Happy New Year...

...a little late. But I hope all of you are enjoying the first days of a brand new decade.

Dave & I recently sat down to do our 2009 Year In Review. Here are the highlights in chronological order:

1. Housing Solutions Manager
Last January, I was promoted at work. I now manage a dept & NHS' housing counseling activities (including the Foreclosure Prevention Program). It's been interesting, challenging & really stressful, but very rewarding.

2. Family Ambassadors for the Special Olympics World Winter Games
In February, we served as ambassadors to a floor hockey athlete & his family from AZ. Seeing the events & being with the people was truly inspiring.

3. Dave Jones, Camp Speaker
In March, Dave was the speaker for the ABYC Junior/Senior High Winter Camp at Cathedral Pines. I grew up at that camp, but hadn't been up there in 10 years. It was amazing to enjoy God's creation, hear Dave share & connect with the youth.

4. NCAA Tournament
Also in March, we attended 2 full days of 1st & 2nd round games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. We got a sitter, biked to BSU's campus & watched over 14 hours of great ball. Love it!

5. Growing the Family
Handsome little Riley Cash Jones was born in May, to Dave's brother RC & wife Jessica. And in June, the Jones family welcomed Ezra Miller into the fold, as Dave's younger sister Jessica got married!

6. Bend
One of Dave's favorite 2009 memories is of driving out of our subdivision in July, thinking we were headed downtown for a surprise dinner - only to find out that we were headed to Bend for the whole weekend. It was an amazing getaway, and included one of our most challenging but beautifully redemptive moments when we finally broke through our difficult cycle. And then we danced.

7. Noah's Second Birthday
July 26 was a wonderful celebration of another wonderful year with our special boy. We have so enjoyed hearing him develop his own voice, and always delight in watching our families enjoy him. He's growing so fast!

8. Marley & Lucy
We lost our beloved Marley in September, and brought home Lucy in October. We miss Mars every day, and enjoy watching Noah & Lucy grow up together.

9. Hood Reunion
In October, I escaped to Maryland for a long weekend retreat with 7 of my closest college girlfriends. 4 days of fabulous food, conversation & company = heaven.

10. Noah's 1st Train Ride
Dave & I had such fun taking Noah on the Pumpkin Liner up the Payette River in October!

11. Returning to Long Beach
In October & November, Dave got to spend 2 weekends catching up with folks & rekindling close friendships formed when we lived in CA almost 10 years ago.

12. Washed Anew
Dave had the incredible experience of baptizing his parents in November.

13. Sun Valley
In December, Dave & I got away for a pre-holiday weekend in Sun Valley. We slept in, devoured the breathtaking brunch at the Lodge, ice skated, attended the tree lighting festival, and enjoyed a dinner visit by the Sun Valley Carolers & Santa Claus. It was a magical time!

14. Christmas with Noah
We loved watching him marvel at the lights, sounds & joys of the season.

Here's wishing you a 2010 as full of joy as last year was for us.

Happy New Year!

Christmas!

We had a great Christmas with our families. So great, that I forgot to take pictures!

This was Noah's 3rd Christmas, and he really got it this year. We had so much fun decorating our house (inside & out), because he was so excited about it all. He especially loved "Daddy's house lights", the "tree lights", and my Nutcrackers & music boxes.

We started new traditions this year: attending a live nativity & driving around to look at Christmas lights (we did this one often!)

Noah loved the music of the season. His favorite CD is still the Chipmunks Christmas, and the 1st song he learned to sing was Frosty the Snowman. Since then, he's amassed quite a collection that he sings on a regular basis: Holly Jolly Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World & Deck the Halls. One of my favorite memories is hearing him sing while playing, riding in the car or going to sleep.

This year we were blessed by quality time with some of our favorite people: Noah's grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins. It is such a joy for Dave & I to watch them enjoy Noah, and vice versa. He brings out the kid, and the best, in all of us.

Here are a few pictures of him from Christmas day: playing, opening presents & opening other people's presents...

