Wrapping up 2010

wow! I am really behind! We have had a wonderful fall and Christmas! It has been a healthy past couple of months and I am so thankful for being able to enjoy life and my family!! Life is busy so here are a few pictures of the past couple of months. The pictures are scattered around, there is no order, sorry but enjoy.

Sittre Paige's 4k class at the Pumpkin Patch

hanging out with her class at the pumpkin patch

Roasting marshmellows for the yummy smores

Rock climbing at the Pumpkin Patch

This is not a great picture at all but it was her dance class Halloween party, she was a cheerleader this year......all her idea by the way. She told me that at school on the playground the boys are football players and the girls are cheerleaders so thats how she came up with that one.

Eating Chik-fil-a with her friend Emma

How cute are these two friends???

Okay, are you laughing your head off right now??? Stella was Dora the Explorer for Halloween. I couldn't think of anything cute this year so thats what she became. We watch Dora probably once a day and Stella loves her. Plus Dora taught Stella how to count to ten so we will give Dora credit. I made her wig by the way, out of brown yarn. I am sure Stella will possibly hate me for this costume one day.

My friend Caris and I took the SP and Stella to see Disney Princess on Ice and while we were there we ran ino SP's friend Bentley from school. We had lots of fun that day!

Stella, SP, Bentley and Bentley's sister Addison before the show.

Stella and I before the princess show started.

Caris and I relaxing back at home after Disney on Ice. Caris was such a trooper. I am sure she never wants kids now after experiencing my diva's at the show.

SP's 4k class had favorite Team day, so of course Roll Tide.

SP turned 5 in November so we made her class some cupcakes for her big day.

We had her a Hello Kitty Makeup birthday party setup in our garage.

She had Hello Kitty cakepops. Easy, easy cleanup and no cutting cake, it was great!

My mom with the girls before the party started.

SP getting her hair done at her party.

Opening her presents

With some of her precious friends, Savannah and Elly

Showing her daddy some love after the party

We took the girls to see Tangled in the theater on Thanksgiving Day. Was absolutely the cutest movie ever!! I am more excited than the girls to get the DVD when it comes out! We are pretty much a movie family, we are all movie lovers.

Stella and I in the theater

Sittre Paige's 4k Christmas/ Happy Birthday Jesus Party

cupcakes. yum.

Waiting in line to "shop". They had a goody bag store set up where the kids could go shop and put items in their goody bags. Apparently my kid was the most excited.

This was her 4k Christmas Program. She is on the 3rd row with a green bow, this is the best picture I could get because my camera doesn't take good pictures from far away.

Pops and SP after the program.

Okay wrong season right? Nope this isn't Halloween. We went shopping one night at the new Leeds outlet mall and my kids find these clearance kitty ears that they just had to have! So a week before Christmas my kids are walking around Christmas trees with kitty ears on. nice.

Jared and I took the girls to a LIVE nativity scene this year. It was really cool, SP really enjoyed chatting with the wisemen. This nativity scene had a camel, a donkey, and some goats! It was awesome.

The girls with Santa

At Bass Pro after seeing the fish. This is actually a very deceiving picture, SP looks cute but actually she is not sharing the popcorn with her sister.

Okay see these pictures are out of order, the was the pumpkin patch on the hayride

Having fun on the hayride

We took some Christmas pictures and I just loved this one of the girls

Our family, Merry Christmas

The sisters, we are all obsessed with boots this season :) I mean girls and shoes just go together.

Hopefully I can get some more Christmas pictures up on here soon.

Stella turns 2 in less than a month so I am currently working on her birthday party. With SP's birthday in November, then Christmas and then Stella's birthday in January makes for a very tired mommy. Stay tuned, our life keeps going.

Weekend in Ohio

We went and spent this past weekend with Jared's sister who lives in Ohio. We had such a great time! We left Thursday afternoon and stopped in Knoxville for dinner and to stay at our hotel, then we woke up very early on Friday to hit the road and made it to the house by noon. The girls did a great job riding in the car, and were really excited to spend time with their cousins.

