One of the Jones!

The Funny Things Kids Say...

2011-11-11T06:01:00.001-08:00

I gave birth not to children, but to comedians. One of these days I am going to sit down and write a book about all the funny, silly or cute things my kids have said to us..

I thought I would share just a few of the little gems my kids have slipped on us the last year alone...

Who needs TV...

Jeremy told me that webs come out of spider bums...I asked him how he knew about that? "God told me..." he said.... All I know is that it sure wasn't me... I spend as little time as possible thinking about spider bums...

We are going to be really sad the day my son learns to be more subtle...Tonight he picked a doctor Seuss book full of stories....He asked his dad if he knew why he picked that book...Kendal.."Because it is your favorite?" Jeremy..." No, because I wanted to waste more time... I mean hear more stories... "

From Gracie after she stripped off all of her clothes AGAIN at nap time..."They just falled off and jumped off!! " Time for me to buy her some clothes that stay in place....

Kendal to Jeremy this morning.... " Mommy isn't the boss of me..." Jeremy.. "Really? Is that how that works? "

Gracie was not feeling well this morning, so Jeremy being the good little big brother that he is felt her forehead to check her temperature... "Wow! Gracie is 50 lbs hot!"

Last night while putting Gracie to bed.. she said.. "Bye Crocodile.." I think she might have mixed up her metaphors....

I officially embarrassed my son at the Feta-Afahye Festival tonight when two clowns literally dragged me up to dance... Apparently I don't dance well... because my son yelled at the top of his lungs " NO MOMMY! Don't do that! Don't dance!!"

Me to Jeremy... "What do you want to be when you grow up? " Jeremy... "Daddy!" The greatest compliment any child can ever pay their parent....♥♥♥

Jeremy told me tonight that the reason the power went out the other day is because Daddy played a dumb game on his computer....

We were driving home tonight, and Gracie says to me in a really whiny voice... " Mommy I want my purple cup" Me to Gracie... "Mommy wants lots of things too Gracie... " Jeremy to me... " But Gracie just wants her purple cup!"

Kendal was just playing "Yellow Submarine" by "The Beatles for the kids. Gracie asked her daddy.... "Daddy, do we live in a yellow submarine?"

Me playing I Spy with Jeremy tonight... "I spy with my little eye... something that is... Yellow... Jeremy to me... "NO. You don't."

Gracie poked me in the armpit today and said... "Mommy... is that your brain?"

and finally....

Me... teasing Gracie... "I'm gonna pick your nose..." Gracie... "NO your not. Your finger is too big..."

Girl #5, Child #6

2011-11-10T13:54:00.001-08:00

So. Yes we are.
Pregnant that is....
If you are on our Facebook, then you probably already know this,
but as I haven't been posting much on blogger..
anyone who just follows the blog doesn't know.
So far. So good.
I am 23 weeks as of yesterday... and this baby is our little miracle.
I mentioned briefly yesterday that I had three miscarriages
previous to this...
One in 2009, one in 2010 (Exactly a year later) and a chemical pregnancy
a month after that miscarriage.
This was our last shot. If I had lost this little one, there wouldn't have been
another try.
Miscarriages are hard on your heart... :(

There is a very long and complicated story behind this little girl...
(Her name is Marin Amira Ciel )
I would love to share it over and over again, once I am holding her safely in my arms...
For now, the story will stay close to me, to encourage me and help me stay in faith.
I can't wait for her, and neither can Jeremy and Gracie... (or Daddy)
Jeremy always says he wishes she was already here.
Gracie kisses her and hugs her every morning and night....
They are very cute.

The pregnancy itself has gone pretty good... no morning sickness..
Very unusual for me,
I did have bleeding for the first six weeks,
which has never happened without a miscarriage,
and obviously scared me...
My doctor put me on Progestrone suppositories for 15 weeks.
She is healthy..
I have had three ultrasounds so far, and will be having at least one more
in 8 weeks.
I have many contractions, which is actually fairly normal for me...
My blood pressure is great, and so is everything else.
I do have one complication so far,
and that is Placenta Previa.
They couldn't tell for sure from the ultra sound, but it looks partial...
So I am on "activity restrictions" ...
I rest a lot when I get many braxton hicks... and I don't lift anything.
I may need a c-section, but my doctor assures me that in most cases,
that by the end of the third trimester, baby has changed position,
causing the placenta to grow up wards...
I am fully expecting a healthy baby girl in less then 20 weeks...
You can pray for us though... I like that.. :)
My only concern at this point is whether or not I am going to be able to
get everything out of storage in time...
You would think that by now I would have the hang of this thing...

Do you still use Blogger?

2011-11-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

Well... since it is the time of year when blogger comes around asking for money, ( I just received an e-mail) I need to decide if it is worth it to continue on with this blog.....
After all, my reasons for starting it have changed over the years, and I just don't have the time I used to, to devote to writing....

Why did I start this in the first place?

1. Mostly, after 17 years of not having babies, my husband and I had a son, and wanted to chronicle his life and our life with him... I guess that reason hasn't changed... in fact now... we have more reason for wanting to do that, since he now also has a younger sister and another sister on the way...

2. My family lives in a separate part of the country from me, and I thought it would be a nice gesture for us to do this to keep them up to date on what was happening with us, especially since I am a phone hater. As it turns out, it was a bit of a useless gesture. My father was really the only one to check.. and even then not often. He died a few weeks ago now, and none of my other family is all that interested in what we do, or for that matter very interested in being on the internet...
Kendal's family has enjoyed the blog over the years, but most of them live in Regina and see the kids often, with the exception of Kendal's sister...

3. Facebook has kind of overtaken blogger for the most part, and seems an easier way to share pictures and day to day happenings. Of course it isn't great for the recording aspect, since it has a news feed that no one really wants to look back at. I am not a huge fan of facebook... but my older children actually pay attention to it more often then blogger, and I have managed to keep in touch with many people I may not have otherwise.

4. One of the reasons I joined blogger, was also because I had a deathly boring job at the time, where for hours on end, I had nothing better to do then sit on the computer.. I joined with a few chat boards, and also with blogger to get to know the blogging community so that I wouldn't go stir crazy... That part has obviously changed. First of all, I am only friends with a couple of my old blogger buddies, and they are actually on my facebook now... (I wish they had facebook back then... it would have helped...) Secondly, I really don't need the entertainment I used to get from the internet anymore, since I am at home... I am on activity restrictions now, but trust me... the kids are all the entertainment anyone could need.. You should hear them.

So.. that leaves me with a couple of problems.

1) I do still like to write once in a while, and when I do .. blogger takes care of that urge for me.

2) My husband and my MIL, really like my blog, and would be disappointed if I erased it, which I have almost done a couple of times in the past year, ... since I hadn't written in it since April...

I quit writing, as we were trying to have our last little one, and then when I actually did get pregnant, I didn't want to share, as we had lost three previous to this one.

There is the option of putting the blog into a book. I know a couple of people who have done that, and seem happy with the results. Then, maybe I could at least erase past years, and quit paying blogger...

So... just curious.. Has blogger outgrown it's usefulness for you? Does Facebook take care of that now? Do you read blog posts anymore?

We weren't planning on buying a vehicle yet....

2011-04-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, since Kendal only has every second weekend off, we decided maybe we should look around and get a feeling for the van market, since it has been several years since we went shopping for one. What we didn't intend on, was actually buying one...

We were actually pleasantly surprised to find something we liked at every dealership we went too, which was also something we didn't expect. Also, a pleasant surprise, was the lack of pressure from Salesmen... we just looked at what we wanted, and no one tried to tell us what we should get! It was a pretty difficult decision, as we actually found four vehicles we liked... and in the end.. four hours later.. we had one.

This is the Jeep Commander (a Chrysler product) we almost bought from Ford

It would have been fun... In the end, we decided that although it would have

been better for towing, and camping... and had a roof rack..

that it wasn't as practical for day to day use...

seats were harder to access with babies, and less room for groceries ect.
We also decided it would probably be more in gas...
and gas prices being what they are..
It did have seven seats..
although the back ones seemed kind of cramped.

It was a nice ride ... I had fun driving it. :)

In the end... we bought this 2009 Montana from GM...

