Our Christmas!

Christmas this year was spent in Aledo with just us...Mommy, Daddy, Ian and London! It was very nice. I worked the night of Christmas Eve. Ian slept with Justin through the night in anticipation of hearing The Reindeer on the roof top. Ian and I made cookies during the day and left them by the fireplace for Santa. Ian awoke Christmas morning around 6:45am and was sooooo excited to see if Santa "really" came and ate the cookies.

NOT SOOOOO FAST!!!

Justin had strict instructions from me to NOT let Ian and London see their presents until I returned home from work. I of course wanted to see their sweet faces and share in the excitement of "Christmas Morning". So there Ian was, kept in our room watching TV, mad, and not understanding why he could not see his presents. Terrible mommy, I know! Poor baby! Well, I arrived home around 7:45am and greeted Ian in our room. He was so excited to see me...of course he was...Now he got his presents!

I must say, he was the cutest thing ever! Ian totally "gets" the whole Christmas and Santa Clause thing. There he stood mesmerized by his gifts from Santa and all he could say was "Oh, My, Gosh!" We had really been talking to Ian about Christmas and the real meaning behind it and the birth of baby Jesus. We also talked a lot about being "thankful" for everything we receive and everything we have.

{Side Note} At one point about a year ago, I guess for his birthday, Ian had said something about not being satisfied with a gift he received from someone. It was not what he wanted. Well, I was appalled. From then on, I decided that this was something that needed to be addressed. We really try and stress to Ian the fact that we need to be thankful for everything we receive regardless of what it is. We consistently talk about how there are some people that are less fortunate and do not receive any gifts and how we need to be thankful for everything we have.

Back to Christmas morning...Once Ian had a glimpse of everything from Santa, he stopped what he was doing and said "Mommy, we need to say Happy Birthday to Jesus and be thankful for all this stuff"...I guess they do listen. :)













We opened our stockings then Justin and Ian passed out presents and we opened gifts from each other. After a couple of hours, I went to sleep and Justin played with the kids. I was also scheduled to work the night of Christmas day, so Justin spent all morning preparing our Christmas dinner. We had ham, broccoli casserole, home made {to-die-for} macaroni & cheese, okra and biscuits. It was so nice and just perfect. I then received a phone call from work giving me option to stay home. We had too many nurses scheduled that night. Of course accepted the offer and continued to play with Ian and London and all their gifts. It was a pretty perfect Christmas for us Jones family!!

A Special Treat...

On December 23rd, Mrs. Clause found time in her busy, busy schedule to come see all the kids at Ms. Mailea Stewart's school. (She is Ian's previous teacher in Keller, and mother to Ian's best girl friend Julia) We were lucky enough to be invited!

The children all gathered around the Christmas tree complete with a fire roaring from the living room and listened intently to Mrs. Clause. She read several Christmas books and ended with the story of Baby Jesus.







As you can see, London was not too thrilled with the idea of a photo with Mrs. Clause. Ian tried to make her happy, but the only way she was getting anywhere close to her was in her mommy's arms. :)




We stayed for lunch and most of the afternoon. It was sooo Great to catch up with Mailea. We miss her dearly!!!! Ian and Julia had a blast playing together with Cooper while London laid down for a nap. By the way...she is expecting her third baby!!! Yea for her and her family!

Hanging with LiLi

So, this past weekend Justin went hunting with my dad in Plainvew for pheasant. Ian has been with my mom and dad for the week. I stayed home with London and the dogs. I did have to work Friday night, so my sweet sister stayed with London at our house.
It was perfect...she totally took care of her Friday night and Saturday while I slept.

After sleeping on Saturday morning, I gathered up our stuff and the dogs and headed to the Mound for a slumber party at LiLi's. We had a blast! Brian came over and hung Christmas lights on Lin's house. Bridget and Jim came over for pizza and the Big 12 Championship. We put London to bed and all played Cranium, boys against girls! Bet you know who won?!...the GIRLS of course.

Thanksgiving Trip Update

Ok, so I am just now getting around to updating regarding Thanksgiving. None the less, we had a great time in Plainview! We arrived at my parents house Tuesday before Thanksgiving and stayed until Sunday. Ian stayed with Grammy for the week and Justin collected him the next week while he did some pheasant hunting with my dad. One entire week without Ian. While Mommy, Daddy, and London had some good quality time together, we missed Ian terribly. He had a fabulous time going to the movies, playing outside and delivering Meals on Wheels with Grammy and Mur.

