Gil's Blessing

Today was such a beautiful day! It was a great day for a baby blessing. The weather was nice; it was warmer than 40 degrees. The sun was gorgeous and the birds were singing. My heart was full and I felt very close to my Heavenly Father today. Lil' Gil was blessed by his father. The words in the blessing were beautiful. He was given the name Gilbert Ledger Jones. As we all know, I struggled a little with his name in the beginning, but I have had 2 experiences (today being one of them) since his birth confirming to me that Gilbert should be his name. I love his name and I hope he does too. I can't believe that Gil, my Lil' guy is almost 3 months old. He is so sweet and special. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has trusted me enough to let me teach and raise another one of his precious spirits.

Myself and My Lil' Gil

Grandma Kearl and Gil

Gil received 2 blankets: Grandma Kearl gave him a soft white crocheted blanket and Grandma Jones gave him cute doggie blanket. Oh, he is going to love them.

After the blessing today we all crowded into our home and had a wonderful lunch; sandwich foods, salads, veggies, beans and the cutest ever desserts! It was so wonderful to spend time with our families. I am grateful that we could all be together. I doesn't happen often that I get to be surrounded by all the people I love. Some of our family traveled here to be able to share this exciting day with us, I am so grateful for them. My heart was definitely full today!

Sisters by Chance, Friends by Choice!!

I don't think Aspen has noticed, but I have been watching her closely these last few weeks. She has a big heart, especially when it comes to her little sisters. She is very good to them and makes sure that they are safe and happy. I can count on her to help her sisters. One day Aspen helped Malori do her chores. She helped her clean her room, clean the toy room and unload the dish washer, just so that Malori could go outside to play. Aspen helps Malori with her homework. Malori gets kindergarten homework that she is suppose to do a few things each week. One day the 2 of them sat down and did almost the whole month of homework because they were having too much fun. Tonight they worked on Mal's farm animal report that was due 2 days ago. (bad mom!) Aspen is 'talking up' the day that we move her and Malori back in together to share a room. (That could be because she wants a bunk bed.) Aspen has been a great friend to her sister.

One morning before school, Aspen and Malori got together and decided that they wanted to look like each other. They both had curls in their hair so they both put one clip in on the side. They then looked in their closets for outfits that matched. It had only been a few minutes when the both came out looking exactly like sisters. They were so excited to go to school like that. They were both giggling. I couldn't resist taking a picture.

This morning for St. Patricks Day they were so excited to dress in green. Aspen and Malori both had their outfits picked out the night before. They talked about how they should both wear their hair. Aspen was there to help both Malori and Ella get ready for the BIG GREEN day!

Aspen- Thanks for all your help. I couldn't do it without you. You are a wonderful friend to me too. I love you! Mom

Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

Caleb has been working very hard these last couple of weeks memorizing lines for a school play; Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. They put the play on for parents and students this week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Caleb was one of the main characters. He was Petruchio. I think this was such a great opportunity for him and for all the kids in his class. They all did such a great job. They had to work together and help each other. They entertained the audience for almost a whole hour. I am so proud of Caleb. He had most of his parts already memorized before I even knew that he was doing this. He did it mostly on his own. It wasn't until these last few weeks that I got involved and started reading the other parts to help him practice. Memorizing his parts just came naturally to him. One day he counted 126 parts that he had to memorize. One of my favorite lines was:

"Why? I find you very gentle. Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen, and now I find that to be a lie. For you are pleasant, courteous, a bit slow in speech, but sweet as spring time flowers. You don't frown or bite the lip as angry girls do. You entertain me with gentle conduct. Why does the world report that Kate has a limp? O slanderous world, Kate like a hazel twig is straight and slender, and as brown in hue as hazel nuts, and sweeter than the kernels. O, let me see you walk. Why you don't limp. Why you walk like a queen."

