The Jones Family

First & Last Day of School

2010-05-29T20:40:00.003-05:00

We took a picture of Eliot's First Day of School last fall and his Last Day of School in May. My how he has grown and changed before our very eyes.

PRESCHOOL GRADUATION!

2010-05-29T20:35:00.005-05:00

May 28th was a big day for Mrs. Susan's class of four-year olds. The group graduated to a short but sweet graduation ceremony. In their matching shirts and graduation hats they were ready to head into the future. Look out Kindergarten-here they come!

Webkinz Birthday Party

2010-05-29T20:25:00.004-05:00

Eliot wanted to have a "Webkinz" birthday party at Parties Etc. in Bryant. All the small guests brought their Webkinz or other stuffed animal to the party. Each child colored a sack that they could later fill with all the goodies that fell out of the pinata we had hung. We played games and the kids earned "Webkinz Cash" at the end of each game that they then used at the "Webkinz Store" which had lots of small priced items that they could choose in exchange for their pretend currency. We had a big turnout of kids and adults. After cake and gift opening everyone went home with their well deserved prizes and Eliot was happy to have shared his party with all his friends.

Eliot's 5th Birthday

2010-05-29T11:45:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Eliot's Birthday earlier this month with a family party at Nan & Cal's. Eliot is SO excited that he can now say he is "FIVE"!

Spring 2010

2010-05-29T11:37:00.004-05:00

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I cannot believe that it has taken two months to update the blog, it seems like only yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. We have been busy with work, school, and baseball and the days just seem to fly by lately. Eliot continues to grow and is always full of energy and excited about what next adventure lies around the corner for him to discover.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-16T19:40:00.010-05:00

In preparation for St. Patrick's Day, which coincides with Eliot's "snack day" at school, we made from scratch sugar cookies-with green sprinkles of course!

Valentine Party

2010-02-12T15:07:00.007-06:00

Eliot's preschool class held their Valentine's party on February 12th. As expected, there were fun crafts, lots of valentine sweets and fun. The kids had a great time making their individual sacks for their valentines and then took turns distributing the cards to each of their classmates.

Another Snow Day!

2010-02-09T09:42:00.009-06:00

The arrival of a snow day brought us the chance stay home together to build snowmen and knock them down, participate in a friendly snowball fight, and pull Eliot on the sled up and down our street. We played the day away and made great memories...

Winter Play Day

2010-01-31T16:10:00.004-06:00

Old Man Winter delivered a mixture of snow, ice, and sleet on Friday, resulting in an extra "stay home day" for Eliot and Mommy. Daddy went off to work and Eliot enjoyed playing in what little precipation we had on our deck area. Cold hands and a red nose eventually ended the adventure and we went indoors to enjoy hot cocoa and popcorn by the fire while watching G-Force. It's days like this that we create memories to tuck away...

Horsin' Around

2010-01-24T21:03:00.008-06:00

We enjoyed a chilly overcast afternoon with an occasional hint of sunshine while visiting my grandfather(Great-Paw) and spending time with our horse, Rebel. Cowboy Ron joined in the adventure as we prepared to ride. A memorable moment occurred when we tied Rebel to the fence to be saddled and bridled. As Ron went toward him to put on the saddle, Rebel was spooked and pulled down part of the fence and gate, and almost took Ron down with the fence. Once we settled Rebel down, he rode like a champ and we all took turns riding him. Eliot was cautious about riding but stood alongside and watched, and his favorite part was when it was time to offer Rebel a can of sweet feed as a reward for being overall well-behaved. The fence was repaired and the horse had a good workout. As the afternoon air became chilly we headed back to the house and enjoyed a nice visit and hot cup of coffee with Great-Paw. We hope to ride more often in the near future as the days grow longer and warmer with spring just around the corner.

Girls' Day at the Races

2010-01-24T20:40:00.007-06:00

The threat of a rainy Saturday did not deter our group of nine from heading to Oaklawn for a day at the races. We celebrated Brooke Andrew's Birthday and although none of us cashed many tickets-except for Doc hitting a trifecta, a great time was had by all. We visited the gaming room, which looks great and is a fun way to pass the time. After dinner at Rocky's (pizza and cheese sticks-YUM) we danced and played the night away. Fun was had by all and we decided we should make this trip an annual event!

In Memory of Our Maw

2010-01-02T09:48:00.011-06:00

Doris Loraine Denson Shoptaw
September 17, 1931-December 19, 2009

Back in 1998 when my great-grandmother, Elby Shoptaw passed away-I spoke at her memorial service. Afterwards my grandmother, always know affectionately as “Maw” told me she wanted me to do the same for her when the time came.I had a hard time putting all of Maw’s good traits into writing. No matter how hard I try, I can never do justice to what she overcame in her lifetime.

