Conversations with Jones

This morning on the way to school Jones presented all these ideas he had:

1. Him -  “Mom I need keys.  I want to be Mr Craig and teach school and lock the doors.  Do you think I can grow a beard.”

Me - “you want to be a teacher?”

“Yes Mr Craig he has keys to lock the door.  I want to lock the doors.”

Then later at school he announces to Mr Craig “Hey there are now two Mr. Craig’s.  me and you.  I am getting keys and a beard. Then I will be grown up and be you.”

Everyone had a good laugh.  The other teachers who heard are now calling him Mr. Craig.

2. Him “Mom can we discuss what is happening after school?”

Me - “sure we need to go to the store.”

Him - “sure. Before dark,  I want a picnic, and campfire.”

Me - “it’s supposed to rain all evening.”

Him - “we have blankets.  Do they have camphouses atthe store?  Do you think we need to dig a hole for our campfire? Maybe Mrs Linda wants a campfire at her house?”

Me - “it’s winter but we could get a tent from the garage when it’s warmer, we have a few.”

Him - “can we campfire? We need a hole and bricks and pokers.”

Me - “perhaps we should research the fire pit.  We could probably make one when it’s warmer and everything isn’t all wet.”

Him - “I think mrs Linda has one already we can borrow hers”

Me - “you can ask”

3.  Him - “do crocadillys like guacamole?”

Me - “no I think crocodiles like chickens and fish and birds.”

Him - “ahh so they like chicken-fish guacamole and probably corn dogs ”

Me - “exactly.”

The 2018 List

It took me forever to make a list this year.  Somethings were super easy, but finishing the last 1/2 was seemed to be a real struggle, I wanted to come up with things that were doable but yet I still wanted to do.  But here’s the list.  I already started on a few things.  

1. One Second Everyday video

2. Temperature Quilt - Started

3. Finish Block of Month - Finished

4. Make spike/Skippy Jon a quilt - Finished

5. Instastories once a week

6. Read 12 Books

7. Organize the kids toys - Finished

8. Buy a new coat

9. Finish another unfinished quilt - Finished

10. Buy all new underwear - Finished

11. Go to Blink Cincy

12. Make Chia Seed Jam

13. New car or van - Finished

14. Attempt the Whole 30

15. Buy a new swimsuit - Finished x2 

16. Plant a garden

17. Monthly dates with just Thea

18. Monthly dates with just Jones

19. Tile floor in main bath

20. Sand and seal deck

21. Get Pool passes

22. Jones Ice skating lessons  - Finished

23. Thea/Jones swim lessons

24. Thea dance lessons

25. Fancy Taco Tuesday

26. JJs 40th trip

27. More intentional prayer

28. Women’s March

29. Make new curtains for moms kitchen

30. Professional family photos

31. Service project with the kids

32. Church campout 

33. Repurpose something

34. Art journal (if I add this every year maybe one year I will)

35. Watch a movie (last year I think I watched like 3 ekkk).

36. Cereal party

37. Birthday party for Thea - Finished

38. Birthday party for Jones

39. Play date with Brooks 

40. Make naan 

41. Finish 2016 project life.

42. Organize the coat closet

43. Meet my new nephew

44. Get my Ohio license - Finished

45. Organize my dresser

46. Write down more kid stories 

47.  Take kids to a beach

48. Event with Kathleen and Lynley 

49. Stay caught up in Project Runway

50. New hairstyle/color

51. Makes challah

52. New List

2017 List Recap

Here's my 2017 list looks like I finished 27 items.  I had 46 items so that’s better than 50%.  New list coming next week.

1. One Second Everyday

2. Take the kids to Tarkington Park

3. Make Halloween costumes

4. Visit JJ

5. Take a road Trip

8. get jones potty trained 

9. Throw Thea first birthday party

10. Throw Jones third birthday party

17. Finish baby Randy's quilt

20. Buy new glasses

25. Paint Master Bedroom.

27. Trip to the zoo. 

28. Nature walk with kids. 

29. Check out library books with Jones.

30. Use pottery Groupon with Kathleen. 

33. Summer event under the Sails. It was soooo hot

34. Attend Big Car Event

35. Get two new pairs of jeans. - one is a favorite the other is Meh

36. Add two new winter tops to wardrobe. - I bought 4

37. Get rid of the clothes not wore once in 18 months.

38. Jones sleepover with grandma and Lita

39. Take babies to parade.

40. Buy new tennis shoes. Adidas

42. Clear off Theas dresser.  

44. Add new photos to photo wall. Sadly my wall is in storage now

45. Send JJ art.

46. Make new list. (Coming soon)

Started:

I have 9 that got started.  Most of these are half finished Quilting projects.  

12. Block of Month Quilt- finished top and back

13. Half square triangle scrappy quilt - just a few blocks done.

14. flying geese quilt - top finished

15. Finish heart quilt - basted ready to quilt

16. Finish improv quilt - started piecing 

18. Cartoon a day (tracker) - I made roughly 120 cartoons I started off strong but fizzled in May. 

19. 8 glasses of water a day (tracker) - I did good for like the first 4 months

24. Work on finishing the baby books - I added 6 pages to each book

26. Update the back bathroom. - Painted only

Not Started:

Looks like I had 10 things I never even started.  That doesn’t seem to shabby.

