Exciting News!

As you all know... I had my ultrasound scheduled on Christmas Eve to see what #3 was. We decided to take the boys with us so they could experience the excitment as well. It didn't take Dr. Beck long to determine that indeed it's a GIRL!!! We are very excited! Glen Allen is nervous at the thought of a girl but at the same time his heart just melts and he already knows that she will have him wrapped around her little finger. The boys are happy to know that mom and dad finally believe them that it is a girl. When we walked out of the doctors office Glen said, "Mom, I already told you it was a girl." It was almost as if he was offended that I didn't believe him this whole time and that we had to get confirmation from the doctor. What a funny boy! Needless to say, it will be a change for the Jones house since all we know is blue, motorcycles, quads, balls, skateboards and fighting... but I am excited to have some more estrogen around here since I am so out numbered! Let the SHOPPING begin! :)

YES... we are still here!

Okay, okay, okay... after several "friendly reminders" or as I like to call it "guilt trips" from my mother about what a slacker I am on updating my blog, how everyone is wondering if we are okay, and hint about how my sister just updated her blog... here it goes! Grab a warm cup of hot cocoa and get comfortable because this is going to be a long one!

Yes we are still alive and as busy as always! Glen is working like crazy, going back to school to get his MBA in International Business and trying to keep up with all the young men in the ward as he was recently called as the YM's president. I am keeping busy with teaching 3 classes, barely surviving through the lovely 1st trimester and playing the "soccer mom" job of running Glen David all over the place. Glen David is in preschool and LOVES it. He asks everyday if it's a school day. He also just finished a Kid's Corale session where he would go to singing classes once a week. He just had his final Christmas performance where he was one of Santa's Elves. He did good (at holding up the wall in the back of the stage and playing with the Christmas lights that were used to decorate the stage) but I think he gets his nervousness from me! For his first performance, however, he did GREAT! Jaxon is just as busy as ever. He is our crazy man... he is very animated, loves to sing and dance and has a 16 year old girlfriend named Tiffany that he just adores! :) So there you have it... in a nutshell...we are doing good (and are excited to find out what #3 is on Christmas Eve!)

Here are some updates of pics from recent events that haven't made it on my blog... until NOW! :)

Pumpkin Carving/Painting

The boys wanted to do pumpkins but we figured it would be safer and cleaner to have them paint their own little pumpkins while Glen Allen carved the family pumpkin. I was the paint keeper/brush cleaner/camera person while the boys painted and Glen Allen meticulously carved our awesome pumpkin!

Halloween

This year for Halloween we went over to the Busby's to have a potluck and hand out candy. The boys loved it because they were able to trick-or-treat with their friends (and a supervised adult... thanks Dan!) while the parents stayed back and handed out the candy. Jaxon was the cutest Power Ranger (until he got mad at me and decided to pout because I told him he couldn't eat anymore candy) and Glen was a tough football player!

Jaxon's 3rd Birthday!

I know... I can't believe it, my baby is 3 already! On November 30th we celebrated Jaxon's 3rd birthday and it turned out GREAT! When I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday he said he wanted to play at the park and have a birthday hat.... how can you turn down such a "manageable" request? At least he didn't say he wanted to rent a sports car and drive to Disneyland for the week! Thank goodness he is still young! :) I was very nervous about the idea of having a party at the park, at night in what us Arizonan's call "winter", but it actually turned out better than I expected. All his friends came, we played, ate pizza, opened presents and enjoyed some yummy Funfetti cupcakes!

Believe it or not, that took him a LONG time to get his fingers right! :)

Glen couldn't stand the idea of missing out on a photo opportunity!

The infamous, requested birthday hat!
Glen was just as excited as Jaxon was to see what each present was!

YUM... funfetti... my FAVORITE!!!


Check out the MOVES!

This past weekend a friend of ours was celebrating his 7th birthday and all he wanted was a dance party. His dad works in a big warehouse and thought what better place to have dance party than a place with an awesomely huge dance floor! They hired a DJ and everything! Jaxon was of course struttin' his stuff and believe it or not, Glen David actually warmed up to the idea and showed off some moves we had never seen. Thank goodness Glen Allen didn't get out the camera when I was shakin' it... but Jaxon quickly put me in my place when the next day on the way to church Jaxon so innocently said to me... "Mom, you were dancing last night and it was awful!" It's pretty sad when a 3 year old tells you, you can't dance worth a can of beans!

... and to wrap things up... some randomness.

Here are a few random pictures taken of the the boys at home. Jaxon just looked so cute with his hat on, I couldn't resist snapping a few shots. The other pictures were taken tonight when the boys were outside playing a little frisbee!

How does something so small do so much damage?