She was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother and a friend to all of us. We shared a lot of good memories,I cannot begin to count the hours we spent sitting side by side visiting. She enjoyed cooking, growing her garden, and spending time with her family. Getting the family together to eat was almost like a hobby for her, her thoughts were always “if I cook, they will come”. And we would show up as expected most of the time. I learned much about cooking from her as I worked alongside her in the kitchen. When I went to college and began living on my own, I would often call and have her tell me the recipe for something I wanted to try and make. Mine was never as good as hers…but it sufficed and I eventually became a good enough cook in my own right.

Maw was a very strong woman and she always got her way. Maybe that’s one quality I got from her. She was also a very good adviser. I personally would seek her advice before I’d go to my parents. She never liked asking for help but she was always ready to lend a helping hand to others. She was a loyal wife, giving mother, and overindulgent grandmother. Despite her physical pain and struggles through the years, she alongside my grandfather remained a beacon of light as we weathered life’s storms.

Having at least partly raised my brothers and me-we loved spending as much time as possible at our grandparents’ house on weekends and during the summer. Helping care for the cattle on their farm, working in the garden, shelling the peas, shucking the corn, digging potatoes and picking the other assorted ripened vegetables that would be our meal later that day were some of the best experiences during my childhood. I learned at an early age that hard work and dedication resulted in not only a delicious dinner but also resonated the importance of working along side each other as a family.

So often my grandmother represented the role and offered the guidance and support of a mother, as well. She had the rare quality of always being much more than a relative; an open way of relating to us which also made her a best friend. She loved to go shopping for bargains and often took me along for the adventure. As her eyesight worsened her ability to shop waned but she still managed to read the sale paper ads and look for items on sale that she knew we would enjoy. Maw was a determined lady and never let anyone or anything keep her from doing what she wanted to do. Despite her poor vision and weakened physical state she still continued to cook, shop, and take care of her family.

She loved my Daddy, her only child, unconditionally despite his vices and self-destructive behaviors. A true matriarch of our family, she gave to us an example of a strong and determined spirit and taught us to stand strong for what we believed and that the life you are given is a gift and you should make the most of each day. As the oldest of her three grandchildren, and the only girl, she taught me much about caring for family and now the torch she carried all those years has been passed along to me.

In the hour at which she made her final passing from us, the look upon her face taught me the whole story: you are finally at rest and in complete peace. You are finally rewarded with a place which has no fear, no suffering, no cruelties nor injustices. A place far removed from the trials and tribulations of this thing which we call "life …"

Here is the poem I read at my grandmother's memorial service:

I remember soft and gentle hands,
Reaching out to dry my tears;
I remember warm and loving arms,
That chased away my fears.
Someone that I could run to,
Who always made sure she was there;
An ear that would patiently listen,
Someone who always cared.
There's something rare and wonderful,
God placed in a Grandmother's heart;
Something he knew a child would need,
Right from the very start.
Heaven has a place reserved For Grandmother's sweet and kind;
But I had a little Heaven on earth,
In the Grandmother I called mine.

Our Green Acres

2009-07-26T22:16:00.010-05:00

We had a fun Saturday on the "farm". Our little piece of country living located in Prattsville has been part of our family for five generations. As a young girl, I spent my summers following almost every step my grandparents and great-grandparents took on our property. I learned a great deal about farming, cattle, fishing, tractors, horses, and made lots of memories along the way.

My love of animals and fresh vegetables blossomed there and I am so excited to now be sharing the same opportunities with Eliot at our destimation on Hwy. 297 North.

Although we no longer have the huge garden and large number of farm animals, we still enjoy visiting the garden, which this year has pumpkins growing for the first time ever. Eliot and "Great-Paw" planted the seeds in the spring and the July pumpkins are starting to show early orange coloring and are growing larger every day. We hope that at least one makes it to full maturity so that it can be a part of our fall decorations.

As always an adventure was had during our visit. We had lunch at the Whippet, a meal which in the summertime is second only to a lunch that includes home grown tomatoes, purple hull peas, and fried okra. We have a rain check on that meal for a future visit. We did come home with a watermelon grown by my Great-great (notice the two greats!) Uncle David,who is my great-grandmother's youngest brother, and we hope to enjoy chilled chunks of the red and juicy melon later this week.

We brought Rebel the horse some new treats and a bag of sweet feed-Eliot loves to shop at the Farmers' Association store, played with a litter of 8-9 week old puppies who live next door, then Eliot helped "drive" the golf cart around the yard and picked tomoates-both green and ripened to serve at our dinner table over the next few days.