They gave us excellent service in the years we had the car, so we decided to go with

the more practical vehicle... (sigh)
However, it is a pretty nice van,
and it only has 36000 km on it...
We purchased some extra warranty, so we are covered for the next five years
and also had a towing kit installed... for towing a tent trailer...(Yaaa us!)

We also looked at a Chrysler Grand Am with lots of toys..

(seemed a little overpriced...)

and we went to Toyota, and looked at a used Sienna..

It was a great ride, but it was older then we wanted.

The sales guy was great though..and gave us a bunch of info

for what to look for, and questions to ask.

He actually told us that he felt the Montana was a great deal..

I really appreciated his honesty!

At the moment we are still driving the car...

but the van is sitting in our driveway...

I can't wait... no more being kicked in the back while I drive! :)

Christmas in April

2011-04-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

REALLY April????

I guess finding the eggs might be a problem....

2011-04-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-04-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

Here are the beautiful roses Krystal and her family brought me...

Sat. was my 42 birthday...

Where did that come from already??

Had a pretty good day...

Went out for lunch with 4 of my kids,

My in-laws, and my BIL and SIL...

at Tony Romas

After we finished our shopping

My daughter Krystal, her boyfriend Steve,

and my grandkids came over for a visit.

Pretty good day...

This was a figurine from the Willow Collection (I collect them)

My daughter Bree bought this one, because she said it reminded her of me and her

I love it...

My MIL also gave me some Melucca bath stuff which I also liked,

but took out of the bag and put away before I decided to take pictures! :P

April 3rd? Really Saskatchewan?

2011-04-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

I don't remember it looking like this the day after my birthday.... :P

at least it was pretty... i guess...

What are the chances we will be hiding eggs outside this year....

More Toy Story Shenanigans... Please help

2011-03-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

This is my on-going project to keep my kids childhood interesting and magical.

A couple days ago, when Buzz had Woody trapped under a milk crate, I told Jeremy to tell them to quit fighting and get along. The next night I forgot to do anything with the toys.

The first thing Jeremy said to me in the morning was, "I'm mad at you daddy." I asked him why and he said, "it's your fault Woody and Buzz didn't do anything last night because you said they had to stop fighting and get along." oops

The next night I had Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Mr Potato Head on the kitchen floor surrounded by Rex(the dinosaur) and a bunch of other dinosaurs circling for the kill.

When I asked him what they were doing he told me, "I think they're making Toy Story 4."

After a few weeks of this, I'm running out of ideas. Any suggestions would be great. Please leave a comment.

Sign Abuse...

2011-03-09T05:45:00.000-08:00

These signs are a result of my husbands silly sense of humor,

after he got tired of reading the billions of signs being posted at one of his jobs... :p

Spiderman takes lessons from a Goat staring man...

2011-03-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

Yes....

Once again... this is what you come to expect at our house...LOL!

Kendal's brother Mark brought over

the movie

The Men Who Stare at Goats

(Kendal really wanted to see it....)

I offer no defense for er... "spiderman".....

Do not read this.

2011-03-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

Ever think we might be over doing the whole

posting signs thing??

Giveacar

2011-03-03T09:15:00.001-08:00

Giveacar - Help Christian charities and the environment with one action!

In this global recession, one would expect that people would cut back and spend
less. This has been true, when referring to the money that people spend on
themselves. However, conversely the amount of charitable giving has also risen
worldwide, with a £400 million increase in the amount of charitable giving in the
UK in 2010. At the same time, the US has remained at number five in the World
Giving index compiled by the CAF. This shows that despite the recession, being
compassionate and helping others has still remained a high priority in a lot of
people’s minds.

Yet when people think of possessions of theirs that they can give, minds rarely fall
to donating a vehicle. Yet, through Giveacar, you can not only dispose of a car in a
free, convenient, and ethical manner, but you can also donate any of the resulting
proceeds to a charity of your choice.

Giveacar is modelled on similar US companies such as Charitycar.us. Set up in
January 2010 by recent graduate Tom Chance, Giveacar facilitates the collection
of unwanted vehicles by a subcontracted collection agency. Giveacar only
use Authorised Treatment Facilities, which make sure to issue a Certificate of
Destruction and safety depollute the car, disposing of the materials such as oil and
brake fluid safely so they do not damage the environment.

Depending on the age and the condition of the vehicle, it will either be sent to
scrap or sent to a salvage auction. Any resulting proceeds will, minus a small
administration fee, be sent to the charity of the owner’s choice. Giveacar has raised
over $400,000 since January 2010, including substantial amounts for Christian
charities such as Youth for Christ, Retrak and Toybox.

Therefore, by recycling your car through Giveacar you are not only freeing up some
space in your garage; you are also helping to take heavy polluters off the road as
well as donating money to a good cause of your choice!

For more information see www.giveacar.co.uk or tweet @giveacar.

What are these guys doing at night?

2011-03-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

Buzz and Woody... What are you up to now?

2011-02-28T07:28:00.000-08:00

There have been some strange goings on in the middle of the night

at our house....

We keep finding the Toy Story crew in odd places,

and doing odd things every morning...

Jeremy's opinion...

"Of course MOM...They ARE the Toy Story guys...."

Valentines Pics...

2011-02-26T05:35:00.000-08:00

Better late then never..

Here are some pics from Valentines day....

We made some heart shaped pancakes .....

Snow day...

2011-02-24T08:12:00.000-08:00

We haven't been able to do much sledding this year..

Every time we have wanted to, it has been really cold out,

but we managed to get Jeremy out once with Kendal,

and this day, we all went..

(even though we managed to get our car stuck after

and had to be pushed out...)

Jeremy is finally going down the hill by himself now,

and Gracie is TOUGH!

Once we got out there, we realized her little snow suit...

was too short on her legs...

but even though her little legs had to be freezing,

she refused to go back to the car,

and stuck it out the whole time without a whimper...

How would you like THIS in your pantry....

2011-02-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

A couple of weekends ago, we brought the kids to Safari Jeffs Human Nature Exhibit...

I misunderstood what was going on I guess...

Last time Safari Jeff was in town, he put on a live show,

and Jeremy got to touch a big snake, and a turtle...

This time, they got to sit on a giant plastic ant... : /

We were a little disappointed...

Sleeping Beauty....

2011-02-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

Daddy reads to Gracie...

2011-02-21T14:05:00.001-08:00

Honey and Bugs

2011-02-19T08:29:00.001-08:00

Skating Comedy of Errors...

2011-02-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

What's funnier then watching a parent who doesn't know how to skate

on the ice with his kid?

Two parents who don't know how to skate

trying to teach two toddlers...

Kendal and I took the kids skating last weekend...
It was NOT fun...LOL!

First of all, I can skate, but haven't in years...

and trying to do it with a 2 year old girl who has never been on skates??

I will leave it to your imagination.

It did get better...

In the beginning she cried because she was on the ice...

When we went to leave, she cried because we were leaving...LOL!

Kendal and Jeremy did better...

By the time he got off the ice with Jeremy,

he was able to walk on the ice without help...

And so could Kendal!

We probably will try again...

After some good tranquillizers...LOL!

Snow day....

2011-02-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

This is the first day in ages where it has been warm enough

for the kids to go play outside.

Jeremy was frustrated because his bike was buried right up to the handle bars,

while Gracie was content to try and find the swing....

I am just relieved to let them burn off some of that pent up energy

from being cooped up in a small house....

New haircut for the new year..

2011-02-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

A haircut every two years is good right? LOL!

I thought it was time...

The before haircut..although it is hard to tell..it is in a pony tail..

After....

Dinner at Flavors of India

2011-02-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

On Friday last week, Kendal and I went our for dinner at a local Indian restaraunt

called Flavors of India.

It is one of our favorite restaraunts, but we haven't been there since last May.

We went with some friends of Kendal's from work..

One of the guys Rahul...just moved here from India

and so he knew what he was ordering better then we did...

but it was all very good...

It doesn't look like much here, but TRUST ME... It was really good.

Another appetizer

Kendal's buddies from work

Happy New Years!

2011-01-03T06:46:00.000-08:00

This is belated, but Happy New Years!

We were unable to post for a while,

due to the fact my computer decided it deserved a Christmas break as well...

It broke... My husband had to wipe it completly clean,

and rebuild the whole thing...

