Well, well it has been awhile. Life seems to be so busy that I don't take time to put it in my blog. This past month in a nut shell. Jeremy and Joanna blessed us with a new grandson. Layton Jones I can hardly believe that he is one month old already. Time sure goes by fast.

We went to Bison Ranch for Mother's day weekend which was very relaxing and enjoyable.

I sat around and played cards and sat in the hot tub a few times until I was a raisin each time. Doug fixed breakfast Sunday morning.

Shandraya on the Bison outside of our place. I always love going there because there isn't anything to do but relax.
  Shandraya got her hair cut so cute,


She also had her end of the year dance performance with Higher Ground Dance Studio.More pictures on that when I get them from the photographer. We poured cement for an extension of the current shed. Maybe it will be big enough for all of Doug's treasures now so we can get the yard cleaned up a bit.

We also poured a little walk way on the west side of the house that was needed.
Got great news that Brandi and Trevor are going to have another baby BOY in October.
Doug and Caleb went on a survival trek this past Monday-Wednesday I think all of the boys and the leaders decided that running water, food to eat,  and comfy beds are really great. I don't think they will opt to do a survival trek anytime soon. Doug left again Thursday morning for girls camp and will be home Saturday. Just keeping busy with life and work. It's fun to read everyone's blogs and see what you are up to. Have a wonderful summer.

Our new puppy

She is such a sweet little dog. She is fitting in just fine. Can't decide on a name yet but we will within the next couple of days.

We had a very enjoyable Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago. We got up early and drove out to the desert to First Water trail.  We hiked up the water for a couple of miles and then cut back over the top of a couple of mountains. That is when Shandraya and I got more than our share of jumping cactus in our tennis shoes and backs of our calves. Doug and Caleb wore boots so they didn't have a problem. There was quite a bit of water and the flowers were just starting to bloom. It was so green and pretty.We went early enough in the morning that when we started it was really cool but by the time we left it was getting pretty hot. I couldn't believe how many people were just arriving for the hike.

Easter Egg Hunt

Merry-Go-Round

Marshmallow Guns

Well we tried to think of something fun to do for Family Home Evening and so we got out the bag of marshmallows and the marshmallow guns that we got for Christmas. I saw them and ordered 4 guns online then I was out at Penny's Outlet and picked up 4 more thinking it would be fun for more people to be involved. Well it took about 5 minutes to load the gun and then about 10-15 seconds to unload it on someone. By the end of the evening We were just picking the marshmallows up off of the floor and throwing them at each other. Mostly at me because I was the one taking the pictures.
It was fun but the guns will go on to Goodwill.

Higher Ground at the Suns game

It was so fun for Higher Ground the dance company that Shandraya dances with to preform at the Phoenix Suns halftime last Saturday night. They did an awesome job and had tons of fun.

Colten in Houston

Colten's Mission Presidents wife emailed the moms of all the missionaries that just arrived at the mission home. He is looking great.

I'm a slacker

Where does all the time go?
Caleb going to winter formal with Courtney Oaklief isn't he just so handsome. I love all of his curls.

Nixon doing his cute stink bug pose

Good night bad night

Last night was supposed to be a fun and exciting night. I was going to make special treats and have some fun with family after Colten got set apart as a missionary. It was exciting in the fact that he did get set apart but I got a bad stomach bug around 5:30pm and was not in a party mood. He looks so handsome in his suit. He will be such a great missionary. We are so proud of him and the choices that he has made in his life. This morning arrived really early. His flight left at 7am so we headed out at 5:20. A couple of friends came with us to the airport.
I couldn't believe the line when we got there. We kinda cheated and cut in line with Ron (Doug's brother) who was taking his daughter-in-law to the airport. Right before he departed we took a quick family picture.
My family seems to be shrinking. I can't believe that we only have three at home now. Everything went smoothly and he's probably getting on the shuttle anytime soon from SLC to Provo.

Annual Jones get together

After last years meager appearance of everyone I almost didn't have a get together this year. I'm glad that I did. We had a great turn out. I always love having everyone over and sitting around visiting and seeing everyone. We have also included the Garlocks (Drew's family) over the past two years and always love to have them join in with us. I think that they were a little overwhelmed this year but we want you to know that you are always welcome and we love having you with us. We had 56 in the family picture
and a few that showed up after the picture. In all I think we had 65 here for an evening of fun, eating and visiting.


