Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Recap


Annual gingerbread houses at the Smart cabin.

Christmas eve pinata.
Christmas morning.



Christmas breakfast at our house.


Dear Family

Dear Family,

First of all, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all you have done for me and your unwaivering love and support. So many times people have said, "Aren't you glad you have such a great family." Yes! I am. I think almost everyday, what would I do if I didn't have these crazy, wonderful people in my life, especially right now.

What I really want to say, though, is I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being grumpy, ornery, and an all around sour puss at times. I promise I realize it and I promise I'm trying not to be. Thank you for bearing with me and just know I don't mean to be unkind. I love you all and I'm really trying to show it, though sometimes I don't. I'm a work in progress.

Love,

Me

Monday, December 27, 2010

appreciation

Ever feel unappreciated for the cooking, cleaning, dressing, feeding, bathing, etc. that you do for your kids? I have the perfect solution to help you feel appreciated and you can borrow him anytime: Logan.

I was just finishing sweeping and mopping our wood floors the other day which cover the majority of our upstairs, you know, the real kind of sweeping and mopping where you move furniture around. Hard work. Up comes Logan from downstairs where he had been playing. He stops. Eyes widen. He exclaims enthusiastically and amazed:

"Wow, mom, good job cleaning! Good job! Mom! Really good job cleaning."

Over and over he exclaims as he circles around the room staring at the shining floors.

I felt so appreciated...that is until I began to think, hmmmm, has it really been that long for these floors.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

christmas eve eve


Hello Christmas eve eve, nice to meet you. We had a fantastic time with you today while we...

went on a walk with grandpa,

hung out with cousins,


kissed babies,

read books,

ate pizza,

and most of all, became more and more excited for CHRISTMAS!!!!


Tuesday, December 21, 2010

nugget

How about this for a lovely little scriptural nugget I came across last night:

2 Nephi 22:2 'Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

Fitting and timely...just what I needed.

Monday, December 20, 2010

again, you know

a million thanks for:

computer help
entertaining my kids
shoveling my snow
christmas treats
temple dates
shedding tears when I can't
hugs & hugs
girl's nights
diapers
messages
flowers
loving my kids
and more
and more
and more

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Program

Ella had the privilege of having a small speaking part in the elementary school christmas program. She was nervous, wore her best dress, went to school in tears, but pulled through in a major way. I have to admit, I got a little bit teary while filming it. She's adorable. For your viewing pleasure...

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Nativity



Annual rendition of Christmas Nativity with Mortons (sadly missing Smarts this year).
We take turns dressings up as the different characters and ended up going
through it 3 times so everyone had a chance at everything. Landon made a great
shepherd! And notice the fancy shmancy wise women (Katrina, Ella, and I)
in the top middle, oh yeah!


Logan Lib

Here are a few key points from a conversation I had with Logan this afternoon on my bed where he was in a rambling mood and controlling the flow of the conversation:

"I don't like to throw up in your bed." (Hallelujiah. If only not liking translated into not doing.)

"I don't want to eat your hair." (ehh?)

"Jesus is my buddy." (Good choice for a buddy.)

"Only you are my sweetheart." (Ahhhh.)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Nerd


Nerdy!



Nerdier!

Nerdiest!


Nothing like a Christmas Sweater Party to kick off the Christmas season. You might like to note in picture #2 that I am not actually sitting on anything. That is my attempt not to look like such a giantess next to super hostess Amanda. I tried and failed I'm afraid.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

time management

I hate to admit this, but during the winter months sometimes my kids don't get bathed as often as they should. Maybe it's because there isn't as much dirt and grime begging to be cleaned like there is in the summer, but most likely it's probably just the fact that bathing 4 little kids is kind of a long, drawn out process that I just can't seem to find the time for. I think we've come up with something to speed things along though. The boys sure seemed to like it.



Wednesday, December 8, 2010

comfy cozy



Some super lovely ladies brought over these comfy jammies for the kids today. Though it was only 3:00 or so when they got them, they insisted upon wearing them the rest of the day. It was difficult for me to resist the urge to join them in their pj wearing in the middle of the afternoon. Notice Ella had to pose next to the snowman because she has snowmen on her pajamas, Lincoln insisted on holding the toy gun because he has fighter planes and tanks on his, Logan had just woken up from a nap so we were lucky to just get the smile out of him, and Landon, well, he's happy just sitting and watching.