But here we are again! :)

Nice clean computer for the New Year!

Really Mark's Work Wear World? C'mon...

2010-12-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

I am not normally the "go to the Manager" type... I am usually just the "I'm not going to EVER go back there again" kind... but in this situation.... I am taking it to the top. There is such a thing as customer service... and I feel that this store should check into it... and possibly also some sensitivity training...

This is the story I shared on facebook... and also on Twitter.

So basically what happened was that Gracie was being a little monkey in the store..and throwing some massive tantrums. i am NOT even going to defend her... she was being horrible... She was fine in Costco and for some reason when we went into Work Wear she melted down... so I told the girl who was helping me find a present for my Son in law that I was just going to get a gift card instead, because she was just being too hard to manage. Then I called my daughter Krystal and asked if she could watch the kids while I finished shopping... I went in line and stood there for the ten minutes it took to get to the front, purchased the card and a couple toys for the kids... all the while trying to hold Gracie in one arm while she had her tantrum... At one point she actually ran away... (while i was in the middle of doing my debit transaction...) so I sat her on the counter where I could keep her until I finished... After that she actually calmed down, and a lady I knew in there gave me a kleenex so I could clean her up... I grabbed my purchases and took Gracie off to the side by the door (because we were leaving) and blew her nose, and was in the process of talking to her and wiping her nose and eyes... when the STORE OWNER came up to me and said... "Maam, you need to take your child and leave the store." I was already embarrassed by Gracie's behavior... and anyone who has ever had a child misbehave in public knows how humiliating that can be. I guess I could have left the second she started acting up... but I had 4 days till Christmas, and I was on the East end, while I live on the North... so it seemed easier for me to finish my transaction, and then take her home - or to Krystal's to deal with the problem.
I was extremley angry, but even more humiliated.... I have never been actually removed from a store before... and REALLY... Kick me out after you take my one hundred dollars..... REALLY???? When I am already on my way out??

My friend who was in the store and gave me the kleenex came out to talk to me and then sat with the kids while I took my items back into the store and returned all of them.... The owner disappeared.... I never did see her again... so I had to give my complaint to the young clerk and assistant manager at the counter...neither of whom would look at me, or discuss the issue.

Later that day, I went to the North store, and met with the district manager for Sask. who happened to be there that day, and is her boss. He was very apologetic... and told me he would be dealing directly with the situation himself... he is supposed to call me back tomorrow.... I told him I felt that sensitivity training for his store owners is something they might want to consider. I don't expect anyone to like me or my children or the way they behave... but I do expect to be respected even when my angels are being rotters.... and to kick me out AFTER i spent my money? Not happening... What happens to the next poor parent who is having difficulty with their kids? I don't want anyone else to go through that...

We have also twittered the situation (without using the owners name) and have already been contacted by head office...
I won't be going back to that store regardless of any apologies or situations being dealt with... It was very embarrassing...
I have also heard back from several people including some employees of Work Wear World who have either had problems with the East end store themselves... or in the case of the employees of the other store have been hearing all kinds of comments and complaints from customers for a while that there is some serious rudeness happening there...
It looks bad on the company as a whole, so I hope that it is dealt with. Unfortunately, that was my first experience in a Work Wear World, and will probably be my last...

Potty Training...

2010-12-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

I can't THINK of anything I would rather do over the holidays then potty training... :P

We are doing double duty here.. May as well learn computers and potty at the same time! :)

Would you like to write? Guest Speakers wanted...

2010-12-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Starting in the New Year... we will be doing a New Thing here at One of the Jones...
I will be accepting articles from other on-line magazines about once or twice a week...
We would also like to host articles... guest speakers from other Blogs as well...
If your interested please submit your article/ post to
elijahssong@gmail.com and I will review it and see if it would be suitable material.
Kinds of material we will be accepting?
Christian Material..
Health, Beauty
Stories..
Photography,
poetry...
any other ideas you have... however...

Please keep in mind, this is a family and faith friendly site,
so have fun.... but please keep it clean...
Hope to hear from you soon!

And this is why you DON't Want too eat cookies at our house...

2010-12-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

Visit with Santa

2010-12-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

Cute kids...

2010-12-11T09:48:00.001-08:00

Santa Visit!

2010-12-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

This year Santa pictures were done a little differently..

The Southland Mall had you schedule it in,

and then the kids had half an hour where they were able to sing some songs,

dance and have a story with Santa.

I think it probably worked with most kids..

but maybe wasn't so good for my high energy children... LOL!

Gracie didn't want to sit for the story time,

and Jeremy pulled shy and had a tantrum,

because he was nervous....

but at least we managed to get them on Santa's lap for a picture..

(which by the way.. you do yourself now...)

Glorious!

2010-12-07T23:03:00.000-08:00

When I see a day like this..

How can I possibly question the existence of an amazingly creative

and awe inspiring God.....

Terrible Beauty!

2010-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Terrible Beauty
Robyn Jones ~ 2009

Intricate snowflakes, frozen in place...

balancing carefully...

not a breath of air...

to send them shimmering to the ground

like fairy dust.

Visible one moment and gone the next...

Every branch, every blade of grass, every seed,

for as far as the eye can see,

wearing a jacket of frosty snow..

cocooned against the elements,

keeping alive a spark of life,

For springs first warm breath.

But sleeping for now..

Terrible in their frozen beauty,

As silent as death...as deep as a thought,

Dreaming silently under gray skies,

Shivering in anticiapation,

for the seasons to change their fickle favors once again...

Christmas Lights Across Canada...

2010-12-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

For the past four years, Kendal and I have been trying to make it to the Legislative Building

to watch them turn on the Christmas lights..

Tonight we bundled everybody up..

grabbed our SIL Esther...

and finally did it...

I didn't realize what a big event it was,

There was Santa and his reindeer...

prizes, hot chocolate, crafts and face painting...

and all without me and my camera...

(How's that for a first!)

My hubby did- however

take one of this very cool gingerbread house of the Leg

made by Safeway...with his cell phone.

When we got home, I did take some pictures of our facepaint..

unfortunately the kids was pretty messed up,

Mine was still pretty good...

The Wedding 2

2010-11-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

If you're fat and you know it drink green tea......

2010-11-29T08:19:00.000-08:00

A while back I said that I would keep you updated on some of the healthy changes
I was going to make in my diet...
So far, I have done pretty good..
One of the changes was to change from Cow milk
over to Almond milk...
(For more on that click Here ... or Here )
Another change I have made is to drink green tea...

Now I know a lot of people LIKE green tea...
I can't profess to be one of them...
To me it just tastes like dirty socks...
HOWEVER...
that being said...
I am now drinking two cups a day...
no milk and no sugar...

In my research of green tea.. I found these possible benefits....

University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea
inhibits the growth of cancer cells...

other possible benefits

rheumatoid arthritus
high cholesterol levels
cardiovascular disease
infection
preventing diabetes
cavity prevention
immune boosting
conception aid

Apparently this is due to the fact that it has high concentrations of polyphenols and flavenoids
Please click on the link if you would like to know what these are..
I haven't a clue... LOL!

What I DO know is that after I started drinking the stuff...
I started to lose weight!!!!
So far in a fairly short period of time,
I dropped ten pounds..
At the time, I didn't even know that green tea could help with that...
but I checked into it, because there hadn't been any other significant weight loss before that!
Wow.... so cool.

The health benefits at this point seem far more dramatic then the side affects..
which seem minimal...
The only thing to keep in mind, is that if you are pregnant,
it is probably better to stay away from it,
as it can effect the way your body uses folate
which is needed during pregnancy.
It also contains tannic acid, which when consumed in excess amounts can
increase the risks of miscarriage.
For that though, you would have to drink 8 or more cups a day...
For more info about green tea and pregnancy ... click here

It also has a reputation for helping with fertility...
A study done by the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, California revealed that the chances of conceiving doubled for woman who daily drank more than one- half cup of green tea containing caffeine (American Journal of Public Health, 1998). Because this wasn't the case for the other tested caffeinated beverages, caffeine wasn't deemed the causing agent. Some credit was given to the possibility that the polyphenols and hypoxanthine, compounds found in tea, resulted in a greater number of viable embryos, and increased maturation and fertilizability of oocytes.

