We had a nice Thanksgiving over in Birmingham. It was a little quiet without all the family there, though. Missed the Jones clan!

I wanted to get this down for me to remember. On Friday my dad took several of us out driving around B'ham. We were over near some of the old mills. One we passed had smoke coming out of it's smokestack. Cody to Jason, "Daddy, is that where they make the clouds?" Love that little guy!

Just for Laughs

So, this afternoon I am checking Facebook and find some totally awesome (could also be read as scary!) pictures my sister had posted. Some are funny, some are sweet, but they all bring back great memories! I thought I would put them here so Mary could get a chuckle!!



Me, my dad, and sister Sara with our dog Gretel. This is while we were living in Germany.
Dad, me, Mom, and Sara in front of some sort of military vehicle.

My Aunt Malinda, my Dad, and Uncle Dakin.


Sara and me in our red robes on our groovy vinyl sofa!



Me, my Great Pa and Sara



My mom is the third one from the left. This is a shot of her with her 4 sisters. Mary this makes me think of your girls!



My Ma Jewel and my Mom.



Carli, me, Sara and Katie Christmas 1989.



Me, my cousin Julie, my cousin Jeff, Sara, and my cousin Whit all sporting our Under Roos Christmas 1979.

Well Hello

Long time, no blog! We have been busy over here and blogging just hasn't been something I felt like doing for a while. I have the kids home with me today (thanks to election day) and thought I would "escape" into the blogging world for a few minutes.

There have been lots of fun happenings here this month. We are enjoying the fall weather and all the activities that go with it! A couple of weeks ago was the Fall Festival at our school. It is an all day event for our family with Jason acting as DJ and me doing all the things I am responsible for throughout the day. The kids love it and have a great time each year. My mom and dad were here to go with us this year. I think they enjoyed the craziness of elementary school for a day!














We also made a little trip to the pumpkin patch! I love taking the kids to see all the pumpkins and taking a zillion pictures! When I look through old photo albums it is always the pumpkin patch pictures that are my favorite. I love the colors and the feel of the photos.















Halloween was fun this year, as usual! Jason loves Halloween so he likes to really do it up over here. This year was very tame for him because of the rain. Not a whole lot you can do without soaking everything. Oh well, the kids still got a ton of candy. Let me clarify that - Claire got a TON of candy while the boys were only so-so. They wimped out pretty early but Claire went trick or treating for a couple of hours! Her loot is quite amazing!

Today we will be working on Chase's book report that we have managed to put off until the day before it's due! Oh well, what fun would it be to get it done early?? Better run get started...

Moving old posts to a new site - remembering 9/11

The next few posts I make will be some old posts from a different site I belonged to for years. I have decided to no longer post there but wanted to remember a few of the posts.



I will never forget the way I felt on this day 7 years ago. I was home alone with my 2 oldest children and expecting our 3rd. Jason called me and told me he had heard on the radio that a plane had hit the WTC. I thought he was joking until I turned on the TV. I was watching the coverage of the first plane and then saw the 2nd plane hit live on TV. You can't forget something like that no matter how long you live. I will never forget how scared I felt when the Pentagon was then hit. I wept for the people on flight 93 that thwarted the plans for that plane. We live in a nation of heroes! I knew someone who lost their life in the towers. This day 7 years ago changed our country forever, it changed me. I loved the surge of American flags waving from every front door, flags on cars, a general sense of common"ness" we shared as a country, standing in the Marietta square with my husband, kids, and sister lighting candles, the House of Reps singing "God Bless America" on the front steps, the nonstop news coverage for weeks, the fear I felt as my husband boarded a plane a few days later, and so much more. In the midst of this world we are now living, I wish more people would remember that time in our country. I wish more people would support our troops (one of which is my cousin on his 2nd tour to Iraq). I wish more people would put aside the pettiness and remember that we are a very blessed nation.

Take a few minutes today to be grateful for the country we live in and ask God to continue to bless us.

