Chocolate Footballs

I was feeling a little festive for the Super Bowl this year. Mom and Adam were in town visiting, and Brian came over to watch the game too. We had some yummy finger foods like chips and dips, wings, pigs in a blanket, etc, but I also wanted to try something new. So I attempted the football cake balls from who else, but bakerella?! They are just like her cake balls, where you mix the prepared cake with a can of frosting and shape them into whatever you like, and then dip them in melted chocolate and decorate. They were  fairly easy to make, but I can definitely use some practice in shaping them. I have to give mom some credit too, because she helped me shape some of these footballs. We took some down to our neighbors who were hosting a Super Bowl party, and the kids were excited about them. Even though they didn't turn out perfectly, they still tasted pretty good!

Great Memories and New Beginnings

Since I skipped blogging at all for the month of February, it's time to get caught up!!

February started out a little bittersweet. We made a trip to Brad's grandmother's house in St. Louis to help her pack and get ready to move out of her house. Brad's grandfather died in 2007, and since then his grandmother has lived in the country on 20 plus acres of land by herself. The family started talking to her about moving closer to town and closer to her family a few years ago, and she just wasn't ready at the time.

It's easy to understand her resistance seeing as how she has lived in that same house for 55 years. It's where she made her life and her family with her husband and children. It's where all of the family got together and celebrated different milestones and events. And quite simply, it's just her home!!

However, I can also see the point that the rest of the family was trying to make. She was at least 45 minutes away from any family in case something happened. And things HAD started to happen, she fell a couple of times and even broke both wrists. It was also too much for her to upkeep...I don't even know that I could take care of 20 acres out in the country with an older house and an in ground swimming pool.

So, last year, the family finally won her over and convinced her to sell the house and move, and it sold earlier this year.  We made the trip up there so that Brad could help load some of the heavier things on to the moving truck and so that we could be there for moral support. All of her children and most of her grandchildren were there for the final weekend in the house. There was a lot of talking and laughing about good memories and good times. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Brad's grandmother though, as all of her things were being moved around and gone through, and she had to leave some things behind. I can't imagine what she must have been feeling. She has many great memories to take with her though. And the family that bought her house is using it as a weekend getaway for his kids and grand kids, so I think that made her feel better too...to know that they would use it to celebrate family just as she and her family had done. While I'm sure it wasn't easy for her to say goodbye to so many memories, I know that she is thankful to have so many great ones to take with her!

Here are a just a few pictures of the house and family over the past couple of years:

Grandma, Brad and me

Grandma with the grand kids and great-grand kids on Thanksgiving 2009

Better late than never

New Year's Resolutions. Almost everyone makes them, and almost no one actually keeps them. I am DETERMINED to keep mine this year! Yes, I'm getting a bit of a late start, but a couple of weeks isn't too bad. That just means that I've really put some thought into them, right??!!!...

1. Of course, I have to make a resolution related to being in shape and healthy. And I think I've figured out a realistic goal for myself. I am going to run a 5K this year. I know it's only 3.1 miles, but I will admit that I am NOT a runner at all!! I will most likely NEVER run a marathon, but a 5K I can handle. I have made resolutions to eat better and exercise regularly in the past, but I think that this gives me more of a specific goal to work towards. I am in the process of finding a race to sign up for so that I can go ahead and register and start training!! I would also like to go back to the Insanity workouts and actually complete the 60 day program, but first things first...5K!!

2. I also want to work on my blog. I would like to blog more often, and be a little more creative. It's fun to write about what's going on in the little world of the Jones house, but I'm sure that can be a little boring for my loyal readers after a while...all two of them. Haha! Anyhow, I'm thinking that I might branch out and dare to let my thoughts and opinions be heard...maybe blog about something controversial or something that I love or enjoy or something that really makes me mad! I'm just thinking out loud, but it sounds kind of fun!

3. Scrapbook, scrapbook, scrapbook!!! I haven't done a single scrapbook page since we have lived in this house!! And I have absolutely no excuse. I have a craft table that my dad made for me, I got an awesome organizer for Christmas, and goodness knows that I have enough pictures and supplies to make something happen. I've only done one layout for my scrapbook of Memaw, so maybe I should make a resolution to finish it by the end of the year. That's a reasonable goal!!

4. Last one...and this one is kind of simple and silly, but I HAVE to take advantage of our neighborhood pool this summer!! It's Olympic-sized, within walking distance from our house, and pretty much amazing!! We probably only went about four times last summer....pitiful!! You wouldn't think that I would have to remind myself to go soak up the sun with a good book and a sweet pool, but for some crazy reason that I can't really put my finger on...I didn't do it last summer. So, that's it, I MUST use the pool, and use it regularly!! Maybe resolution number #1 will get me more motivated to keeping this one. ;)

And there you have it! Though they really aren't extraordinary, these are my goals for 2011...and I WILL meet each one of them!! Updates on my progress to come...