Green tea also has far less caffeine in it then coffee does...
there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea
compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee...
However, if you are going to add green tea to your diet,
it would be best to limit how much coffee you are drinking...

So far as I know there have been no documented cases of death by green tea...
so drink to your health...
(and if you don't like it... plug your nose! :)

Note of interest..
For those of you who really CAN'T stand the stuff,
and can't handle the taste
They do sell green tea capsules at the health food store..
(follow the directions...)

For more information on the health benefits of green tea... please click here

This just looks wrong.....LOL!

Santa Parade!

2010-11-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

The Christmas season is here! Once again we headed off to the annual Santa Parade....
However.....
This year was far colder then normal.. -25....
Good thing we brought blankets...
and extra clothes.
Not only was it colder, but the parade seemed much longer then normal as well...
My 18 year old...in typical teenage fashion
didn't have a coat. or gloves. or a hat.
My two year old...
in typical two year old fashion...
was refusing to wear her gloves...

Goosed by a Reindeer!

2010-11-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

On Sat. we brought the kids to the Cathedral district

to go see Santa and his reindeer and visit a craft sale or two.....

We parked at Safeway, and I was taking Gracie out of her seat,

when I heard.. "Excuse me"...

I turned around and

SCREAMED!

because...

This (reindeer) was standing directly behind me

with Santa...

and his horns were...

Well...too close for comfort...

Funny thing is...

It must really be Santa,

because we never saw him

in the parking lot, or when we got out of the car...LOL!

I should add...

that the reindeer apparently was as scared as me..

because he decided to pee.

almost on top of my son...

and imagine my chagrin,

when said toddlers decided it was good times to

jump on the frozen reindeer pee...

Even worse.. the next day

Gracie found her own stuffed reindeer

and informed daddy in a gleeful voice...

that it poop ed.

(insert evil little girl giggles here....)

sigh.

Bad blogger.....

2010-11-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

WOW! I am seriously falling behind in the blogging department...

The busier I get with the photography thing.. the farther I am falling behind in everything else..

including my blog...LOL!

So... lets see.. Other then work, and home stuff.. what have I been up too...

Well...Gracie had her second birthday party....

It was late this year because we had some stuff going on in October

and couldn't have it..

We took the kids to It's a Blast..

Pretty exspensive to rent a room for half an hour..let me tell you.

I don't know what was wrong with my brain...

but I was REALLY disorganised...

forgot the birthday candles..

forgot forks.

forgot THE CAKE!

(lucky me, at least i had ordered it...so hubby went and picked it up)

Gracie had fun anyways, and was so impressed by the Spongebob cake

that she dropped all her presents and clapped her hands

when daddy brought it in...

They had fun... that's what counts right?

Not that her mom is missing her brain...LOL!

Last Sat. we had my hubby's work dinner...

It was in Balgonie, which is about 20 minutes outside of Regina...

or ... it would have been about 20 minutes out if it hadn't been so foggy...

I had to drive 70 kmp, and couldn't see anything in front of my face...

It was actually pretty scary.

However, it was dinner theater..

a play called "Lonestar Love Potion",

and the food was FREAKING amazing!

So Props to the cooks!

It was the best Christmas party we have been too since we have

lived in Regina.

Again... the drive back wasn't too much fun though... :/

The Villagers of Stiltsville

2010-11-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

The Villagers of Stiltsville

Perhaps you don’t know,

then, maybe you do,

about Stiltsville, the village,

(so strange but so true)

where people like we,

some tiny, some tall,

with jobs and kids

and clocks on the wall

keep an eye on the time.

For each evening at six,

they meet in the square

for the purpose of sticks,

tall stilts upon which

Stiltsvillians can strut

and be lifted above

those down in a rut:

the less and the least,

the Tribe of Too Smalls,

the not cools and have-nots

who want to be tall

but can’t, becuase

in the giving of sticks

their name was not called.

They didn’t get picked.

Yet still they come

when the villagers gather;

they press to the front

to see if they matter

to the clique of the cool,

the court of the high clout,

that decides who is special

and declares with a shout,

“You’re classy!” “You’re pretty!”

“You’re clever!” or “Funny!”

And bequeath a prize,

not of medals or money,

not a freshly baked pie

or a house someone built,

but the oddest of gifts—-

a gift of some stilts.

Moving up in their mission,

going higher they aim.

“Elevate your position”

is the name of the game.

The higher-ups of Stiltsville

(you know if you’ve been there)

make the biggest to-do

of the sweetness of thin air.

They relish the chance

on their higher apparatus

to strut on their stilts,

the ultimate status.

For isn’t life best

when viewed from the top?

Unless you stumble

and suddenly are not

so sure of your footing.

You tilt and then sway.

“Look out bel-o-o-o-w!”

and you fall straightaway

into the Too Smalls,

hoi polloi of the earth.

You land on your pride—-

oh boy, how it hurts

when the chic police,

in the jilt of all jilts

don’t offer to help

but instead take your stilts.

“who made you king?”

you start to complain

but then notice the hour

and forget your refrain

It’s almost six!

No time for chatter.

It’s back to the crowd

to see if you matter.

Pumpkin Hollow...

2010-10-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

Gracie REALLY likes popcorn apparently....

Last weekend we went to Pumpkin Hollow, which is quickly becoming another Autumn tradition for us... Unlike Corn Maiden Market, you do have to pay to go in, but it is really fun for the kids... This year, they had a corn maze in the shape of the Rider's Logo.. the kids loved it so much we had to go through twice... They had wagon rides, a train ride, a play area with a corn box, some animals, pony rides, a corn shoot, and a concession... The kids had a great time, and so did we...

They also had a place inside the store where you could take pictures

Gracie inside the chalk house...

Jeremy pretending to drive his "pirate ship"

The corn box...Gracie kept trying to swim in it...

Corn Maiden Market

2010-10-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my very VERY favorite time of year... I love the colors, the temp, the places I can take my kids..

Since we had Jeremy one of our fall traditions is to take the kids to a place called Corn Maiden Market in Lumsden...They have had a Pumpkin Festival every year where they have a huge Pumpkin Patch, face painting, a haunted house, sometimes a hay bale maze and make pumkin soup, hot dogs, and hot chocolate.... We love that place so every year we bundle up the kids and take them out there....take tons of pics of kids on Pumpkins and buy lots of vegies... However.. this year we were kind of disappointed. They CALLED it the pumpkin festival.... but when we went out there... there was NOTHING going on... no hot dogs.. pumkin soup... haunted house... nothing. We took some pics of the kids and went home... :( I am hoping the lack of activities was due to the fact it was bad weather this year for pumpkins... because otherwise we are going to be losing a tradition... I felt kind of bad, because we have told everyone we know about how much fun we have out there...and then this year they didn't do anything...

BLACKMAIL!

2010-10-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

BLACKMAIL.... Oh Yeah!

This is a picture EVERYONE wants of their MIL...

She has never touched a cigarette

never mind a cigar in her life..

so I couldn't ignore the opportunity

when I caught her with this candy cigar

and my daughter's hat...

Ice Cream in October

2010-10-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

It has been so warm this October

that it didn't seem at all unusual

to go for ice cream....

So off to Dessart..

My fav ice cream store...

The kids didn't care what month it was...

Gracie

Cousin Josh

Mike

Cousins Paige and Jeremy

http://dessartsweets.com/

I am not a zombie...

2010-10-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

I am not a zombie....
But I did take pictures of them...
and they weren't eating brains...
they were giving cans of food to the local food bank.

It was a very well attended event...
who could have known that being "undead" was so popular!

The walk started at the Legislative building,
and continued on to Victoria Park.

It was a "howling" good time for those who came to walk.
I say "howling" because that is what the "zombies" were doing
to the traffic...who was honking in support of them...

I also discovered that I am too fat to run ten blocks. :)

Day of the Living Dead.

2010-10-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

You've had them....

We all have...

The DAY.

No sleep the night before...

I was too afraid to sleep..I had to be up at 5.30 am for an MRI that I have been waiting for

for about 6 months..so I really didn't want to miss it...

And for WHATEVER INSANE REASON...

Kendal decided to stay up building a costume...

and I decided I wanted to edit some personal pics...