Friday afternoon the kids played and then we went to eat at a place called the Pizza Cottage for dinner, we had an awesome BLT pizza!

Saturday we woke up to go to Brady's soccer game, went to a cool general store called Anderson's to shop, went and ate lunch at Culver's (best burgers ever), then Brady had another soccer game, and then we made our way to the Apple Farm to pick us some apples. Had a spectacular and busy day! We made our way home on Sunday. The girls are already missing their cousins.

Just to give you a heads up, you will see a bear in almost every picture and that's because in Sittre Paige's 4K class they have a class bear who is called "Button Bear". Each week a different child gets to bring button bear home for the weekend to take care off and then we record in a notebook what we did with button bear. We just so happened to get the bear this busy weekend, so we took button bear everywhere and he even had to have his own highchair at every restuarant we went too!! It was fun to keep up with my children AND the bear.

When we got there Friday, Abby came home from school and the girls were wearing the exact same outfit! Sittre Paige adores Abby so much, they are 2 years apart and play so good together!

Stella playing peek a boo at Pizza Cottage


The kids at Pizza Cottage

Stella and Button Bear riding in the cart at Anderson's

Eating lunch on Saturday

The girls at Brady's soccer game

Stella eating an apple at the Apple Farm. It was so cool, you just pick your apples off the trees and taste test them!!

The whole gang at the apple farm

Our family picture. I am so glad the girls decided to be cooperative. Don't you just love their big smiles??? (sarcasm)

The cousins minus Stella

He's not finished with me yet

yay!!! I'm alive!! this is my post-surgery blog by the way. Just a recap, I had my large intestine (colon) removed on August 18th due to Crohns/ Colitis. Doctors still haven't been able to pin-point exactly which one I had. But I am feeling great! I can't believe the life I am living now compared to the one I have been living this past year. I regret I didn't do it sooner.

The surgery was a success and I only had to stay in the hospital for 6 days. The pain however, was a different story. I was extremely sore to say the least. Apparently when you remove something as large as the colon from your body, your other organs have to shift and find a new place to settle, which was weird feeling that. I couldn't stand up straight for about 2 solid weeks. I was really scared that I would never stand up straight again. But I am, thank you Jesus. I was seriously eye-level with my 4 year old. For the first couple of weeks, I couldn't really stand up for longer than 20 minutes without starting to hurt. Therefore, I sat....alot. My actual first trip to Target post-surgery I had to use the motorized cart thing. I almost killed about 3 people, so I am pretty thankful for the gift of walking.

I am so appreciative of the prayers and support. I seriously would have never made it without my family and friends. I am enjoying my life so much now. I still get tired about the middle of the day, but I get to nap with my girls (advantage of a stay-at-home mom). I am gaining weight because food is all of a sudden really good!!! I feel like I missed out on so much this past year and am really ready to enjoy the holidays!!! Fall is such a busy time for us and I am excited to have the energy to do things! Sittre Paige turns 5 in November and my baby Stella turns 2 in January! Then we have a Disneyworld trip planned for February. So we should have some fun the next few months! yay!

Health is so precious. I feel I know what it is like to have it taken away. I have had the opportunity to realize the important moments that truly matter in life. I have never loved my husband more than I do right now because he has shown me how to truly love. I have never wanted to squeeze my kids more than I do right now because I didn't have the energy to a year ago. I am so thankful that God chose to heal me through surgery. He's not finished with me yet.

Here are some picture of things we have been doing since I feel good.

This was our family trip to Homestead Hollow. And this is how my children take pictures now. Look how sweet and loving they are being to each other (kidding)

Sittre Paige's 1st spend the night company. They had such a great time, started the night of at Pump It Up for a birthday party, shopped at Publix for some cereal and then ended the night with a movie.

We took a short beach trip for our 6 year anniversary with the girls. This is our seashell sandcastle.

Stella and Jared. The water was beautiful, probably the most clear I have ever seen it. And look at my stinkin' cute baby!