We have already made plans to visit again soon,especially since that promised home cooked meal will be waiting for us on our arrival. We hope to try out a new fishing pole for Eliot at the pond, but have to wait until the field has been cut for hay before we can fish along the pond bank.

Full of good food, sun-kissed, and tired we returned back to the city limits. It's nice to have the best of both the city and the country-we are blessed and appreciative for days like this one.

Cruisin' the Concrete

2009-06-28T21:45:00.003-05:00

A glimpse into the future...the boys taking a ride in the neighborhood in the Viper.

Boys & Water Balloons

2009-06-28T21:26:00.011-05:00

Recently we were pondering a fun and inexpensive way to entertain four year-old boys...a waterhose and balloons turned out to be our answer. Eliot and Jack had an absolute blast filling and throwing water balloons at the ground, the house, the dogs, and each other. It was hysterical to watch them throw and miss hitting the intended person or object. It was a low maintenance and fun experience we will repeat often through the summer and beyond.

Swimming is Fun!

2009-06-28T21:08:00.015-05:00

Wow, I cannot believe it has been over a month since our last post. We have been busy enjoying the summer and time has flown! Most of our free time is spent hanging out at the pool and Eliot has become quite the water lover. Today was our first day of swimming lessons with Mrs. Kelli and Eliot was an excellent student. He did a great job kicking and swimming with his head underwater, and jumped off the diving board and swam to the ladder on his first try! Needless to say I was very proud of him and he is already looking forward to tomorrow's lesson. It will be fun to watch his progress and practice with him at the pool this week.

A Good Day

2009-05-10T21:13:00.007-05:00

Today was the 5th Mother's Day we have shared since Eliot was born. As we watched him climb, play, and entertain us this afternoon I thought of my first time to experience Mother's Day. We came home with our brand new baby on a Thursday and celebrated our first mother's day on Sunday-I think we had take out from McDonald's and hopes for a few hours sleep. I loved my new role as mommy and relished every moment and every move our sweet boy made...today reminded me of those days gone by so swiftly and I once again relished rather than took for granted our sweet boy's animations and commentary. Today was a good day...

Today was the 21st Mother's Day celebrated without my mom. On days like this her absence weighs a little heavier on my heart so I focus on and am thankful for the love and support I have received through the years from my grandmother, the great relationship I have with my mother-in-law, and the fellow friends and loved ones I know who are great moms in their own right. Dearest of all is my Aunt Donna, the one who knew my mom the best. She keeps my mother's memory alive through the stories and family history she tells that otherwise I would not know. Today we visited for over an hour on the phone-laughing, talking, remembering, and sharing. Today was a good day...

Star Wars Party (Party #3)

2009-05-05T20:24:00.008-05:00

The third and final celebration of Eliot turning 4 years old took place with his preschool class today. The kids enjoyed snacktime with Star Wars & Butterfly decorated cupcakes, cheez-its, and popcorn puffs. Fun and messy faces were had by all...
Justin and I enjoyed getting to know Eliot's peers, watching them interact is great entertainment. I don't know how their teachers do it all day...bless them each and every one!!

Happy 4th Birthday!

2009-05-03T22:27:00.006-05:00

Happy Birthday to our wonderful baby boy! Here are pictures representing each of Eliot's birthdays...how time flies. As each day goes by he becomes less a little boy and more a little man. I look into his eyes and see my own reflected there...everything else is a replica of his daddy. He is full of energy and inquisitive questions! We love his happy, gentle spirit and his stubborn and determined temperament. Born on Tuesday, full of grace, with parents, friends, and family so happy to see his face. With love and guidance he continues to grow, the depth of our love for him cannot begin to know...Happy Birthday Eliot!

Derby Party

2009-05-03T21:10:00.012-05:00

Despite the rainy day, fun memories were made on Saturday May 2, 2009 as we gathered to celebrate Eliot's birthday with a Kentucky Derby Party. Eliot's guests enjoyed painting wooden ponies and his Mommy read a book to everyone about the history of the Derby. The kids also chose one of the stick horses made by Jaime and Eliot's Mommy but did not get to "race" them due to the downpour outside. Children and adults enjoyed snacks and birthday cake and then it was time for the race to begin! Each child chose a Ty beanie baby pony with the name of one of the entrants in the Kentucky Derby attached to it. We all gathered in the family room to watch the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby race and cheered for our favorites. "Mine That Bird" was the winner of the race, a longshot entrant ridden by Calvin Borel. Olivia Little had the winning horse and she received a chocolate red rose and the pop-up book about the Kentucky Derby. Eliot opened his wonderful gifts, each thoughtfully chosen by his guests. After the party wrapped up, several friends stayed into the evening and enjoyed hanging out and having a memorable time. Thanks to everyone who joined in the celebration!