Petruchio(Caleb) and Katherine(Desirae)

Petruchio is a fortune seeker who enters into a marriage with a strong-willed young woman named Kate and then proceeds to "tame" her temperamental spirit.
In the play, Petruchio comes to the town of Padua in the hopes of marrying a wealthy woman. Hortensio suggests that he marry Kate Minola, as she is very rich and her marriage will allow her sister to marry as well. Petruchio takes an interest in Kate, owing to the dowry he could potentially receive, and agrees. During his first encounter with Kate, he matches her fierce temper and manages to convince her father that she passionately loves him but only pretends to hate him in public. The two are married, with Petruchio arriving at the wedding late and forcing Kate to leave the ceremony feast early.
Petruchio then starts to try to "tame" his wife in a variety of ways. He frightens Kate by yelling at the servants and prevents her from eating by insisting that the dishes are not good enough for her. He then offers Kate presents of dresses and jewelry, only to return them saying that they too weren't good enough. When Bianca and Lucentio are married, he refuses to let Kate go to the wedding unless she agrees with everything he says (no matter how false it may seem). He later puts her to the test by telling her that a man is a woman and that the moon is the sun - she agrees with both statements.
At the wedding, Petruchio is taunted by Hortensio and Lucentio for having married a "shrew". He proposes a contest to see which man has the most obedient wife: All three will call for their wives and see which ones respond. Of the three women, only Kate comes and a triumphant Petruchio is the winner. Petruchio then orders Kate to bring the other wives and give a speech telling them to honor their husbands.

In the play there was a kissing scene. (Of course they don't really kiss...thank goodness.) He told me that he blushed everytime that he had to practice this at school. His classmates gave him a good tease. Was this Caleb's favorite part?

I hope that Caleb is proud of himself and that he will have the desire to participate in more school plays especially when he is in High School. Good job Caleb. I love you! Mom

Paradox? or Paradise?

We were very sad to hear that Naaman's Grandmother, Dot Wilden Eades passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the age of 86. Grandma Eades was an incredible woman. We was always doing service and thinking of others. She was very talented. She was a great cook. She loved to can all her fruits and vegetables. I will forever miss her apple butter. For as long as she could, she always had a project in hand. She loved to crochet, knit and sew quilts. She made a quilt for each of her great grandchildren until 7 years ago when she was diagnosed with alzheimers. Caleb and Aspen will always cherish these quilts. Grandma Eades lived in a small town called Paradox, Colorado. It is also known as Paradise (so they called it). Paradox is a town that is like no other. It is an hour outside of Moab, Utah. I will do my best to describe Paradox. Paradox is a valley that is surrounded on all sides by steep cliff red mountains, much like the ones in Moab. The valley is almost the same size as the Salt Lake Valley, yet there is maybe a total of 30 homes. There is a post office, a small elementary school, a very small LDS church, a cemetery and many cows. Grandma was born and raised here and lived here the rest of her life. Grandma loved it in Paradox, but I am sure that she will now enjoy the real Paradise. We love Grandma and will miss her so much.

This last Monday I spent the day packing so that we could go to Paradox. We left early Tuesday morning and arrived at Grandpa's house close to noon. We spent the afternoon with Grandpa Eades and Naaman's parents. This was the first time that my Lil' Gilbert got to meet his Grandfather who he was named after. Gilbert Leeander Eades, who is now 95 years old. Grandpa gave little Gilbert a little porcelain shoe with his birth information written on it. Grandpa was so excited to give this to me and Gilbert. I think that Grandpa was ticked to have his grandson named after him. It was so great to spend this time with him. By the end day the house was full of all of Naaman's extended family. It was great to see everyone. That night we drove to another very small town 30 minutes away called Naturita, to stay in a motel. I laughed because Caleb kept calling it a 1/2 star hotel. What do you expect for such a small town?

Grandma's funeral was on Wednesday February 24, 2010. It was short, but very sweet. Many great memories and words were said. After the funeral we didn't want to bombard Grandpa so we went back to the motel and spent the rest of the day with cousins. We all enjoyed it. Thursday morning we packed up our things and went to Grandpa's house to eat breakfast. We took pictures and said our goodbye's as we left for home. Our hearts and prayers still remain with Grandpa. I am sure that things will be quiet and lonesome for him now. Oh, how I wish we didn't live so far away.

3 new babies!

3 new babies from heaven were reunited again...for the first time.

Grandma Kearl must be so excited to have her 3 newest grandchildren finally here. She got to see all 3 of them at the same time just last weekend (February 12th-15th). We were in Bear Lake for Rodney's blessing. I am quite sure that Makinlee, Gilbert and Rodney were up in heaven waiting together for their big day! They each have their own story. We are so grateful that they are here and healthy.

Little Makinlee was born unexpectedly 3 weeks early in Nephi when Marci went to her in-laws for Thanksgiving. We are glad that she listened to her instincts and went to the emergency on Thanksgiving night since she had not felt the baby move. After Marci had a c-section, CPR was performed on baby Makinlee so that she could be with us today. She was born November 27, 2009 weighing only 5 lbs.