Daddy and girls.

My first lunch out about 4 weeks after surgery at Jim N Nicks. Yum. My oldest took this picture.

This is what happens when your camera-obsessed child asks you to take a picture of her.

Sittre Paige's 1st day of 4K.

Stella giving my brother Jacob some love.

On our way to "Meet the Teacher" Day. Obviously from this silly pose we started the day off with a cereal full of sugar :)

Sittre Paige's 4K teacher, Mrs. Newberry. Love, love her.

Had to do some posing.

What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.

Okay, seriously, I had to sneak this blog. Jared begged me not to do it, but I had to. Its my blog. Not to mention, I am one proud wife! My husband won the 2010 Leadership Award for U.S. Pipe. He is so amazing and derserving of this prestigious award! He works so hard for our family and for his job. He has been with this company for almost 11 years now, and has worked so hard to get where he is at!
This is what the award says in case you care:

Customer Service

Employee of the Year

Leadership Award

Jared Jones

For the Customer Service Team Member that demonstrates the Greatest level of Continuous Commitment to the Mission and Vision of U.S. Pipe Customer Service.

2010

Wow. So proud, so very very proud.

In Sickness and in Health

Another blog to brag about my man. Sorry, its not mushy just really to say thank you Jared. Thank you for honoring your vows. What a trying time this has been, a flare-up that lasted a year and a half and then ultimately ended in surgery. So thank you Jared. Thank you for loving me, taking care of me, and keeping your words you vowed to me on September 25, 2004. I am forever grateful for your love. You make me the happiest woman alive.

I'm forever yours, faithfully. I love you Jared.

What's been going on

Hello blog world. Its been a long time! A long time that has gone by entirely too fast! Probably because Wednesday is the big day, surgery day for mommy. If you have no idea what I mean, read the post below this one. I am still extremely scared but I do have a peace. Its what the prayers are doing, giving me a peace I can't understand. Please keep praying. Let's put that aside and see what's been going on in the Jones' household the past couple months.

Jared and his babies watching cartoons one morning. They love when daddy doesn't have to go to work. Mommy likes it too.

I took the girls to the Mcwane Center with some friends and had a blast. My girls and I had never been before and it was so much fun! I really can't wait to go back, the girls were so entertained, they have such neat things there and a little kids area for the younger babies. My girls were dead tired by the time we left! The picture above shows the girls faces.

Basically this was a huge light-brite. We have a small one at home and love playing with it, so this was cool. Jared won't buy us a big one like this. Boo.

The Mr. Potato Head Exhibit

Gus Brown and Sittre Paige checking out the fish.

The babies hanging out at Mcwane. Trust me they got to play alot, they were totally exhausted by the time we left.

The air blows out of that hose and you have to try to keep the ball up in the air. Sittre Paige enjoyed this.

Sittre Paige's 4k school closet. This is at my mom's house. My mom and I began school clothes shopping a couple months ago and didn't realize how much we had aquired. She is certainly set for school. She will start 4k on September 7th and we are excited about her new teacher Mrs. Newberry.

I got a date night with my hubby!!! ALL ALONE!!! We had an awesome time together laughing and enjoying each other. We actually do still enjoy each other! yay!

We went and spent a weekend in Hilton Head, South Carolina with my brother Jacob. We only took this one picture! We were so busy, we couldn't stop to take a picture!! The beach is awesome in SC. Look at the background with all the people and umbrellas! Its incredibly crowded there!!

Jared turned 31 and Sittre Paige thought that he would like the Pretty Pretty Princess game for his birthday gift, and let me tell you, its exactly what he always wanted!! He has been a princess ever since we got the game!!!

My brother and Jared after a ride on their toys. Why do boys love to get dirty? I will never understand apparently.

Jared turned 31 and I made him a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. HOMEMADE! Yes, I did it myself, and I was so proud because I don't do alot of baking. Okay I do NO baking. But this is my husband's favorite flavored cake so I made his wish come true and made it for him. I got the PB icing recipe off all allrecipes.com and it really was good. Extremely sweet but atleast Jared enjoyed it. He is already asking for another one.