Weekend Warriors

2009-04-26T19:29:00.010-05:00

Following the soccer game, we met up with Jack and went for lunch at McDonald's where the boys enjoyed happy meals and playing with others from Eliot's soccer group. Then we were off to Sparks in the Park, the boys visited the vendor booths and stopped by to see the Benton Fire Trucks and SMH Ambulance. They had fun riding the ponies (Thanks Mr. Charlie!) and participating in the kids' corner games. When we were done, we loaded up and headed to purchase our first shaved ice treats of the season-ninja turtle (also known as grape and green apple) ices for the boys and pink grapefruit for Eliot's mommy-YUM!
We then went to Aunt Tam's house to take her belated birthday present to her. The pool proved too tempting and the kids started off by putting their feet in the water and progressed to the top steps which resulted in wet shorts and bottoms. They had a blast splashing and playing and cannot wait to go to Tam's again to swim when the water is warmer. We ended our Saturday with a Star Wars movie watching marathon, popcorn, and chocolate milk.
After making mud pies on the deck on Sunday morning, we headed to an early matinee movie to watch Monsters versus Aliens. It was a cute movie and the boys were perfectly behaved and sat through the entire thing. Then a long afternoon nap was in order followed by more outside time. Overall a great weekend and fun memories shared. Jack had only been gone a few minutes before Eliot asked, "Mommy, can Jack come over again another day?". The sweet bliss of childhood...gotta love it!

Saturday Soccer-Picture Day!

2009-04-26T19:07:00.009-05:00

Soccer season is already drawing to a close and it has gone by so fast! Saturday's game included pre-game pictures with Eliot's "Lil' Rascals" team.
Eliot loves to play goalie and vies for the position every chance he gets. The team played well and it has been fun to watch their progress throughout the season. New skills have been learned and new friends have been made.

Zoo Day

2009-04-26T18:32:00.015-05:00

We visited the Little Rock Zoo with Eliot's preschool class recently. It was quite an event to be a part of as we gathered together 48 children along with their parent(s) and teachers to the entrance all at one time. Although we did not have time to see all the exhibits, we did see some of the chimpanzees and other primates enjoy their breakfast and watched while the baby gorilla played. The giraffes put on a show by coming close enough to almost touch them and Eliot liked the reptile exhibits (which he did not enjoy the previous time we visited) When asked his favorite thing about the zoo, Eliot said "definitely the monkeys!" but also liked the tigers...he said "Hello Mr. Tiger" and growled and roared as we passed by them.
After the walk around the zoo, the preschoolers a snack time picnic and visited with their classmates. The weather was beautiful and Eliot had a great time...we look forward to visiting the zoo again soon.

The rain came...and so did the Easter Bunny!

2009-04-12T22:16:00.007-05:00

Easter arrived and so did the rain but the fun and blessings of the day were not diminished. Easter eggs were hunted indoors and a nice lunch and relaxing visit was enjoyed by our family. Eliot's request for a"big chocolate bunny" and Star Wars items were supplied by the Easter Bunny-it was lots fun watching Eliot's excitement as he looked through his Easter bucket and searched for eggs throughout the house. Happy Easter!

Oaklawn Outing

2009-04-12T21:58:00.010-05:00

As the live racing season drew to a close this week at Oaklawn, we decided it was time to make good on our promise to take Eliot to see the "real race horses" this year.
A beautiful Wednesday offered a chance to take a trip to Hot Springs and spend the afternoon as a family enjoying the sunny weather and a chance to watch the ponies run.
Eliot was as excited about seeing the horses as he was about the ice cream and popcorn-life is easily enjoyed when you are a three-year old. We stood along the wall to watch the racing up close and visited the paddock area. Eliot and Mommy picked three "in the money" horses out of the five races we bet-first time luck! It was a great day with good memories...we are already looking forward to next year's visit.

Welcome Home Belle Jones!

2009-03-24T08:18:00.004-05:00

We have welcomed a new addtion to our family, Tinker"Belle" Jones. She is about 4 months old and is a mini-daschund/something else puppy. She was originally adopted from the Humane Society by another family and they were looking for her a new home. Turns out that the timing was right...and so Belle joined our family last night. After baths for both dogs and Eliot we settled into bed and enjoyed getting to know our new little girl. Oscar is estatic to have a sister, and Eliot has finally met his match in activity level, he told me this morning that "Belle sure is wild!".