Monday, December 6, 2010

you know who you are

Thank you for...

borrowed laptops
listening ears
leaf raking
hugs
smiles
food, both nourishing and yummy
cards
snow shoveling
babysitters
texts
phone calls
emails
gifts
offers of help
laughs
kind words
etc.
etc.
etc.

We feel so blessed and loved.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

all 4

Yes, folks, all 4 kids sat on Santa's lap this morning at our ward party.  You might not think that is much of an accomplishment, but you sure would if you had seen them last year.

Ella asked for a Rapunzel Barbie,

Lincoln "reminded" Santa about the Legos he wanted,

Logan asked for "a present" (easy enough),

and Landon just looked really big.





How did we spend the rest of our Saturday?

Sliding down stairs in snow pants,

building a pirate snowman, 

putting up more Christmas lights (thanks Dad!), 

going to Tangled, 

playing hide-and-seek, 

and singing Christmas songs.

Side note:  When we got home from the Christmas Party this morning, Logan says, "Mom, I saw christmas tree."  Based on some background information that I had gained in previous conversations, I asked, "You saw Santa Claus?."  He pauses for a moment, then, "Yes, Santa Clause."  I don't think there is another 2-year-old out there who would actually mistakenly call Santa Claus christmas tree, but I take it in stride for this is the same kid who points out the window at the horses and says, "Look, mom, elephants!" 

Friday, December 3, 2010

who wouldn't




Who wouldn't...
be proud to be the mother of these beauties.

thank Heavenly Father every day for them.

laugh at the craziness and silliness that surrounds them.

love them to pieces.


Thursday, August 26, 2010

8 Weeks

Landon is 8 weeks old and those 8 weeks have been something else. Here's a synopsis.

Week 1: Adjusting to no sleep, enjoying beautiful newborn.
Week 2: Jeremy has kidney stones all week..single mom heaven 24/7 (note sarcasm).
Week 3: Bear Lake.
Week 4: California Vacation, Strep throat, van breaks down.
Week 5: Recover from vacations, fix van $$$$$, celebrate 8th wedding anniversary.
Week 6: Mastitis...I don't even want to talk about it.
Week 7: Finally back to normal?, start working again, Jeremy's birthday.
Week 8: Here we are...Lincoln's birthday, Ella starts school!

Maybe I'll post more about some of those events later, or maybe I won't. But seriously, through it all we learn to be really grateful for the things that are going well. To go along with the 8 weeks, here are 8 things I'm loving right now.

1. Landon's easy smile and the contortions of his face as he tries to figure out how to talk back to me.

2. Lincoln's fierce desire to be a good, happy boy and do everything he is asked. He's a dream right now.

3. Logan's very loud, repeated, "c'mon mom" whenever he wants me to do something with him, and his hilarious guffaw of a laugh...gets me every time.

4. Exercising. So great to have a recovered, healthy body.

5. An organized, clutter free home (for the moment). I'm that kind of person who gets a lot of joy from organization.

6. Ella's smile. She's struggling a bit lately and whenever I can get a smile out of her it really makes my day.

7. Three kids who sit and hug each other in line at the grocery store because they love each other so much.

8. Watching Jeremy play with the kids. They love their dad soooo much.

Eyes Wide Open

Logan (2-1/2 years old) told me today that he did not need a nap because "my eyes are turned on, mom."

Seriously, where's the off switch?

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Introducing...

Landon Shane Jones

June 29, 2010
11:03 pm
7 lbs 11 ounces
21 inches

We are all in love with our brand new baby boy.




Thursday, June 17, 2010

Note to Self

Note to Self:

Keep the family prayers short and sweet.

If you do not, you may just be rudely interrupted
by a loud, resounding "AMEN" or even an
"I tooted" by a certain young man
who goes by the name of Logan.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

PIH

Pregnancy-induced hypertension. Seems to be pretty much expected with my pregnancies. It's started...the rise in blood pressure, swelling, headaches, and just plain feeling lousy. The good thing...no toxemia at this point. I'm really hoping to make it to mid or late next week, but I guess we'll see what the body wants.