My angel and I out to eat one night.

My little Lady Liberty. We spent 4th of July at the lake and in the boat. With awesome food. With family. Does it get any better?

Jared took a day off one Friday so we could have a family day just us 4 on the lake. Sittre Paige and I rode the tube together for the first time! I love hanging with my girlies and husband!

I got to take a beach trip with just my girlfriends at the end of June. What a much-needed vacation!! Wonderful girl time with wonderful friends. I am already pumped for next years trip!! I missed my family terribly but had to enjoy the quietness and packing just for myself and no sippy cups and getting to take a shower without kids watching me and taking a nap when I wanted to, wow it was nice. Do I not hang with the prettiest moms ever???? I love these girls, we had a blast. I also love the ones that were not able to join us.

Getting ready to head to the pool one day. Showing off her new Hello Kitty cover-up.

My little princess. With her baby that she ruined when she tossed it into the pool.

Look at the twins. Like father, like daughter for sure. Atleast she has my attitude. I guess thats good?

I'll be back soon. I might can get Jared to write an update on the surgery later this week. Please keep my entire family in your prayers this week. God is good.

August 18th

Well, this is a day I have dreaded for a long time. A really long time. I'm sorry if this happens to be your birthday, or a day you are excited for. To me, this day makes me what to throw up. This is the day I will say goodbye to my large intestine. Yes, there goes my colon. I h.a.t.e. Crohns/Colitis. I had to type both of these losers because the doctors can't seem to figure out which one of these diseases I actually have. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 15 but then later rediagnosed around 21 with Crohns because of different symptoms. My doctor now believes that it is Colitis, but the surgeon who is performing my surgery says that what she can see its Crohns. Soooooooo, to say I want to have a mental breakdown would be an understatement. All I can really think about is this life here on Earth is the closest I will ever come to hell. Is that horrible to say? I don't think it is, I just know that this struggle for me on Earth makes me long for my pain-free eternity with the Ultimate Healer, Jesus Christ. I have to remind myself everyday that I can't expect this life to be perfect because God doesn't call my life to be perfect. I am a wretched sinner ONLY saved by his grace. Why should I expect to not have trouble? I want to struggle so that God's glory can be revealed. But that doesn't mean I can't be scared.
I am terrified. 1. because everybody knows I am a big fat baby and 2. because I really do truly want to live a long life, and when I say long that means seeing my great grandchildren get married. If thats even possible?? and 3. because I don't want my mission here on Earth to be complete. I mean if Jesus says its done, then that would be it but I don't want it to be. Can you tell I'm scared of dying? I know this is practically a routine surgery, but in my mind I am calculating everything that could possibly go wrong, and because I am an idiot, I asked the surgeon to tell me things that could go wrong!!! WHY????!!! I don't know, because again, I'm an idiot. So now the hour and a half long surgery consultation of what the surgery consists of and what will take place has now all been forgotten and the only part I remember is the things that could possibly go wrong.
I just want to say that death doesn't scare me, I know the minute I close my eyes and my heart stops I will be in the arms of my Savior. Dying, however, does scare me though because of what I am leaving behind, my husband, my 2 girls, and my family. That is scary. (And yes, to me there is a difference between death and dying, atleast to me, because I am weird like that.)
Okay, thats my spill about whats been going on in my head. I know right, you do NOT want to be in my head!! It is not a fun place to be right now, and probably won't be until I wake up after the surgery.

If you read this, I just ask that you be in prayer for me and my family. For peace of mind (mine), and for the surgeon, for the decision that had to be made and for a very speedy recovery. I really want to get back to life and actually enjoy it.
Thank you for praying for me. I appreciate it more than you will truly ever know. I have so many pictures I want to post from June and July but am just consumed with this surgery. I just can't seem to think about anything else so hopefully soon I will grow up and quit acting like a poor pitiful baby and move on then you can see what we have been up to.