First Soccer Game

2009-03-21T22:46:00.008-05:00

Our Saturday got off to a fun start with our first soccer game of the year! All the kids looked so cute and did really well for the start of the season. We look forward to seeing the progression and improvements of the "Lil Rascals" team throughout the spring...

33 & CANCER FREE!

2009-03-21T22:22:00.003-05:00

We surprised Heather by meeting at La Hacienda for dinner and drinks to celebrate her birthday and good news! I am so glad to have such a great group of friends-we truly take care of each other through good times and bad. I love you each & all-
Happy Birthday HK!!

60 Years...

2009-03-21T22:08:00.009-05:00

My grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary was earlier this month. We celebrated with lunch and hosting family at our house last weekend.(Thanks to Joan Rickett for making the delicious cake and to Dinners Ready for the great catered lunch)
We talked about days gone by and I presented them with a personalized poem. It was wonderful to share the afternoon with them and let them know how much we love and appreciate them. They were positive influences in my life toward making me the person I am today...they made a difference in my life and now I try to pay it forward through caring for them and others in my life.

We love you Maw & Paw (a.k.a., Great-Paw & Granny, Love Eliot)

The Poem:

HAPPY 60th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

To Our Grandparents…

Dear Maw & Paw,

We're here today in honor of a most delightful pair
Who through the years have given us a family beyond compare.
Our Grandparents have celebrated all our special days,
And so we'd like to take this chance to shower them with praise.
It all began in a diner in Texas
They won't give us all the details about their first date
but we know that it was fate.
Soon our lovely grandma told our handsome grandpa 'I do,'
Now sixty years after the fact, their vows are just as true.
They've proven that they meant it when they said 'to have and to hold'
And remind each other on days when they are feeling old.

Both of them have shown us all a life brimming with love,
In their own ways, they've always gone far over and above.

Paw, for instance, has an answer for the hardest task,
Cars & tractors, directions, building things, He's just the one to ask.

His expertise includes playing dominos and teasing Maw
His attempts at humor are the best, although she often wishes he’d give it a rest

Yes, Don’s the traditional sort, both caring and protective,
We love it now that we are older but when younger had a different perspective.
We tease him when he worries and tell him it’s alright
Just hope we don’t let on anything to keep him from sleeping through the night…

And then there's Maw, who's never quit doing all she can to care for of all of us
Giving, caring, and tough as nails, there is not a soul who can compare
She's kind and generous in every situation,
And we can tell her anything, but sometimes it's too much information!

Maw & Paw, your strong support, your endless faith in us
Have made us who we are today, in that we all can trust.

And so today, let's raise a glass in true appreciation
Of all the ways in which you've been our constant inspiration.

Love,

Preston & Jennifer, Brent, Brandie, Justin & Eliot

Messy Moment

2009-03-21T21:51:00.002-05:00

Proof that sugar-free chocolate pudding is pretty good stuff...even if it is a little messy!

Mommy Can Run?

2009-02-23T19:41:00.002-06:00

The Mommy started the "Women Can Run" Clinic yesterday, over 50 women turned up at the Bryant High School track yesterday to begin the bi-weekly training program. The 11 weeks of training culminates in a 5K "Women Can Run" race that will be held the second weekend of May. Attending the race itself is optional but if you are interested in walking, beginning running, or becoming a faster runner while meeting new friends then this clinic might be for you-let me know if you are interested. You can still sign-up by coming this Thursday at 6 pm to the Bryant HS track or next Sunday at 2:30 pm. I have not ran since surgery in December and I celebrated my 8-week post-op at the WCR clinic by walking(4:45 min)/running (15 sec.) for over 30 minutes yesterday! Each week I will hopefully run more, walk less, until I am back to my "old self" again-

Ready for Mardi Gras

2009-02-23T19:18:00.006-06:00

Eliot donned his Mardi Gras hat and beads in preparation of Fat Tuesday-Not that we will be celebrating in the traditional sense...we are all trying to eat healthier and be more active in recognition of February's Heart Month. Hopefully we can maintain our momentum and keep it up.

Despite rampant illness through the house over the last couple of weeks (stomach virus, the crud, laryngitis-you name it!) we continue to have fun even when under the weather. Eliot has painted new pictures, he recently finished and mailed an acrylic on canvas for my cousin, Sara, for her birthday. He is almost finished with a 16x20 canvas for his bedroom and I will post a picture of it upon completion.

We spent some of our time indoors by working jig-saw puzzles and Eliot has gotten quite good at completing them without much help. He is very interested in "rhyming words" so we bought a Melissa & Doug puzzle that involves finding the two puzzle pieces that match up and putting them together. Lastly, lots of entertainment has been had by all the cool downloads to the iPOD touch of preschool related shows and videos. We have discovered this is MUCH easier than keeping up with all the DVDs and portable DVD player and lower maintenance to bring along with us-especially while waiting in line or for dinner to arrive to our table. I remember years ago when I waited tables in college I wondered about those parents who let their kid(s) play their Game Boy(s) at the table...now I know.

