Happy Anniversary, Mr & Mrs Jones!

This was me....13 years ago today.

And this was my handsome groom....

(Ok...so he's probably going to kill me for putting these pictures out for the world to see. But he was rockin' that 90's bowl haircut and he could have been bald or had a mohawk for all I cared. I just couldn't wait to be married!)

 

August 30, 1997, was the day we tied the knot! Mark and I have been together since I was 13 and he was 15. We were babies and I can't even imagine my (almost) 13 year old daughter meeting the love of her life at such a young age! As I have said many times before, it was NOT love at first sight (for either of us) but it didn't take long until we fell madly in love and rode off in the sunset on our white horse decided that we kind of liked each other and that this thing might work out.

And of course, the rest is history! We really did fall madly in love and still are to this day. While marriage is tough and not always pretty, it makes it a lot easier when you are married to your best friend. I love him just as much today as I did when we were care free, starry eyed teenagers!

Happy Anniversary to the most wonderful husband ever! I am so glad that I get to share my life with you and I can't wait to celebrate many, many more years!

I love you!!!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL???

The Jones' sure are!

Chase is playing Pop Warner football for the first time this year and this past Saturday was his very first game! He had the best time and we were so excited to see him in action!

He looks so cute (but tough, of course) in his pads and uniform!

Here he is warming up before the game...

Since this was actually just the "jamboree" they only played two 30 minute games. It's a good thing, too, because it was SO HOT! The coaches were constantly wetting them down and giving them water. Too bad all of us parents didn't have waterboys to keep us cool!

Here are Kayli and Ashlyn trying to share some shade during the game....

Now, back to the game...Of course you can't get started with out a grand entrance!

Huddled up and getting ready to play!

Bring 'em on!

Decatur Thunder Blue played great and won both games! Although they all play different positions, Chase mostly played defensive tackle for these games. He even got his hands on the quarterback a time or two!

Chase LOVES football and can't wait to get suited up for every practice and game. We are excited to watch him play and are so glad that he loves it as much as we do! Maybe we'll have a future Auburn Tiger or UT Volunteer on our hands....you never know!

*Just a side-note from Mom...

Please pray for my sweet little boy. I know God made him rambunctious and tough and some times his mouth may drive me crazy. But he will always be that sweet little 5lb. 8oz. baby boy that I held in my arms almost 8 years ago. I love to watch him play, but I also cringe every time I see him buried alive under a pile of football players. So, please pray for no broken bones and no tears...for him OR me!

~Amen

Back-To-School!!!

Yesterday was the first day of school! I love this time of year! Even if it is a little hectic getting everything ready, I love to see all of the little kiddies with shiny new shoes, cute outfits and happy little smiles!

Especially these two cutie-pies....

Kayli is starting 7th grade and Chase is starting 2nd grade. I can't believe how quickly time goes by. It seems like only yesterday that we celebrated their first day on earth. Now, with every year that goes by, we celebrate another milestone in their little lives.

We love you both very much and are so proud of you both!

Love,

Mom and Dad 

Smith Lake Weekend

Before our summer vacation was over, we decided to make a quick weekend trip to Smith Lake. We asked the Milligans to join us and we were glad we did because we had tons of fun...as always!

We stayed at my Grandparents lake house which is actually up for sale. There is no furniture, or anything else for that matter, in the house so we really had to "rough" it just like we were camping. (However, it did have air conditioner and a shower so I guess that's not technically "camping!")

We started off our weekend by splashing into the lake as fast as we could. It was SO HOT!

When the sun started to go down, we did a little fishing. We didn't have much luck because of the heat but the kids enjoyed it...

After fishing, Mark grilled some steaks while the rest of us relaxed....

After dinner, the grown-ups battled it out in a serious game of Rummy.....Haha!

The next day, we went for what we thought would be a nice day at the recreation/beach area....

However, the water was DISGUSTING and HOT.....

Yuck! We didn't stay there long!

When we got back, we decided to cool off in the house for a while.... but somehow an indoor football game erupted!

Poor Mark!

Good gracious! Watch out kids!

Mini chest-bump!

Don't worry! They're still buddies!

Even though we didn't have a boat, it was miserably hot and we had to sleep on the floor, we had a great time! It is always trips like this that make you thankful to have a great family, great friends....and AIR CONDITIONING! =)

Birmingham Zoo

This summer we decided to take the kids and Abby to the Birmingham Zoo. We have been almost every summer sine they have been alive and we love it. I love to go to zoos and aquariums and luckily my kids are the same. This was Abby's first time to the zoo and I loved watching her get excited about all of the animals!

We got to pet a real llama....

Ride a real camel....

And hold real lorakeets....

Abby was not so sure about this part at first....

But she eventually joined in on the fun!

When we first picked Abby up, all she said was "I want to see an eli-pant (elephant)!" But unfortunately the zoo is renovating almost everything and there were NO ELEPHANTS! Figures...the one thing she wanted to see!

We had lots of other things to do though! Here are Chase and Abby ringing the bell before we rode the train...

After our train ride we decided to cool of in the misters. It was SO HOT that day and I think this was the kids (and the grown ups) favorite part!

We had a great day at the zoo, as always, and can't wait to go back next year. The new renovations and additions look like they are going to be great! 

Hope to post again soon with some of our other summer fun!