The rest of our summer so far

We've tried to get outside as much as we can this summer.

This was at a park of sorts near our house.  There are fountains and water, the kids LOVE it and best of all, it's FREE!!!

At her rehearsal.

Just after her rehearsal, dad and Caleb were fishing at a lake near our house so we joined them.  They caught a few little fishies with some night crawlers.

This year's dance recital.

Uncle Sara came and gave Ellery a beautiful dance necklace.  She LOVES it!

Ellery is also in t-ball this year.  She was initially the only girl until the last minute of the first day.  I was getting nervous that she would get done that day and say "tball is for boys." since she was the only girl.  Then another girl showed up and a few sessions later a girl she had dance class with showed up.  She does like it!

Salads made with lettuce from our garden.  Spinach was the first thing that we could eat.  Since then, we've enjoyed many peas, a few beans, yellow squash and carrots.  Soon we will be able to have a head of broccoli (I hope) and carve some pumpkins we grew ourselves!!  It's so exciting for me-the kids are having a little trouble with patience but they like it too.

Early July

Mid July

The squash has really exploded in the last few weeks.  I just pulled the rest of the carrots this morning.  Beans are taking off too.  The peas, sadly are done.  We don't have any pictures of those since they never even made it into the house.  They were just too good to make it any further than right off of the vine!

Sisters having fun in the pool.

Fireworks at the end of the driveway.

Up North

Turtle races this year.  We raced 3 turtles between Uncle Sara, Ellery and Caleb, but none of them won.

They went tubing for the first time ever-this year.  Ellery was brave and went first-with Uncle Jon on the tube too.  Caleb needed to watch first.  He ended up LOVING the tube-bumpy waves and all!

And of course, we had to do a little fishing.  Grandma G and Papa took them out one evening without mom so I could stay back and put Anissa to bed.  My dad said they really kept him working!  They caught a fish pretty much every second they put something in the water!  It was fun for them.

Anissa got her toes in the water for the first time.  Initially she cried, but then she seemed to like it.

 The ice cream truck drove around our neighborhood, so we stopped it and enjoyed our first truck treats of the year!  It's always a fun treat!

 Here's our new outdoor entertaining space.  I am quite happy it.  We had part of Anissa's party outside.  It's really nice now to have a nice space to play on-I love that our feet come in clean now.  Not full of dirt and sand like the last patio we had.  Basketball has also been a big event in our back yard-for Tim especially. 

Next week, Anissa gets to meet her auntie, uncle and cousins from Georgia for the first time.  Hopefully she isn't too shy with them.  She has gotten the shy bug lately.  We'll have more pictures sooner than last time-I hope!  Life gets a little crazy sometimes.

Happy 1st Birthday Anissa

Happy 1st birthday Miss Anissa Livian!

 We took a trip to the mall on your birthday and ate in traditional Jones birthday fashion at Chipotle.  I think that will be the only place your brother and sister allow for birthday meals.  Thankfully we all like it.  We also took you on the merry go round which you seemed indifferent to at this time.

At one year, you are army crawling and pulling up on the furniture, but not yet cruising along the furniture.  You love to eat food-I think everything is your favorite.  I can't really think of anything that you won't eat.  You have been made to take only one nap a day many days because of activities for Caleb and Ellery, but you seen to tolerate that quite well.  You will nap for 2-3 hours in the afternoon.  I'd say your favorite toy is anything that your brother and sister have.  They've done a pretty good job keeping the little toys from your hands.  You are a happy girl nearly all of the time-it's amazing how many people comment on that, but you continue to be a little high maintenance at night.  We're working on it.  You sleep all night long in your own bed, it's just getting you there that is a problem.  I think it wouldn't be so bad if you had your own room.  That way you wouldn't be distracted by what your sister is doing.  You LOVE your brother and sister.  they can make you smile like no one else can.  It's really sweet to see your little face light up when they talk to you.  You can get quite mad at them though when they try to keep you from doing something that you are trying to do.  Ellery has a habit of carrying you around (despite our frequent remindings that you are not a doll) and often times you get mad at her because she wants you to do something that you don't want to.

Your first cake.  You liked the frosting, but didn't know what to do with anything else.  I guess I made it too big!

You got into the frosting and had a great time smearing it all over your belly!

Our family this year-Ellery (nearly 5) Caleb 6 1/2

Our family the day you were born.

Here's to another great year!!!