TILL 1 AM!

Smart move.

Therefore proving my son right when he asked me if I was getting the MRI...

and I quote... "to find out if I had a brain."

"No Jeremy...Mommy does NOT have a brain.".

At least not the working version.

You would think that being so tired.. I would be able to sleep...Right?

Well...think again.

Not so much. I was awake till 3am...

when finally I did fall asleep....

I did wake up at 5.30...

got out the door by 5.55 am...

Yaaa me....

IF I hadn't driven through a red light on the corner of Victoria and Albert...

Where...YES. THEY.DO. HAVE. CAMERAS.

I was so busy trying to think about which part of the road I was supposed to drive down

on two hours sleep ( They are doing massive road work and EVERYTHING is blocked)

that I totally missed the light...

I can only hope and pray that the camera was sleeping at that horrible hour.

I made it to the road I was supposed to turn on....

only to discover that it too was BLOCKED!

GREEEAAAT! I headed to the next street...and turned ...

only to find myself...going the wrong way down a one way street....

Good JOB! Once again..proving my sons comment...

I quickly turned down a back alley, and put myself back on the right street...

AND actually made it to the hospital ON TIME!

That should have been the end of my bad right?

BUT no.

The night before I had talked to the MRI department,

and they told me to park in the Emergancy parking lot,

and check in at their department, as the main one wasn't open yet.

SOOOO I did.

Only to be greeted by an extremely unpleasant receptionist...

who informed me in no uncertain terms..

and made me know just how stupid I was...

that the main admitting desk opened at 6am/....

and I should have known that...

(Why? Oh... I forgot all the time I spend HANGING in the hospital lobby!

It being such a great place and all..)

and that if I didn't move my car it would be towed.

Good thing I was only tired and not sick...

I didn't smack her... (kidding by the way...)

Sooo...now I am late...so out to my car...

Move it to the paid parking lot...

back in and now in line behind six people....sigh.

I finally did make it to the MRI department...

and the receptionist was nice...

but I got the distinct feeling that the technician

would rather have been doing ANYTHING else then

answering my dumb questions...

(dumb questions like do i have to drink anything discusting..

What temp does this bring your body up to...

and how long will this slightly neurotic and very clausterphobic person

have to stay in this cigar shaped coffin.)

She did snap at me because I didn't hear her tell me what I was supposed to do after I changed...

The test took half an hour...

I spent the first 10 minutes telling myself that I had to breath...

after that I kind of relaxed into a semi coma ... induced by exhaustion...

After it was over, I headed back to the lobby to get the cash that i needed

to pay for my parking...

and then to the info desk to ask if they had change I could feed the machine..

Where I was "TOLD" that Don't I know there is a parking attendent out there?

Um. No. If I did... I wouldn't be over here asking for change..

and....

Is this NOT information????

Wow...apparently I wasn't the only one having a bad day...

I did make it home safely after that...

and I think I will stay here where it is relatively safe...

until I meet the living dead tonight.

Yes. I did say that.

Park in Oct....

2010-10-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

cousins Paige and Autumn Grace

Paige loves Jeremy....

Jeremy loves his Spongebob watch

Auntie LA visiting from Cranbrook

LA's husband Lewis

Kendal's brother Mark

and his wife Esther...

Just moved to Regina from Kamloops!

More fall park pics...

2010-10-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Autumn Grace

Jeremy

Cousins..

Cousin Josh

Cousin Paige

Autumn Grace

Thanksgiving Weekend!

2010-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty busy Thanksgiving this year... Kendal's sister LA and her hubby came from BC to visit for the weekend, and Kendal's brother Mark and his wife Esther just moved here (yaa!) from BC, so it made for an action packed weekend... Lots of food, and card games, and pictures.....

My daughter Autumn on the swings....

Cousins Josh and Paige...

Look at those eyes!

These pics were taken on Sat. afternoon when we brought the cousins and my kids to the park to play...

Almond milk...instead of Cow milk...

2010-10-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I mentioned that I was going to make some drastic changes in what i ate...
Well, the first of those changes is switching from Cows milk to Almond milk.
I have always kind of had issues with cows milk...
Jeremy is lactose intolerant, and it gives him the runs..
and my older girls always complained it made them feel bloated and sick.

About 20 years ago it started making me feel kind of sick and gassy,
and I have just never felt quite right about drinking it,
but the alternatives didn't do much for me.
At least I liked the taste of Cow milk...
but Soy milk really discusted me..
(and I have since researched and come to believe that Soy isn't really great for us...)
I tried Rice milk as well... It had a much milder taste, but I still couldn't do it...
Then... a few weeks ago, we had a lady at our church
come in and talk about foods, and what they could do for us,
and what she believed we probable should and shouldn't eat.
I found it pretty interesting... and although I don't think I can go as far as she did
with the health food thing... I was already planning on making some serious changes
so she gave me "food" for thought... (Hehe bad pun...)
She offered up Almond milk as an alternative...so I tried it...
and I liked it!!! I haven't touched milk since... (except in my coffee...)
Then I heard something on TV about what is in Cow milk...
and that kind of made my decision final...
(after it made me sick...)
The best part?
My kids LOVE it! Jeremy BEGS me for "Nut" milk as he calls it...
We have it on cereal, and by itself..
It is great!! They also make it in vanilla and Chocolate..
which might make my kids happy...

You can buy Almond milk at Superstore,
or if you live in Regina you can buy it cheaper by the case
at a really cool store called
Body Fuel Organics..
Check out their website...
They sell Almond Breeze.... Good stuff!
They also have all kinds of other organic foods and vegies...
and some cool Bin programs going on.

Check in with us on Tuesday
When I will be comparing the benefits/ Negatives
of Almond milk vrs....Soy

Have a great weekend, and Happy Turkey Day!

Help for family and friends...

2010-10-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this on behalf of someone else, here is some advice on how to help them deal with the pain and loss of their miscarriage....

Do let your genuine concern and caring show.
Do be available... to listen or to help with whatever seems needed at the time.
Do say you are sorry about what has happened and about their pain.
Do allow them to express as much unhappiness as they are feeling and are willing to share.
Do encourage them to be patient with themselves and not to expect too much of themselves, nor to impose any 'shoulds' on themselves.
Do allow them to talk about their loss as much and as often as they want to.
Do reassure them that they did everything they could and that it wasn't their fault.
Don't let your own sense of helplessness keep you from reaching out.
Don't avoid them because you are uncomfortable. Being avoided by friends may add pain to an already painful experience.
Don't say that you know how they feel (unless you have experienced their loss yourself, and then you can be particularly supportive).
Don't say 'you ought to be feeling better by now' or anything which implies judgment about their feelings.
Don't tell them what they should feel or do.
Don't change the subject when they mention their loss.
Don't avoid mentioning their loss out of fear of reminding them of their pain (they won't have forgotten).
Don't try to find something positive about the loss (eg. a moral lesson, closer family ties, etc).
Don't point out that at least they have their other....
Don't say that they can always have another.... (they wanted this one).
Don't say that they should be grateful for....
Don't make comments which in any way suggest that the loss was their fault (there will be enough feelings of doubt and guilt already).

For more information on Women's Health and Miscarriage... check out this link...

http://www.womens-health.co.uk/miscarr.asp

They have some great information....

Now what do we do..that baby is gone....

2010-10-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

First of all, I would just like to thank all of you who had words of condolence for Kendal and I after this last miscarriage...
I am doing better now...sort of....
I am done with the miscarriage...
I have to go in for more blood work to make sure my hcg levels are back to normal...
Emotionally...well....I guess we will deal with that.

My point for telling people about the miscarriages is to get women talking about it.
It is a really touchy subject...

For those of us who have miscarried..as one woman put it to me recently...
"It's like those babies didn't exsist...
no one wants to talk about it.." Her baby was in the second trimester.

I myself have friends who when I miscarried...completely avoided the subject..
never asked me how I was..or how I was dealing with it.
It left me feeling very angry, and alone.
...and also like i really didn't have any friends....
I am very fortunate to have a husband who stands by me,
and grieved with me.

There are also those who just don't get it...
I was told once last year... "Well, at least you have some healthy children..."
Don't get me wrong... I am VERY thankful that I have been fortunate enough to have children...'
but that doesn't lessen the pain of losing the one you are carrying...

