Family Bike Ride!

Well, I am clearly slacking on keeping up with my blog. I'll try to do better. 

Today was Family Bike Ride Day! Cousin Avery passed his bike with training wheels down to Micah, so we got him a helmet and he was ready to ride!! He's been asking for a few days now to go in a Family Bike Ride, so we were finally able to do that today. 

 

This is him riding up and down the sidewalk last night...

Here are a few shots from today...

Lila and Henry enjoyed their ride too.

We rode to McDonald's for lunch and Lila was, of course, being goofy.

And Henry had a diaper blow out so he got to make the ride back in just his diaper, but I don't think he cared.

Our little lady didn't make it all the way home.

Micah ran threw the sprinkler when we got home to cool off a little bit before going in for a nap. So Mommy got to hang out with the boys while Daddy took Lila in to lay her down.

It has been a fun day! Now to get to all of the dishes and laundry that have piled up. I live by this quote: "Pardon the mess, my children are making memories."

Burnt Grilled Cheese

Some of you may have seen my Facebook post the other day involving a burnt grilled cheese sandwich. If you didn't, this post is for you. But if you did, please continue reading. I'm going to share more of my thoughts about that particular moment. 

Yesterday, I was making lunch for the kiddos. We had decided on grilled cheese sandwiches. So, I got to work. I had made one for Lila, which actually turned into Micah's sandwich since Lila has pretty regularly fallen asleep before we make it to lunch time. Anyway, back it up a little. A week or so ago, I got a call from my sister-in-law and she asked me if I would sing "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion for the video they are playing in her upcoming wedding. I agreed and have been listening to it quite a bit lately to familiarize myself with it (even more than I already am, because let's be honest...who doesn't have "Because You Loved Me" on their "Guilty Pleasures" list!). So, back to yesterday. I'm listening to the song while making lunch and in comes Micah. He says to me, "Mommy, I wike dis song! Mommy? Will you dance wif me?" Uh...duh! Did you really have to ask? Of course! He sweetly grabbed my hands and just shifted his weight back and forth. He'd occasionally spin. I would get on my knees and he would hop on my lap and just wrap his little arms around my neck and we'd sway side to side. It was the sweetest moment. When the song was over, he just looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Mommy, wanna sing dat song again? I wike you singin' dat song!" Well, I, of course, obliged. By the third time through, he was trying to sing along with me. I will never forget the look in his eyes when I knelt down and sang the line, "I was blessed because I was loved by you." Pretty sure I choked up every time. It is definitely in my Top 5 Favorite Mommy Moments so far...and three of those moments were when the kids were each born! I will cherish that moment forever. But can you picture it? As we were dancing, I was thinking, "Man! I really wish there was a photographer that just followed me around to catch these moments. The moments that are so special. The moments that I'm in and can't capture in a photo myself. If this moment was in a movie, I'm pretty sure this is what it would look like, so this is how I will forever remember it...

So we shared this moment for probably 10-12 minutes or so. When he had decided that 3 times was enough, I was brought back to reality and I realized that while I was making this amazing memory with my sweet little boy...the grilled cheese was burning. Yup...it was black...

 But you know what? I didn't care. It was the best burnt grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had!

So that's my sweet story. But as I have thought back on that memory over the past 36 hours or so, I have asked myself, "How many times have I missed these 'burnt grilled cheese moments'?" How many times have I just dismissed one of Micah's requests that could have turned into another precious memory like this one? You've heard it said a million times..."Cherish the time you have with them, because they grow up so fast." I never understood this until I had kids. I always thought, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. They grow up fast...time is so short...blah blah blah!" But it is so true! I'm pretty sure it was just yesterday that I was holding Micah for the first time, and now he is 3-1/2! How does that happen in just one day? How did he get so big, so fast? I want to treasure every moment I have with him. Sure, he will live with me until he's 18 and goes off to college, but what about those years between now and then that he wants nothing to do with me? When he won't let me make sweet memories like this one? What then? Ahhh! I don't even want to think about it! I just want time to slow down so I can keep him in this phase of life where he thinks I am the most amazing person ever for a little bit longer; this phase where he thinks he is the only one who can love me, and I am the only one who can love him; this phase where I am the only one who can help him put his shoes on; where he wants me to take him to bed and read to him and sing songs to him. It is moments like this that make all those times that I just want to lock myself in a closet just to get away from all of the whining and nagging and the "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mom! Mom! Mom!" worth it!

Back to the song..."Because You Loved Me". Doron's sister wants it played at her wedding. It's a love song. Everyone knows that. I don't know who Celine Dion was thinking about when she sang this song, but I did a little research (if Wikipedia counts as "research") and I found that the songwriter, Diane Warren, wrote this song as a tribute to her father, which just confirms all of my feelings. I know it is typically looked at as a song for two people who are in love, but when you really listen to the words, it just becomes obvious that this song was written from a child to his or her parent. Check it out...'

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

As I read through those lyrics, I am taken back to moments that my mom and dad did these exact things for me. My parents stood by me in everything I did. They were always there to support me and to make my dreams come true. They got me through my awkward, hormonal, emotional years and they are still guiding me through life and this crazy thing called "parenthood". I wouldn't be the mom or wife that I am today without them. I have never once...NEVER ONCE... doubted whether my parents loved me or not. I know without a shadow of a doubt that they do. They would do anything for me. If I needed them, they would be here at the drop of a hat. My absolute favorite line of this song is one that I quoted earlier, "I was blessed because I was loved by you." I truly feel this way. My life has been so blessed by the love of my parents. I have memories that will last a lifetime. And that is my prayer for my kids. That they will remember that I took the time to dance with them, to sing crazy songs with them, to build toilet paper towers with them, to read just one more story to them, or to simply spend 2 more minutes snuggling with them before they drift off to sleep.

