HAPPY 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Well, we have made it another year! (Ok, it's 2 days early...we got married August 2nd, but I think I can say we made it another year. We don't plan on divorcing this weekend or anything LOL
This makes a total of SIX years married, and TEN years together :) TEN! We have gone through so much, both good and bad! But-we are still the best friends that we were when we first met my freshman year of high school! Here are some pics of us back in tha day!

Our last homecoming dance...we were 17 years old here!

Our very first Christmas as a married couple...this was taken at Pam and Kevin Decranes :) We look so young here! We didn't imagine that one month later we would be pregnant with our little girl :)

And-this picture is so beyond special to me. Not only does it mark one of the most important days of our lives, it contains 2 extra-special people. The Ring Bearer in the picture is my cousin, Jacob Hughes, who passed away in May 2007 at 10 years old. The usher to the far right is Chris Hampton, who was in a HORRIBLE car crash in November that left him comatose for weeks. He had major bruising of the brain-stem, and is still recovering in a nursing home facility. We are all faithfully praying for the day he fully recovers and can walk/talk/be a regular 25 year old again!

We don't have very special anniversary plans...we are still going to Ruston on Sunday mornings to lead praise and worship, so we decided to book a suite at a hotel in Ruston. We'll have dinner at our favorite local restaurant, and enjoy sleeping in a couple extra hours on Sunday morning (The church is 5 minutes away, instead of 2 hours! YAY!!!)

To Do List: Item #2 Meal Plan (and Shop) for One Whole Month

Picture 1: This isn't in an order. I have all our "like food groups" across each row. Ground beef, chicken, vegataria/seafood, beef, pork. As we make the listed meal, I X it out so I know what I have made and haven't made in awhile. I think this is 30 meals, 4 of which are our "once a week" treats of eating out/ordering out. You can actually click the pictures and enlarge them if you'd like to see what the Jones family is eating in August! LOL

As we use items, I have this list under our meal calendar. We just x off what we need, and add a number out beside it if we need more than one. It helps to have the items pre-printed, as I often remember something we need while looking at the list! There are also spaces to fill in your own items.

My Planner: I used to plan an entire month of meals/dates, but found that sometimes we just didn't feel like eating what was on the menu, or something comes up and we don't have time to go "all out" for dinner. This lets me look at just the week and plan for 5-7 days at a time. It also helps to plan in pencil, as you see i've had to switch meals (This happens alot, and I do USUALLY have it in pencil! LOL) I also keep track of appointments, etc. so I know when I will need to have a "quick fix" listed there.

*Yes-this is a Vera Bradley planner :P I know someone will see this, and point it out on Facebook! LOL


And-this is our daily supper reminder! I write out our entire meal plan for that night, with any instructions for Kyle to do while on his lunch break. (IE-Turn crockpot to low around 1pm, or take out ribs at lunchtime to thaw in time for supper) And-it is Fleur de Lis, and matches the kitchen :D

*yes-my kids DO love veggies: brussel sprouts aren't a dirty word around here :)

Next on my list-Touch up the front door paint! No too hard...we have to do it 2-3 times a year, especially after summer, bc the sun hits it all morning an causes the paint around the glass to peel. I'm also looking for a small garden flag to put by the front door...not sure what I want on it yet. Maybe a "J"...or birds...or flowers...or a Fleur De Lis...hmmmmmmm.

When I Said ALL Boy Clothing Was Ugly, I Lied...

Toddler Boxer Briefs are TOOOO CUTE! LOL

Here he is modeling them :) I found these at Target and had to get a pack. We've totally, 100% potty trained in about 2 months. He went from diapers to "undies only", even at night-time.

To Do Before School Starts List! Item #1 Organize the Pantry

BEFORE: Lots of junk just crammed where ever it would fit :)

AFTER:

Top Shelf: Kitchen gadgets that aren't used daily, Fiestaware boxes, some extra punch bowls and platters

Lower Shelf: Lunch bags, Bread/Buns, Cake Decor stuff, cookbooks that aren't used often
Top: Breakfast items-oatmeal, grils, granola bars, cereals, granola for parfait, poptarts
Bottom: CANS! LR-Tomato products, vegetable, "cream of" soups, canned soup, canned milk


Snacks on the bottom shelf!!! Cakes, canned fruit, nuts, raisens, pudding, individual cookie packs





Top: prepackaged dinners (chinese kits, macaroni grill noodle kits, taco kits, peanut noodle kits)
Bottom: Spice rack, nice and neat now!!! Also-extracts and flours

Top: Packaged Side Dishes (rice, noodles, beans) Bagged soups for the CP

Bottom: DRINKS! Gatorade, Lemonade, Coconut Rum, Tea, Juice, cokes, bottled water

Top: Baking Items (Pancake mix, brownies, muffins) Grains/Oats, Hot Drink mixes

Bottom: Sauces, Gravies, Vinegars, Oils, Sugars, Jellies, Peanut Butter

Top: Pasta Sauces, Noodles

Bottom: Right side of the bottom shelf: Snacks! Bagged Individual chips, crackers, fruit snacks

What I threw out!!! LOL

Beautiful Bella

A most recent picture...I can't wait to meet my new cousin!

