Family Hike

We decided to hike up a mountain close by this morning! We were unsure how Luke would do. The jogger couldn't make it so Mike had to carry him the whole way! Caleb and Aubrey did fantastic! The picture of the hill is the very tip top of the mountain that only Mike and Caleb did- Aubrey was pretty pooped by that point! Our house is behind Caleb right behind the baseball park - Caleb thought that was pretty cool! It took us about 2 hours. We had a blast although we are all pretty beat this evening!

Baby!

I went to my first dr.appointment for our new baby! Everything is measuring on, just about 14 weeks. She or he was moving around so much! I can't wait until our next visit to see if he's a Kayde or if she's a Tess! So fun! (here's a hint; the baby's head is on the left with his/her legs going up to the right! )

Calebs Best Girl

So... my household has been suffering from, how can I put this nicely? The major honryness of the kids??(who knows how to spell that - any of my sisters have any ideas?;) For crying out loud! Maybe it's the let down of Christmas being over, or having to go back to school and/or getting over being sick? Who knows, but it's kicking my behind! Then today while the kids were playing I heard Caleb say to Aubrey, "I love you Aubrey, you're my best girl." Somehow all the frustration over the kids fighting melted away! I love it when kids show their sweet side!!

Our 2nd Outing In 2009;)

I was planning on making a trip to Saint George on Wednesday, but my plans fell through. Mike told me yesterday that he had today off of work so we decided to drive to Zions National Park! It is an amazing place! While traveling through the canyon we heard Caleb say to Aubrey, "We're in the middle of the earth!" Our favorite place was called The Weeping Rock. We talked to a few people who had just finished the hike up the hill and they all reassured us that the kids would do fine. Ha! Did I bother to ask them how they thought I would do? I'm going to blame this story on my pregnancy and how it can mess with your equilibrium. And, what a great sport I am to go along with this in the first place!;) We hiked up the little mountain in the frozen snow! Caleb and Mike, with Luke in tote, did fabulously. Aubrey and me? Not so much. The traction on my shoes was pretty much sucky, my first big mistake. After a few minutes of walking Aubrey hopped on my back. Second big mistake. Pretty soon there wasn't any more snow, just frozen snow - there were actual blocks of ice! Mike was ahead of us and Aubs & I were doing okay. All of the sudden I slipped a few inches. I was still on my feet but had nowhere to go! What else could I do? I took a step, third big mistake! I fell onto my knees - the kind of slow motion falling where you know what it going on the whole time! It didn't end there - with Aubrey clinging on my back for dear life we slid down the hill for about 6 feet! (The whole time I was sliding down I was thinking, thank goodness my dad isn't here - he would never let me live it down!) I yelled to Mike and guess what response I got? A laugh! That's just what I needed!;) Aubrey, Luke and I stayed put while Caleb and Mike made the rest of the hike! Then when we finally got down to our van - it wouldn't start! The battery was dead! A super nice couple helped us push our van to their car so they could give us a jump! Life would be so boring if everything worked out perfectly, right? All in all it was a dang fun trip!

Our first outing in 2009

On New Years Day we decided to make the drive up to Mt. Charleston and let the kids play in the snow! There was so much more snow than we expected! Somehow all of the kid's gloves have disappeared, but the kids loved it anyway! Caleb loved to eat it and to sink as far as he could into the snow. Aubrey spent a lot of her time dodging her daddy's snowballs! Luke of course would only make faces at me!



Right where we were parked and playing in the snow, some policemen stopped the traffic in both directions and called in a life flight from the Hospital. Traffic was stopped for about an hour. Since we were right there playing anyway we walked over so that the kids could watch the helicopter land and then take off again. A woman was hurt in a sledding accident just up the mountain and this part of the road was the closest spot the helicopter could land! It was exciting to see the helicopter so up close, we are just praying that the woman who was hurt is okay!

The Sacramento Temple

Mike and I had the opportunity to do some work with my family at the temple while we were in California! It was extra special because we got to do some work for some members of my dad's family! What a fantastic day!

A Very Jonesy Christmas

Aubrey, Caleb and Luke had a fantastic Christmas! We drove up to see my family and Mike's brothers in California. It was so fun to see everyone and had a blast organizing Christmas for 13 kiddos!

These are Carrie's oldest girls showing off their new watches!
Here are Val's oldest girls enjoying their Christmas morning! All the kids were so entertaining to see and play with!

Snow!!

Look behind the cutie and you'll see snow! Snow in Vegas! (although I found out that it usually snows here once a year) Last night I was looking at my friend's blog and she was sharing pics of the snow at her house and I started to wish for snow! What a surprise to wake up this morning to see the beautiful snow here! Luke just wants to grab the snowflakes as they're falling!
Preschool was fun this morning! The girls loved to look out the door and watch the snow!
As soon as Caleb was home it was out the door they went! What fun!!

Mother Goose Time

All right - here are the 3 cuties that I get to spend 3 mornings with each week! All 3 girls will be 4 next year and going into Sunbeams together! They are too much fun! Their moms and I ordered curriculum from MotherGooseTime.com and love it! They get to spend time together, do crafts, dance and learn about the world around them! I think it's a perfect pre - preschool for Aubrey! Oh, here in the desert Christmas trees go for $75!! We saw one over $90! So artificial we went this year! We missed trecking around Cohasset and Paradise and cutting our own, but I am surprisingly happy with this tree!

"Come What May & Love It"

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away on Monday and his funeral service is being held today. His last talk given in our General Conference was "Come what may & love it". Identifying the adversity in trials and choosing to deal with them gracefully is a goal of mine that I hope I am achieving. What courage it takes to face adversity and endure! What an awesome example of service to the Lord Elder Wirthlin has been to all of us! I remember him always bearing a tremendous testimony! I am grateful for the things I have learned from him!