...and that it didn't matter to me that the grilled cheese was burning. 

So that is my prayer for you all as well; that you will take the time to love your kids and make these special memories with them. Let dinner burn. They won't remember that the lasagna was overdone, or that the kitchen sink was full of dishes, or that the water boiled over on the stove (yet again!). All they will remember are the precious memories you gave them and they will realize that all we need is hugs and kisses and burnt grilled cheese!

Let me introduce myself...

Well...here it is. My very first blog! Are you all as excited as I am? Ok, probably not. I've been told by several friends of mine, "Melissa, you should start a blog." Well, I'm finally doing it. I'm not quite sure what this is going to turn into, but I'll give it a shot. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a big, famous Mommy-blogger someday! Alright, probably not. At this point, being a stay-at-home Mommy (which I love...most days), my adult interaction is very limited. So I will be using this as an opportunity to feel like I am talking to all of my adult friends, both near and far, and I hope to maybe make some new adult friends along the way. So welcome to the life of the Crazy Jones Kids (and their parents). 

Just in case I do eventually gain some readers who I don't know, let me introduce myself and my family. For those of you who already know me, just in case we haven't seen each other in years and you've lost track of where I am, who I married, and how many kids I now have...here's an update! I'm Melissa. I have been married to the love of my life, Doron Jones, for about 7-1/2 years. He is a youth minister and also coaches Varsity track. He is my best friend and I can't imagine life without him.

I know...cute pic, right? Well, my handsome hubby currently looks like this...

I'm hoping the beard won't be lasting TOO much longer. Anyway...

We have moved about 7 times in those 7-1/2 years. Not always to different cities, but nonetheless, our belongings have changed locations 7 times. We were both raised in Illinois but since getting married we have lived in Missouri, Indiana and now call Illinois home again. Hang on...the baby's crying...

Ok, I'm back. That leads me into the rest of this crazy clan. Our kids. Back in December of 2010, we were blessed with our first child, Micah. He is the most amazing little 3-1/2 year old boy you will ever meet, unless of course you have your own 3-1/2 year old boy...then Micah is an extremely close second. 

He loves to play outside and run through the sprinkler, ride his bike, dig in the dirt, climb trees, you know...all that typical boy stuff. And can I just tell you how ornery this little man is? Ugh...the defiance, sneakiness and naughtiness that this child possesses will someday push me over the edge. Yet, somehow, he is the sweetest, most kind-hearted little guy, as I'm sure you will come to see as you read my blogs.  

Then there is Lila, who was born in November of 2012 and just turned 18 months. She is Daddy's little princess! Our little Sweetpea. She is the funniest, sweetest, most sensitive little girl and she makes us smile and laugh so much every single day. We couldn't have ever imagined how much joy she would add to our already incredibly blessed and happy family on the day she was born.

Her favorite things to do include doing everything her big brother is doing (she adores him), swinging, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and dancing. This girl has moves you've never seen! The instant she hears music, she gets those hips swaying and those arms pumping. She is absolutely amazing!

And last, but certainly not least, is our newest addition, Henry. He was born just this past January, and he is an incredible baby. He is so laid back and easy going, which is kind of a requirement to be the baby brother of our first two hooligans. He is just sweet and is already super friendly; he doesn't know a stranger. I could sit and just stare at his precious little smile all day long!

In his short four months of life, he has developed a few favorite activities, including eating, sleeping, pooping and bringing joy to every single old lady who glances his way at church. I am convinced that God has put it in the nature of a baby (at least in Henry's nature anyway) to smile when old ladies look at them. His smile brightens the day of so many, and it is such a blessing to me to be able to see my baby bring a smile to someone else's face. Now, as soon as those ladies walk away from Henry they maybe thinking, "Now if only her other two weren't running around the church building like mischievous little goons!" 

So there you have it. That's my family. Will our family be growing? Quite possibly. Will our family be growing SOON? Absolutely not! If you do the math, you will realize that we had a baby in 2010, 2012 & 2014...Micah & Lila-22 months apart. Lila & Henry-14 months apart. I have done the math and I've been pregnant 27 out of the past 50 months. So, the plan is for my body and I to take a break...a very long break! Of course, God has an incredible sense of humor, so if you see a post in the near future announcing that #4 is on the way, just have yourself a good laugh and then picture God up in Heaven looking down on us, laughing and saying, "HAHAHA! YOU'RE plan?!?! GOOD ONE!" 

But seriously, I LOVE my life. There are days that I feel like I am going to end up bald by the end of the day because I have ripped every last hair out of my head, but in the end, I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I hope to share this life with you. Like I said, I don't know exactly what this is going to turn into; maybe I'll share recipes, crafts, helpful tips, devotional thoughts, rants about my latest frustrations with society, raves about new favorite products or TV shows, special moments with my kids, parenting failures, or encouragement to all my fellow mommies out there. But either way, no matter what this turns into, my prayer is that you will be blessed by my words, stories, pictures and whatever else my fingers spew onto your screen through my keyboard. Speaking of spewing...nevermind, I'll save that for another post! Well, this is me signing off for the first, and definitely not the last, time. Enjoy your day!