bay and Cruz)
The big man Cruz with his 5th (???) cousin (or is it 2nd couin thrice removed)
My mom, my Nanny, and my Aunt Cheryl
Four generations!
The GREAT grandkids (minus Bay and Cruz)
The big man Cruz with his 5th (???) cousin (or is it 2nd couin thrice removed)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
KOTK Performance
It is always so much fun to be 3 and 4 and to get to perform on stage... and have everyone come watch and make a big deal out of it. I tell you what, parents of preschoolers go ALL KINDS of crazy when their kids are on stage... even if it is for 3 minutes... even if they stand there with their fingers in their mouth the whole time.
Here are my two cute preschoolers singing their hearts out.
Here are my two cute preschoolers singing their hearts out.
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