Lola Update

I promise that every post from now on will NOT be about Lola, but I thought I would add a little more info about her than I had in my last post. I was just itching to get some pictures of her posted on here as soon as I could!!
Lola's name is short for LOis LAne. Of course, this comes from Brad's love for superman! :) She is ten weeks old today, and she weighs almost 20 pounds. We have already had our first visit to the vet, and she did great and had a clean bill of health. Lola is from a litter of 13!!! There were six puppies left when we went to pick her out. She was the most timid puppy of them all, and the biggest one of the remaining puppies. She wouldn't even run out and see us like the rest of her siblings. And although she was pretty shy for the first day or two, she has definitely started to come out of her shell!!

She loves her toys, she loves naps, and she loves to give big sloppy kisses. Luckily, potty training has gone really well so far!! She is sleeping through the night with no accidents, and she goes and stands by the door when she needs to go potty. Sometimes she likes to stay outside and play for a little while before coming back in...she LOVES the cold weather, and she had a blast with the snow when it was on the ground. Brad even got her to fetch some of her toys when they were playing outside today. We are also trying to get her used to her collar, and we're working on "sitting" on command. She's doing great with both so far.

We are so in love with our new addition, and we are so proud of how well she is adjusting to her new home and learning new things!! We better love on her and hold her while we can, because it surely won't be long before she's too big to sit in our laps!!

Meet LOLA!!!!

We picked up our sweet St. Bernard puppy today, and her name is Lola. She is so adorable, and Brad and I are SO excited!! She is 9 weeks old and pretty darn big already!! Here are a few pictures from her first night at home tonight!!

"MOM!! That's enough pictures!! It's only my first night!!" :)

A Snowy Start to the New Year

SNOW DAY!! Well, it is for Brad anyway. I'm so glad that he could stay home with me today. Monday is my usual day off, so it's just another Monday to me. Except for all of the beautiful white snow out there, of course! We have gotten about 3 inches so far, and we are supposed to get another inch sometime tonight or in the morning. It's so pretty to look at, but Brad and I have kind of wimped out on this snow day. We got up, made some nice warm beverages...coffee for Brad and hot chocolate for me, Brad built a fire in the fireplace, and we enjoyed the snow from the inside of our nice warm house. I am usually all about playing in the snow like an 8 year old, but I just wasn't feeling it today.

We did venture out on the roads a little. And they actually weren't bad at all, a little slushy, but not bad. I'm sure that all of the slush will all freeze over again tonight and make for a slippery drive to work tomorrow, but I'm really hoping that it won't! Anyhow, we had to get out and pick up a few things at Target and PetCo....yes, PetCo. You may be wondering why we had to go to PetCo since we lost both of our sweet animals last year?? Well, the quiet house that we have had for the past few months won't be quiet for much longer!! We are going to pick up our new puppy on Wednesday...weather permitting!! So, we had to stock up on some puppy treats and a couple of new toys for our sweet new girl. We are both SO excited!! I am going to wait until Wednesday to post pics of her or reveal what kind of puppy we are getting. I will say that she is going to be much bigger than our Dixie girl that we were used to...  Yay! We can't wait!!

As for the rest of this snow day, I'm already back in my pjs, snuggled up in a blanket and ready for another hot chocolate. I've got a good book to read, and we have a few movies to pick from. So, our lazy snow day continues...gotta love it!!

Christmas and New Year's Eve

Whew!! What a whirlwind the holidays were this year!! I really LOVE Christmastime. I love the feeling of family and tradition, I love shopping for friends and family, and I love cooking, baking and preparing for Christmas. As much as I love those things, I know that I can let them stress me out a little too. But there is a really easy fix for that, I just stop and remember the true reason for the season. The small stuff really doesn't matter when you stop and remember that we are truly gathering to celebrate Jesus. And He doesn't care if our Christmas outfit doesn't look exactly the way WE want it to, or if our turkey is a little to done for OUR liking, or whatever it is that you and I worry about during the craziness of the holidays. He loves us no matter what, and what a wonderful thing to celebrate!!
Brad and I had a very blessed Christmas with family and a wonderful New Year's Eve with family and friends. We spent Christmas Eve night playing on Adam's new XBOX and Wii games. And for New Year's Eve, it was karaoke all night. So much fun!! Here are a few snapshots of the festivities!!

Family photo

The Girls

Another family photo after Pepaw arrived

Adam's XBOX...he really was surprised

And the kinnect

Brad and Chruchill

Karaoke Girls

Being silly...Brian snuck in the background

Singing and dancing :)