6. Make Baby Bows

7. swimming Lessons

11. Make do quilt

21. Art journal

22. Balloons at state fair

23. Reconnect with 2 old Friends

31. Make tortillas 

32. Diversify dinners.

41. Wash siding in front. 

43. Paint Jones's lockers

The Lists

I am a little behind this year thinking about my list.  I opened up my note yesterday to see what I had in there and so far I have 4 things. So my goal is to finish it by next Monday.  That seems reasonable right?  I will update my last years list before that though.  

In the meantime here’s a photo from our vacation to Colorado. 

4 - visit JJ

We visited JJ over thanksgiving.  It was a quick trip but we had a fun time visiting with him as well as our other family in DC.  Highlights for Jones were playing with JJs fancy LEGO sets and riding the subway.  Thea enjoyed all the live music by our cousins and pie.  Added bonus we also hit the zoo so I can cross off 27 on my list too. 

Here are a few of the many photos I took. 

5 - Roadtrip Ohio

I have now found an app that works for blogging from my phone iPad again.  So hopefully I am back.

Back in ummm October we went on our roadtrip to Hocking Hills and Hopewell National Park.  

It was a good trip despite the rental car agency not booking us the appropriate kind of car.  uncle Jones and Auntie Lo joined us too to make the crew a little bigger.  

Hopewell was a quick stop we walked the mounds and visited the museum.

We loved our cabin it was a great size for all of us and perfect for large meals and bonus it was 1/2 price and came with a hot tub.

Our hike in Hocking Hills was super pretty although hiking with a toddler who wants to walk the whole time is an adventure.  She made it go sloooooow.  But it was so cute as she touched all the rocks and water etc.

Theaburf 19 months

i am so behind on posting these little note to you girlie!  Sorry about that.  

You are getting taller outgrowing your 18 months clothes and moving right into 2T.

You are jumping.

You talk every so much.  

Something super awesome is you started saying “Thea” this month.

I love how you will declare yourself silly, or dirty, or stinky etc.

You are brave and fearless.  

You are finally getting some hair and It’s still blonde.

You have so much energy.

You demand things by declaring “I need I️t”

You can peddle your trike.

You are getting better at going to sleep at bedtime.

You do the opposite of everything I say.  

You declare your love for just about everything - stating “I love I️t”

you sing Katy Perry’s “Firework” and think you’re calling herself a firework baby. 

You want to wear rain boots everywhere. 

You love babies and dress up.

Oh little birdy you grow up so fast.

Love mommy

Make Halloween costumes was on my list for this year.  

Jones has been reading the Big Bad Wolf and decided he should be that.  He really wanted Thea to be 3 little pigs but I couldn’t make that happen so I made her Little Red Riding Hood.  I found a pattern online for the big bad wolf and then when we went to buy fur jones it was $30/yard on sale!  I needed two yards so very quickly I decided I would not make his costume if the expense was that great and we ordered it online for $20.  For little red I did make her costume except for the dress which I had already in the closet.  I patterned the cape from one of her hoodies and made the apron using her overalls as a template.  The tutu was basically tulle tied onto elastic.   It was pretty easy to do.  

We went to several Halloween events including the Halloween parade where they were picked for a top costume and won free pizza.  They were a little sad when Halloween was over and Jones has already requested to be a ninja turtle for Christmas.  Lol. 

Both costumes have been now recycled into the dress up bin.

Theaburf 18 months

18 months little bird.

You talk talk talk.  At 18 months you should say 2 word sentences.  Yesterday you said a 6 word sentence. 

You run away from me when I need you and then play get me by running around the car, table, room whatever it is.

You still have wispy blonde hair and blue blue eyes.

You weigh about 22 lbs.

You are becoming a picky eater you don't want to even try foods that look unfamiliar.  But you still love peas, carrots, broccoli and yogurt.

You don't want to be left and often will run after me when I am leaving shouting "I am coming!"

You don't really want to listen to books but will sit on my lap and play when I read to jones. 

You like to write usually with an ink pen rather than crayon or marker.

The other day you picked up your toys while I was in the kitchen changing over laundry.

You get soooo upset when you get in trouble.  I have started making you look me in the eyes when disciplining you and you fight me but then will soften and say sorry.

You are starting to learn to peddle your bike.  

You looooove to pull the wagon or ride in it.  

You tend to copy jones.

You also like to play simon says. 

You are 18 months going on 3.

Love you bunches!

Mommy

Tuesday 10 - Looking Towards Fall

Summer is ending how is this possible?  The pool closed, we are needing jackets and long pants around here.  Although I must admit I am looking forward to fall. 

1. The Apple Orchard - jones has already proclaimed he wants to visit the orchard again.   He planted apple seeds to grow his own. 

2. Jockey Yoga Pants - so soft and pockets adore.

3. Fall Weather - sweaters weather

4. Jones playing soccer.  - Hilarious and amazing.

5. Thea's Style - the girl loves glasses, rain boots, bracelets and jackets.  

6. Finishing up the garden project. 

7. Jones can pedal his bike.  

8. Company discounts on insurance.  I will be saving $$. 

9. Quilting the Ugly Quilt - it's a little bit of chaos. 

10. "Honk Honk" - Uncles JJ & Rob are in Hong Kong and Jones keeps saying "Honk Honk" when he talks to him and sees photos of his trip.