A Free Ride

 Freddie is a wonderful horse for our little girls.

The other day the girls and Aaron wanted to walk from the gate to the house, which is about 1/2 mile.  I went on ahead to the ranch in the pickup.  I was mildly concerned if the walk would be too much for Kylee since she had been so sick for so many days, but they needed to run off some energy so I didn't worry too much about it.  If they did get tired, Daddy was there to carry them.

A few minutes later I looked out the window, and realized there was nothing to worry about.  Both little girls were riding Freddie bareback without a bridle or anything.  Freddie was just following Aaron on up to the house.  So the girls got a free ride and Aaron and Freddie got a nice little walk  :)

Good Morning!!!

Good morning from the Ranch.

Merry Christmas ya'll!!!

I'm home with Kylee since she's really sick.  Aaron and Krysten went ahead to the ranch this morning and hopefully we'll head up tomorrow.  We are planning on being there thru Christmas. 

I have cleaned and done tons of laundry.  I even did dishes.  I am running out of things to do.  I know, I still need to wrap presents and get packed for the week, but I seem to be procrastinating...dunno why. 

I keep checking Facebook about every 15 minutes.  Not much exciting happens during those 15 minutes.  I'm even too lazy to facestalk people.  I also keep checking my blog, but no one has posted anything new in the last 15 minutes. 

I guess that means that it's my turn to post something.

One of the things I enjoy about Christmas time is receiving all the Christmas letters and pictures from all our friends and family.  I love reading the letters and looking at the pictures and seeing how everyone has grown/changed in the last year.  I love hear about what people have been up to- even if I already knew what they were up to. 

Most years I even send out my own version of a Christmas letter, sometimes a picture.   I even had my picture all picked out that I was going to send out this year.  I knew it as soon as I snapped the picture 6 months ago.  It was a gorgeous picture of my 3 girls. 

The lousy economy has now even hit my Christmas picture.  Blame it on Obama, why not?!!  So, in the interest in saving money this year, I have decided to send virtual Christmas greetings. 

Our year has been an insanely busy one.  Anyone that reads my blog, or follows me on Facebook can attest to that.  We joke that if it weren't for our cell phones, Aaron and I would never get to talk to eachother.  We are extremely busy with our activities and the girls' activities.  And no, I don't want to get into a philosophical discussion on whether or not we are too busy.  We'll save that for another day.

Tracey is halfway thru her 8th grade year (don't remind me that high school is just around the corner).  She's involved in sports- volleyball and basketball.  She's also active with our church's youth group called Surge.  She can't wait until she gets her license and we even let her drive to the neighbor's house.  Hey!  Don't freak out- it's a dirt road.  So that makes it okay.  Don't argue. :)  She had 2 surgeries on her arm this past spring, and she now needs to return for another in March.  Please keep praying for healing on her arm. 

Kylee is going to PreK this year and absolutely loves it.  She really loves school and I hope she will continue to be challenged.  She started out at the Montessori School and really excelled there, but we put her in PreK in the fall because, well, because it's free!  Anyone that has ever met her knows she has a huge personality...I don't think she's ever met a stranger.  This summer we saw some new places and she really remembers them and talks about them.  Abraham Lincoln I think will forever be in her mind, and she knows lots about him too.  Elvis is also a fascination for her, not his music- but his house. 

Krysten is fabulous.  Her curls and those blue eyes are gonna be heartbreakers soon.  She is so mischevious.  She draws on everything.  Just last night I caught her drawing on the laundry basket with a sharpie she'd found somewhere.  She is going to daycare and really enjoys it there.  It is right across the street from Kylee's school, so Kylee is there part time as well.  Her and Kylee have also started ballet.  Kylee loves it, but I'm thinking hiphop would be more Krysten's style!

Despite my best efforts, I am still down in Lordsburg.  I am still teaching PE.  Enough about that.  I am also still teaching in AWANA's.  I've been doing it for about 7 years.  Krysten and Kylee have also started Cubbies and they have lots of fun.

(Now, I know if you're not around here you might not realize this BUT- Kylee goes to school in the Cobre school district, Tracey goes to the Silver school district, and I am in the Lordsburg district.  Three different districts?  Three different schedules?  And you wonder why my life is crazy!)

Aaron is still fighting fire with the forest service, although I think he's discovered a direction he really enjoys- teaching.   He really enjoys leading the fire trainings that fire fighters are required to attend.  He has a passion for it, so I know he'll do great.  He and I also have a small group Bible study that we lead in our church.  I really love our small group and we have so much fun.

Tracey, Krysten, and Kylee at the Covered Bridge park in Zumbrota, Minnesota.

Merry Christmas!

from the Jones family,

Aaron, Dayna, Tracey, Kylee, and Krysten

My Journey Through the NFL

"Who's your favorite NFL team?"

