Sorry we have not been able to post!

Hey everyone!
Sorry we have not been able to post for a while!
We just have not been able to put our pictures on the computer. So we will update as fast as we can!
-Mikelle

Fun at the Bean Museum!

Determined to take the kids a few places this summer (and you can't beat the free admission), we started with the Bean Museum in Provo. The kids had a great time and enjoyed looking at all of the exhibits. Too bad the camera batteries were running low... but here's a few glimpses of our trip.
You might not be able to see in the picture but the large butterfly is made up completely of butterflies. It was neat to see.
The insect collections reminded me of all of mom's years of work helping us put together our insect collections for school. These collections still give me the "willies!" I am not a big bug girl!
After showing the kids the email about the largest bear killed in Alaska (probably a fake email-but still scary:) we have been interested in these LARGE creatures! Even though the picture has all the glass reflections in it--Mikelle still insisted on its posting!

Since the boys will be in scouts in a few months, there was a chance to attend a class to count toward their "check-off's." (I am all about the lists and the check-off's in life! I love getting things done and getting credit for it in my mind:) It was supposed to just be about 15 minutes, but turned into almost an hour since the kids loved meeting the live reptiles. My camera died completely after "OTIS" the tortoise, but it was so cute to see him cross the stage and chow down on the lettuce. We also met TJ the lizard (1 1/2 feet long complete with a blue tongue) and a milk snake that resembles the poisonous and colorful coral snake. It was a fun and educational outing with the kids. Summer has been great so far!

Mikelle puts the "TRI" in TRIATHALON!

Mikelle's friend Emily told her about the PG triathalon. Mikelle decided to do it! She really enjoyed doing it with her friends but it was a challenge for her! She is going to keep practicing for next year! They had to write their number on their arms and legs! Her number was 103!
It was a reverse triathalon where the one mile run was first.
Next was the 3 mile bike ride.
Way to go Mikelle!
The swim was last which put Mikelle over the edge! :) She was 3 laps away from finishing but couldn't breathe so she had to stop. We are all so proud of Mikelle for trying her best and doing so awesome! Great Job Mikelle!

Younger Pictures

This is Christian at our old house in our hotub. We had so much fun playing in it!
This is also Cameron playing in our hotub. Look at his smile! heehee!
This is Kennedy a long time ago! Doesn't she look so cute and chubby?
Kennedy again! She is such a cute and funny little girl!
This is me Mikelle in our backyard!
I just love looking at younger pictures!!
-Mikelle

Disney's Deperate HouseWifes

I found this on google and thought it was funny! I hope all of you can read what the picture says! I love you so much dad!!
Thanks for all you do for me and our family!
-Mikelle

It's Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Ruff being the Dog!

Some days it is "ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff" being a dog, eating dinner out of a can... (joke-this is a song from one of Mikelle's choir groups a few years back, but it reminds us of our beloved Dog (nickname for Steve; it's a long story:)

This Father's Day, we wanted to say THANK YOU again for who you are and all you do! Not every dad is such a pro with construction (including creative ideas and meticulously checking mesurements when finishing your basement). Also being a "hands-on" partner raising the kids and changing diapers!

We appreciate you getting up all of those freezing mornings to snow-blow, shovel, and ice-melt the horrible driveway so we aren't playing "cliffhanger" off the rocks when trying to get the kids to school!

I don't know too many other dads who will help with family pictures by helping to coordinate clothing and then help get the kids ready ETC!!

Mikelle feels lucky to have such an awesome Dad who is worthy to baptize her and the boys soon to come.

So to summarize this post we just wanted to say... we LOVE our "DOG" aka paparat. Happy Father's Day Pop!

Father's Day continued...

More pictures of Steve! He loves us and does everything he can for each of us. When I was helping to throw a bridal shower for our niece, he was helping me at crunch time to get the last of the invites put together and mailed. Thanks Pop!

Happy Father's Day Pop 2008

In honor of our wonderful husband/father/Pop, we have to post either on time or early since this is one father who is never late! We appreciate his fine example and leadership in our family and we want to wish him the best on his special day!!

Our blog will only let us post 5 pictures at a time, so just a head's up that our Pop will be a trilogy! We love so many things about him; it was hard to narrow our picture choices!

Some of his best qualities are that he is a hard worker and does a great job providing for us. He never calls in sick (even when his secretaries would prefer that he did so they don't catch anything:). He is a righteous man, always honoring his Priesthood. He never makes excuses or misses meetings. He follows his own rule of "being in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing." He is a tough customer on discipline and potty training but is also the most loving and caring Dad you will ever meet.