***** I decided to share this, too ******

Another aspect of the 9/11 story for me is the lady I know that died in the towers. She worked with my husband and I when we were on State Farm Catastrophe Team. We were working a hurricane in Wilmington, NC for several months. It was during this time that we found out we were being blessed with a match to Claire's b/m. This lady, Michelle Herman, hosted a baby shower for us before we left to get Claire. I was reading an article about her today and I found the end of the article very fitting. Michelle didn't have children before her death, but had always planned on them. Her husband asked any donations to be made in her name to an adoption agency in New York. So. Michelle blessed us during our adoption and continues to bless other families through adoption!

Ummm

Coudn't come up with a creative title for this one! I am TIRED!! It is always so much fun spending time with family but it is exhausting! The kids had a great time playing with their cousins and we managed to get through 5 days with only a couple of incidents of hurt feelings. I would say that was pretty good considering there are 7 of them and they are all 10 and under.

So, yesterday we made the drive down to the Atlanta Restore. It wasn't as great as I was hoping for but they did have some neat stuff. Sara bought a couple of things but I didn't find anything. There were 2 awesome sconces I would have loved to come home with but they wanted $30 a piece for them and they were fabric - so they stayed there at the Restore. We found out there is another store in Canton and I may try that one out in the next day or two.

We had a great time at the Uppercase Living party on Monday. We had a packed house! I haven't decided which ones I'm going to order. I have until tomorrow morning to make a decision. I know one for sure but the other ones are stumping me. I guess it's because I would like to have a few and can only afford a couple right now. It's a matter of priorities!

It's kind of quiet here tonight. The kids are all tired and vegging in front of a movie or playing their DS. Jason is ... I don't know where Jason is and I'm on the computer. I'm thinking it will an early bed time!

Spring Break - a thrifty shoppers dream!!

So, the trip to IKEA was way fun! Jason stayed home with all 7 kids so Sara and I could go without the distraction. We had a great time and REALLY appreciate him being so awesome! I don't know who was more thankful - us or the kids! We roamed and looked and dreamed for a few hours before we had to rush home. We were there for almost 3 hours and still ended up running through the last half of the lower level to make it home before our deadline.

I purchased 28 votive cups for a neat idea I saw on another blog. There were 3 little white vases that just called me and begged me to bring them home. Claire got an awesome frog princess storage column - too cute for words! She loved it and already has it hanging on her wall. Chase got a stuffed white rat (the boy loves stuffed rats!). I did a lot of shopping for later dates - just have to save up my money.

Tomorrow we are off to Restore (I can't wait because I have never been there)! I'm hoping for some super awesome deals there. If you have never heard of Restore, it is the "Goodwill" for Habitat for Humanity. They offer all kinds of items - used and new - from appliances to home decor. I will share any super items I come home with tomorrow.

I think the purchase I am most excited about this week is a white cast iron bird I found at Goodwill! It is rusted in the most awesome way. There were 2 of them but I just couldn't bring myself to pay for both of them but hated to leave one of them there. Sara came to the rescue and adopted the other one. That works for me because I know where she put it and I may just sneak it out of her bag before she leaves! It will look awesome in my new brown/blue/white bird bathroom!

Better run corral the kids toward bed. Spring break with the cousins means lots of late nights!

Spring??

It's been a little while since I last updated. I have been somewhat busy and just felt I didn't have much to say. I know that may shock some of you!

This week is spring break for the kids and I'm enjoying having them home - especially the part where I don't have to get up at 6:00 in the morning!! I do hate getting up in the mornings! Unfortunately, the weather didn't get the memo that this was spring break week. It is very cold today and so was yesterday. Oh well, I love me a cold day and will take them as long as they are willing to come!

