The Jones Family Christmas 2008

Where does the time go? Between work and home...baby and husband time...my days get away from me! Once again this post is long over due. We are enjoying this busy and joyful time of year and are looking forward to Christmas! We are spending time with family and just relaxing (well needed). I am looking forward to the next two weeks in which I get to spend my days with my daughter.

Last weekend we went Christmas tree hunting. Layla Belle enjoyed her first tree hunt. It was a beautiful warm (30 degree) day and the snow was falling. We enjoyed ourselves, but missed the rest of the family in the annual hunt. We found the perfect tree and hauled it back to the truck. Before we left, LB had a quick visit with Santa. As you can see from the picture, she apparently was quite bored with the jolly man.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!

Where does the time go? This post is way over due! A quick update on the Jones family. Hunting season continues to go well for Ryan. He did manage to get his first doe bow hunting a few weeks back. He is now on the hunt for the big buck! He is enjoying every minute of hunting this year...including all the times he has sat in the rain. :) I have adjusted to being back in the classroom. I must admit, that I am enjoying teaching. My children this year are great! Their excitement has helped make the transition easier. Layla Belle is now 2 1/2 months old! A few weeks ago she had her 2 month appointment. She now weighs 9 pounds, 6 ounces and is 21 inches long. Yes, she has doubled her birth weight in 2 months! She is still wearing newborn clothes, but probably won't be for long. She is growing so quickly! Everyone says that she looks like her mother...what do you think? :)

Wow! Where did this month go? We have had a great month! Ryan has been busy hunting...no deer yet, but tons of ducks! He had a great time in North Dakota and they got their limit each day. Ryan continues to be busy at work and has been traveling quite a bit. I am heading back to the classroom this coming Tuesday. It is going to be quite an adjustment to get use to a school schedule again...and to add a baby to the mix...yikes! Layla will be heading to school with me. We have worked it out to have childcare right at school for a few of the teacher's children (which is sooo nice). It is going to make the transition easier. Layla is getting huge. We are guessing that she is about 7 pounds (Huge in our eyes!). We head to the doctor in about 1 1/2 weeks for her two month appointment. Her personality continues to show itself every day. She is smiling, talking, and making faces. She even rolled over this week! We are enjoying being parents to this sweet little lady. :)

This past Sunday, Oct. 5th, Layla Belle was baptized. Her godparents are Ryan's brother Derek and my sister Abby. Layla continues to grow quickly...she is 5 weeks old and I can't believe how much she has grown! It is hard to remember the time that she was not here! :) My maternity leave is about half over...I'll be headed back to the classroom on Oct. 28th. I am having mixed feelings about heading back, but I am going to enjoy every moment with her until then. :) Ryan continues to be very busy at work, but has managed to squeeze some hunting in...he is actually spending the week duck hunting in North Dakota. He's gone until Saturday, but we miss him already! He was very much looking forward to this trip and I hope that he has fun and of course comes home with lots of ducks.

Our little lady is two weeks old! It is unbelievable that she has already been with us for 2 weeks! We are continually amazed by her cuteness and the blessing that she is in our lives. The picture shows Layla's favorite sleeping position, but she has found her lungs too! She is now weighing 5 pounds and 9.6 ounces. She is 18 inches long. We love seeing her grow!

Sorry for the delay on pictures...so many people have been asking to see more of Layla Belle. :) We have been a little busy! We are enjoying every moment with our little lady. She is doing well and will head to the doctor on Tuesday for her two week appointment. We are hoping that she has put on some weight. :)

As for Ryan and I, we are doing well. I am enjoying spending time with the little lady and Ryan continues to stay busy at work. Bow hunting started today, so Ryan has been out in the rain twice today hoping to get a deer.

Layla Belle was born at 12:30 pm today, 4 pounds and 14 ounces of joy. Mom and baby are doing great and we're all enjoying the view from our room. What a day of joy!

Last weekend, we went camping at LuWiSoMo for family day weekend. We had a great time! The weather was wonderful (despite an afternoon shower) and the company enjoyable (we love you Rick, Kathy, and Dan). Who would have thought that at 8 months prego, I would even attempt to camp! :) I did sleep in the RV with Rick and Kathy, but that's still considered camping, right?

A few weekends ago, Ryan and I had a chance to attend Packer Family Night at Lambeau Field. It was great to see the team play and to get a sneak peek at the upcoming football season. We managed to get 10th row tickets with a great view! We enjoyed our first family trip to Lambeau.

Before and after photos of the nursery for our baby girl, scheduled to enter the family in September. Some window treatments, and rocking chair, and I think we'll be set.

We just returned from our week long vacation to Minocqua. Our first full week vacation in 5 years! We spent the week relaxing, fishing, reading, and playing golf. I became very good at riding along in a golf cart :). We did play some mini-golf and I would like a rematch...Ryan beat me by one stroke! We were joined for the second weekend by Ryan's cousin and some good friends from Appleton. They got some skiing and tubing in as well...I had fun watching, but I sure wanted to join in. It was a great week! It was very hard to come back home.

Long awaited belly picture..31 weeks and counting...feeling great!

Happy Anniversary Ryan! Can you believe that it has been 5 years?! I love you!

4th of July camping trip to the Nicolet National Forrest....some time spent in the woods, some time spent at the beach, all time spent relaxing and enjoying life.

Brewers game up in the Twin Cities (everyone else seemed to think it was a Twins game) with Matt and Abby. Great times.... First 18 batters were outs and the game ended in 2 hours (hardly even enough time to eat a dog and drink a beer).

About a year ago, there was a great video of Tiger Woods traveling around the internet with the beauty of his swing set to classical music. Well, here's my version...pretty ugly, eh?

23 Weeks and counting