He also has a lighter side which includes cracking the kids up with his different voices, impressions, and funny character drawings. He is very talented and shares his voice in many ways and places.

We love you! Thanks for all you do for us! Happy Fathers Day!

The Boys--"Keepin it Real, Dog!"

I can't imagine life without our twin boys! They keep life so fun, loud, busy, interesting and real! From the minute they wake up, they are chasing, wrestling, "wedgi-ing," teasing, and laughing. Some days I was so glad for the time they headed out the door to the bus just to have a quiet minute but for the most part, they bring so much joy and love into our home.

Recently in our community, there was a mom who had twins; however one had passed away a day before delivery in the womb. I wasn't able to go to the graveside service, but another nurse at work (who also has twin boys) and I commiserated sp? about not even being able to imagine our lives without both of them! (I know she didn't have a choice and is glad one is still here) but it has been an indescribable experience having twins! Double the work and double the love!!

Phantom Blogger

I have to admit that it took me at least a year to realize that blogging was NOT keeping up with the Jones's online; but rather a chance to have a snapshot into your friends and families' lives without even talking! Life is so busy for everyone. Even if you are like us and no longer involved in every activity under the sun...just the basics of meals, home, family, work, chuch, laundry, and a minute of quiet takes up the majority of our time and leaves little for catching up with family and friends.

We enjoyed taking peeks (is it called lurking?) into my sister Jennie's everyday life and realized how much we were missing with her kids/family etc. That is why we decided it was time to start blogging. With her help as well as Mikelle and her friend's help, we are up and running! That was the point of this post...to say thank you to Jen, Mikelle & Emily for making this work.

My next point was that Mikelle is much better at keeping up on posting than I am, so if you see something that is posted with High School Muscial, Hannah Montana, or David Archuleta, and has my name by it... it probably came from our phantom blogger "Mikelle!" We love you DELL! Thanks for the crash course in blogging!

Summer is off to a great start!

I bet one would never guess that we have been to Lagoon again already! I don't think we have enough pictures of that place yet...I will try to go easy on the Lagoon pics for the summer but it may be hard as we have season passes!

We were able to go with Annissa and the Porter pack since they had a free return day compliments of rainy Memorial day! We also had Alex join us since Cami was in the hospital after giving birth to the newest little cousin! He is so adorable!

This weekend was filled with an early morning walk/run in the rain, lots of errands and tasks around the house, and then the kick-off of our back-yard fire-pit use! Steve does a killer job on the grilling and then we followed with smores! Mikelle was able to tend for an hour while we slipped over to UCMT for massages! The kids have non-stop friends and they love to play! So far, so good!

Life is too short to ALWAYS wear a pony-tail!

I decided that I couldn't do another day wearing my 30-second slicked back pony-tail, so I called on my sister and beloved hair-dresser Julie to help "shake things up a bit" for summer! I have let the pressures of life cloud my ability to spend time on myself, so I am taking the first step by at least getting a "5-minute-do" for starters! Mikelle also felt the need to "lighten up" for summer and had Jules cut 3-4 inches of her gorgeous locks. We both had a great night talking to Julie and then came home for a photo-shoot with ourselves:) (I highly recommend sticking your neck out like a crane to beautifully erase 3 double chins!) Thanks for all you do Jule!

Last Day of School cont...

The kids wasted no time starting to play with friends and soak up the sun. (I'm glad I found the slip-n-slide the night before at Target on clearance--it provided hours of fun!)

I know childhood passes all too quickly and I want them to have many fond memories of play (mingled with memories of me also "strongly encouraging" chores and piano practice:). I believe you can work hard and then play hard! We are just clashing sometimes on that order of accomplishing things! Here's to the start of a great and productive, yet relaxing SUMMER!

What a Handsome Chinese Brother you are!

I forgot to post in order, but the last week of school, Cameron's class performed a short play. He was Chinese Brother #1. He had to hold the whole sea in his mouth while the friend was collecting treasures from the ocean floor. He did a great job on his speaking parts and "puffed cheek moves."

If you ever get the chance, you will also have to ask Cameron to perform some of his "opera" singing for you! His specialty is "Happy Birthday." He has listened and learned from Steve singing in his rich voice and picked up some good imitations. It is looking like he will be a "triple threat" as he has also has some sweet dance/karate/breaker moves. We love ya CAM!