Sara and the kids have been here since Sunday evening. All the "cousins" are having a great time playing together. They haven't seen each other since Thanksgiving and were so anxious to have some serious cousin time. They amaze me, really. It's pretty awesome that you can get 7 children in the same house (all born within 5 years) and they don't fight!! How is that?? When my 4 are here there is fighting. When Sara's 3 are home there is fighting. Somehow when they are all together there is harmony. It makes it nice for us since fighting would make it way too crazy!! Right now the girls are preparing for the talent show they are planning for tonight. Chase and Noah are playing Wii (boy type games!) and Chad and Cody are doing whatever it is Chad and Cody are doing (you never know with those 2).

Later today Sara and I are heading to IKEA! I can't wait! I love going there and am really looking forward to it. I will post if I come home with any super awesome items (I'm sure I will!). Yesterday we hit up the Goodwill over here and I think tomorrow we are heading to the Restore in Atlanta. Nothing makes my week like a good time junkin'!

Well, I guess I'd better go wake Sara up (she was up all night redoing her own Blogspot blog). We have to get on the move - I've waited long enough to get to IKEA!!

No pictures this time! They are all currently having a little party in my camera and I hate to disturb them!

First Weekend of Spring!!

We had a great spring weekend here in Acworth! I love the weather this time of year - nice and warm but not hot and no bugs!!

Chad turned 7 on Saturday and we had a great day with him. He is a treasure to us and I just can't imagine what my life was like before this awesome boy was in it. He just cracks me up and makes everyday a little better. He was so patient with us all day waiting to open his presents. Most of the time the kids open their gifts after they eat their doughnut breakfast left by the "birthday fairy". We had such a busy day planned that we didn't have time to open presents. Claire had chorus rehearsal from 9-12, Cody had his first soccer game at 10 and we were running like crazy! All Chad really wanted was a "big boy" wallet. Pretty easy gift for Mom!! We also got him a clip-on I-Dog that has become his favorite gift! The boy loves music and the I-dog lets him listen to his MP3 player without headphones. He's been belting out "Hey Jude" all over the place! We also spent a lot of time outside playing with his new giant frisbee! Chad loves to play frisbee and really wanted one of those big ones.

Here's a shot of the birthday boy blowing out his candles on his oh so yummy cupcakes!




Saturday was also Cody's first soccer game! What fun! We had a couple of friends from church come out and watch with us. Cody's good friend, Calvin, is on the same team and they love playing together! It is so funny to watch a herd of 5 year olds chase after the soccer ball. We won - although they don't really keep score. Cody is playing for One Goal which is a God-centered sport association. We love that before the start of each game there is a prayer led over the loudspeaker and each of the children are introduced for all the teams playing that hour. At halftime they have a small devo and say their assigned memory verse for the week. It's God first, fun second, and learning the sport third. It's a great environment for us right now.

Better get busy doing something productive! I'll finish out with a couple of shots of our little soccer player!







Have an awesome spring day!!

Today

Today has been a pretty good day. It is one of those crazy busy weeks! It is Teacher Appreciation week and that means a lot of work for me and a lot of other people. I actually love days like today. I read to Chad's class for 20 minutes then went to get lunch for Claire's teacher then held a short impromptu meeting with friends and the principle before rushing out to get Chad and Chase's teachers some lunch. I love the constant activity and the wonderful feeling of making these awesome teachers feel appreciated.

We are so blessed with the school our children attend. We have had nothing but great experiences there and just love it there. I love how many people there have become important to our family. I feel blessed by each and every one of them.

The rest of the day was pretty good, too. After school Chad, Cody, Jason and I played a little bit of frisbee in the backyard. There is nothing better than hearing "Mom, it's much more fun when you're out here with us" from your sweet little boy. After Chad made sure he didn't leave a single square inch of his jeans free of grass stains, we came in a worked as a team to get the house picked up and cleaned! I finally put away 3 weeks worth of laundry (I know that is horrible!) and cleaned my bathroom (in desperate need!!). After dinner we all played a little Wii before the kids got their showers.