Come Follow Me

Our stake put together a really nice activity for the primary where the kids dressed up in biblical clothing and learned all about how life would have been during Jesus' time, how we can follow in his footsteps, and his great sacrifice for us. It was very nicely done.


Get a load of Lincoln's authentic hat (thank you Amanda).
He was insanely cute and actually kept it on the whole time.


Somewhere Over

Did anyone see this about a week ago? It was the most beautiful, vibrant, complete double rainbow I have ever seen. I had just put the kids to bed and noticed a glow coming from outside. I walked out and seemed to be directly under two gorgeous rainbows. I was so tempted to get the kids out of bed, but common sense won out. (I actually kind of regret that.) What a beautiful world we live in. I'm especially loving the green mountains right now. Thank you rain.





Memorial Day

Memorial Day was a relaxing weekend spent at my parents cabin
up the canyon and also my grandparents cabin at Bear Lake.
There is nothing like water to keep kids occupied.

Ella and Lincoln doing a little tree climbing. Do you see that?
Yes, that. Typical Lincoln.
I don't know what we are going to do when he's a teenager.
It's a lot cuter when they're 2 years old.




Thursday, May 27, 2010

Me

I...

am 8 months pregnant.

feel like I have been sick 7 of those 8 months (not morning sick).

am complaining.

love my cute kids and can't wait to meet #4.

don't have a name for #4 yet.

have finally updated my blog.

hope to be lying in bed within the hour.

I Love To See The Temple

A few Sundays ago we spent some time on the temple grounds. There is no better place to reflect on the love of a family and the hope of an eternity together.







Soccer

Ella got to play soccer for the first time this year. I loved watching her play. She had a constant smile on her face as she chased the ball and would look over at us every so often to give us a thumbs up or a quick wave. She played very hard, tried her best, and came close many times but just couldn't come up with the coveted goal until the last game when, what do you know, she scored 4 goals. I've never seen her smile so big.


Mommy Preschool

They made it and so did we. Lincoln participated in a home preschool that I did with two other moms once a week. Every morning he would ask if it was preschool day because he loved it so much. I wish I could say he is welcome to marry either of the two lovely ladies below, but unfortunately (or fortunately) one of them is his cousin.

Lincoln, Polly, Layla

Logan Turns 2

10 things about Logan:

1. Loves to say "Ella", will not say "Lincoln."

2. Believes the words to the song "Popcorn" are "Popcorn over there" repeated over and over again.

3. Thinks nothing is better than hanging out with mom whether that be during the day or in the middle of the night when he should be sleeping in his own bed.

4. Went from hating to loving to despising nursery. Makes for a fun Sunday.

5. Likes to bully Ella and Lincoln. They let him get away with way too much.

6. Hates eating. What kid doesn't like popsicles, fruit smoothies, grapes, cookies, crackers, etc.?

7. Speaks another language. I still can't catch half of what he is telling me.

8. Has the longest eyelashes ever.

9. Thinks horses are cows.

10. Is just plain hilarious to be around.




Snow Fun

We found a great sledding hill near the Bear Lake condos.

Ella enjoying herself...but seriously, who bought her that hat?


Lincoln and Logan were not afraid of getting a little air.
I wonder where they get that from?


All the Jones cousins (Kirsten, Kyler, Kaden, Lincoln, Logan, Ella, Hunter).


Here We Go - President's Day

I have a lengthy To-Do List of things I want to accomplish before #4 arrives. One of them is actually to update my blog because, lets be honest, I probably won't do it again until after #4 is here.

First item of business President's Day 2010:

Description: Amazing, sunny, family trip to Zion National Park. Lots of hiking, hot-tubbing, climbing of rocks, tunnel driving, and time spent with family. Loved it.

Attendees: Our lovely family, great grandpa and grandma (Boyd and Phyllis) Smart, grandpa and grandma (Larry and Joyce) Smart, Paul Smart family, John Smart family, Katrina and Evelyn (sans Jordan unfortunately), and Michelle and Shay.


We'll make a hiker of Logan yet.


Lincoln, Katrina, Me, and Ella on a muddy hike.

Yes, that is Jeremy on the top of that massive rock.
He was the only one to accomplish it by himself and we were very proud.

Ella, of course, also had to try.