That is probably the most asked question of a PE teacher.  Maybe any teacher for that matter.  Older students seem obsessed with wanting to know who you cheer for on the weekends. 

For years my usual answer was "I don't have one."  This response was usually met with puzzled looks.  "I don't really care for football."  That was met with even more puzzled looks.  Almost anti-American. 

My dear hubby is a big football fan.  Thanks to ESPN, NBC, and the NFL channel football is on in our house 24/7.  I have picked up some football knowledge through osmosis.  Aaron was very patient in explaining the game to me and now that I understand a small smidgen of it, I kinda enjoy it.

So I decided I would pick a football team to become a fan of.  (Now I know all you die-hard football fans out there would shudder at that so you might want to skip the rest of this.)

I began a very lengthy elimination process. 

I evaluated teams based on stats, records, playoff potential, and quarterback ratings.

NOT!!  

I evaluated teams based on a rigorous process of comparing team colors and team names.   My hubby told me to eliminate the Cowboys and the Packers.  So in the interest of saving my marriage, I immediately crossed those off my list.  Wasn't difficult.

I didn't like the stripey helmets, so the Bengals got scratched.  I refuse to wear blue and orange (blech!) so bye-bye Broncos.  Some mascots just didn't do it for me...the Browns?  Come on.  That doesn't exactly strike fear in you.  I also refused to cheer from any team from Texas.  I don't like Mike Ditka so there went the Bears (but Urlacher is from NM, so that posed a bit of a conflict for me.)

And so on.  You get the idea. 

Finally I had only a few teams left on the list.   Since we had just been to Tampa, FL I felt a connection with their team.  Plus, pirates are kinda cool. 

*insert drum roll please*

I chose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now I had an answer.  All were happy.  For awhile.

Problem was, I never watched a game, couldn't name a single player on the team and sometimes I even forgot I was supposed to be cheering for them.

So the next season I picked a new team.  I am ashamed to admit I jumped on the bandwagon and became a Saints fan.  Not ashamed to be a Saints fan, only ashamed of the bandwagon jumping.

Rejoicing in the land.  I even knew who the quarterback was.

The next season I forgot to cheer for them.  I also felt no connection with anyone.  So I again began my search for another team. 

*insert another drum roll*

I have chosen a new team.  This team was even one of my finalists in my original quest.

I really like Michael Vick.  His team was also one of my original finalist teams, mainly due to him.  Then he had a bit of a difficulty.  We won't go into that now.

But he's back!!!

So by combining my original finalist teams...you get...

Be proud.  I can name their quarterback, I actually watch their games (which is probably an important thing to do as a fan), they are the conference rivals of the Cowboys (and I'm a total Cowboys hater), their colors aren't bad, and there is a distinct possibility that I might even have the chance to go to a live game.  You see, they play the 49ers (which is Aaron's team). 

My quest to find a football team has finally ended in Philadelphia. 

Thank you for coming with me on this tumultuous and confusing journey :)

Tis the season...

...basketball season.
Basketball is definitely Tracey's favorite sport.  She's been playing basketball since she was in 1st grade and every year we've watched her grow up, develop her skills, and enjoy the game.  It's been a great journey watching her mature to the point she is now. 

She is an 8th grader this year so it's the last season before moving up to the high school.  Yikes, I don't even want to think about that...the fact that my first born will be in high school in less than a year...oy.

As some of you know, she changed schools last year and now attends La Plata here in Silver City.  Before that she rode down with me to Lordsburg, all the way from Kinder thru 6th grade.  It was an easy transition for her and for us.  It's so much easier having her attend the school in the same town we live in, especially now that she's busy with extracurricular activites. 

I've learned a few things now that I'm the parent of a player instead of just the player.  It is way more nerve-wracking being the parent.  Holy cow!  They've had some close games and I think I've been a basketcase inside.  (I try not be one of those outwardly dramatic parents).  It's so exciting to watch your child make great plays and score points. 

I remember after all my games when I was in school my dad and I would rehash the game play-by-play.  We would discuss mistakes and celebrate the successes together.  I had forgotten the fun of doing that.  Now, Tracey and I talk about her games afterward.

Recently, my parents came down to see one of Tracey's games.  Usually they leave immediately afterward to go back to Quemado, but this time they decided to spend the night.  I know my dad was pleased as punch because once again he got to rehash the game, this time with his granddaughter, just like he and I used to do.  I know Tracey enoyed getting to talk with him about it.   I know I enjoyed all of us talking about the game, it was lots of fun and brought back lots of memories.

** I was waiting til I downloaded more pics to post this, but it's been so long since I've posted, I thought I'd share it anyway.  Enjoy**