I guess we had too much fun, though. As we were putting Chad to bed he asked when we were going to do his homework!! Oops! Oh well, at least tomorrow is Friday and he can rest up over the weekend!

I know I know it's about Cody again

This blog really isn't supposed to be all about Cody!! It just happens that right now he is going through the most changes and let's face it, I'm with him all the time!!

Yesterday was his first soccer practice. I loved everything about it - except maybe the part where he was flattened into the ground by the biggest kid on the team. Oh well, he got right up and dusted himself off and was ready to go. I actually cried when I put his tiny little shinguards and cleats on him! How crazy is that? I just can't believe he is this big already.

Cody is a very shy little guy so I wasn't sure how this was going to go. He did very well and listened hard to the coach and had a great time. He was running all over the place pumping those little arms. I don't think I have ever loved a practice as much before this one. Don't get me wrong, I have loved watching all my kids do their various activities. There is just something special about knowing this is the last time one of them will be starting their first sport. It is bittersweet.

I am always amazed at the confidence doing one of these activities gives children. Cody is always confident about himself at home but has the hardest time interacting with other people. Last night after that practice he was just full of himself! He went to the grocery store with me and was talking up a storm. We ran into a friend and he was telling her all about soccer. It was awesome to see him open up a little and be so proud of himself. That alone is worth the hefty fees you have to pay for kid's activities!

I forgot to take my camera last night but will take it next time. I don't think I couldn't have taken any shots last night anyway - too busy admiring my kiddo!

It's Tough Being a Woman

I'm doing the new Beth Moore study, Esther, It's Tough Being a Woman. It is a great study so far and I have learned a lot of new things through the life of Esther. I often wonder, though, why it is so tough being a woman. One whole week was about meanness. The context was that woman are so often so mean to each other. Why is that do you think? As we were watching the video it was so convicting. Every situation she mentioned about the meanness of women we had all experienced. I agree with Beth Moore that most of us don't know too many "mean" (as in premeditated mean) women. I do think we all know way too many women that have been mean to us at one time or another. I, too, am guilty just in case you thought I was accusing everyone else!

I wonder if the times we feel we have been mistreated are always the fault of others. I know that I have been guilty of judging the intentions of others without ever asking their intentions. It is so hard to go back from that way of thinking. Once you have judged their hearts it is very hard to stop. The anger and hurt just builds from there until we are convinced they are mean.

I come from a family of women. Still I wish I could figure women out sometimes! I don't think I will ever know what makes us tick. Why we are so hard on each other, why we are so quick to put each other down, why we are so quick to judge each other, etc... I know from experience that no one can cause pain like another woman. I think we have all experienced that from time to time.

So, as I am still absorbing this Bible study, I would ask that we all search our own hearts and motives in our relationships with other women. We all need to cut each other some slack and remember the great sisterhood we all share.

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Colossians 3:12-13

Cody, again!

Well, it's official! I no longer have any babies! Cody signed up to play soccer today. I can't believe he is going to be playing a sport. I know it will be good for him. He is starting to branch out and trying new things. He is actually excited about starting kindergarten in the fall. He tells everyone he will be in Mrs. Hedden's class (Chad's K teacher) so I have to make sure that happens or he may go into a tailspin! The idea of tiny little Cody playing on a soccer field is funny to me. It will be entertaining. Chase was the same age when he started playing soccer but he always seems older to me than Cody at the same age. I know it's just my perception of Cody as a baby. I need to let that go and let him be a big kid!

He is excited that Calvin will be on his team. It is sweet to watch your children develop friendships. It seems that age 5 is the age that really starts to happen. I'm so glad we live here and our children have so many good friends!

It was so nice outside today. The kids played outside all afternoon and even had a watergun fight. Claire was evidently not very good at the battle because she came home soaking wet!! The boys were hardly wet at all - mainly their rear ends because they slid in the wet grass. I think the teams were pretty heavily weighted in the boys favor, though. There were about 8 boys and 3 girls - hardly seems even! I'm not one for hot weather but it is nice to be able to wear flipflops and the kids run around barefoot! I guess it was just nice for our feet to come out of sock hibernation!