As some of you may know and some may not... after several months of trying and fertility meds.... we are proud to announce that #3 is on the way. We were not able to keep it quiet for long as my husband posted a comment on Facebook the day I got a + and Jaxon announced in nursery that his was going to be a big brother! Nothing is secret around here! :)

I am due the end of May which only makes me about 9 weeks along right now. We are exited for the new little one but for being so little... this baby sure keeps reminding me that I am pregnant. The lovely morning sickness (all day sickness) is well under way and I just want to sleep the next month away in hopes it will be over soon. :) Despite the yucky tummy... we are all very excited about our news!!

PRESCHOOL!

My baby is growing up!!! I can't believe I have a child old enough to be in preschool! Glen LOVES it and asks everyday if it is a preschool day.... unfortunately it's only twice a week for 2 hours a day. The first day of school they were supposed to bring something for show and tell and he was so excited to wear his motorcycle shirt.... what a funny kid! Jaxon had an absolute melt down when we took Glen and dropped him off because he wanted to stay and play with the new kids too. I tried to distract him by telling him we would go get a treat but the waterfall of tears continued so we had to go home and take a nap. The second day of school, he learned that if he didn't cry we would go get a treat! Little does he know... when we drop Glen off, it's mommy and Jaxon time!

Family Fun at the lake!

A few weeks ago we had the chance to go out to the lake with Glen Allen's cousin Tyler, his wife Kristen and their family. We always talk about getting together and doing something and for some reason it never happens so I was way excited when a plan actually came together. We love Tyler and Kristen... they are so fun and make every activity, family party, get together, worth going! We of course headed out bright and early, before the sun was even up... which I HATE doing but it's the only way to get the good water and beat the unbearable heat that comes later on in the day. The boys were up and ready to go but in the 20 minute car ride this is what happened... Jaxon was out (with pop tart in hand)! The funny thing about this picture is that right after I took it (literally 5-10 seconds later) my husband turned up the music, Jaxon quickly popped his head up and yelled, "Now this is what I am talking about!" as he started jammin' out to the music. This kid is hilarious... he is my music lover and is always dancing every time he hears a song and is always telling my husband to turn up the music, even though it's already at a level beyond what I can handle.

Anyway, here are the kids (as you can see before the sun came up) so excited to be out on the lake! Cooper, Ella, Glen and Jaxon!

Here are pictures of my baby wakeboarding... what a STUD!

It was so hot that the kids kept asking when it was swimming time... my boys love just pulling over the side and having a chance to jump in a cool off. Yeah for swimming time!

As my husband will tell everyone... he hates that I don't typically try anything at the lake. I am sure it sounds like excuses but between getting burnt out when I was younger (because we went every weekend) and then being pregnant or having a newborn, I haven't done much at the lake since we have been married. He is always trying to get me to go ski or wakeboard and it just doesn't happen. Although he was glad I was actually trying something this trip... he was sad that it took Kristen convincing me, for me to actually go out. Believe it or not, I wakeboarded and tried the surfing for the first time! Go momma go!

The boys couldn't stop talking about surfing and wakeboarding but when it actually came time to step up and do it, they both had a fit! We couldn't do anything to get Glen out there but we finally convinced Jaxon although he was kicking and screaming the whole time!

After all the wakeboarding and surfing, we pulled out the air chair because Kristen and Tyler had never tried it before. They both did great and Kristen was the champ of the day! The air chair is not easy to get up on but she made it look like a piece of cake! Way to go Kristen (I didn't get any pictures of her because I was so excited she got up!) Here is Glen riding it like a pro!

We had a great day with the Jones family! Thanks Tyler and Kristen for a great trip to the lake, we will have to do it again soon!

The countdown is on...

My hubby has been gone since Wednesday morning on a business trip to Orlando. I dread every time he leaves and I look forward to his return. It's amazing how different the feeling is in my home when he is gone. The stress levels are up, the responsibilities seem heavy, the Spirit he brings is missing and the love he demonstrates is gone! The boys have asked me numerous times where daddy is, when is he coming home, why did he leave, etc. The boys miss him and I miss him dearly! It's not the same when he is gone and I am so excited to pick him up in 4 1/2 hours and counting!

I LOVE coupons!

Two Stores + Two cranky kids + One frustated mom + Only $42 spent + $100 SAVED = THIS!!!!

Okay, so I know I am a little slow.... I have known about this whole coupon thing forever but I never really got into it for whatever reason. Not that I really have time for it ight now, but my mother-in-laws neighbor taught us the in's and out's of this whole coupon thing and slowly but surely I think I am getting the hang of it. I will admit, it starts to become addicting to see how much you can save and it's hard to spend money on regular priced items. Tomorrow morning I will hit the Kmart double coupon savings for all my non-food items (without kids)! Yipee!!

Idaho... Idaho!