May's happenings

Here's what's up this month.

 Ellery with her best buddies from preschool.  She's having a hard time these last few days because school's out for summer.  I'm sure we'll see these girlies over the summer.

With her teacher, Darla.

Caleb at the school race.  We were only able to go for a quick minute before the race because I had to get Ellery up to her school for the last day.  He was surprised that we were there.

 Ha ha, I see you!

 He lost his first tooth.  It was loose for a very long while and he finally got brave one night and pulled it out.  He's not like his momma here-I would have had it out the second it was loose.  He was pretty excited once it was out though-he did write the fairy a note asking her to leave his tooth for him-cute.  There was fairy dust around his bed the next morning and everything and she did leave his tooth!!!  He's been bringing it around in his tin to show people. 

Chillin!

 This is my project.  We decided to do square foot gardening this year.  I am so excited.  We planted snow peas, lettuce, spinach, yellow squash, carrots, yellow and green beans, broccoli and pumpkins.  I can't wait to see what we get from it.  Hopefully it will be fun and we will expand our garden next year.  I would love someday to have berries too, but I had to start here first.  We've been checking daily to see what is coming up and so far everything is coming as expected.  I can't wait to actually have vegetables from my own garden.  I've wanted one for a really long time. 

 Recital pictures-her recital is coming up next weekend.  I'm sure I will have plenty to share from that day!

Ellery gets to be a flower girl in October so we thought it would be fun to try on some dresses.  My mom and Uncle Sara came with us.  She just thought she was so pretty.  Of course, we all thought she was beautiful in every dress.  Sara's mom will be making a one of a kind creation for her, these just gave us some ideas and I thought it would be fun.

 Anissa on the little car.  She's getting around a bit more now.  We decided to get out the little walker thing so she could have some fun.  She's scooting around on her belly finally and so now the jumperoo and exersaucer are no good for her.  She wants to get into trouble.  She's scooting after shoes any chance she gets.  Now the kids have to really watch their papers that they tend to leave on the floor and we have enforced our rule of none of their toys on the main level unless it is on the kitchen table.  That's been a little rough.  We're working on it.

 At Pink a licious with our neighbor.  We went to a local theater to see the show.  The girls loved it, the mommies-not so much.  Oh well.  it was cute to see them so excited!

At her preschool program-they all dressed up as little dogs.  It was a very cute program!  Too bad daddy couldn't get off of work to come and see it!

That's all for now.  Enjoy the start of summer.  We'll be spending too much time at home this year since Anissa takes 2 naps a day, but I'm sure we'll find some ways to keep it fun.  Until next time...

The latest...

Here's our latest and greatest...enjoy!

Happy Easter 2011.

We visited my grandma yesterday too.  It was her 89th birthday on saturday.  It was nice to see her although I think she was a little overwhelmed with all the chaos I bring.  She just kept saying "you're a busy mom"  Ain't that the truth!!

Here we are all ready for our Easter egg hunt with our neighbors.  It was so cold on Saturday morning.  We have done a hunt for a few years and we were excited for this one since it would be (should have been) so nice given it's late date this year.  Guess we were fooled by Momma Nature!  Grrr!  The kids had fun anyway.

 My early risers!

 One night she fell asleep with all of her jewelry on.

Extreme couponing!!!  This girl LOVES to play with coupons.  It will keep her occupied for 15 minutes!

The first daddy daughter dance!

 All dolled up!

 Aren't they cute!

 After the dance.  She had so much fun!  They went with some neighbors and the girls had a great time.  I think secretly the dads had fun too!

 See, she really does have a thing for coupons!

 9 whole months old!  I can't believe it either, Anissa!

 First time in the swings for Anissa-first time this year for Ellery!

 Caleb with his elf ears!

 They had a fun time watching basketball this year.  Caleb came pretty close to winning the bracket thing, but the Heels went and lost.  If they had won at least one more game, he may have won the whole thing.  He was being loyal to his daddy's team and chose them-dad didn't even choose them this year!  They had fun anyway so it was a good thing!  We are starting basketball on tuesday so we'll see how that goes.  Hopefully for daddy's sake they like it.  We are also getting a new patio in the back which will house his new hoop.  Here we go!

 Trying to catch a leprechaun. 

 Enjoying the snow.  They did complain with the last batch though.  It was a REALLY LONG WINTER!  Bring on the spring.  We want out of the house!!!