Christmas Cookie Contest

Every year since I was little, my family made & decorated sugar cookies at Christmastime. As we got older, they got more elaborate. A few years ago, the 'kids' started a new tradition: The Cookie Decorating Contest. Each of us submits entries & Grandma is the judge. We have a great time & make some pretty cool (& interesting) cookies!

This year, Noah decided to get in on the cookie action. He had a great time using the sprinkles & pushing red hots into the cookies! (His very 1st cookie is on the bottom right.)

The entries.
(Emily: tree on L & candy cane; Dave: yellow "Star Bear"; Noah: tree on R & snowman; Mike: stocking & woodland scene, complete with 3D tree & rabbit; Heather: stomach & fish).

Grand Prize: Heather's fish. "Cutest": Noah's snowman.

Mommy Daddy's Bed

(Dec 13) Noah loves playing in our bed.

We've come up with all sorts of games:

"nap" (pretending like you're asleep for a matter of seconds)
"haboos" (running from the guest room & being thrown onto the bed)
"shaboos" (being thrown around while on the bed)
& "wallers" (a silly, frantic sort of squirming)

He loves it!

Little Nakeds, Part VII

My tough little dude on December 12, over a week after his first major injury.
(We moved the furniture to accommodate the Christmas tree & put the sofa table right in the middle of Noah's running path...ouch. He went full speed into the corner of that thing - boy, do head wounds bleed! But he was brave, and even got a milkshake from Sonic after getting glued back together at urgent care. He hasn't seemed to notice it since!)

Winter Morning Reading

(Dec. 4) My little reader, enjoying a sunny morning & his Christmas tree.
A happy little guy (despite the bandaid on his head...)

A Boy & His Dog

(December 1)

(December 1)

Helping Daddy put up the tree...

Our big boy.
I almost can't get over how long his legs are! Goodness, he is growing.

O Christmas Tree

On Thanksgiving weekend, we decided to take another stab at cutting a tree from the forest.

(Don't even ask about the last time, when Noah was 5 mos. old & we went to the Boise Nat'l Forest. We didn't even make it home with a tree, but we sure were glad to make it home. At all.)

We went with my folks, sister, brother-in-law & niece. All went smoothly until the road iced over & we had to turn around. Then Noah melted down because he felt left behind by the group & was overheating quickly (yeah, so maybe he didn't need 4 layers on a sunny day). Dave & I subsequently melted down (and swore, and yelled at each other. And maybe swore again. Yikes!) Lucy ran happily into the middle of the road.

It wasn't our finest hour, but it was worth it. We emerged with a happier boy (full of red licorice) & a beautiful tree (that is still standing, in all its grandeur, in our living room). Here's to another trip next year!

Playing happily, thanks to Daddy, YaYa, cousin Emmie & Lucy

A fine group with fine trees!

Little Nakeds, Part VI

After haircut #2 on November 21!

Hey-Hey's Shades

(November 13)

"Fancy Jammies"

Noah in his grown-up jammies!
(Before and after a haircut, as well.)

Noah "smiling."
(Seriously. This is what he does when I tell him to smile. So if you see a picture of him actually smiling, it's because I've caught him off guard.)

Thanks, YaYa

(Nov. 3) Thanks for the handmade hat & the great threads, Mom. You were right - he totally digs the sweater!

Wethinks it's gone...

("Wethinks" because I still don't want to jinx it...)

Thanks to all for your kind words of encouragement for Noah. It's gone well! Whenever he asks us for his paci, we just remind him that all a big boy needs is "a buddy & friends." (Translation: a blanket & a ridiculous amount of stuffed animals in one's crib.) So far, so good!

Bye-bye, Paci?

Tonight (actually tonight, in real time), we put Noah to bed for the very first time without a paci.

As in first time since coming home from the hospital, 895 days ago. That's a lot of history to break willy nilly, but it just seemed like a good time (especially since he's been night waking lately and seems to be teething again). Okay, so it's maybe not the best timing. But he kind of seemed ready-er, so we went for it.

So far so good...

