A Jones Family Christmas

I love this picture because I make this face all the time...the open mouth excited one that Libby is making.

Libby learning to read...she's very advanced
We love bows, but Babette always takes them offGus getting his presents and a sleeping baby Gus devouring a bone

Gus devouring the box bearing his treats

Kevin was there I promise, he was busy capturing memories though.

Christmas was every bit the fun it normally is, with the added bonus of showing Libby what we do on the big day and the days that follow. Christmas Eve morning we had Christmas as a family, you know Libs, Kev, me, and the pets. Then we high tailed it to Baltimore, with the rest of the world travelling Christmas Eve, to celebrate with the family. We are still here having lots of fun with Babette and Grandad, the sweeties(who are basically adults now) and preggo sister and her hubby. Kevin had to leave to FL for work, but will be home by New Year's Eve...just like the song. I have about a trillion pictures I would like to share so here are a few to get you started b/c as I have said before, they are far better than words.

The sweeties opening the presents Big cousin Sidney helping to take care of Baby Libs Christmas festivities take their toll on babies. Here is our girl after Daddy did her hair.

Little Allison spotting an unwrpped gift no doubt...she's just like meBabs and Grandad with baby girl
babs and all her girls

Some how we captured this sweet look

Easy Bake

Once upon a time there were two little girls who asked for an Easy Bake Oven every year for Christmas. They never got one because their parents were far too frugal to spend money on a toy that required a light bulb to cook pre-packaged, and pricey cake mixes for children. However, years later in the very house where the little girls used to live an Easy Bake Oven was purchased by those very frugal parents, who have become, the best, over-indulgent grandparents one could asked for... making this little girl the happiest in all the world.

The End

Look at the smudge
No baking experience is complete with out a little tasting

Christmas Confections

Beautifully photographed
A challenge to eat

Merry Mint Mocha Truffles

A little of this

A little of that

Ta-da, you have not so good, but fun to make, truffles.

When we should have been packing we were rolling and dipping these chocolate treats. I would share the real recipe but I mixed several together, which I think is the result of the questionable outcome.

This is a picture of Paula Dean's peppermint bark that I made. It, unlike the truffles, is delicious! Go here for the recipe.

My Very Own

Good Christmas Eve to you dear friends.

I've been struck with awe these last few days thinking about the birth of Christ and comparing it to what I now know about birth. As the mister and I watched "the Nativity" the other night my thoughts have turned to Mary and I wonder how she did it.

How did she bare the pain, feel the warmth, fall in love, and keep it all together?

How did she grab the babe in those first moments, when you are still in shock that your body has produced something that is moving and screaming at you, and not fall apart knowing that the miracle on her chest was the King she had been looking for?

How did she feel as she swaddled her son and yet realized He was not her own?

When I look at my own I think things like, how do I let go, how do I keep her from harm, and how do I save her from ever having a broken heart?

But her own, sweet Mary, she new He would have to leave, she could not protect Him from the pain He faced, and He was broken already for His people...yet there he was, baby God in her arms, fast asleep while she stared at him.(if her first night was anything like mine).

I stared most of that first night with my own, amazed, afraid, and in love. I can only imagine that she felt the same except multiplied a hundred times b/c she was holding Jesus.

So this Christmas Eve, where ever you find yourself, whether it be happy to be with the ones your heart holds dear, or excited about what the morning will bring, or staring at a face you love, I pray you will feel the awe that is the true magic of this night, the Sacrifice came into this world and Love became the Hero of our stories and He became our very own.

Sleep in heavenly peace friends.

Good night.

Looking Up and a Tu-tu

I thought that you should see these...

She holds him in such high regard

That's a tu-tu and I love it...

...but I love her more.

The scratches on her face are her own doing not the work of this one, who finally sat still for a picture. Had he stopped slinking and slithering around our house the other night he would have been one of my ten things

10 things

10 things I'm loving right now (stolen from Soule Mama)
1. Mochas, every morning. 2 tsp of instant coffee, 2 tsp of chocolate, a splash of vanilla, and topped off with milk. I would drink them all day but I'm guessing it's not so good for me!
2. These two snoozing together
3. This little Christmas frock, 1 part made by Julie and 1 part bought at gymboree. Every 3 month old needs a tu-tu right?
3. Cold winter's night with the lights turned down low, and two hearts cuddling under the blanket
4. Wrapped Christmas gifts with pretty bows and tags
5. I was trying to take a picture of my shiny ornament but got a special message instead.
6. This guy, all clean and as peaceful as his master
7. Libby's hair. She had a hard night and the more she cried, the more her hair stood up. So I played with the flash to emphasize her Don King qualities.
8. Photo Christmas cards. I love receiving them from you and would love to send our own out, but they are still not here!

9. Our Christmas tree. The star touches the ceiling.
10. This ornament says "Peace on Earth," which I know is not truly the case. So last night I prayed for those with out peace and thanked God that at the Jones's there was.
What are you loving right now?

Christmas Card Out -Takes

You will mostly likely be getting some version of this in the mail, should our Christmas cards ever turn up. If you don't think you're on my Christmas card list email me your address and I'll try to get you one...however, I'm out of stamps!
These pics have been deemed unworthy for a Christmas card, but seemed good enough for a blog post!

Do you remember in Ghostbusters when Sigourney Weaver gets possessed and thinks she is the gatekeeper...I think that I look like that here. Hmmm

Twinkle, Twinkle

Kev took us on a date to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's for Libby's 3 month b-day.
We saw the lights,
they twinkled,
so did Libby :)!
and it was good!

Gus Goes To the Beauty Parlor

Doesn't he look nice! He got washed, trimmed, teeth cleaned, nails clipped, and for an extra bonus he got sprayed with gingerbread body spray and got a Christmas bandanna around his neck! I'm sure as soon as Kevin comes home the bandanna will be off, but until then Gus is fluffy and festive and being monitored closely on each trip outside!

Oink

That's a picture of a pig, in case you were wondering. My friend from church and fellow Mommy invited Libby and I on a walk yesterday at a great park. They had pigs, horses, cows, and sheep.
I had Gus with me also so he got to meet his first sheep. It was a anti-climatic since it was through a fence but at least he has seen a real one. Plus it was a great day to be outside...72 in December!

This is Eli, he was born 3 days before Libby at the same hospital. He was all smiles and giggles the whole time were at the park. Such a little cutie!

I don't know if you can tell, but I squeezed her into Apples and Pears one last time...for nostalgia sake! Time to pack it away with rest of the tiny things.
I was trying to get a cute pic of them both together, but Libby wasn't cooperating. I think it was because this was about the 1 millionth picture taken of her yesterday!

Happy day!