Sunday, March 15, 2015

FAMILY LETTER PHOTOS 03.15.15


Dear Loved Ones,                                                                                               1 March 2015

It has been a long 3 month hiatus from weekly writing, but it is time for me to get back to it. I’m kind of sad about not recording all the great things that happened over the holidays, and the things we’ve learned and experienced in the New Year.  Happy  11th Birthday to Cousin Jake today and Cousin Spencer tomorrow!

We’ve been sick for most of that 3 months—at least a couple of us at a time fighting something gnarly since Heidi’s Thanksgiving kidney infection. I think part of it is that there have been some especially tenacious strains of illness and flu being passed around this year. I think another part of it is that we have a preschooler and a baby again for the first time in a long time, and they are both being exposed to lots of things for the first time and sharing lots of germs, and staying up all night crying about it. In return, we are old and tired and unable to recover from sleepless nights like 20- or 30- year olds who have babies. Rich has been sick for six weeks and he finally went to the doctor this past week and was diagnosed with bacterial sinusitis. He started antibiotics and his mom and I are trying to convert him to sterile sinus rinsing. I had it the first two weeks of February but kicked it without meds. The kids are mostly well; Heidi has stomach flu this weekend, poor thing. Oh, and Ammon just joined the barf fest. This does not bode well for a peaceful night. *Sigh*.

The kids are all doing so well. Addie had a great choir concert last week. It’s so fun to watch the skill level and artistry of the choir increase each year. I am glad she loves music so much. She and Heidi are always googling their favorite music and movie themes, printing out the sheet music, and trying to teach themselves to play and sing them. It’s pretty fun. Heidi is taking piano lessons again, though getting her to practice is worse than pulling teeth.

Okay, so NOW IT’S MARCH 15th and that barf fest that began on the first lasted all week, but Rich and I somehow missed our turn, even after many episodes of being puked on…yay, us! Rich’s cough/sinus thing has finally cleared up and I’m feeling pretty good, so knock on wood, right? That first week of March was all about appointments and getting everyone’s health in order. Ammon had a well-child check and he’s doing great. Niles had a tiny surgery on March 6th to remove his left ear tube and patch it. He did great and hasn’t had an ear infection in almost 2 years. My visits with the rheumatologist turned up a bunch of lupus markers but no organ damage or dysfunction—all good on the inside! He explained that the stuff in my blood probably causes me inflammation, weak immunity, joint pain, etc.-- it’s just kind of a consistent, low-grade lupus, but not the full-blown disease. The rash on my leg is probably vasculitis and they will biopsy it on the next flare up. Mostly he just told me to exercise a little every day and keep eating clean and I should be able to stay ahead of it. He’s communicating with our family doctor here so I should be well-cared for from now on.

Last Friday after Niles’ surgery and my MRI, we had a double date—Rich and Heidi and James and I went to a Hawaiian Family Dance for all the elementary schools. It was really fun. We love when Addie babysits for us! On Saturday 3/7, Rich took his scouts on a cross country ski trip (5 miles!) in Yellowstone. They took a 2.5 miles trail in and out of Tower Falls. The pictures look beautiful. He’s so awesome. I think I told you earlier in the fall about their fundraiser to get a trailer for their gear. It was successful; he got the trailer in January and used it for the Winter Camporee. This week he designed scout logos for it as well as compiling all the logos for the sponsors and sent it off to get all decaled by a vinyl/bodywork guy in our stake. He so great at utilizing resources and getting stuff done, I’m so thankful for all he’s done. It makes the program that much better.

Sunday 3/8,  I got to go with Addie’s Beehive class to the Family History center to prepare names to take to the temple on March 28th. I have to admit it’s my first time going there and using Family Search in decades. It was really fun and we printed out 3 names from Grandpa Tom’s ancestry for Addie to take (Grandma Rosalie had done most of the work, but ti was still educational). That was cool, I’m looking forward to doing more of that and uploading some memories and photos and life sketches to my line.

For family night I’d planned some more life skills lessons for the kids (we are trying to instill some self-sufficiency with using appliances, doing laundry, prepping food, cleaning, mending, etc…endless list) but Uncle Mike was in town so we planned a family dinner with him and the grandparents (they requested the crock pot Alfredo recipe we made last week, so I’ll share that later). We practiced some baseball skills and shared some art after dinner (Mike is taking a cool print making class) and said good bye to Mike. He is here for a few days to help Grandpa finish up some spring jobs on the ranch before Grandpa’s knee replacement on March 16th. Happy 4th Birthday to Cousin Cooper Hamlin!

