Breakfast with Santa

One of the Holiday traditions in the Harmony Ward is Breakfast with Santa. You see, Santa has us on his calendar. Every year he comes, gives treats to the kids and lets them sit on his lap.

This was the first time Maura had a chance to do it. She wasn't quite sure what to do at first, or what to think of this guy. She spent a good little while just watching (as she does in most situations).

Once she decided it was safe to get close, I lifted her up on his lap and she promptly tried to pull off his beard.
She is such a serious girl sometimes. Nothing really phases her. No screaming, no laughing, just sitting on Santa's lap.
Her expression just beggs a caption, I just can't think of the right one....any ideas?

Turkey Bowl

During our first annual Turkey Bowl for the Harmony Primary, Maura got into the game.
Mostly she just grabbed the football and handed it to the closest person.
Then she moved the end zone. (note the flags around her waist-it was flag football after all)
She had a blast.
Thank you Leanne for the pictures! They are sooo cute-what a great photographer you are.

Christmases Past

So who's the little girl sitting on the floor in the middle?? It's my little sister, Kathleen! My Jones relatives keep saying how much Maura looks like Katie, so we dug out some pictures to compare-they do look a lot alike!
Left to right: Me (and Smiley the dog), Jennifer, Katie in the middle, then Trenton

I think it's the big eyes and the cheeks that does it.
And maybe the serious expressions! Love the 'hat' Katie!

Okay, here is a pic of Maura for comparison...


They DO look very similar!

An epiphany about presence/presents

I feel like I've been running from event to event. Between Young Women activities, Ward activities, PTO activities, concerts and holiday parties-I'm pooped!

That sounds very Scrooge-ish.

I have really enjoyed all of the things we have been doing. Maybe it's my attitude that needs a little adjustment instead of my schedule. Because of the craziness I have gotten to be around a lot of people and get to know them, I've been able to do service, have new experiences with my family, and enjoy some holiday food and fun.

There, attitude adjusted. I love this time of year!

Really, I do. I just have to remember that what is most important is presence, not the presents. It's the people in my life and how I treat them that are more important than the well-run activity, the perfectly baked cookies, extravagant gifts or a clean house.

I do have many fun activities planned for the remaining weeks of this year and I am looking forward to spending some valuable time with some really special people.

Lesson learned. I will remember that it is Christmas Presence that counts!

Falling Piano Story
(As requested)

My Grandpa J. Edwin Jones was a music teacher for many many years. He was a wonderful teacher and choir conductor. He always emphasized presentation during any kind of performance. "Don't fidget", "Hold the paper still", "Don't put your music down until the piano stops playing", and "Follow the conductor" were some of the things he would tell his students. One of the MOST important things was "Just keep singing, even if the piano falls off the stage!"

This saying originated at a music festival when his very large choir was squashed onto a stage along with a very large grand piano. During one particularly exciting piece the pianist got quite animated and while enthusiastically playing accidentally pushed a little too hard and one leg of the piano slipped off the stage! The choir continued to sing, the pianist continued to play, grandpa continued to lead with one hand and with the other he reached down and lifted the piano back onto the stage. They finished the piece and I'm told only a few of the audience members even noticed the incident!

There you have it, a lesson for life; Just keep singing, even if the piano falls off the stage!

!!!Naked Baby Warning!!!

If you are opposed to nakedness, then skip this one.



Maura loves to be in the bathtub. If she's having a sad day or needs some entertainment, two inches of water and some toys will keep her occupied for quite a while. Mostly I've taken to bringing a book into the bathroom to read while she plays, but sometimes I'm just so busy I can't sit around all morning.

I have a good line-of-sight from my bathroom to hers when all the doors are open, so I can get ready in the morning and keep an eye on her while she is in the tub. One day I looked over, didn't see her and panicked! I ran down the hall to the bathroom and this is what I saw!

Whew!

She was lying on her tummy playing with toys and kicking her feet to splash.