Back to Thanksgiving...my mom cooked a fabulous meal for all of us including Mur, Grandad Doug and my Aunt Nancy. Justin and Dad fried the turkey! By the way, my grandad is home and doing better everyday! Yea!!!!!

Justin did some duck and deer hunting while we were home...and did I mention he caught my car on fire???
Oh sure! He had collected some tumbleweeds under the car that he did not see. While he was driving down the highway, the car lost power then began billowing smoke from under the hood. He had to call the Fire Department of po-dunk Floydada to come put our car out...ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! There was 4 DPS troopers and a fire truck assisting Justin and my poor car! Can't you just see it now? What a fiasco!! He had to be towed back to Plainview and our car is still being repaired. Hopefully it will be returned to us later this week. I am just now to the point where I can sorta smile/chuckle about the ordeal. Thank goodness for insurance!

All that to say, yes we had a great time and yes, we are so thankful for so many things!



Our neighbor, Dr. David Wright took me, Ian, and LiLi up in his plane for a tour of Plainview aerial style.




Mom & Dad have acquired their #2 bike..."Geezer" is this Harley's name. They have stepped it up a notch & are riding in class now. Their helmets even have radios in which they can talk back a forth to each other! Notice the size of mom's seat, she can ride for miles and miles on that puppy!
What a name..."GEEZER"



Despite the runny nose, cough and goopey eyes, London did manage a few smiles while crawling in Roxy's bed.

One of London's FIRSTS!

Last week London and I spent the night with my sister. Ian was supposed to go with us, but after he got "sick" in my car :( I decided to leave him home with Justin. He was fine, I just think he had gotten really dizzy on the merry-go-round at school and it upset his stomach.

We had a really great time! Lin and I cooked dinner and enjoyed some wine. Lin had purchased some artichokes for us and little did I know...London loved them!
I don't think she really got much to eat from them, but she sure enjoyed chewing on the leaves!!!

GO TECH! GET THOSE GUNS UP!

Yes, Saturday was quite an exciting day! After all, Texas Tech beat OSU to hold on to a secured #2 ranking nationwide. The Jones household was all set for the big event! After a very productive day planting bulbs for next spring and Justin washing and waxing my car, we settled in for a night of college football. I had made a brisket that morning complimented by roasted potatoes and carrots. Let me just say Mikey a.k.a. London ate the heck out of some brisket!!! She loved it.
The game was so very exciting! Oh how proud I am to be a Red Raider! I think we really have a shot at the National Championship.

Everyone enjoyed the game and cheering on those Red Raiders!




Bless her little heart! She just could not stay awake till the end! Notice the Double T still stuck to her face! :-) Sweet dreams little one!

BFF!

The other morning was a typical morning. I had just arrived home from a night of work. I was immediately greeted at the back door by "little bit" screeching with glee to see her mommy! Oh what a glorious site. Her little self came teetering around the corner, smiling from ear to ear (of course behind her pacifier), arms lifted in the air as to say "Hi, mommy, I've missed you so much...please pick me up!"

Ian was in his bathroom all by himself brushing his teeth and preparing for another day of school. Justin had already fed the kids breakfast, and the lunches were packed and ready to go. I proceeded to help Ian dress for school. Daddy had his clothes, underwear, socks and shoes already laid out. Ian said "good morning Mommy!, I've been a good boy and I slept in daddy's bed last night!" He was genuinely happy to see me, and his little joyful voice is just such affirmation that I have the greatest little boy ever!

After dressing Ian, we returned back into the kitchen where London was dressed for school and playing in her favorite drawer full of mommy's kitchen gadgets. Justin returned in the kitchen with the dog's food. Because it was chilly outside, Justin decided to feed Chloe in the kitchen floor, so she would not be cold outside...she is such a spoiled dog!

Before I knew what was happening, London had made herself over to Chloe's food bowl! A BIG NO, NO! Chloe is a bit funny with her food to say the least, as well as being scared to death of the kids. BUT NOT TODAY! You would have thought London and Chloe had been best friends forever! It was too cute. London had her hands full of food and was ever so tenderly feeding them to her new best friend...one by one! Chloe did not mind at all! It was as if she was enjoying the extra bit of spoiling by being hand fed. It was an instantaneous friendship between London and Chloe. This NEVER would have happened between Ian and Chloe! I've decided it must be a girl thing!