I have many friends...but if one of them dies...I don't rejoice that I still have many who are alive..
I grieve for the one who died...

Sometimes the medical community isn't very sensitive about it either..
I know a lady who had a miscarriage about the same time as me..
The doctor asked her what she was crying about anyways...
after all..she was only five weeks along....
(I should add however, that my doctor was amazing...
she has been extremely supportive, and also ordered tests
to see why this happened...I am so glad to have a doctor who
doesn't just consider me a number...)

So again...I thank those of you who sorrowed with us...
I may not have responded well... but I really did appreciate it...
we are doing much better...

So.... What to do now...

Well...
I have decided that if nothing else, this loss has indicated to me that my body needs some changes...
so I will be changing some massive things in my diet
and hopefully also getting into some kind of more regular excercise program.
When I was tested it was determined that I was low on iron...
and also folic acid...
I suspect I also am having trouble with my Progestrone levels...
And since Progestrone controls all aspects of a womans health..
I will also be checking into that one as well...
I will be sharing some of those changes in the next while...

In the meantime... Please feel free to comment,
share your experience, or your healthy ideas...
Also feel free to tweet this, or link to it on facebook...

blessings... Have a great day!

Miscarriage... :(

2010-10-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

It happened again.
The unexpected excitement when we found out we were expecting ...
even though we hadn't been trying...
The short wait...
The feeling that something was just not right..
and then...
the moment of truth.. loss of symptoms...not enough symptoms...
and then bleeding...
today an ultrasound confirming what I already knew..
more sad blood tests following the dropping HCG levels...

My second miscarriage in two years...

I know that there are people out there who don't understand.
Why would I want yet ANOTHER baby... #6 it would have been...
Aren't five enough?
Yes.... five were enough...
I LOVE... ADORE my kids...
and our choice to have Jeremy and Gracie after so many years with no kids?
We have loved every moment of it..
Even the bad ones...and there have been those.
And the tired days. And there have been TONS of those.
But...once the pregnancy was there...
we wanted that baby too.
we wanted that little one to join the family,
no matter how surprised we were that it was there..
and now.. there is a baby shaped hole,
that no one else can fill.

and now once again...in May...
I will remember that two babies could have been with us...

and I will try to understand what God meant when He told me
that I have "two little pearls waiting for me in Heaven"... treasures I can't have now."
and that "Life is His to give, and His to take away"
I wanted to hold them now instead....
I want to not feel sad all the time...
and I want to hold my youngest two all the closer,
because I am so thankful that God allowed me to have them with me now...

I did not want to go to church on Sunday,
and watch another lady be healed of her sore knee
when I was watching a dream slip away...
and I didn't want to feel very angry at God....
so angry I slammed a door hard enough to shake a wall
so angry that I didn't want to pray.
(He is big enough...He can handle our sadness and anger)

I did appreciate my OB and his wife,
who prayed with me, and said they will continue to do so at home.'
I know they will.

so for now...these words are my hope and comfort...till I feel better....
and I will.

though he slay me, yet will I trust him." .... "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

I struggled as to whether or not to share this, as we didn't really tell many people we
were expecting this time,
but I feel that more moms need to know it is ok to talk about death...
about loss.... miscarriage at all stages....
It is ok to grieve... and No...you never really get over it..
or forget. That is ok too.

so many avoid talking about it because it is uncomfortable...
but those babies were real to us, even if they were with us for a short time...

Please feel free to share your story.. or e-mail me if you like. I would be happy to pray for you..or just talk...

Whether you feel it or not...God will walk with you.

A new blog...

2010-09-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Just letting you all know, that I am still alive and kicking...
I haven't abandoned our family blog,.
but have been kind of overwhelmed with the photo work I got this summer..
on that note...
I also haven't had much of an exciting life lately...so not much to share...LOL!
Please feel free to check out and follow our new photo blog

One of the Jones Photography!

Also feel free to visit us on Facebook, under the same name!
Blessings everyone....

The Real Food Movement

2010-09-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

I'm not really a "granola" kind of girl... I kill everything I have ever tried to grow in a garden, and I am more for convenience then "making it myself..." But... lately I have been thinking a lot more about the kinds of food we eat, and how good they are for us.... I have been shopping in some of the Farmer's markets in our area trying to support our local economy, and hopefully avoiding some of the crap that gets sprayed on the veggies in big farms... What am I discovering? Well... Cheap doesn't equal Good...that's for sure... So I have decided to try and change the way I shop this year... More food from farms..and from closer to home.Here is an article and a video if you are interested...

Is the price of cheap food worth it?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/egg-recall_b_687882.html

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-08-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

For more Wordless Wednesday

click here!

The Wedding...and excuses....

2010-08-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...

My summer was hijacked!

Between bad weather, which has literally prevented us from going to the beach,

Kendal's change of jobs,

and all of a sudden being paid for some photography work....several times over...

(unplanned by the way) We have ended up being very busy....

not to mention how long editing takes...

We are hoping to at least make the beach once this summer...

but the way it is going...I don't know... :(

At least we aren't in BC this year...

Where they are having something like 55 forest fires...

They aren't having much of a summer either...

That all being said...

Here are some more pics of the beautiful bride...

The Wedding...

2010-08-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

Talking with Pastor Doug while waiting

for the wedding to start....

Ashley

Vanessa

Chelsea

Proud daddy walks his girl down the aisle...

tearing up.... :)

2010-08-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Wedding dress...

2010-08-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Carly's wedding dress has to be one of

the most beautiful ones I have ever seen....

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-08-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

At the motel....

For more Wordless Wednesday...

Click here...

Defibrillator?

2010-08-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

What's up with this?

Kendal and I are driving home from Saskatoon...

and this is the shell Gas station about 10 minutes out of town...

We usually stop there because of ease...no traffic ect...

However, this time I saw this sign...

First off, I thought it was a little odd... we are only about ten minutes out of 'Toon...

But.... OK...What ever...

When I went in...I ask...

"What's up with the defibrillator?"

The response?

"What's a defibrillator?"

So.... I try another attendant..

"Why do you guys have a defibrillator....?"

The response?

"We do?"

Ok... GUYS! If you are going to have a defbrillator...

and advertise it...

1. KNOW WHAT IT IS!

2. KNOW WHERE IT IS!

3. Don't you think SOMEONE should know how to use it?

Glad I wasn't in need...LOL!

Prep...cont....

2010-08-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

Prep...cont..

2010-08-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

Wedding Preperations began!

2010-08-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

After the hair was all done,

it was off to the Ramada

where they were staying, so everyone

could have make up done,

and dress themselves in all of their wedding finery

Chelsea getting her make up done...

Carly, the bride....re-writing her vows again...LOL!

She is one of the most super organized people I know...

The bouquets..

The detailing on the dress

Bridesmaid Ashley

The bride getting her make up done...

The finished product....

2010-08-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

More Hair Care....

2010-07-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Looking good girls!!

The Hair!

2010-07-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

7.30 am comes early to a bride who is eager to get married...

but they were all there on time!

Somehow I managed to beat them to the punch...

and SURPRISE!

Pictures before the big day has even started...

They went to Rumors
The hair dressers were great..and very efficient....

Only finished part of the hair..
and she already looks great!

The hair dressers name is Brooke...
and she did an AMAZING job!

Chelsea (bridesmaid) and Ashley (bridesmaid)
chill as they wait for their turn under the heating iron..

Maid of Honor Vanessa
having her hair done...

Beach Days....

2010-07-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Brides and Babes.... sneak peak....

2010-07-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some unedited sneak peaks at the beautiful bride and groom...

I just couldn't wait to see them again...

WELL! That was a pretty busy weekend.... Unbelievable actually....

I just shot my first professionally paid wedding...

I have done many pictures as "favors"

but it is so different to be "the" photographer...

It was SO much fun....and SO much work....LOL!

Also...Kendal was doing the DJing for them...

which meant we both had full time jobs...

The bride and groom are actually friends of ours,

We knew Carly first...

We met her through another friend of ours

when they roomed together...

We have had lots of fun together...

Games nights...

building gingerbread...

food....

Games nights....

oh...did I say that?

Carly is great with kids...

and they like her too...

for example...

