Fieldtrips and Snow Days are Fun!!!

Last week was Tripp's field trip to Albertsons. I'm not gonna lie-I had my concerns. To me it sounded like it had potential to be boring. However, even though the presentations were a little over their heads (like, "kids, choose a cereal that has less than 10 grams of sugar per serving"),  the experience as a whole was great. Tripp absolutely loved it! The secret? While touring each department, the kids got FOOD! Here is Tripp hugging his buddy Gracie mid field trip:

 The favorite stop for most (including myself) was to the dairy section. The kids were given silk chocolate soymilk. As you can tell from the look on Tripp's face, he was given his "most favorite thing in the world!!" He didn't even know it was soy...

 At the end, each kid got to ring up their own string cheese. Tripp took his job very seriously.

 Now this is impressive-each kid took home his/her own grocery bag filled with goodies. String cheese, a banana, a bottled water, granola bar, pencil, coloring book, and a card they can use to get a free snack every time they visit Albertsons. Wow! Tripp was in heaven! Please ignore whoever's rear end is in this picture. I did not edit these like I should have.

So later in the week we had a miracle happen. That's right, we got snow! I have never in my 18 years living in Idaho seen a winter without snow. Until now. We had it for one whole day, in which my kiddos played in it and loved it. Now it's gone.

 I have never taught him to make a now angel, but apparently someone has because this is what I saw when I looked out the back door:

 I got Chantz all dressed up, boots and all, and he freaked out! He hated those boots!

The boots came off and I put him in his tennis shoes and he was as happy as can be...

 See?

 He looked so adorable in his matching hat and mittens!

Here are just a few cute pics of the kids. This is Chantz's favorite chair. And his favorite funny face to make.

 Here he is in his favorite chair eating his favorite food.

 We have a little open area in the laundry room under the counter, and the other day we decided it was a fort. The boys went inside with the flashlight and the ipod, and I draped a blanket over the opening to the fort. They were entertained for at least an hour. :)

 He's going to be a rocker.

 Or a sack of potatoes.

 Chantz likes to sit in the tupperware cupboard and throw all the tupperware out onto the floor. He almost has figured out what a pitcher is for...almost.

Me and the Trippster!



Winter Happenings

This Winter has been a great one so far! Basically I just have a lot of pictures that I wanted to share. We'll start with this: Have you ever seen a cuter little guy??

This was Christmas Eve. I was supposed to work, but got lucky and was put on call and never had to go in. So instead of working, I helped Bryant and Tripp build Tripp's new lego set that he got from Grandpa Bret and Grandma Julia.

 Here is what our front room looked like after Santa came!

 Christmas morning, Chantz was the first one up. We didn't think he would care much about the four wheeler, but it's the first thing he went to. It took us forever to get him to open the rest of his gifts because he kept climbing up on this thing:

 Obviously, Tripp loves it too!

 Chantz was very content with eating the candy out of his stocking so Tripp could have his turn on the four wheeler.

 Daddy and Chantz playing with giant sunglasses :)

 Uncle Allen and Aunt Sarah got Tripp a paint gun and despite the cold, he has been out on the back porch painting away! (Notice how he insisted on wearing his goggles from his tool kit as well)

 Bryant has taken up a new responsibility in the Jones home...giving the boys haircuts. When the task is left up to me, I take them to walmart and let somebody else do it. Bryant is brave, however, and cut both boys' hair this past week. They turned out looking great!

 The bath after Tripp's hair was cut (I insisted we keep Chantz's curly locks for a few more days):

 The next morning I came out of my room and found this-they are best friends!

 We have also been able to spend time at my parents' house this Winter. Here is Chantz with Grandpa Hessing:

Here is Chantz after his hair cut last night-so handsome!!

 Though he cried through the whole thing, he was still Daddy's boy after the haircut was finished.

 Me and my littlest angel

 Oh-and this was this morning! How sweet are they?

 Here's the gang at my parents' house last week for Trey's 10th birthday party. I can't believe he's that old!

 Best of friends-notice Chantz's long, curly hair (I'm sad it's all gone now)

As for the rest of the holidays, we were able to host a Christmas dinner at our house for some of my family and some of Bryant's family. Despite not knowing each other well, everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. Bryant cooked prime rib and it was to die for! He also surprised me this year and bought me an iphone. I think I'm getting spoiled with him always making me delicious food and buying me new toys. :) Who am I to complain though? For New Year's, Bryant and I have a very special tradition. We do nothing and go to bed early. This year we decided to make things even more exciting by drinking sparkling cider, eating chocolate, watching a movie, and then going to bed early. To be honest, I really love those quiet times at home where we can just relax and be together.

Our ward now meets at 1pm every Sunday. I am really liking the time change from 11am. Chantz has time to nap first. He started nursery and loved it the first week and was so mad about going the second week that Bryant had to take him out. I am hoping he eventually loves it. Tripp is doing better in primary, though Bryant still needs to go to class with him or he refuses to go. It helps that I am in sharing time playing the piano and he has been loving the music and is riveted during the lessons. I have hope that soon he will willingly go to class as well.

For the new year our goals are to spend less and pay off more debt. Personally, one of my goals is to spend more time on my overall health. I am planning on continuing my running and good eating habits. I am also excited to start studying the New Testament this year. I would like to learn more about the life of Christ and his ministry.

We are surviving this next dreary stretch of Winter by planning our upcoming vacations. We plan on being up in Island Park even more often then we were last year, and we can't wait!

I hope you all have enjoyed this random, scattered post. :)