Christmas 2011

Betsy & Kyle are both fans of Angry Birds.  Kyle just could not understand why my phone didn't have birds on it.  What good is a phone without birds??

If there's a gathering of the Jones boys, there will be tree-climbing. . .

Betsy thought her Uncle Ike was pretty cool. 

Cartwheel lesson. . .

Love this glimpse of Betsy's smile  as Judson gives her some frisbee pointers. . .

The weather was perfect for some sidewalk chalk art. . .

 

It was a beautiful Christmas--everything I ever wanted a Christmas to be.

It was Merry

We're back home, safe and sound, getting used to the quiet and missing our babies already.  It was a wonderful Christmas visit.  The weather was beautiful, the food was good, and the family time priceless. 

Merry Merry

 

It's pretty merry right now. . .

Looking forward to our little family

being all together this weekend!

We're blessed.

Tuesday Flowers

Are you tired of shopping yet?  I'm going for one more flower haul tomorrow and then I'm quitting!  Not necessarily finished, but still quitting :)

2011 Tree

Sometimes I think it's just too much trouble to get out all the Christmas stuff, especially if the kids aren't going to be here.  Then we stop by The Apple Barn, and Mark says, "do you want to get a tree?"  Then I find the angel tree topper that my mom made for me years ago.   I'm so glad we took the time.

Love these little boy angels.  Going through the ornaments that mama made just for us . . . my favorite is always the one that has my attention at the moment. 

December Saturday

Merry Tuesday Christmas

Monday Orchid

 V and I went shopping on Saturday and found this mini orchid at Greenview.  I dressed it up a little--every orchid could use a touch of wire, moss & ribbon :)  It's going   to work as a thank you to a very nice intern who has been helping us this semester. 

Sunday Roses

Yesterday was a beautiful day--so beautiful, I was able to go out barefooted and cut the last of the garden roses!
Today, not so warm.  But still, a great day.  Mark and I went to Charlie Parker's for breakfast, then to Toys R Us.  When we walked through the front door, Mark announced "PaPaw in the HoUsE"! And we took home quite a bit of that house :)
And then, spent the afternoon at Petals & Co with Michelle.

HaPpY tHaNkSgIvInG!

Mama's turkey joined the thanksgiving table--not as the main course, but as a character to make you smile.  I love his beak and his feet!  

We are missing missing missing our Isaac and Judson and Rachel and Betsy & Kyle today, but we're looking forward to seeing them all in just a few weeks for Christmas.

It is a pretty nice day for Thanksgiving--gray, but not too cold.  Mark is cooking the turkey.  I made cranberry holiday jello salad last night--the one with apples, oranges, pecans.  V and I love it. 

And this pumpkin pie looks pretty good.  Still have to make the whipped cream-cream cheese topping for it.  Warren and I like the pie, but I bet V and Mark will want a bite of the topping :)

I have a jillion reasons to be thankful on this day.  Myself, my family and loved ones healthy and happy.  Wonderful friends, a job, a home, all this food . . . Thank You.

Book Reads

Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck:   I think of Martha Beck as one of my biggest cheerleaders.  Well, not that I know her or that she knows anything about me, but she's always encouraging and she makes me laugh :)  She's written lots of books, most of which I've listened to on CD in the car for daily pep talks.  Here she tells her story about growing up with secrets in the Mormon Church.  Thanks to Martha for telling her truth.

Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. This one could be one of my favorites of all time.   A homeless, friendless young girl finds herself and her true passion with the help of a busy florist. Lots of info about the meaning of flowers woven in the story.   


Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie.  Shoe shopping that makes your heart Sing!

Once Upon a Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg.  I always like this author's books.  Any life-changing crisis can be survived, especially when you have the right friends.

The Typist:  A Novel by Michael Knight.  An average guy who can type like mad in WWII Japan.  Not really so much about the actual fighting of the war, but really interesting glimpses into the time and people.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.  What if you went to your spinning class, fell off your bike, and woke up ten years in the past?  Yeah, this was a good one :)

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson.  This was her first novel, and it's a good one.  Major Pettigrew is stody and stuffy,  but she made me care about him.


Next up on my list:  The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman and Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian.  And as always, I want to know what you're reading!

Future Hall of Famers

Lots of ball-playing while we were visiting.

and sticks.  lots of sticks . . .

And a little gardening.  With a stick :)

London Trip

This was the welcome sign that greeted us when we arrived in London.  Betsy & Kyle are on the right, and the blob-thingy is the outline of Rachel that Betsy & Kyle drew.  We LoVeD it!

Drawing Turkeys

Lots of ball-playing in the house :)

October Bouquet

Halloween Eve

It's been a really nice weekend.  We went to see Elphaba and Glinda yesterday.  They were fabulous, as always.  We are already thinking about when we can go to see them again.  

Today we cleaned on the yard a little bit, shopped for groceries, and Mark went with me to work (on a Sunday!) to hang a shelf in my new office.  He's the best, as always.  

Tomorrow is Halloween.  We bought some candy--just for the trick-or-treaters, you know.  Not sure the weather is going to be as nice as last year--we hope Parker and Hannah will come to scare us again.  And we will be looking for pictures of Betsy and Kyle, as always :)

Wicked Saturday

This is the tree from the Michigan workshop last spring.  It took months, but this idea with the birds has been brewing for a while.  Next spring, it will be in a container with flowers and a bird's nest.  Yes, it's not even Halloween, and it's already time to be thinking about spring planting :)

And it's a wicked Saturday because today, we're going to see Elphaba fly!

Friday Flowers