This is how she likes to take baths now. She loves to splash, lick the water, and just play with the toys. It is very entertaining for her, but now I have to be in the bathroom to keep an eye on her again.

I'm sure when summer rolls around swimming lessons will be in order!

Rarely do I feel technologically savvy so when I do, I have to share.

Tonight I figured out how to add MUSIC to my blog! I know, I know, basic stuff, but for me it was a real accomplishment!

So, a few of my favorite Christmas songs for you to enjoy.

Piano Recital

Tonight was Dallin's first time piano recital ever! He has been taking piano lessons for the last 4 months, and he is doing quite well.

He took a few minutes before we went to do some last-minute practice. (Don't you just love the slick hair?)
Mookster wanted her fair share of camera time.
Here he is. He was nervous beforehand, and on our way into the building he said "Mom, I just want this over with". But he did such a great job!
Half-way through his piece he noticed that the second page of his music was upside down. He didn't panic, he just reached up, turned it around the right way, and kept on playing! Great Grandpa Jones would have been so proud!*

*As a side note, my grandfather was a super musician. He played the piano magnificently, was a music teacher and directed the Arizona Mormon Choir for many years. He would often tell his choirs and his kids; "Just keep singing, even if the piano falls off the stage". (One time the piano really did fall off the stage... but that's another story.)

Dallin must get his cool head from his Great Grandpa Edwin Jones! Way to go Dallin!

Gina, you totally rock! Thanks for the package.
Hee Hee Ha Ha Ha Ha (That's me, rolling on the ground with laughter!)

'nuf said.

December in Arizona

No shoes and green grass. That's what December in Arizona is all about!
Today Dallin was being a good babysitter and helping Maura learn to climb up the slide.
She got pretty good at it!
They have become great friends lately.
We have all been eyeing our little orange tree waiting for the oranges to get ripe! Last year we got about a dozen oranges and they were sooo delicious! It looks like we will get to eat a few more this year.
I LOOOVE Arizona in December!

Posed Pictures-as promised!

Yeah so I didn't take any pictures while we decorated the tree, so today I told Dallin to go pretend.
He did a super job! He even got Mookie to pose as well. What good kids I have.
This is one of our favorite Christmas decorations. It's a Nativity by Little People. We love it because you can play with it and move it around and it doesn't break (although I think a shepherd or two got put into the toy box last year and never found their way out). Our great friends the Fowler's gave it to us several years ago. It always gets put in a place where everyone can play with it.


I have not been a very sentimental person, especially when it comes to things. I'm not a collector of things and I really don't enjoy clutter. When the kids bring home school work, I keep special things and put them in a box to go through later, but I don't collect a lot.

That has changed recently with my Mom's and Garrett's death. I've begun to collect more and throw out less. So, when I opened the box full of hand-made Christmas ornaments I was so grateful for primary teachers and school teachers who glued, glittered, colored and popsicle-sticked ornaments with pictures and hand prints of my kids. They have become extra special to me.
Dallin has the most ornaments, obviously he's had more Christmases, but Garrett has a good showing as well. Maura has yet to add to our home-made ornaments, but it will happen soon!

So, even though posing pictures is a little cheesy, I had to do it cuz' I've become a sentimental sap.

I am glad for many things, many things, many things...
I am glad for many things, that are mine today.

Thank you, thank you my heart sings, my heart sings, my heart sings.
Thank you for the many things, that are mine today.

That primary song has been rattling around in my head for a week or so. I just had to get it out.

I am thankful for many things, but I'll just name a few. This exercise is really for my own benefit (I'm "Pollyanna-ing it" as Adam would say) to get me into the holiday spirit. It's been a little hard to do this year, but I'm determined.

10 things I am thankful for, in order of importance:

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, His atonement and the Plan of Salvation that provides a way for families to be together forever.