My son is in love with her...

In his words when he saw a picture of her on the computer yesterday....

"I Love them...."

Kendal, says... "You love them?"

Jeremy, ".....Well.....no... I love her"

Kendal, "You don't love Matt?"

Jeremy , "No...I just love her...."

(Look at her...do you really blame the boy?)

It's ok Matt...Kendal and I like you...LOL

I know you guys are going to do great...

There is NO WAY.. the pics could do justice to how beautiful Carly looked....

Congrats guys...we love you...

Matt...you are one lucky dude....

So...as if that wasn't enough...

We had a good friend who happened to be in Regina

with her husband this weekend as well...

We were great friends with her when we lived in Williams Lake,

and so it was really great to be able to see her and her little babe,

and meet her husband...

My ML and FL (Who were her pastors)

and Kendal were able to see her on Sat. for breakfast...

I was working, but we met them yesterday

at our favorite ice cream store.

It was awesome....

Have a safe trip back guys!

Old Post made me laugh....

2010-07-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

http://oneofthejonesat.blogspot.com/2010/02/80s-hair-and-lobsters.html

Since I can't really put up any pictures right now..I thought I would share a link to an old post...
Sometimes it is amusing to see what you have written in the past...
Sometimes it is just embarrassing!

What is your most embarrassing.... amusing post...
Give me a link...
I would love to showcase it for you!

ARGH!!!!

2010-07-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ok...so Blogger is driving me crazy today...and won't let me download any pictures...
however, I did manage to add some onto my Project 365..
So feel free to click on the link in the sidebar and check it out...
My kids are so silly sometimes! :)

2010-07-20T09:05:00.001-07:00

One of the Jones Photography is now on Facebook!!
Check out our badge in the sidebar...

Random camping pics...

2010-07-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

No more trading for you, Vishnu

2010-07-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

Attempt to open accounts in deities' names
Court says gods for temples not trading
Would be difficult to take action against them
AN Indian court has ruled that Hindu gods cannot deal in stocks and shares, after an application for trading accounts to be set up in their names.

Two judges at the Bombay High Court yesterday rejected a petition from a private religious trust to open accounts in the names of five deities, including the revered elephant-headed god, Ganesha.

"Trading in shares on the stock market requires certain skills and expertise and to expect this from deities would not be proper," judges P.B. Majumdar and Rajendra Sawant said, according to Indian newspapers.

The trust, owned by the former royal family of Sangli, in western Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, brought the case after successfully securing income tax cards and savings accounts for the deities.

But National Securities Depository Limited rejected the trust's application for permission to open trading accounts, arguing that it would be difficult to take action against the gods in the event of irregularities.

"Gods and goddesses are meant to be worshipped in temples, not dragged into commercial activities like share trading," the judges said.

Ganesha, also known as Lord Ganpati, is one of the most popular and well-known gods of the Hindu pantheon and is worshipped widely in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Posted by Kendal W Jones

Project 365??

2010-07-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

I know it is a little late in the year to start Project 365...since it is like.....JULY....
but I wanted to give it a shot anyway...
So my question is...
Does anyone know who started this,
and how you link up????

Beach Days!

2010-07-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

This is the ONE of two days we managed to get to the beach this summer...

The weather has been completely un-copperative...

Normally we are there every chance we get!

The kids had fun any way!

Although I did end up having to jump in the lake

with all my clothes on, after Gracie fell in....

Daddy and Jeremy always build big sand castles at the beach.

It's their thing to do...

This is Gracie AFTER she fell head first into the lake,

and I had to jump in and rescue her...

I couldn't believe the grown man next to her,

Who stood there watching her not able to swim,

head under water, and DIDN'T grab her!!!

The finished product complete with mote..

Before leaving the beach...

tradition says, that the boy has to sit VIOLENTLY

on each sand castle he has built that day....LOL!

Rocco Fiorentino

2010-07-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

This young man may not be able to see, but God has given him an amazing gift in his voice...
I saw him for the first time on Sesame street, where they like to create understanding for people with disabilities..
What an amazing musician and a very strong jazz singer.... right up my alley....
As far as I can see Rocco Fiorentino, a 13 year old blind teen from New Jersey sure isn't disabled!
Have a listen....it is worth it!

What to do after camp is set up...

2010-07-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

After the tent is set up,

you just have to try out the bedding... :)

Setting up the tent was hard work...

A man's gotta eat...

Look at the mischief in those eyes...

It is always there...

I am in soooo much trouble...

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-07-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

For more Wordless Wednesday,,,

click HERE!

Camping!

2010-07-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! The weather held out enough so that we could go camping...
It was only for a night, but at least it was something...
We haven't even been to the lake once this summer
VERY unusual for us,
but it has been raining so much that every time we wanted to go,
it hasn't been feasible.
Even the day we chose to go, was a little questionable...
They were saying rain was possible..
Jeremy has been bugging us ever since April this year to go,
so we decided we would just give it a shot...
We went to Echo Lake, which is only about 45 minutes
out of the city...just in case the rain chased us away...

Jeremy was VERY excited,
and insisted on helping to set up the tent....so daddy gave him little jobs here
and there so that he could feel like he was "helping"

Gracie also helped by chewing on the tent pegs...

Gracie was just excited to be outside of the car, and running around...

um....wow...so that's the secret to a happy marriage...

2010-07-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

Take notes folks...LOL!
This ... found in the highly reliable onion
(wink wink...)

CHICKASAW, AL–Though they've weathered some rocky times during their five years of marriage, Dale and Sheila Hefko have managed to stay together. The couple's secret? Their lack of a second car.
Dale and Sheila Hefko and the lone car which holds them together.
"This marriage hasn't exactly worked out like I expected, but we're determined to stick it out," he said. "At least until I get my own car so I can still get around."
"So long as we've only got one car between us," Dale continued, "ain't nobody's going nowhere."
Sheila expressed a similar determination to preserve their sacred union, held together by the used 1990 Ford Escort she and Dale bought for $3,100 in 1995.
"Last Friday, when I found out about Dale and [neighbor] Rhonda [Geilstead], I was gonna kick him out of the house for good," Sheila said. "But I knew he'd take off in the car if I did, and I had to go to the dentist in Mobile on Saturday. I wasn't about to wait two months for a new appointment, so I didn't even bring the Rhonda thing up."
Despite their difficulties, the Hefkos realize that divorce is not something to be taken lightly.
"Even if the court says I get the car," Sheila said, "I can't take it, because then he don't have no way to get to work, and he gets fired and I don't get child support."
Also factoring into the one-car couple's decision to stay together are their children, Jesse, 4, and Naomi, 1.
"If it weren't for the kids, maybe we wouldn't still be married," Sheila said. "But as it is, I need to get them to the babysitter's and the doctor, and I've got to get to the Piggly Wiggly in Prichard for baby food and diapers. Take all that away, and I'm doing a whole lot less driving."
The car is also needed to transport Dale and Sheila to their respective jobs, as well as to get Dale to his monthly meeting with his parole officer. Sheila described a typical day: "At around 8 a.m., I drop Jesse off at Kidcare, then I take Naomi over to one of my friends, usually Bobbie or Angie, because Kidcare won't take Naomi until she's 2. Then I wake up Dale, and he drops me off at my waitressing job at the Toot Toot Steak House, then he heads off to the screen-door factory for second shift."
Surprisingly, it was Dale and Sheila's mutual need for a roommate, not a car, that brought them together.
"When I dropped out of high school, my mom kicked me out of the house, so I was just sleeping on people's couches until I could find a place," Sheila said. "Then, when I started messing around with Dale, he said he'd dump his girlfriend if I moved in and picked up her rent. After a few months I got pregnant, so we got married."
Five years later, the pair is still together.
"It's damn near impossible to find a cheap car that isn't gonna end up costing more to fix than what you paid for it," said Dale, who regularly scans the classified ads and visits used-car lots. "See, when you're buying a car, you've got to think of things in terms of the long run. When you sign your name on that title, that car's yours, for better or for worse."

Friday Follow!

2010-07-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! Friday again already!

Hard to believe...

Let's see if we can make it through a weekend without any rain...

In the meantime..grab a cuppa coffee...

and check out some great blogs!

Here are the rules..

