28

Today I turned the ripe old age of 28! It has been an awesome birthday and I have had no complaints. Thank you so much for everyone that called, emailed, left a comment on my blog and also on Facebook. I really appreciated all of it! But some of my favorites were my Mom's and my friend Lindsey's blog. You will have to check them out...especially if you want to see some embarrassing, funny pictures of me. :) (Go to my sidebar and click on "Jones Family" and "Lindsey", or click this link http://www.ketchamandmustard.blogspot.com/ , and this link http://jonesjabber.blogspot.com/ Thanks so much Linds and Mom. It really made my day!

I started the day out with using one of my birthday presents that I happened across at the Salvation Army.

40 bucks for this bad boy. It is a 2 in 1 bike trailer. I checked it out on the internet to see how much these things actually cost and I could only find a guy selling one for 299, and he said he bought it retailing for 500! I love good deals!!

Jon and I then dropped our kiddos off at the Duncans, (thanks SO much for watching them!!). We went out to eat and actually enjoyed just sitting there and enjoying one anothers company.

When we got back we came home and had some yummy pumpkin cheesecake that Jon made. I love cheesecake and I love pumpkin!!

Jon and the kids got me a fondue cooker! We are going to have to have some fondue nights now!

My mom got me this very cute sweater when she was out here...and she actually got one just like it, because we both just loved it so much. And we figured since we live 1000's of miles away from each other, we wouldn't have a problem showing up at an event wearing the same thing. :)

Oh, and of course I got the canning equipment way back when. I did go and exchange the water-bath for a steamer though. I just didn't like a water-bath, and love the steamers so much better. They are SO much easier!

And finally the biggest thanks goes out to my sweet, awesome, amazing husband! I love him dearly and can't believe how good he is to me. He puts up with a lot of stuff from me, and he never complains or gets after me about it! I love you Sweets, and thank you so much for making my day so special!

ladybug

Well, before I begin, I have to tell you this big long story about why I wanted Livy to be a ladybug. Old Navy always has pretty cute Halloween costumes, and they are usually the warm fleece kind. (Because it gets pretty cold around Halloween time out here, so I like to get those kind.) So last year we had all ready bought Livy's costume, the pumpkin, but we went back to Old Navy, close around Halloween, and all the costumes were on sale for a super deal. I tried to talk Jon into letting me buy one for Livy, for next year. And if you all know Jon he always tries to bring me back to reality and says, "They always have the same costumes every year, and we can just get it next year, because who knows how big Livy will be in a year from now." So of course we didn't get it. So I have had my hopes up all year that Livy will be a ladybug. Well, I went into Old Navy and no ladybugs..., any where! So my dreams were crushed...and I was cursing Jon. Until I thought, well maybe it's not in the stores, but maybe online. I get onto their website and they have the ladybug costume! But of course not in Livy's size, or even close to her size. And I even then decided that I didn't really like that ladybug one as much any more. So the saga continues. I then start googling, and searching for ladybug costumes, infant ladybug costumes, toddler ladybug costumes..., you name it. I couldn't really find anything I liked, and of course, that was around a reasonable price. Well, one night I couldn't fall asleep and Jon had left the computer on, and so I thought I would try my luck at searching for some kind of ladybug costume...again, because I actually did find one that I kind of liked, but it would have been a bit cold and would just get covered up by a coat anyways. But again I was REALLY set on Livy being a ladybug. So I searched and I am not sure what I put in the search bar on eBay, but I came across this CUTE outfit for a ladybug. But of course the ladies price was way out of what I would pay, but I thought, "Hey, I could totally do that!" It was a tutu, with a onesie. The onesie had a ladybug on it, and then cute ribbons on the sleeves, (and of course they were short sleeve). I also had seen a tutorial on my friends blog about a "no sew" tutu. So to get on with the story and finish it up. I decided I would make it!! Michael's had little fairy wings for only 2.99 and then I just got red spray paint and painted it red. Then I got a cup and drew circles over it, and then colored them in with black tole paint. For the tutu here is the tutorial:

http://plumtickled.typepad.com/plumtickled/2007/08/tutu-tutorial-t.html

It was super easy and really quick to make.

Michael's also had this iron-on ladybug. So I got a turtle neck onesie and put the ladybug on. I also made little bows for the sleeves.

And of course it just wouldn't be complete if she didn't have ladybug hair bows to go with it.

And here is the finished project!!

Now I just need to find some red and black polka dot or striped tights to go with it.

I had some extra stuff leftover so I made a little tiny tutu for a newborn.

This was really so fun to make and was only over a little of what I would have had to pay for one all ready made. But I am more satisfied with this one, and think it is much cuter than the ones I could find.

I'm a survivor...of a tri

Well, I did it. I can officially say that I have done a triathlon. Liz (Jon's sister), asked me after the race if I would do it again, and I told her, I don't think so. But now that I have caught my breath, my muscles have stopped aching, and I can think clearly. I think I would do it again!

The only things I would change next time though, are spending more time on the bike, doing more "brick" workouts (where you do 2 of the events for your workout, for example, swim and bike, bike and run etc.), wearnig spandex shorts (because I got some wicked chafing between my legs!), and the next would be to do one closer. I appreciate Liz letting us stay the night so we didn't have to make the huge trip all in one morning..., but NONE of us slept well. Jaedon was too excited to be sleeping over at Ben and Liz's. Livy was freaking out every time we laid her down, and I got way too cold during the night and kept waking up to everything that my kids would do. Then of course I was so nervous that I couldn't really eat very much that morning.

But overall I think it went really well. We got there and checked in and got our bodies painted up and threw on our free yellow swim caps and goggles and hopped into the water. The buoy's looked SO far away and made the swim look SO long. But it wasn't too bad because it is a heated lake, and the temp was 74 degrees. But you would get hit every once and awhile, and I think I gave a good shot to some guys "goods" at one point too.