Tuesday 3/10 (Happy 14th Birthday, Cousin Jared) Mom Melin watched the little boys so I could go to the eye doctor and get new glasses and contacts and check Goodwill for some Hobbit clothes. I found a vest and some brown cords so Heidi could dress up like Bilbo for Literary Character day Thursday. Addie is knee-deep in Science Fair preparation. She did her experiments a few weeks ago and she’s just trying to design her presentation. She’s so detail oriented, it’s sure to take a while but will be lovely when she’s done on Monday. Heidi looked so great as Bilbo on Thursday, 3/12 (Happy Birthday to Aunt Dana and Aunt Kristen!). James thought about dressing up as Flat Stanley or Captain Underpants, but he went to school and plain ol ’James.  We enjoyed the Family Literacy Night at the school Thursday where there was pizza and a book swap.

Friday 3/13 there was no school, so we had breakfast, cleaned up, and headed out to Sacajawea Park to play in the sunshine. We were tricked into not wearing jackets by the recent warm days, which turned out to be a mistake because it had to be in the high 30s with the wicked wind. The wind didn’t stop the ducks and geese from mobbing everyone in the parking lot. Ammon was delighted to watched them waddle around us. We came home for lunch and the kids took naps, watched a movie or played games while I helped Addie with Science Fair. That night Daddy brought home pizza and a movie so we watched Big Hero 6 (which was great).

Saturday 3/14  was SUPER PI DAY. Rich had also bought an apple pie so he served it up to the kids with whipped cream for breakfast (I just had eggs and spinach like every other day, but I was happy to celebrate). Addie was still doing homework and Heidi went to play with friends while Mom Melin and I went to see “Oklahoma” at the Shane Center. It was a really fun performance, and I think I counted 9 people from our ward in the show. They all did great. After the play I had to run and meet Rich and the kids at the church for a Superhero Family Dance. Niles created his own “Super Niles” costume consisting of long johns, fireman boots, and a cape made from a large cowboy print bandana. Addie did a version of Groot. Lots of other families were there and we learned some line dances and had tons of fun.

Today (Sunday) Rich had to speak in the Ennis Branch so he left the house before 8am. I had to do choir practice at 9am, so I got all the kids ready without their full cooperation. Mom Melin stopped by to help me and everyone was there by 10am…phew! It was a nice sacrament meeting about parables. The rest of the block was a wrestling match with Ammon and/or Niles, but we survived! And Rich got home just after we did and we had lunch and all is right in the world!

We are off to have Korean Tacos for dinner with the Jones family. We haven’t gotten together for a while, so this should be fun. Here’s to an awesome week! Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Happy Birthday to Uncle Mark and our cousins Lexi Melin, Ellie Mullins, and Max Craft this coming week!

Love, Rich and Jamie and Family
 

Ammon playing Baby Chef at the dentist on 03.02

Setting Goals on March 4th to MARCH FORTH!


Crazy action shots from the Family Dance 03.06.15

James was my date


Heidi was Rich's date

Mom and James snuggling after the Family Dance 03.06
Heidi dressed up as a flapper for "Jazz Age" day (U.S. History) at school
03.06.15.

At 5:45 Friday morning 03.06, we headed over to sped the morning at
Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Niles had a little ear patch procedure.

He came out of anesthesia pretty happy this time.
He loved his "blinky band aid."

A little popsicle, listening to a little Curious George...
and we were outta there by 9:15! Off to Mommy's MRI!
Niles and Dad went to Museum of the Rockies to play  while I was having my MRI.
Niles loves to dress up like a fire fighter in the Yellowstone Discovery Room.
Before the family Dance, Addie took this picture of
Heidi across the street from our house.


On March 7th, Rich took his Scouts on a cross country ski trip to Tower Falls in Yellowstone.
Check out the frozen falls!

This is a pic from Facebook taken in
Sahuaro National Park in Tucson...
I love an El Nino year in the desert!

Some More Facebook postcards from this week


Ammon turned 10 months old on March 10th...cutie pie!