Social Parade Followers Friday Blog-Hop is a weekly link-up hosted by Smart and Trendy Moms . We created it for socializing and to get new followers, subscribers, readers without feeling overwhelmed. Every week will be a new link-up that will focus on following blogs.
And don't worry you do not have to carry this button or any button of ours on your side bars. Your blog sidebars are great real estate and we respect that : ) The button needs to be posted in your participation post only.

How it works-Follow this blog and Grab the link-up button and post It's a Social Parade-Follow on Fridays on your blog!. Every Friday a new linky will be posted.

To participate.

    * Follow the blog in the first spot(That is this one!). I will follow all on the linky as time allows! All blogs participating must post about Social Parade every week.
    * Link-up your blog post for "It's a Social Parade" that you made on your blog. See the F.A.Q and Updates for help
    * Follow as many as you like commenting on their POST as you do so they can follow back!
    * If you do not make a post and link that up, it is unlikely that someone will search around for a post to comment on.
      DO NOT LINK TO THIS POST UNLESS YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL PARADE-YOU MUST LINK TO YOUR POST ABOUT SOCIAL PARADE. For

Book Review!

2010-07-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

Always a reader, recently I joined a group for bloggers called BookSneeze!

The idea behind this website, is that you request a book from their list of

available books, read it, and then review it
on your blog, and on a consumer website like

Barnes and Noble

It is a win-win situation for everyone!

They get a (hopefully) honest and well written review...

and you get a book to keep!

Being the avid reader that I am...

Here is the first of many more reviews to come...

"Jesus Calling!

Enjoying Peace in His Presence"

by author

Sarah Young

Do you desire more out of your relationship with God?

Do you want to know Him in an increasingly intimate manner?

Would you like to hear His voice?

If you do, then... this is the devotional for you....

365 days of inspirational messages,

guiding the reader to learn more about trusting the Saviour.

Beautifully bound in leatherflex.

the simple attractiveness of this book

makes it a eye catching addition for the coffee table,

or the bookshelf.

However, don't think it is only decorative!

I was drawn in immediately by
Sarah's timely devotional

messages,

each one penned during her own personal, intimate time with God.

Sarah's own search for Jesus' Presence and Peace is evident,

as she practices "journaling" the Words she felt Jesus gave to her.

Her writing is clear, precise, easy to understand

and written in the language of this generation.

As I read through the pages, I felt as though Jesus

was speaking to me where I am in my spiritual walk today.

I look forward to spending more time is this wonderful

devotional as I read it a second time during my own quiet times with God!

I give this book

FIVE BOOKMARKS!

out of five...

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-07-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

A night out!

For more Wordless Wednesday...

click here!

People watching 101...

2010-07-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is having a GREAT summer!

Funnel Cloud or Not?... and Social Parade..

2010-07-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

My three year old son and I were standing outside

watching a storm coming at midnight.... (Yeah...once again I know...GREAT mommy! LOL)

and this is the cloud formation we saw drop a couple of blocks away from us.

We don't get many tornados right in Regina here,

and I know some of you...expecially in the States see them regularily...

So maybe some of you could tell me

if this looks like the start of a funnel cloud?

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-06-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

Kids of summer...

We can now also be found on

Facebook...

Look for One of the Jones Photography!!

For more Wordless Wednesday..
click Here!

How does TIna take pictures?

2010-06-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

After yesterdays post, my friend Tina from

Gaining Insights

left this pic on my facebook..

It appears that you CAN take a better picture

if you throw your everything into your own posture.... ;p

Anyone else have any "picture taking" poses

they would like to share??

How do you take a picture?

2010-06-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday.... I fell off a cement wall trying to take a picture of

my husband throwing my little girl in the air...

In honor of that...I share the following pics I found on

DP Photo Journal

Anything to take a picture...

Right?????

My kids and grand kids...

2010-06-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Cassidy (grand daughter)

Talon (grand son)

Jeremy (son)

Social Parade Fridays!

2010-06-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Social Parade Follow on Friday Blog-Hop for 6/25 STARTS NOW!!!

Social Parade Followers Friday Blog-Hop is a weekly link-up hosted by Smart and Trendy Moms . We created it for socializing and to get new followers, fans, subscribers, readers without feeling overwhelmed. Every week will be a new link-up that will focus on following blogs, getting new readers to your blog! We will have Wild Card week to focus on the other ways you engage people with your blog. Its about fun one follower,fan and reader at a time!

And don't worry you do not have to carry this button or any button of ours on your side bars. Your blog sidebars are great real estate and we respect that : ) The button needs to be posted in your participation post only.

How it works-Follow this blog and Grab the link-up button and post It's a Social Parade!. Every Friday a new linky will be posted. You have to link up weekly.

To participate.

Facebook... Good or Bad?

2010-06-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

I have been on ~~facebook~~ crackbook now for a couple of years...
and believe it or not..after all this time..
I am still undecided as to whether it is a good or a bad thing...

As a tool...It is great..
I keep in touch with people I haven't seen in years...
I can update my family and friends with pics, videos
without making a call...and anyone who knows me knows I hate the phone...
I am able to reach my older children most of the time
which is good, because they are almost impossible to reach them any other way..
They are connected, so I am connected...
It is also a great marketing tool,
you can reach everyone in your target list with one push of the button...

HOWEVER
and this is a big However...
Why is it, that people feel the need to discuss every aspect of their lives in one sentence on facebook..
Really folks..I don't want to know what happened at that party,
and who slept with who....
I also find that some of the biggest misunderstandings happen on face book...
Internet communication has been known to be confusing at the best of times..
but make a statement on facebook and EVERYONE feels that they need to voice their opinion...
Some of the biggest arguments have been started by people misunderstanding what others are saying..
or not being careful when posting their remarks...
or WORSE...by purposefully leaving rude comments on the main page to be witnessed by others..
In the last several years, there has been countless cases of bullying on Facebook...
At least one that I know of...ended in the young persons suicide..

AND.. if someone chooses to remove a comment...
it is their progative..no matter if you agree or not...
after all.. it is their page.

If you follow me on Facebook..or on One of the Jones..
You know I love Photography...
I don't mean little L love...I mean LOVE photography..
I don't claim to be great at it...
I am learning all the time in fact...
I am blessed enough more recently to be able to do some photography jobs..
and I LOVE it... I love working with the people..
I LOVE learning about their lives..
I LOVE being able to give them something they can treasure forever...
I LOVE telling the story...in photos...
I LOVE the whole process of taking the picture...editing and seeing the finished product..
Will I continue on in a more professional manner?
At this time..I don't know.
I would like to at some point but...
I am happy being a mommy to my little ones...
and doing the photography jobs I am doing now is keeping me busy as it is.

This should never have been an issue, but it has become one,
since another person wasn't happy with my response when I removed some comments
on my facebook..
I should have e-mailed right away and told them why I guess,
but I wanted to discuss with my husband how to handle
something I wasn't comfortable with while at the same time
causing the least amount of friction.

Unfortunately that didn't happen,
as the person in question decided to make it personal,
despite a lengthy e-mail explaining my reasoning, '
and welcoming PRIVATE discussions about my work in the future..
Instead this person actually called me names,
called my faith into question,
and blocked me from facebook!!!!

Wow.
These are the times when I question my reasoning for being on facebook.
In the words of Thumper.....
"If you can't say anything nice...then don't say anything at all...."

So...now it is time for open discusssion.

What do you REALLY think of facebook.
Do you feel people should be allowed to delete comments off of their own page?
Say what they want on their status updates?
Do you feel facebook has been a detriment to our society? Or a good thing...
I would love to hear what you have to say....

and in this forum I AM welcoming both negative and positive comments..
just try to keep it polite... :)

No, I am NOT a bad Mother...

2010-06-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

NO...this is NOT a giant mud puddle in front of my house..

and NO, I would NEVER let both of my children

run around with all their clothes on

in said mud puddle

for an hour..

while the neighbors gave me odd looks..

I wouldn't do that.

and I especially would NEVER take pictures of it....

and post it on line for everyone to see...

Our one day of Summer...

2010-06-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

One of the Jones now has a photography page...

Just search for One of the Jones Photography on facebook!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-06-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

For more Wordless Wednesday...

click here!