Haley's Day

Last night was the graduation party for my niece Haley. On Sunday she will graduate from Carmel High School with approximatley 1000 classmates. (Thank goodness her last name starts with a B and not a Z!)

I remember very vividly the day she was born. My first niece, my brothers first baby. She was a big deal. It has been a joy watching her grow and change. Didn't hit me till yesterday when I was in the card aisle at Walgreens. First card I read I had to choke back the tears. Crazy.

As I left last night, Kent made the comment that he hopes he can hold it together tomorrow.... my reply.... you won't. The bond between the two of them is probably the strongest father - daughter bond I have ever seen. He has done a great job with her. She's a beauty... inside and out.

Here are some pics from last nights event... Enjoy

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thinking Thursday...

Thursday again already... wow!

I think time just continues to fly by...

I think I am very excited to be going to Indy tomorrow for Haley's graduation party...

I think it is unbelievable that she is 18 and graduating...

I think I am dreading getting everybody up and out of here in the morning...

I think that Austin's game tonight was great - we won 16 - 6...

I think so far the boys are doing great on their chore lists for the summer...

I think it's crazy that it is 10:00 and I am just now going downstairs to start making shirts...

I think I am tired of thinking!

Holiday World...

Well, today was the Beta trip to Holiday World. For those of you who don't know what happened after last weeks heartbreak, Ethan gave me the ok to go after some friends at school covinced him he would hardly see me. Not quite the way I would have like to have been invited, but I'll take what I can get these days.

It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day. Not too hot, not too cold and so sunny and bright. The park was not at all crowded, so the kids got to ride to their hearts content with virtually no lines at all.

Austin was my date for the day. I decided, at Aaron's suggestion, to really spend some quality time with him while we were there. Being one of the "middles," as I call him and Jaden, he rarely gets me all to himself and vice versa. We had a great day... We laughed together, rode rides together, and at one point almost hurled together... Basically we just hung out. He is such a great kid and very cool to be around.

I kept my distance from Ethan. When I saw that he was eating a funnel cake for lunch, I fought the urge to go lecture him into getting some real food... When I saw a group of girls from another school asking him his name and then whispering and giggling about how cute they thought he was, I bit my tounge and did not tell them to stay away from my baby... When he whizzed by me and said he was riding the Legend for the seventh time, I did not caution him on the dangers of whiplash... So all in all, I give myself an A+ in self restraint for the day.

So now, at the end of it all, I am exhausted... All my precious babies are in bed sound asleep. For reasons to numerous to mention, this day meant the world to me.

Slim in 6 update...

I am nearing the end of the Slim in 6 program I blogged about a few weeks ago. I only have eleven days to go. So far I have lost approximately 8 pounds and 10 inches. I have literally watched myself shrink. I am sure I have lost a lot more than eight pounds, but have gained a lot of muscle.

I tried on many of my summer clothes over the weekend. It was like Christmas! Clothes that I have not been able to get into for the past few years are now loose. I am amazed at the results I have been able to achieve in this short amount of time. I am also amazed I have been able to stick with it.

I feel stronger... I have more energy... I sleep better at night... And dare I say.. I have a slight bit of upper ab definition.. OMG! Everything the program promised, it has delivered. I still have a few pounds and inches to go before I reach my goal, but I have no doubt I will get there. I plan on ordering another BeachBody product after I finish this program. They have made a believer out of me. Maybe I'll send in my "before" and "after" photos.... or maybe not!

Diving In...

What a great weekend... Took a litle blog vacation and spent some much needed time outside. Also spent a little too much time in the sun and got really burned! So now as I am typing this, I am wrapped up in a blanket shivering.

The pool water yesterday was at a very comfy 85 degrees. It felt great! Ava, the daredevil, was convinced that she should be able to dive right in like the big boys. So there was a lot of screaming and fit throwing till we convinced her she couldn't. One big mouthful of water settled her down a little. Finally, outfitted in her built in life jacket swim suit and pretty pink floaties, she learned to be content sitting on the steps pouring water in and out of cups while yelling "cannonball." At least she was in the spirit of it. She will be a worry all summer. She has no fear.

Jaden was slow getting back into the whole swimming thing, but it didn't take him long to pick up where he left off last year. Austin did countless flips and flops of the board. Ethan spent most of the day on a four wheeler. Too cool to swim these days I think.

Summer is here as far as the Jones' are concerned and we are diving in head first. Cause before we know it, it will be a memory.

School's Out!.....

Well, as unbelievable as it seems... the school year has come to another close. I swear they go by faster every year.

Today, as soon as he got off the bus, Austin did what has become his traditional dive into the pool, fully clothed, shouting NO MORE SCHOOL! (Ethan would have accompanied him, had he not been at baseball practice) Today, the water was acutally warmer than the air, so it felt pretty good to him.

And so it goes... the start to a new summer. I have already printed daily chore lists for the boys, in an effort to keep myself from becoming a total slave. (more than I already am anyway) We'll see how long that lasts...

Awards night tonight. Ethan has moved up to the big leagues you know. Will be interesting to see how that goes. Will fill you in tomorrow...

With Hope...

I am adding a second post for the day. Steven Curtis Chapman is and has always been my absolute favorite contemporary Christian artist. You may have noticed a few of his songs on my playlist. Christy forwarded me a link to his website today. Apparently his 5 year old daughter was run over and killed in the driveway of their home yesterday.

The song on my playlist entitled With Hope, is from his album from several years ago entitled Speechless. Ironically enough it talks about the death of a child and the hope that we as Christians can cling to in the wake of such a tragedy. Click on it to listen. It is chilling to know that he is now living this song. Extremely prophetic.

Kind of puts your life in perspective when you realize the horrors that others in the world are going through at this very moment. I am going to go take a quiet moment to hug all my kids and tell them I love them and most importantly to thank God that I still have them all.

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/