Sunday, June 19, 2011

He's the man!

Happy Father's Day to Jared! We had a great time honoring him on Father's Day. We let him sleep in until 7 (which was unfortunately a couple hours later than most of us) and made him breakfast in bed. He opened presents, ate ribs for dinner and a cheesecake for dessert. Our only complaint about the day is that we wish we could have had our father's over to join us for dinner! More and more on holidays or special occasions we wish we lived closer to more family!!




Jared has been working so much lately. He leaves early in the morning and most days has been coming home from 6-8 for dinner then heading back to work until at least midnight. Some nights he doesn't get home until the wee hours of the morning. He's so tired and very frustrated with work but he just keeps trucking along. There is so much I could say about what a good father Jared is but I just want to write one thing so the kids can always read this and know how much he loves them. I've never asked Jared to come home for dinner and help get the kids ready for bed before he heads back to work. I know he could work straight through the evening and be able to get a few more hours of sleep at night. He chooses though, to sacrifice his sleep rather than his time with his family. As exhausted as he may be, he comes home and immediately starts playing tag, hide and seek, wrestling and whatever else the kids want to do. He helps them get ready for bed, gives them a hug and a kiss, tells them he loves them, and heads out the door again. Hopefully things will ease up a bit at work soon but in the meantime we certainly know he loves us and we LOVE him!




A few pictures the kids and their Daddy on Father's day...



Jared got a gift from each of the kids and we all gave him a router saw





I never see Jared fall asleep sitting up but the last couple weeks, trying to live on very little sleep, I've found him like this a couple of times.

One night he was able to bring some plans home and worked all night at home rather than the office.

We washed our cars on Saturday and the kids washed their little car at the same time. They really worked hard on it and it was a very clean car when they were done!


We got a new niece this last week!! The kids love their new cousin Reese Katherine Nelson.



First picture of all six of the Jones cousins



We got to bring Sophie and Lexie to our house for a few hours on Saturday and they all had a great time! Cousins are wonderful!







Playing in the sprinkler




Here is the picture we sent to the grandpas for Father's Day



Another shot from the photo session



Last weekend Jared and Bradley got up early on Saturday morning and headed up to the lake to go fishing. He took Mackayla on one of these early morning trips last summer and Bradley was so happy to have his turn. They didn't catch any fish but had a great time together.



Loaded up and ready to head to the Lake



Blowing bubbles



Enjoying the mild summer weather we've had so far.



This summer I'm going to be taking the kids around the world. We started out visiting China and Japan. They chose to travel by rocket ship on this first trip so we got their very quickly. :) They learned about pandas, the great wall of China, sumo wrestling, and a few other things. They painted hieroglyphics, made lanterns, learned a couple words, and had a Chinese food for dinner one night. Derek gave us a few tips on the proper dinner etiquette and they loved eating with chop sticks! They even got to try some sushi.






Jacob loved his chopsticks a little too much and they became quite dangerous.



We've been in Australia now and will hopefully travel somewhere else tomorrow!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A Trip to Yakima

We had a great trip to Yakima. I had so many pictures from the trip that I ended up dividing it into four different posts. We all drove up there and Jared spent a couple days with us then flew back home to work Monday through Friday. He came back on Saturday morning, just in time for the birthday celebration and then we all drove home on Monday together.


The birthday girl!


We went out to the cemetery for Memorial weekend. In this one spot I have four grandfathers, a grandmother, and a cousin buried so it's nice to gather and spend some time there.

Watching Tom and Jerry together. My kids had never seen it before but Bradley absolutely loved it and laughed the entire time.


Greeting Dad at the airport when he got back. We were so happy to see him!!!


On my mom's birthday we snuck into her room yelled "surprise," threw balloons on her bed and sang Happy Birthday.


Mackayla gave her a card and present that morning that she had made her.


My poor kids were up late every night. I was just about to take Bradley down to bed one night and noticed he had already fallen asleep on the couch.


Bradley and Logan watching Tom and Jerry


Mackayla, Bradley, and Mitchell eating some pie.


Uncle Jared taking on everyone in a sword fight.


Jared and Scott against the boys in soccer


Grandma sharing some apple bread with Jacob


I had to stick in these cute pictures of the baby cousins. My kids miss them so much and talk about them all the time.


Eden

Cannon

Grandma Davenport, Logan, and Mackayla and Taco Bell for lunch


Grandma and Mackayla in matching pajamas


These were just some random pictures but there of three more posts of all the fun events of the week. We're so glad we get to go back again this summer!

She's a Graduate!

Mackayla: the preschool graduate!


She had to miss her preschool graduation since we were in Yakima, so we had a graduation for her there. Her teacher gave her the diploma on her last day of school, but she didn't want to open it until her actual graduation. It was a perfect little 10 minute program with her family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She sang two songs that they had been learning at Doodlebug for the graduation. Then Amy played Pomp and Circumstance on the piano as she marched around the room. We gave her the diploma and announced her a graduate. Everyone clapped and she threw her cap into the air. She was wearing my cap from my high school graduation. She requested cookies as the dessert, which Grandma had gladly made.




The proud parents


Bradley wanted a picture too. He did graduate from his first year of Mommy School.

And Jacob couldn't be left out


Mackayla's teacher gave her a scrapbook of her year at preschool. She wanted to show everyone the book and everyone got their own personal showing. :)

Even Eden got a turn to see the book.



A picture with her cousins on her graduation day



Opening a couple gifts. She got a new sprinkler from her mom and dad and a Rapunzel barbie from her grandpa and grandma.




Friday, June 3, 2011

Fishing

Grandpa took us fishing one morning at a little lake in Yakima that only kids are allowed to fish in. The kids all caught some fish and had a great time.





Hanging out with Grandma while waiting for a bite.





Some help from Daddy



Jacob





Mackayla loved reeling in her fish, but wasn't so sure about the floppy thing once it was in. She was so cute hiding behind her dad as the fish was flopping all over the place.









Bradley was SO excited about catching his first fish!