I had a wonderful pregnancy. My complaints didn't start until I was neared the end. I was induced 4 days before my due date in fear that I was going to have a big baby. Gilbert was born on December 30, 2009. What a surprise when the nurse said that Gilbert was only 6 lbs 8 oz. I thought I could only have big babies. Gil was healthy other than he struggled with jaundice for 2 weeks. Putting him under the bili lights made me cry.

Rodney was the last of these 3 babies to come into this world. He was born just 4 days after Gil on January 3, 2010. This was Gil's due date. Amy, his mother was anxiously waiting for him to get here. She was sooo done being pregnant. Rodney is named after his 2 great grandfathers...and GREAT they were! Great grandfather John Rodney Moore and Great grandfather Alten M. Kearl. I am sure that little Rodney wont have a problem living up to his great name. Litl' Rodney also struggled the first few days of his life. He had to stay in the hospital a few day longer until he was able to keep his blood sugar level up. Despite what Amy may say, I think he is a good sleeper. He was asleep every time I saw him.

We are so grateful that our precious little ones are doing so well! We love them dear.

In this picture:

(right to left)

Gil 6 1/2 weeks

Makinlee 11 1/2 weeks

Rodney 6 weeks

We found some snow!

It has been a LONG winter.

Since the snow pays a big part in our life, I am always paying attention to the weather man to see what the weather is going to do. The Jones family likes it when it snows. In December is snowed quite a few times, 8 to be exact. There was not a lot of accumulation though. I think it only snowed an inch or two for each snow storm, not leaving much for great sledding. January was a month of just cold and haze. Snow in February? Since the month is half way over it doesn't look to promising. The kids and I have just been craving some good snow to play in.

We came to Bear Lake this weekend to be with family. Rich and Amy are blessing baby Rodney tomorrow. It will be a special day. We were so excited to know that Bear Lake had some great snow. We made sure that we packed the boots and gloves. Today the kids and all their cousins got on their snow clothes and went sledding down the hills by Rich and Amy's house. They all seemed to have a fun time. They didn't freeze too much. Uncle Rich pulled them around the block on a sled behind the 3 wheeler. That was the highlight for all of them.

Malori-playing in the snow...and showing off her missing two front teeth.

Shaylee, Noelle and Aspen...laughing and giggling!

Caleb sliding down the hill.

Noell and Aspen approaching the drop off! Ahh!!

Memories were definitely made today in the snow!

Date Night

You may think that we are crazy, but I'm telling you that we are not...Date Night is fun. We and 3 other families in our neighborhood have gotten together and formed a Date Night group. One weekend each month Naaman and I watch all the kids while the other 3 couples have a night out. We don't mind it because we know that the other 3 weekends of the month we get a night out without kids. I can't believe we have been doing this for a year and a half. The kids have gotta love it. They get to have a party every weekend.

There is nothing wrong with that.

Tonight at our house they started out playing basketball. 5 basketballs...

watch out, don't let one hit your head.

Adam made sure no time was wasted!
The tinker toys and the magnetic gears were the toys that the kids went for first. I think that the gears were constantly turning during the whole night.

Gil, the youngest of them all, slept during some of the excitement.

Little Benjamin just walked around and waved to me all night. So cute!

Ella and Gabrielle played babies.

The kids loved to play the piano. We have some 'little' composers in the group.

Thanks for the great music Nathan.

...and of course. We can't forget to play wii and playstation!!!

Aspen was so cute with the younger girls tonight. They all went into her room and she put beads in their hair. The girls were so excited...until they fell out later in the night.

Pizza again!
I do have to admit, it does get a little crazy when it is dinner time. Since our table is small we wanted to let the kids eat in shifts, but they were all to hungry. Someone said the word "DINNER" and they all came running. Before I knew it they were all making themselves at home on the floor. They thought it was great. It is a good thing I swept today.

Oh no - little Aaron didn't want to have his picture taken!

Nathan gave into the girls. He let them do his hair. They said

they were getting him ready to be their butler. I don't think Nathan

would admit it, but I believe he was having fun.

See what they did! Nathan...their masterpiece.

Caleb, Jacob and Caleb tried to watch Harry Potter.
Could they even hear with everything going on?

I counted the kids tonight.

5+5+5+3+1=19

We invited my little nephew Kasen too.

What is one more when you already have 18?

Hey kids, thanks for an entertaining night!