This week will be an exciting one, we go for soccer evaluations on Tuesday, Eliot's first ever Ash Wednesday, the WCR clinic on Thursday, and the SMH 5K and Junior Auxiliary benefit on Saturday-whew! It should be lots of fun and make for great pictures and stories to post.

Be My Valentine

2009-02-12T21:27:00.005-06:00

Today was a memorable day as we joined in the fun of Eliot's three-year old preschool class valentine party. Kids and parents alike enjoyed the snacks and games prepared by the classroom moms and dads. Although I do not think Eliot completely understood the concept of giving valentine cards to his classmates, he had a great time choosing his box of Speedracer valentines and carefully decorating them with stickers at home before taking them to school and placing them into their respective "mailboxes". The children snacked on heart shaped sandwiches,cheese puffs, iced cookies, and cupcakes. The "cake walk" game was also enjoyed by all, it was great to see the kids interact and practice recognition of their numbers. Eliot, always very competitive, began to get upset when he did not win a "cake cookie" several times in a row...this trait may make him really good at sports or may result in technical fouls in his future-but we certainly hope not! Speaking of sports, we are looking forward to signing up for soccer this Saturday-should be quite entertaining to watch a swarm of up and coming little athletes chase a soccer ball up and down the field throughout the spring. More to come on this activity soon...

A Day in Prattsville

2009-02-08T13:43:00.005-06:00

A Saturday was recently spent in Prattsville visiting with Eliot's great-grandparents and enjoying lunch at the Whippet. It was Justin's first time to enjoy the restaurant's famous fish, and while Eliot did not eat much, he did a great job entertaining the other patrons while they dined. Afterwards, we returned to the "farm" and watched the Razorback game. Great-Paw never misses a game and enjoyed having us there to watch it with him on his new 50" tv.

Fun with Daddy

2009-02-08T13:37:00.002-06:00

Eliot was a guest at a recent birthday party at Playtime Pizza. Great fun was had by all and Daddy was along for the ride during the bumper car adventure while Mommy watched from the sidelines.

World Travel

2009-02-08T13:28:00.003-06:00

Eliot enjoyed playing with one of his many airplanes on his new world rug (thanks Judy & Bill) We used our imagination to travel to different parts of the world while learning about continents and countries.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T17:15:00.004-06:00

The New Year arrived without much ado this year. Last minute plans were made to go out to eat New Year's Eve thanks to Nan & Cal's offer to watch Eliot overnight. We enjoyed a nice meal and good company with friends at Copeland's and returned home to enjoy champagne and watch the ball drop in Times Square. Each year when we watch the New Year's Eve activities in Times Square we reminisce about the year we were there to ring in the 2000 New Year-it's hard to believe that the years have passed so quickly. Justin asked me to marry him that New Year's Eve Day in Central Park and here we are nine years later still having fun and making memories. We hope for everyone a new year of hope, prosperity, and love. Happy 2009!

After the Fun...

2008-12-29T19:19:00.003-06:00

Unwrappin' the Fun of the Season

2008-12-29T18:50:00.009-06:00

Twas the season for fun and we had plenty of it to go around this Christmas. We enjoyed our family time while staying close to home, lots of visitors and well wishes helped make the season bright. Technology gadgets were the gifts of choice around our house this year...Eliot has been learning how to play his new DS with Daddy while Mommy has loaded her new iPOD touch with lots of new apps and cool tools. All the new toys and gadgets have offered lots of entertainment for Eliot as Mommy recovers and tries to not worry about the messes being made in the meantime...

Happy Holidays

2008-12-22T06:20:00.007-06:00

Eliot has become quite the "ham" lately when a camera is around. Christi came by over the weekend and captured great pics for our holiday cards. Visit her photography website at www.naturalimages.com to see all the pictures and some of her other great portfolio albums.

Hope everyone enjoys the show capturing some of this season's memories. From our family to yours-Wishing you love, peace, hope and happiness this holiday season.

5 Days 'til Christmas...

2008-12-20T22:48:00.010-06:00

Wow! Is it really only 5 days 'til Christmas? We are a bit tardy on posting a blog for this month, mostly due to the fact that my picture taking and creative juices have been compromised by a herniated lumbar disc-ouch. We are looking forward (or maybe not) to surgery this Monday to correct it. Dr. Mason has reasoned with me that I will be in less pain post-op than I am now and that our Christmas festivities can proceed as planned-other than Mommy will not be able to pick up Eliot for a few weeks and will have to take it nice and easy for 2-3 weeks. Those of you who know me best know how hard this will be for me to do...