2. My husband who loves me, provides for and protects me, and is fun to laugh with (at?).

3. My adorable children who enrich my life and give me purpose.

4. My family who loves me and helps me and are always just a phone call away.

5. My extended family and the rich heritage I am blessed with.

6. My ward family/friends. I am speechless, we are so blessed.

7. My talents and abilities that give me satisfaction, and those that I am still discovering.

8. That I have always had enough (and to spare): shelter, food, and clothing.

9. Opportunities I have to serve others in my neighborhood and my community.

10. Lastly (for this list-I have so many other things that would just take too long), I am grateful for this country and the freedoms that I enjoy.

...and all I took were 5 pictures...

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone and I only took these five measly pictures! What is wrong with me?!?
We had turkey (that I cooked and it was awesome), played in the first annual Harmony Primary Turkey Bowl (Dallin played for a while and Adam, Maura and I coached from the sidelines), watched many movies (we each had our favorites), went to Riley's baptism (she is so big), and did projects around the house (Adam loved them). But no pictures!
I can't believe the only pictures I took were those of the Mookster snacking on the beater after Adam made choco-chip cookies! I'm not really sure why the camera sat on the shelf all weekend. Poor neglected camera.
We even hauled out the Christmas decorations and decorated the tree and still I took no pictures.
Shame on me.
I think I'll get my kids together tomorrow (Adam included) and pose some pictures so I can photographically recreate the weekend. Or not. I'm not sure how willing my subjects will be.

A Carefree Christmas

Some friends asked us to help decorate a gingerbread house to donate for a fundraiser. We chose the title of our project "A Carefree Christmas".
It's a little unconventional for a gingerbread house, but it was fun to make it!
Look closely and you'll see little surfer guys next to our gingerbread beach house.
We even made a beach with real sand, little shade umbrellas and the ocean.
Our beach house was decorated with shells we brought back from Mexico and sand from the sandbox in the back yard.
It was a really fun project (albeit a little crazy with so much help) and I hope they get a TON of money for our Carefree Christmas gingerbread house.

What's up, Bekki?

The annual camp out and repelling with the Young Women was fun. If you enjoy sand in every crevice of your body, lots and lots of wind, broken tents, good food, games around the campfire, repelling, and no sleep-it was just the kind of activity you would have enjoyed. I sure did!

A visit with my sisters was fun too. If you enjoy flying in small airplanes with young toddlers, sick babies, chick flicks, baby monitors, oxygen tanks, visits to the doctor and general queasiness-it was just the kind of trip you would have enjoyed. I sure did!

Fall has arrived in Mesa. If you like 90 degree weather, brisk mornings, hot afternoons and beautiful nights you will love Mesa in the fall. I sure do!

Thanksgiving is upon us and we're not going anywhere. If you like painting, fixing screens, repairing doorbells, mowing lawns and watching movies, you will love Thanksgiving at our house this year! I'm sure excited.

Jace is Eight!

If you know Dallin, then chances are you know his bestest buddie in the whole wide world, Jace. They are super good pals. Jace invited Dallin to his cool bounce birthday party at Extreme Play that just opened around the corner from us. It is AWESOME!! (Jace is the guy on the botom).

There were tons more kids there, they just all didn't fit on the top of the slide.
Maura really enjoyed it.
Amber (Jace's oldest and only sister)even took her down the big slide! I'm not sure how much she liked it.
Amber's little guy, Braiden had a super time with Maura. He gave her lots of hugs and taught her how to shoot a ball.
Braiden's dad had almost as much fun as the rest of the kids.

Rylie wasn't sure what to make of it all.

If you're in our neighborhood, check it out-Extreme Play is a blast!

Veteran's Day Parade

It's taken a while, but here is a summary of our fun day!

Maura was especially patriotic.
We had tons of kids and families from the neighborhood show up to parade with us.
They decorated their bicycles, scooters, strollers and whatever else they had.
There were a lot of friends that came.
They even sported cool accessories for themselves as well as their bicycles!
Cute mommies and kids,
more cute mommies and kids,
lots of very cute kids,
and Maura led them all!
Ready, set, go!
After our 'Parade' we came back to our house to write letters to soldiers, pack a box full of goodies to send to Iraq, and eat cookies. It's a fun thing to do when there is no school.