As I mentioned previously, we just got back from Idaho about a week ago and I hadn't downloaded my pictures... until NOW! Yeah! All of my dad's family lives in Idaho and they have a Smart reunion (my grandma's side) every 2 years in the most beautiful place located about 2 1/2 hours north of Boise, called McCall. It's a beautiful (but cold) lake surrounded by pine trees and gigantic houses. We haven't had the chance to make it for several years (I have been married for almost 7 years and Glen Allen has never been to Idaho to visit my family - that's how long it's been). But fortunately, we were able to make this year and I am so glad we did. It was wonderful to see family, spend time with everyone and get out of the terrible AZ heat and up into beautiful Idaho. The first day there we stayed in Nampa (which is just outside of Boise) because the reunion didn't start until the next day. While in Nampa, we drove around to let the boys experience what real farms are like.

We stopped by a Buffalo Ranch....

We attempted to pick peaches but there were none left on the trees so we only got to move them from the farm bucket into our own bucket to take home....

Went to a park and actually enjoyed the toys because they were not scorching hot like the ones in AZ in the summer!

We visited another farm to get other produce (and ride the wood train)....

We picked corn which was delicious. I think we ate it for just about every meal while we were in Idaho for the week.... ( Jaxon wasn't too happy because he was hungry and tired by this point - can you tell?)

Found a ladybug in the process of picking corn...

See what I mean??? He was so tired for a hard days work of farming, that he crashed in the car the minute we were done picking corn.

We blew bubbles in grandma's back yard...

We attempted to got tubing down the FREEZING Boise river only to find out that they practically wanted your first born child and all that you possessed in order to rent a stupid tube... so we (well some of us did, the smarter of the bunch stayed out of the limb numbing water) just waded in the river instead....

Then it was to Aunt Linda's for dinner! Linda and Ken spend all summer in Alaska fishing and had brought back hundreds of pounds of fish. Glen Allen was in heaven (the boys and I ate pizza)!

The next morning we got ready to head up to McCall and found out it was raining... it poured the ENTIRE drive up... and for the next 2 days. Talk about depressing! I was so excited to get out of the heat to enjoy the normal beautiful 70 degree McCall weather, but instead we experienced 30's and 40's with minimal winter clothes (we didn't plan for cold and rain). Although we still managed to have fun with the crappy weather! The reunion was located at the Ponderosa Campground there in McCall. Some family stayed in condo's while others stayed at the campground. Luckily we went the condo route, thanks to grandma and grandpa Bean. It worked out great. It was only about a mile away from the campground so we spent most of the days with family at the campground and then came back to the condo for naps and bed.

Of course you can't go to McCall (with me) unless you make the three traditional food stops... famous to McCall.... My Father's Place, Ice Cream Alley and The Pancake House!!

The very first day we got there... first stop of the day was a restaurant called My Father's Place. I forgot my camera when we went in to eat because I was so excited, but they are known for their burgers and shakes! YUM!

Then we also made sure to visit Ice Cream Alley two nights in a row at about 10 pm! So good, but not good on caloric intake (but who cares when you are on vacation right???)

Then last but not least was the GIGANTIC cinnamon rolls at the Pancake House. Glen Allen and my brother Shawn picked them up and brought them back to the condo for pure blissful indulgence! They are covered in a thick layer of butter and frosting... to die for!

Enough about the food....

Because of the crappy weather most the time, we didn't really get to do much, which was fine because it was nice to just catch up with family. I hadn't seen some of my cousins (and their kids) for over 10 years or so and if half of them or their children were to have ever passed me on the street, I wouldn't have even known we were related. It was great to get reacquainted.

The last day we were there, grandma and grandpa thought it would be fun to rent jet skis for the day! The boys were not too fond of them at first but Jaxon finally warmed up to them and Glen David was more content just jumping off the dock and swimming around.

Here are the boys walking back to camp in their wet suits that obviously don't fit!

When the weather somewhat cleared up we took a drive up to the look out spot which was beautiful! It overlooks the lake....

On the drive home we stopped by the Snake river for a little lunch break while being completely entertained by the white water rafters making their way down the river.

Sunday night (I know a little sac-religious) we took advantage of the "legal in Idaho" fireworks and then settled into bed to catch an early flight out in the morning to come back home, which back fired on us. My aunt works for the airlines so we flew standby and after getting everyone up at 4:30 to try to make the 7:00 flight home, none of us made it on the flight because it was too full. So we headed back to grandma's for a morning nap and then tried again for the 2:00 flight. Everyone made it except for my dad, who ended up fliying home the next morning! Oh the joys of standby!

I would have loved to take a lot more pictures but my battery was dying and I forgot the charger. :(

Anyway, we had a blast... it was fun to get away, see family and be reminded again about how much I would LOVE to live in Idaho... if I could ever convince my husband!