I love this picture of Eliot & Oscar. They have truly become the best of buds over the last few months-Eliot thinks that Oscar is a sibling rather than a family pet and has high expectations that Oscar be treated fairly and with equal rights under the Jones'house rules.

Eliot stayed with Nan & Cal all last week so that I could be one with the bed-thank goodness for technology-it has been nice to stay in touch with the outside world via e-mail, Facebook, my phone, and laptop plus DVDs and the DVR to keep me occupied. I am also reading the third book in the Twilight series and am on a mission to hopefully complete the 4th one by New Year's. Upon Eliot's return home on Friday night he said that he missed Oscar the most (of course!) Oscar has proven his loyalty and love by providing me with great companionship during my "down and out time", he is full of canine sympathy and did not leave my sight for more than a minute or two over the last 11 days...he is a wonderful snuggler during naptime.

The elves are busy this weekend getting everything ready to celebrate the season with my family on Christmas Eve at our house. Then the wait begins for Santa and his sleigh to arrive during the night. We are also anticipating celebrating Christmas Day with the Jones' family et. al.

Wishing you all a happy and wonderful holiday season with great tidings of comfort & joy in 2009.

Missing Mom...Happy Birthday

2008-12-03T21:25:00.002-06:00

Today would have been my Mother's 56th birthday...it has been twenty years this year since we lost her to complications from living with type I juvenile diabetes. In years past I have thought about her on her birthday but with the recent loss of Daddy the need to keep her memory alive became even more poignant to me. As I went through the pictures from our lives together I found there were few to share of us together-Mom was always behind the camera capturing the moments. Thanks to my Aunt's diligence of keeping up with them through the years we are blessed to have pictures from Mom's youth which I am sharing through the slideshow below. My Aunt is also a wonderful storyteller who helps me keep the memories alive through the stories she tells of our family and experiences over the years. I am thankful to have her in my life and enjoy our weekly phone visits when I share stories with her of Eliot's adventures and what is going on in our worlds-I would be lost in so many ways and less of a person without her. I know that Mom would be grateful that my Aunt is a such a wonderful and important part of our lives-we miss you Mom!

A fellow blogger and good friend sent the following in a aptly timed e-mail today:

Mothers

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth
is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

Once the child, now the Mommy, someday to be the Mother...I only hope to be as good as you were "Mom". Love, B.

In Memory:
Patricia Thyann (Hash) Shepard
December 3, 1952-March 14, 1988

Together...making memories through the years.

2008-11-16T17:19:00.001-06:00

All Play No Work Day

2008-11-15T09:52:00.007-06:00

Yesterday was a fun day for us. I took the day off from work after a busy week of overseeing the holiday vendor event at SMH. Eliot was so excited that Mommy was going to be home for the day and that he did not have to go to "school". We started the morning by stopping by for a quick visit with Great-Paw and Granny, then we joined the Gastons and friends for lunch and entertainment at Playtime Pizza. Eliot's favorite part was riding the go-cart with Mommy and playing the race car game. We ended the day with a trip to Petco and Oscar went along with us-what was Mommy thinking? Apparently she was not thinking very well...we came home with a new male beta fish which Eliot aptly named "Mr Blue Fish Jones".

Congrats!

2008-11-15T09:48:00.003-06:00

Thursday was a special day for Cliff Lee and his family. We were so excited to hear that he had won the Cy Young Award! Congrats to to Cliff and his family-We look forward to seeing you all again soon-Best wishes, The Joneses

Overnight Guest

2008-11-15T09:40:00.002-06:00

Last Saturday night Eliot had an overnight guest when we invited Jack to spend the night. The boys had great fun playing, watching Spiderman, and chasing the Jones' family animals around the house. Sunday morning included coloring, a breakfast of sausage biscuits and eggs (I was amazed at how much food two little boys can eat at one sitting-I cannot imagine the consumption we will witness when they become teenagers!)

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-03T20:43:00.002-06:00

Halloween Fun

2008-11-03T20:14:00.004-06:00

The neighborhood never knew what hit it when all of our kids hit the streets of Wellington. The adventure began with a pizza and "pumpkin juice" dinner party followed by a hayride and trick-or-treating which ended when the rain started to fall about an hour later. There is not much cuter or more entertaining to watch than a group of small, costumed children storming a front door to trick or treat. It was great to watch Eliot this year from afar, he needed no coaxing to participate in the fun and made the most of the event. Afterwards, we returned home to greet our own trick-or-treaters. Oscar donned his costume and he and Spiderman sat on the front porch to serve our guests. Nan and Cal arrived from Connecticut earlier in the day and Eliot was so excited to see them both. He packed his overnight bag to stay with them while Mommy and Daddy went to an adult only party (adult costume pictures to be posted as soon as the Woolbrights get them to us).

