12.23.2011

Christmas Letter

For anyone who didn't get our Christmas letter in the mail, here's what we had to say this year:


Greetings we send from the Joneses to you!

Well now, let's see...just what could be new?

So let's start with Brad, 'cause he is the Pop.

He's still in good shape with less on the top.

He still likes his job, he still likes to run.

Stays busy with church, but on to his Hun.


For Becca, you know, she has some big news,

She bought a new van and three pair of shoes!

She seems to work hard with Levi and Jake,

And learning to sew, cool things she can make.

She reads and works out, but you are beguiled!

For the biggest news is that she’s with child!


Now on to Jake. What’s new in his day?

He rides a bike well and goes to pre-K.

He’s learning to spell and learning to add,

His favorite thing is wrestle with Dad.

Thinks Woody and Buzz and his Lego’s are fun,

Pretends everything he finds is a gun.


Now Levi is sharing a bedroom with Jake,

Much fun and much noise the two of them make.

And with this new change they both wake at dawn,

And Levi excels at his use of the John.

He likes to help out, of this we are glad.

His favorite thing…is wrestle with Dad!


We’re grateful for Christ, the Savior of man,

His birth and His life, His wondrous plan.

Best wishes to you and all of your kin.

And then in a year, we’ll write you again.

Love,

Brad, Rebecca, Jacob & Levi (and baby girl - ETA Jan. 2012)

12.20.2011

A First

I am 31 years old. Yes, I'll admit my age. I am not ashamed. Anyway, until this Christmas, I had NEVER in my life made a gingerbread house. I'm not sure what that says about my upbringing or the schools that I went to, but sadly, I had never done one before this year. Nevertheless, Brad went to Sam's one night and found a great little kit (making one from scratch would've been a huge thing for someone who had never done even a kit one before) and we decided to decorate a little gingerbread house for Family Home Evening one Monday night.

The kids thought it was great fun. I helped Jacob and Brad helped Levi in doing two sides each of the house.

One of us allowed more autonomy than the other of us :) Jacob really enjoyed putting the icing on the outside of the house.Levi and Daddy doing the icing.

Levi, watching Daddy put icing on the house. Levi enjoyed eating the candies and sitting on the table.
The finished product! I was actually a part of the whole process, so we did a family picture to prove it :) This was a lot of fun and I think it might become a family tradition.

12.13.2011

Decorating

We decorated the house a couple of weeks ago for Christmas. It's always interesting to see how much the boys will want to help. This year, they really didn't do much for helping, or hindering, the process of decorating. They were around, but a lot of the time, they were too busy playing with each other to really get into anything, which was kind of nice.

I got new curtains, candles, and decorative ball ornaments to put near my mantle. I think it makes a great impact on the overall look of the room!We ordered new stockings this year. One for everyone, with everybody's names embroidered on them. Unfortunately, two days before my stocking was to arrive, I found out that the one I wanted was out of stock and they wouldn't be making any more...at least not right now. So, we have a stocking for Dad, Jacob, and Levi, but not one for mom. Oh well. Next year, once baby girl has been officially named, she and I will get stockings that will be hung up next Christmas.Aren't the boys cute posing by the fireplace under the stockings?!

Finally, we got a new star to go on top of the tree. It looks pretty good, if I do say so myself! I love the decorations for Christmas. It's always a little sad when it's time to take them down, so we're trying to enjoy them while we can.Jacob helping put the finishing touches on the tree!