Toothless

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I can't decide which is more precious: the toothless smile, the freckled cheeks, or the blue eyes.

Perfect day

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Makings for a perfect Saturday:
Snuggling, reading, basketball, soup on the stove, a "super" moon,
and a visit from Rob's Arizona cousin who brought the neatest gift -- a real pencil sharpener.

February Brady Quotes

1.

While sitting in the car garage with the boys waiting for my tail light to be replaced, Brady was playing and talking (not always talking to someone, just talking in general). He stopped playing and looked up at me and said, "I DO have a point." I asked him what his point was, and he responded, " I don't know, but you told me once I have a good one." Good point, Brady. Yes, I have said that!

2.

More talking in the car... Brady announces with a little sigh, "I have a LOT to do before I'm a super hero." Cooper & learned by asking a few questions that he has only worked on his "super fast running" and "stretchy arms" skills. We think super hero training must be exhausting.

3.

I got a little nervous when Brady said to me, "Mom, I wish you were a normal mom." Fearing the guilt for whatever he was about to lay on me, I asked, "Brady, what do you think would make me a normal mom?" Without a pause he said, "Well, if you liked pink like girls do." This continued into a long conversation (that we've had parts of several times before) about pink & purple being "girl colors" (or not) and the apparently serious problem of me being the only girl he knows who does not really like or wear pink. Anyway, I bought a pink shirt, wore it, and Brady noticed on his own and told me I was beautiful.

Snakes, and snails, and puppy dog tails....but that's not all

Just lately the boys make the old rhyme "What are little boys made of?" come to mind.

First, our kitty, Pearl, found this bullfrog. Cooper came to the rescue and moved it to a safe place.

Then Cooper found this little snake in the backyard and moved it to the other side of the creek for me (with Rob's help). It is beyond me how they have the courage (or the desire) to hold a snake.

Some (unfinished) yard work created a great dirt pile for the boys to play in. This rock-stick castle creation, as Brady explained it, was to "keep the princesses out."

We had dinosaurs on the prowl for my garden goodies. Finally, I couldn't protect the blackberries and tomatoes any longer.

But, oh boy, these critter and dirt loving little boys sure do have a sweet side, too!

Flowers and craft projects -- showing their softer and cleaner side.

Today, Cooper brought me my little sewing kit and asked me to teach him how to sew. He convincingly said, "I need to learn since I'm in the first grade."

Here's his first sewing project finished already! A cute little pillow, stitched by hand. He says he wants to get out the sewing machine for his next project.

Mother's Day Facts

I have a truly wonderful mother. She has always been wonderful, and as far as I can tell, everyone who knows her agrees. She is one of the greatest blessings in my life.
My mother-in-law has brought great joy to my life. She raised a beautiful, giving, and unique family. She is strong, inspiring, and funny; I love being a part of her family.

I love being a mom.

Creativity Flows

I know I've mentioned our little "artwork factory" before.... I try to keep up with scanning Cooper's really cool or special drawings. He loves his art class in school, and we've heard from his art teacher how creative he is. We agree (& credit his Mimaw Jones & Great, Great Grandma Gilmore - the artists in our families)!

Here are a few, of the many, recent creations:

A dinosaur book in the making

A sweet lion in the midst of many dinosaurs

He was working on the dragon below when I went to pick him up from his after school program; an older boy (a 2nd grader) was watching him draw and turned to me to say, "Cooper is a really good drawer.... for a kindergartner."

I like the way he has the sun coming up behind the layers of hills.

He also writes lots & lots of sweet notes with his artwork.

Here's one he gave me to take to work with me (he's started signing his name in cursive).

I hadn't realized until now that it was possible to LOVE someone's handwriting this much.

3 inches and a 3 year old mind

Brady, my you-never-know-what-he'll-say child, cracked me up on the drive home today. We were driving on the interstate heading to pick Cooper up from the after school program, when Brady urgently announced that he had to go pee.

Here's how the conversation went from there:
Me: "You're going to have to hold it, we're on the interstate and I can't stop"
Brady: "Ok, I'm holding it" (literally holding himself)
Me: "Good. How long can you hold it?"
Brady: "Oh, about 3 inches"

I couldn't resist laughing out loud at his random but hilarious response. His timing, pauses & sheer determination about what he is saying are really part of what makes him so funny. Some of his antics do require a lot of will power to resist laughing, like this moment with Rob last week.... Brady had gotten into some trouble in daycare for hitting a friend. Rob was having a serious talk with him, but Brady had lots of reasons why he thought it was ok to hit this daycare friend. Rob finally said, "Brady, the bottom line is YOU CAN'T HIT YOUR FRIENDS." To this Brady responded, "The TOP LINE is that I can hit whoever I want!" Never a dull moment with this one!!

6 Years

In honor of Cooper's 6th birthday, I'm taking a stroll down memory lane. What wonderful years these have been!

always a precious, easy baby

first swim

taking time to smell the flowers

enjoying the snow

one of my all time favorite pictures



as a new big brother

4th birthday

snuggling Brady when he was sick

in from the cold

making mud pies

Soccer & School days

Cooper, we've loved every moment with you! Happy 6th birthday!

Jones Reunion

Here are a few pictures from our Jones Family reunion in Mitchell, Indiana.

Rob with his parents and siblings.

We're missing one nephew & a great niece in this photo, but otherwise this is our whole (immediate) family. Lots of other Jones were there, too!

Brady got a little attention from his sweet girl cousins (just a little).

There is not much better than cousins!

Kindergarten Picture

The pictures have arrived!