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-10-31T07:11:00.007-05:00

My birthday was October 29th...here is a picture of the special treat that Carla R. gave me to celebrate. Eliot told me it was "the coolest cookie-cake he had ever seen!". I am still looking for my new camera of choice-more to come on that soon. Thanks and love to everyone who helped make my day extra special-it meant the world to me. B.

Eliot's Preschool Halloween Party

2008-10-31T07:06:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T07:00:00.002-05:00

Halloween started early at the Jones' house...Oscar tried on his most appropriate costume, a hot dog, in preparation of the big day. Yesterday was also a fun day as Eliot's preschool class paraded downtown Benton in their costumes and then enjoyed snacks and treats upon returning to Mrs. Susan's class.

Home with Mommy

2008-10-27T22:48:00.004-05:00

We have started off the week with our first "sick day" since E. started preschool. With the colder weather's arrival and the cough and cold symptoms in effect, Mommy made the executive decision to have Eliot stay at home and rest...but rest is a tough concept for an active three-year old. Eliot spent the majority of the day watching tv, painting pictures, making messes, and napping while Mommy worked at her computer and occasionally joined in the fun.

Missing You...

2008-10-21T22:04:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Daddy...we miss you! B.

In Memory

2008-10-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

In Memory...

2008-10-20T21:09:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, October 21st, would have been my Daddy's 54th birthday. As many of you know, he passed away this August. Rather than mourn our loss, I prefer that we celebrate his life.

As the weather cools off and the morning air becomes crisp I think of how Daddy would express anticipation of the newly arrived hunting season-not so much for the sport but for the camaraderie and the opportunity to spend time with family and friends while enjoying the autumn weather. Four wheelers, dirt roads, and a campfire were simple pleasures that he taught my brothers to appreciate (although he never could get the city girl out of me...) The slide show pictures I have posted of him tell the story of some our moments shared. He was my Daddy, our "Paw", my Friend.

Bobby L. Shoptaw

October 21, 1954-August 15, 2008.

Welcome

2008-10-20T00:50:00.003-05:00

After much procrastination and consideration I have finally created a blog for our family to share our adventures with all of you. I have so enjoyed reading the postings of others on their sites and felt I was doing a great injustice by not sharing our adventures with our family, friends, and others near and far. Eliot is growing and learning so much so quickly and I want to capture as much as possible for posterity's sake.

I cannot promise I will be a stellar blogger…my free time is often non-existent these days and I need quite a bit of patience to upload and sort pictures from our camera onto the computer. However, my birthday is coming up later this month and a new and improved camera was mentioned as a possible gift-I have a love/hate relationship with our current camera…it takes good pictures but it is not travel friendly due to its weight and size and you often miss “the moment" due to focusing issues-mostly due to user error (me) but aggravating nevertheless. Justin and I often joke that the camera goes everywhere with us but often has little to tell about where we have been...

Meet Our Pets

2008-10-19T23:20:00.007-05:00

The Jones' cats-Tawnie Kitaen, Pinkie Tuscadaro, and "Mister". Tawnie & Pinkie are litter mates who were rescued and joined our family in December 2001. Mister arrived at our door step on Melrose Drive the following year-he came by for a visit and decided to keep us.

Our newest edition...Oscar the dog, who lives in harmony with his three feline companions.

Razorback Game-September 6, 2008

2008-10-19T23:04:00.006-05:00

Hanging out with the girls at the Little Rock game. Most memorable moment...under the bridge (you had to be there)

What a Difference a Year Makes...

2008-10-19T22:42:00.008-05:00

As I was looking through our photos, I found these pictures of Eliot from last fall.

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

2008-10-19T22:03:00.000-05:00

Eliot enjoyed his first preschool field trip to Motley's Tree Farm & Pumkin Patch. Great fun was had by all and Aunt Christi took pictures of the adventures (visit her website at http://onlinepictureproof.com/naturalimages to view all the pictures) It was quite an accomplishment to have all 12 of Mrs. Susan's class of three-year olds sit together for a picture...

About Us

2008-10-19T08:18:00.000-05:00

Finally..I have created a blog to share with friends and family. Justin and I have been married for 8 years this May and we are the proud parents of Eliot, our three-year old son. We have a very busy life and enjoy life to the fullest. We look forward to beginning to share our happenings with those interested in "Keepin' up with The Joneses"