Put it on your calendars for next year. It will be the Saturday after Christmas since Christmas falls on a Saturday in 2010. I think that puts it for Jan. 1, 2011. Mark your calendars.

Christmas Day

I just wanted to express the joy and love I have for each and everyone one of my family and friends. We are so richly blessed with good health and a wonderful family. I had so much fun making a few presents for some of our family. I couldn't show them earlier because it would have spoiled their surprise.
Christmas was a wonderful day. Almost all of our children were here, I got most of the shopping and sewing done early which helps me so I'm not stressed out. I really had a fun time making a couple of the kids and one grandson quilts. It was hard getting Tiffany's done because she pops in so often and I really wanted it to be a surprise. She had cut up all of her old cheer shirts from 4 years of doing cheer a few years ago but didn't know how to put them together. I didn't either so it was trial and error. I ripped the whole thing apart three different times before I finally liked it.
Trevor, Brandi and Bentley's were a challenge at the last because my sewing machine went on the blink (the computer chip died) so I was finishing up the one night they both worked while we were in Texas at Thanksgiving. I finished them about 10 minutes before Trevor walked in from work. I think if I do quilts I will need to start earlier in the year. They take longer than I thought they would but I'm happy with the end results. Colten is already requesting a levi quilt but I will have a couple of years to work on his.
Christmas eve we had our own little Mary and baby but couldn't get the rest of the Nativity together.
Yum, yum this puzzle is sure yummy I think every toy ought to be eaten.

Busy weekend

Last weekend was a fun filled but kinda hectic weekend. My mom and two of my nieces drove all night to be here for all of the fun. Trevor and family got here on Thursday. Saturday the 19th we tried to do family pictures. That was a major undertaking. A few turned out but most of them had someone with eyes closed, or looking at someone else.
As soon as that was done we headed to the temple for Colten. That was really special to have family and friends with us there. Everyone was pictured out so we only got the three of us afterward's.
Then it was time to pick up a few things at the store. While I was gone my sweet sister surprised me and flew in for the rest of the fun. That evening Caleb had his Eagle Court of Honor along with two other boys in our ward, Jaron Ellingson and Reuben Marriott. This is the 4th and last for us. We are so proud of all of our boys and this great accomplishment.

Late Saturday evening our sweet Sugar dog took a bad turn for the worst and we had to put her down. She was 15 1/2 years old and was a very good dog. She will be missed.
Sunday Colten gave his mission farewell talk in church. It was so exciting to have all of my children and grandchildren together their with us. Many extended family and friends were also their to support Colten. We are so richly blessed. We had an open house here after church and many came by. It was a wonderful weekend. As I was trying to find a picture of the open house I realized that I spaced it and didn't take one. Oh well it was really nice.

Colten's farewell talk

This is to invite any of you who would like to come to hear Colten give his missionary talk he will be speaking this Sunday the 20th at 9:00 am. We are having a open house following our meetings from noon and well into the evening this Sunday. We will have plenty of food and refreshments so come on by and stay awhile or just a short visit. We would love to see and visit with everyone.

Nixon trying to get the Christmas tree

I had so much fun watching Nixon as he stretched, twisted and turned while trying to get to the Christmas tree.

Mission accomplished

Gingerbread houses

We sure had a lot of fun making our gingerbread houses. I think Keegan and Kierra get the prize of most candy used.

Colten and Caleb did a real nice job on their house also as did Doug and Shandraya. It was a fun filled evening

Thanksgiving

Doug, Colten, Caleb, Shandraya and I had a fun time in Texas at Trevor and Brandi's for Thanksgiving this past weekend. The weather was great until on our way home. It took us a full 12 hours to drive home through snow and rain. Long drive home. The company was great and we had a lot of fun. Bentley loves his swing that his daddy built for him. He's always saying in his cute little way "push me higher,push me higher please". We had a fun Nerf gun war



and played games, watched football, did a little shopping. Bentley and Grandpa just chillin. It was a real relaxing vacation. Didn't have any real pressure. It was a great time away from home.

A couple of weeks ago Colten thought he had a buyer for his big male tortoise but didn't sell it because the back yard for the tortoise wasn't very good, but we sure got some cute pictures of Nixon in the process. Look at that big boy sitting up all by himself at almost 5 months old.