Out of the mouth of babes...

I am constantly amazed at the things my kids say! The latest example is from sweet Cody. He looks like a 2 year old but talks like a teenager! His mouth is always making promises his body can't keep!!

This past weekend Jason and I attended a Focus on the Family marriage simulcast. It was awesome and a great day spent focusing on God's plan for our marriage. The kids went to the day care offered by the church there at the simulcast. We had mentioned to the kids we were going to a marriage seminar but nothing in detail. On Sunday morning my cousin, Julie, is asking Cody what he had done on Saturday. He told her, "my Mom and Dad went to a marriage seminar and learned about marriage and kissing.". We all cracked up!! I don't know where he got that information (it was not that kind of seminar!!) but it sure was funny to hear his perception of the event.

Another quick Cody story (again this is mostly for me so that I don't forget these things!). A couple of weeks ago Nathan and Teda brought Liberty to church for the first time. Later at home I asked Cody what he thought of her. He said, "I didn't get to see her.". I asked him why not, "because her Daddy was carrying her around in one of those things you keep drinks cold and I couldn't see her."! I loved this answer. I couldn't tell if he thought a baby carrier was a cooler or if Nathan had been carrying a cooler and Cody thought Liberty was in it. Either way he was very disappointed he didn't get a glimpse!

The ever awesome Cody!!



I'm out of here - need sleep!

Wow!! I am behind!

I pulled up a friends blog today and signed into blogger for the first time in a very long time!! I didn't realize that it has almost been a year since I last posted anything on here. I know my Mom has probably wondered what on earth happened - I think she is the only one that consistantly checked in with us! I use this mainly as a way to keep up with everything going on in my life. Time moves so quickly and I find myself struggling to remember what everyone was doing at any given time.

So, a quick update!

Jason is still plugging away at his job. We are so thankful for a secure job in this economy. So many we love are not as fortunate. We praise God for the stability we are afforded.

Claire is still loving Girl Scouts and is in the middle of Cookie sales. She didn't sale nearly as many this year (thank goodness!) but still did very well. We have what we hope is one more week of booth sales and then we can put this behind us for another year. Claire is in the 4th grade and has just flourished this year. We are so very proud of her and love to see her growing in every way. She recently had to start wearing glasses. We had NO idea how bad her poor vision was and are so glad she can actually see now!



Chase is a busy 9 year old boy doing all the things 9 year old boys do! He took a break from sports and decided to try Cub Scouts. We can't really tell how much he enjoys it - it varies from week to week. I just love everything about this crazy boy! He is a wonderful mix of mischief and tenderness. He is really doing well this year in school, too. This years biggest change is his level of social activity. He has always been a little shy and has really blossomed this year.

Chad is our superfun crazy kid! He is about to turn 7 - how in the world did that happen?? He is in 1st grade and just excels at all his work. He is reading like a pro and loves it. Chad is also in the Cub Scouts and he really likes it. His den leader is his PE teacher from school and he has always loved him. I can always count on Chad to make me laugh! He is a little pistol and has a huge heart. What a treasure!

Cody is almost 5!!! That seems impossible. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself next year when he starts kindergarten! We go to register him next month. I think he's pretty excited about it, though. It will be a difficult time for me!! He has decided he wants to play soccer this spring. I think we are going to let him give it a shot. We can only hope he is not like Chad and announce his permanent retirement in the middle of the first game!



As for me, I am super busy being Mom and wife to these awesome people! I am the VP of our PTA and spend a lot of time at the school. I love everything about being there and trying to make it a better place for the kids. It is very fulfilling and challenging. It has also forced me to broaden my comfort zone which I think is a good thing.

Better wrap this up and help the kids with homework. After that it's on to Cub Scouts!