Basketball Jones

Here are some basketball pictures that do not do the kids Justice but they are all my poor camara will do. We have had the best time playing basketball this year. Michael took to it like a duck to water, Jordan has warmed up slowly but she is liking it as well. They are both so athletic and good sports - I am so proud of them! We love going to the games as a family and cheering our teams on, well mom loves going to the games as a family and cheering. The little guys lose interest quickly and rather run around making their dad crazy which mom also finds very entertaining. Jordan is in the girls 10 and under team named Lady Patriots and pike is on the boys 8 and under team named Knicks. they both have great coaches and great kids on their teams many of whom they knew already from school.

Michael and Amanda

Here we are on the first day of our earthly journey together. I am just as in love with Michael, if not more so, now after 11 years of marriage and four children. I am so grateful for Michael and the love and support he has given to me. He is my best friend. I would rather hang out with him than anyone else even though I see him every day (well there are those occasional moments when I love that he has activities that take him outside but they are rare). He is amazing. He does my dishes, he drives! bless him, he shops when I don't feel like shopping, he mops when I don't feel like mopping, basically he does whatever I ask of him and more. So, after making this list I am feeling like a bad wife. I knew I had the better half of this deal but this doesn't seem fair. Maybe I will surprise Michael one day with a big truck to make up for all the meals I didn't cook and the dirt I didn't sweep and the clutter I kept that drives him crazy. One day I will because I love him.

School is Cool

Wow. Where did summer go? Ah, I remember - fighting, screaming, running, camping, tv, computer, Busch, pool, sleepovers, books on tape (forced upon the children by mother while they were strapped down in the car and were helpless to save themselves) side note: Pike just used the word 'mischief' in a sentence- results from books on tape? I think so. Anyway, carrying on: staying up late, crafts, cooking, so many things. It still went by too fast. Now the kids are all in some sort of school and I was really trying to focus and not fall to pieces over the loss of their babyhood. now I see it was no big deal really. All the tears for the sacrifices I have made as a mom and would miss, what a joy it was to do. Seriously, all moms know the sacrifices we make moment to moment. I will truly remember all the hard times in a positive light now that the toddler and baby years have passed for my brood and I will miss the fullness of happiness that accompanied them. What is a small cavity compared to chocolate mousse cake? And yes, school is cool. All of my kids love it (of course it has only been two days - just go with it, please, for the sake of the blog, OK?) The kids hop right on the bus. They hop off at 4 just as easy as you please and I am happy to hear of their adventures and then I make them do their homework. I get the opportunity to miss them which I do not get to do while I am screaming at them "do not burn up in the camp fire!!" or "Put you brother down!!" etc. So sharpen your pencils, the Jones kids are in school.

Sunday Lessons

Today at church Michael taught a lesson about King Solomon. When God asked him what he wanted he Said An understanding heart : "In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. Give therefore thy servant and understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? Michael taught about how we need to have wisdom, in our lives to judge between things of the world and things that are eternal in nature. The possessions we will take with us in the next life are things like our testimonies, knowledge, and the spiritual gifts from God that we develop. Michael also taught about having a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We need to be humble like a little child and we have to be teachable and willing to submit to the will of the Lord. Solomon was a great judge and earthy king. We become more like the Savior; our heavenly judge and King, when we do these things.

In Young Women's the Bishop taught about being kind and including others. That great happiness can come from not having any regrets about how we treat others. If we are christlike we will be better friends and we should act so especially at church amoung all the youth.

Pike's lesson was on the prophet Elijah. He sealed the heavens for three and a half years 'he made all the water go away' as Pike says. He did this beause the people were worshipping Baal. He also learned about Zarephath and the oil and meal that did not run out for many days because she

More Carpentry Pictures

I just want to add these pictures for those family members following our blog.

The Saw

Here is my baby with a very sharp object. I am so proud of him. Today I taught him how to use one of the most dangerous tools a kid can get a hold of before they graduate to power tools. He did really well and my heart just swelled to see how excited and proud of himself he was when he sawed completely through a board for the first time. Jordan was hammering away next to me as I supervised Pike, and she said " I don't feel like a kid anymore." Yup, you guys are growing up. Hopefully your lives will be as true as your nails. I love you guys. And I said "AIDAN GET AWAY FROM THAT SAW!!"

4 am Bike Ride

I am alive. I went for a little bike ride at four in the morning today. It was dark and cloudy and the moon only peaked out from behind the ghostly clouds occasionally as I wound my way through neighborhood streets. I was really scared but I plugged in my ipod and turned up the music and rode and explored parts of the developments I hadn't seen before in the dark. The air was cool, soft, and smelled so sweet. The music of nature was so loud I could hear every churl and whirl of the bugs and animals and who knows what other creatures over the volume of my comforting music in my ear buds. It is kind of funny that it was so quiet and so loud at the same time. I did see a deer sweeping away from me into some one's yard. In the dark it looked like it moved like one of Stephanie Meyer's vampires. It was pretty surreal. No one was up, there were no cars and no people and almost no lights on in the houses. I felt so courageous and independent and at the same time I was constantly thinking that I should return to the safety of my home behind the dead bolt. If I had thought I had more time I might have explored the bike path at night but thankfully I thought I had to be home for Michael to go to work at 5 and I was spared knowing how un-courageous I really am or as Michael said: crazy.