Then out of the murky water, that you couldn't see a dang thing in, and onto the bike. There wasn't any really steep hills, but it was definitely "hilly", but with gradual inclines, which almost made it seem worse sometimes.

Hopped off the bike and then onto the last event, the run. The whole first part was pretty much up hill. It was gruesome. I did feel like I didn't have anything else to give at the end though, and that is what I wanted. I didn't want to feel like I still could have given it that much more, and then regret it.

I finished in 162th place (for the women, but there was a total of 800 participants all together), and had an overall time of 1:41:30. Which is just what I was shooting for...under an hour and forty-five minutes. You can check out the results for the women at this website and see all the rankings: http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_results&id=1094

things on my mind

• my triathlon... it is this Saturday. I am kind of scared, excited, and just have some mixed emotions. I am glad that it is finally here though. I did a full practice run-through when we were in Atlantic City, well actually Sea View or Absecon. Not sure exactly the town we were actually in. But any way, I swam, biked, and ran in an hour and 50 minutes. So my goal is to at least be under an hour and 45 minutes.
• Atlantic City (or where ever we were)... I forgot my camera so I haven't posted anything about it, but it was very fun and I was so glad that my Grandparents came out, because I got the feeling multiple of times to enjoy this time with them, because it may not happen again. When will I ever spend a whole week with just them and my mom! Thanks for the fun times. You can check out my family's blog and see what my mom has posted about it at jonesjabber.blogspot.com or just click on Jones Famlily under my blog list.
• Jon... he is truly the love of my life. I was having a really bad day and feeling like I was the worst wife, the worst mom, the worst daughter, the worst sister. Every thing I did and said would just be totally wrong. It was mainly that I was a bad mom though, but then as time went on it just grew into that I was just the worst person ever, and at everything I did. But when I got back from Atlantic City, Jon had a dozen roses for me....ahhhh. I love that guy!
• Liz (Jon's sister) did a tag of quirkiest things... I am supposed to come up with 6, but I can only really think of a few. So here are some: 1. Whenever I feel up the car with gas I have to have the cents land on a multiple of 5. Like 39.50, or 40.30. I have done this for as long as I can remember. I think my dad may do it. Mom you will have to verify for me. Also when I set my alarm, the minutes are set for multiples of 5's as well. Just seems weird to set it for 6:12 2. Which leads me into that I have to have an even number of children...2,4, or 6. I think it will probably be 4. So whenever we pair up with someone, we won't have an odd number of people and no one is left out. 3. I think I have a little of OCD in me when it comes to cleaning/organizing and having things in their place. When people help out and are being nice...don't get me wrong, I appreciate that they are considerate and help out, but I usually go back through and have to do it "my" way, and put things back in there "place". Sorry if that offends anyone, but just know that when you come over don't feel like you have to do anything, because I will probably just go back through and re-do what you have just done after you leave. Which is probably why I am not quite as willing as I should be to help others straighten up at their homes. Again, sorry! That is all I can think of right now. I am sure I have more. I will have to ask Jon when he gets home

"I got it!"

We were on our way to Independence Hall this morning with my mom and grandparents. We were coming back home from Atlantic City, and thought we would stop there. Well, we were using my mom's Verizon's Navigator. And let's just say we got led astray..., an hour and a half led astray. But we made it eventually. But while trying to figure out where we were and where to go, Jaedon pipes up from the back of the van: Jaedon: "Mom, I gotta go potty." Me: "Oh, brother... well, can you hold it?" Jaedon: "Yeah." ...silence Jaedon: "I got it!" Me: turning around to see what exactly it was he got...to find him holding himself! We all just busted up. I think I started crying, I was laughing so hard.

Happy number one!!

Our little princess is one year old today! The time sure flies a lot faster with the second, than it did with the first. My mom and grandparents are in town to visit, and so it was fun to have them here to celebrate. Jon's sister, Liz, also came up to be with us as well. We celebrated last night though because we are leaving for New Jersey this afternoon.

Here were the first few bites...

and here is one of the last.

Of course Jaedon was helping...(this actually was a gift for Jaedon and Livy from Liz. Good thinkin' Liz!)

She is giving the kitty kisses

This gift is probably a little much for a one year old, but it only cost me $20. (Thanks Mandy!) So I couldn't resist.

Jaedon loves it just as much and is quite the driver.

glass door

Livy had her year appointment today. She was OFF the charts for her height at 31 and 1/4 inches. And just barely, almost in the 95th percentile for her weight, which was 24.4 pounds. Funny thing happened though while leaving the office. I was holding Livy and Jaedon got to the glass doors and pushed the handicap button to open the door. He was a little ways in front of us though, and so Livy started to squirm to get down. So I put her down, and she sees Jaedon all ready through the door and out in the little corridor place to go through another door. Well, next to the door there is a glass window. As soon as Livy saw Jaedon she took off and ... WHACK!! (some guy in the background, "OH!") Face smashed up against the glass and then she was knocked back onto her behind. She looked up at me like, "What in the world just happened!?" The nice mom that I am, pick her up and we walk outside. But only so that I can laugh uncontrollably for a few minutes. I did feel bad, but at the same time it was unbelievably funny!! Which then brought me to another thought, or memory of myself. I believe I was still in elementary, but I was at my friend Kate's house, and her grandma just lived right down the road. I don't remember now why we went down there. I believe we were looking for something, or getting something. Anyways, as we were leaving, (being young and vibrant youth), I went dashing for the "sliding glass door", which I thought was opened...then out of no where, I was flat on my back!! Oh, I still get the biggest kick out of it.