16 Weeks Today!

No pic, but something even better! Movement! I have been feeling Baby Three wiggle since last night, and it's really fun~I absolutely LOVE being pregnant!

Family of Five=New Ride!

Yesterday, we took a trip to Walker Honda to take a peek at a couple of SUV/Crossover vehicles. We were shown a great-priced Ford Freestyle, but it was a little too "mom car" for me. Plus-I don't drive Fords.

We then browsed through the minivans (I love Odysseys, I have owned one before). But-there were no new models, which was a must for me. Finally, we looked at the Pilots and I fell in love. There were 2 silver ones out of the showroom floor, and we were told there was one that was a lease and was just traded in that day. I wanted to see that one, because I didn't want to go with silver. So-saw it, drove it, fell it love.

It is a Honda Pilot EX-L. It is trimmed in all leather, with seatwarmers and auto ac. Moonroof, power everything, annnnnnd: the best part, it seats EIGHT! We can have 3 more kids! LOL (That was Kyle's joke...I didn't laugh quite so much)

I am in love :) I'm glad to finally get to own an SUV after driving a Civic/Accord/Odyssey/2nd Civic!

Isabella Ziyu Smith!!!

My aunt and uncle have been in China for several days, adopting their first baby. They met Isabella Ziyu finally. She is safe and sound with them in their hotel in China! Follow along with their blog...if you look on my sidebar, the title is "Baby Smith".

I can't wait to meet my new cousin!!!

Allllmost 16 Week Belly

I feel AMAZING!!! No more morning sickness, i'm not all big and awkward yet, and I have been having these huge bursts of energy. I'm trying to tackle all the big projects while I feel good, before I have to go back to work next month.

The Incredible Naked Hulk

Taylor and Me Pics (Plus-my new 'do)

Yay for new haircuts!!!

Taylor's Goofy Smile


"Let Me See How You Are Smiling...Do Like This..."

Cute Picture!

Princess Playtime

There are no words... :/

OB Appointment Today...

And things are great! Blood pressure was down, i've only gained 2 lbs, and we got to set up our ultrasound appointment for August 4th! I can't believe we'll know what the baby is in 3 weeks...everything is just flying by this go-round!

Taylor Brag

Taylor (who is 4) has started to READ!!! She can sound out words, and knows her basic "sight words" that they teach in 1st and 2nd grade. She is so proud, and likes to laugh and ask us "Why am I so smart?". LOL

(I tell her not to brag, promise!)

Chase Brag

We have been potty training for about a month (I think...), but it wasn't until this week that Chase became a Potty Pooper! He has had A LOT of anxiety over it, and finally realized this week that is isn't so bad! Yay! I still put him in a pull up at night, since you never know if he will wake up wet or not. But-during the day, he brings himself to poop AND pee,and cleans up too! (I don't do anything but praise him, and do the "potty" dance...it's nice!)

Kee's Park

Since the weather has been a bit cooler, we decided to spend the morning at the park! (If you aren't from around here, this is the park that is across the street from us. Our house front faces the side of the park...) It was still pretty warm, and the kids got sweaty fast, but we still had fun :) Enjoy the pics, and don't forget to check out the video at the end!

Here is a Chase video. He has always been a little monkey, but lately he is just getting to be such a big KID. (I still call him my baby though). Here he is giving me a heart attack...again. This pole is about 6 feet tall.

Sorry it's sideways...LOL

Happy (Early) 6th Anniversary to Me! My new obsession...

I decided that I wanted some new dishes, and checked out the Fiestaware website. Our kitchen is a mix of browns/creams/black/white. Very neutral...very LITTLE color. So-what else do you buy for color other than Fiesta? :) We went with 2 colors, but I want to add the Shamrock greens in with it over the years. I never realized these were pricey dishes, but they really add up. Right now I have seating for 8 (4 red, 4 yellow), and eventually want 12(add 4 green). So-Christmas and birthday...you know what to get LOL (This means you mom...Erica)

I have also had people tell me that they had these dishes handed down to them from moms and grandma's, so it would be neat to have a collection to give to Taylor one day :)

14 Week Belly...

Here I am! 14 weeks exactly, one pound gained total. I am still wearing my non-maternity shirts, as to not look like I am wearning a tent! LOL My pants don't fit, shirts are tight. I am def carrying all in the front so far.

*sigh* This is so going to be a boy. Think pink! LOL

Adding: Not that boys aren't awesome...I just want to buy pink stuff this time around...if we have #4, it can be a boy :) LOL

July 4th with the Joneses!

Ok, it was actually Friday, the 3rd....but who cares? :) We had a day of food, watermelon, ice cream, more watermelon, and family! It was actually nice enough to sit outside when you had watermelon, a shop fan, AND the sprinkler going! LOL Here are some pics!

Me and Kyle

Grandpa Hillard and Taylor with watermelon #1

Making homemade ice cream...Taylor was so excited to help!

Thanks for lookin!