Heidi looked awesome as Samwise Gamgee the Hobbit on 03.12.15

Daddy served up pie for SUPER PI DAY on Saturday

Happy SUPER PI DAY! 03.14.15 9:26:53 am

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Way Back in February


We actually watched the Super Bowl this year and it was fun to have actual fans over.
Here are the Jones kids in their Seahawks Glory.

I started spring cleaning. There are a lot of nooks and crannies in this house
 that need it. Like the linen closet, for starters.

This baby loves electrical cords!

On 2/9 we went to the park for a while.
 Ammon loved seeing the geese fly away.

Niles showed me how he can swing himself
with his feet if he's on his belly because he's a big boy now.


Addie, Eden, and Clara left these selfies on my iPad after our Valentines party on 2/7

 
All my boys in the living room on a Sunday evening

Ammon and James watching TV on my bed with Dad.

Road Trip to Utah, just me and Rich, to celebrate my cousin's wedding,
Valentines Day, and our 14th anniversary.

My Boy Elrey Cousins at Jospeh's Wedding in Manti, Utah.
Aaron, Bill, Jeff, and Joseph.

Joseph and Annalisa coming out of the temple on 02.13.15

Baby cousins dancing at the reception that night
(Rebecca, Owen, and Presley)

My cute nephews Gavin and Owen at the reception.

And again with the cuteness.

Wedding Selfies!

On Valentine's Day we did a little shopping, took a huge nap, and met
Stokers and friends for some Tepanyaki.
***
Brother Baths!

James is loving Cub Scouts. His first Blue and Gold Banquet was so nice, and so much fun.
Clever decorations with a Lego theme, a talk from Grandpa and Grandma Melin,
and great food from the Denniston Family.
 The theme was "everything is awesome when you work as a team" and we did
a little activity where James had a little vial of chemicals and I had a dropper
and when we mixed them, they glowed...yay, teamwork!
(02.24.15)

This is my little kitchen elf. He likes to pull down all the dish towels
and pull the pans out of the cabinet and climb into the dishwasher.

On February 25th, the youth had an activity called cupcake wars. Addie came in second place
 in the decorating contest and her team won first place in baking the yummiest cupcakes.
(Jeanette Jones came in first place and Clara came in third for decorating)

Sunday, February 01, 2015

January 2015 in the Rear View Mirror

January News: Ammon Turned 8 Months Old
On the 9th, poor baby fell asleep on my bed like this.

Poor baby. He did this a few more time and I think it was because he was sick
 and maybe it hurt his ears to lay down. He only wanted to sleep semi-sitting up.

RAAAAAAWR!!

Here is our handsome boy on January 10, 2015 after his bath. He was exactly 8 months old,
22 pounds and 28.5 inches tall. He was just starting to crawl/scoot, and still didn't have teeth.
Such a little love.
Addie Made a Cake & Eden Turned 16
Adeline is such a good baker. She made this triple lemon cake for Eden Jones' Sweet Sixteen.
It was modeled after Bilbo Baggins' birthday cake.

Eden turned 16 on January 11th, so that Sunday evening we gathered for cake and three cheers for this sweet girl.
We love her so much.

Beautiful cake, beautiful girl
We Celebrated MLK Day at Museum of the Rockies
 
We played in the Yellowstone Discovery Room. The bigger kids played camping and made
Ammon the Park Ranger, but he didn't like his hat at all!

James, Elanor Jones, and Niles in their tent roasting fake hot dogs.

 
***
Ammon and Niles love taking baths together

This is Ammon January16thm his first week in the high chair. He's a great eater.

Ammon starting to pull up on stuff, and cruise around in
Daddy's old walker from Germany.

Easy Rider!

Our Little Lego Creator

Finally cut a tooth on January 22nd!
 
We saw Aunt Lisa!
Aunt Lisa flew into Bozeman on January 30th
 to go see her twin grandbabies in Helena

Ammon and I met her for lunch with Aunt Laura and Zecklin...fun!
More Cake! More Birthdays!
Addie made a Hobbit Lemon Cake for Jeanette Jones' 12th Birthday 1/26

We got lots of sunshine...weird.
James Learned to Ice Skate!
James and Dad went to Bozeman on a field trip on January 29th
and James learned how to ice skate

Getting the hang of skates

Gliding around by the end of the trip!
 

FAMILY LETTER 07.28.19

Dear Loved Ones,                                                                                                        We have just ...