I was almost afraid to even mention it for fear of jinxing him (yes, I'm superstitious - but not any worse than those poor goat-cursed Cubs). So if you're reading this, send our little man your thoughts/prayers/good mojo!

Jones Boy

Noah found great joy in trying on his Papa Chet's hat...

Halloween!

Noah loved Halloween this year. We went to "Boo at the Zoo" at the Boise Zoo with friends the weekend before & had a great time. (Norah was an adorable kangaroo.)


Then Noah & I went to Twin Falls to go trick-or-treating since Dave was out of town. His favorite part? The fire engine at the Lynwood Shopping Center kids safety demonstration. He was more than willing to forgo the candy line so he could hang out on the fire truck!

Pumpkin Carving

Our very first time carving pumpkins!

Noah didn't like the 'guts' much, but really wanted to get a hold of the knife (don't worry...) We may be amateurs, but they turned out well (mine is not pictured, since these photos were taken LONG before I was finished).

A Boy and His Dog

Early on in their relationship, something became very clear:

they love to run after each other!

Yes, They Are Tasty

(October 18) Not the best picture, but proof that this boy isn't every bit his father. He clearly has his mother's affinity for TastyKake chocolate donuts!

Pumpkin Liner

In October, Noah took his very first train ride!

We rode the Thunder Mountain Line from Horseshoe Bend, up the Payette River to a settlement in Banks, where they had pumpkins waiting for us. The train was filled with families and we got to know a mom & 2 kids who just moved to Boise.

It was an absolutely gorgeous, sunny fall day - a perfect way to enjoy a beautiful Idaho fall.

Introducing...

LUCY, the newest member of our family!

Since every boy needs a dog (or so my husband convinced me), I thought I'd browse craigslist. Honest, I was just looking - and I was very firm with Dave that we would just go for a visit...but as soon as Noah said "Luuuucy" (Ricky Ricardo style), it was clear we were taking her home that very night. And that night was 3 months ago!

Originally dubbed a Labradoodle, we've since discovered that she's likely a Portuguese Water Dog (su-prise, su-prise, su-prise, humane society!). We haven't had the vet confirm it yet, but her markings, hair & behavior are all textbook with the breed.

She is now 7 months old, and We Love Lucy!

Chopping

In late September, Noah helped his Papa chop corn. Noah is just like his Papa & his daddy when it comes to farming - he's serious about his work!

On the Farm

After visiting the fair, we spent a day at the farm - an absolutely gorgeous, sunny, early-fall day.

Noah & I went wild in the strawberry patch
(he ate them faster than I could pick them!)

Then he went for a walk with his Nana & a jeep ride with Papa Chet!

What A Difference A Year Makes!

Same fair ride, same car, same boy... 2008 & 2009!

The Fair!

In early September, we made our annual pilgrimage to the Twin Falls County Fair with the Redman & Jones families. We had a great time eating, playing, visiting animals & eating!

Noah really enjoyed it this year - he loved the huge model train setup (the building was stifling but he didn't care!), feeding the animals & riding rides. We stayed out way past his bedtime because he just kept running from one ride to the next, shouting "more!"

A New Year

Happy New Year!

And welcome back. I know, I've been the one MIA for months...but I'm back. After seriously considering the thought of ditching the blog (I'm SO behind!), I have decided to keep going, with the realization that I'm not going to blog as regularly as some people. But I enjoy blogging (when I do), you enjoy reading, so we'll all just nicely forget about my horrible track record.

It's a new year, "fresh, with no mistakes in it!"

So on to the fun stuff...

WAHOOOOO

Yes, I'm interrupting my ridiculously long blog break for a quick post without pictures. I'll be back soon. But I just had to say

WAY TO GO, BSU!

I didn't grow up a Broncos fan, but I'm definitely a convert. Dave & I just finished watching over an hour of post-game coverage & reading every game analysis we could find - and I'm nothing but P-R-O-U-D of Coach Pete & our boys and the way they've carried themselves on & off the field. I paid good money for a Fiesta Bowl t-shirt last night (those of you who know me will recognize what a big deal that is) and I will be proudly sporting it for months to come.

Boise is on the map, kids!