Merry Christmas 2009!

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. We hope you had a safe and happy time celebrating this special time of year. It is very important to our family to remember the "Reason for the Season" as well as sharing it with family and friends. Below is a picture taken by Tara of the Nativity at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.Every Christmas Eve our family has the tradition of opening one present: Christmas Pajamas!!!
This year we shared that tradition with Kyle Knight (Keri's fiance) and Nate's friend Valencia's kids.

Wait for it... wait for it...

YAY for new pajamas!!!!

Another tradition we have is sharing the Christmas story and acting it out. Morgan was Mary and Mathias was Joseph...

Here are the three old farts... I mean Three Wise Men... (who apparently like to "have it their way"...)

Christmas morning EVERYONE comes downstairs in age order. Lucky Steve got to participate this year!

Morgan got brand new Barbie clothes...or should I say her Barbies got a new wardrobe... I'm not sure what Lauren got but by the look on her face she was happy/excited/thrilled...

The newly weds and their first Christmas morning at the Jones' house...I ask, does it get any better than this? I submit that IT CANNOT!!!

Morgan and her new silky John Deer pajamas. Don't go looking for these at stores. They are custom designed by our family friend Kristy.

If you noticed Nate playing with the barbie doll instead of Tara with no make up on... I'm sure she'll appreciate it!

I made a new John Deer blanket/comforter for Kirby. It's so soft and warm. I think the kids used it several times before he got a chance to enjoy it...

Here are all the girls in their new Christmas pajamas. OF COURSE they HAVE to be matching/coordinated...

plus Nate...

Breakfast time! Unwrapping presents sure uses up a lot of strength...

Lauren and Nate enjoying breakfast... actually we wanted to get a picture of our favorite TV channel that comes on this time of year. It's called: "YULE LOG". It plays Christmas music and yule log scenes for about an hour and then repeats itself. Classic Jones family Christmas tradition.

Gustav's is a great German restaurant that is one of Kirby's favorite. We all went and enjoyed the sausage, pretzles, bread, fondue, schnitzle, bread pudding and other yummy foods.

We can't believe that Christmas has come and gone! Our thoughts are with all our family and friends and we wish you all a Happy New Year!!!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Before you watch the video below,

please pause the music at

the bottom of the website.

ENJOY!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Just A Bunch of Turkeys!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends!
Hope you had a safe and fun holiday!
We sure enjoyed a full house of turkeys and hams... Oh and we also ate turkey and ham too...

We remembered our veggies....

The rolls are the most anticipated part of dinner... as you can see... Steve and Ashley can't seem to share just ONE roll!!!

Lauren and Morgan are ready to eat! "Get this picture over with

and give me some ROLLS!!!"

Morgan: Nate you have turkey breath!

Nate: Oh that's it!!! Gimme a kiss! I'll show you turkey breath!

All the cute little couples sitting around for a free meal! They'll pay for it later...

All this fun and food makes Morgan sleeeeeepy...

I think she needs to eat more to grow into that hat!

Must. Rest. Tummy. With...

F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L!!!

Apparently Kirby threw out his turkey carving shoulder...take five cowboy!

Ashley: Oh Stevie-weevie...just try this.

Steve: Ugh! I don't have any room...

Ashley: If you loved me you would try it...

Steve: So this is what married life is, eh...?!?!

Someone check Steve's vitals...I think he's in a coma!

Keri found a warm spot to cuddle up to... as Kyle thinks to himself...

"Self...I wonder how I'll be able to get some pie and not wake Keri up..."

Mom..."FINALLY! Some peace and....Hey! What are you

doing with that camera?!?!"

We sure missed our family that could not be with us.

Luckily Tara was able to enjoy Thanksgiving with Kirby's family in Logan, UT.

Sadly, Shalee and Travis had car troubles and couldn't come down to Portland. Maybe next year things will work out better!

However, we did want to highlight Lauren's room that she cleaned SPOT-LESS for them to stay in. Let's see how long Lauren can keep it this way!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Finally...our Halloween post! Even though it had rained earlier that day our ward hosted a Trunk or Treat evening at the meeting house. The Young Men and Young Women were in charge of the games and Lauren was in charge of the "fishing pond". It was such a fun night! Lauren and Morgan looked fantastic in their costumes! Lauren's friend Jessie designed her gothic Dorothy costume and a family friend (THANKS Paula!!!) sewed it together. Lauren got to wear it to school and received TONS of compliments on it (especially from the boys!) She ABSOLUTELY loves it!!!
Telephone call between Morgan & Tara:
Tara: Hi Morgan! How are you doing?
Morgan: Fine
Tara: What are you going to be for Halloween?
Morgan: Guess...Here's a clue...Who is Queen of the Nile?
Tara: Cleopatra
Morgan: Yes!
Tara: Hey that's cool! I saw a Cleopatra costume at Target and I almost got it!
Morgan: Okay...go get a piece of paper and a pen or a pencil
Tara: Okay...?
Morgan: Write this down - "Go to Target and buy Cleopatra costume."
Tara: (laughing) OK!

Apparently Morgan's tactic work...

Tara's office in Provo has a costume contest every Halloween. While she didn't win, she receive lots of compliments. The best part was Morgan being twins with her big sister!!!

At a Halloween party that weekend Corey & Tara dressed up as a doctor and nurse. Corey sure looks happy with the best looking nurse in the world! A nurse like that would cure any ailment!

Ashley & Steve painted the town red as Bonnie and Clyde! Ashley looks a little too happy sticking it to the man and Steve is a regular smooth criminal!

Speaking of criminals..."Have you seen this guy?" Detective Keri is hot on Kyle's money trail with the help of her magnifying glass and trusty mustache! Wait, is that Kyle or the unabomber?

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!!!

Keri's left hand sparkles!

After 2 weeks of creative dates and thoughtful letters, Kyle Knight proposed to Keri on October 1st, 2009.

Kyle has been in love with Keri ever since his Freshman year of high school when he first saw her in Seminary during her Senior year! Yes! She is older than him... and cuter of course!

Originally they were going to have a phone date at the same restaurant but in different cities. But as she was talking to him on the phone he walked in the door! Later that night she found a map at her house which eventually led her to their special spot on Mt. Tabor where he gave her a final letter. As she realized that every first letter of the previous letters spelled out:

M-A-R-R-Y M-E, Kyle got down on one knee and proposed.

She screamed YES! YES! YES! YES!

They plan to get married in the Portland, OR temple on March 20, 2010

So... save the date and come celebrate with our family this Spring!

CONGRATULATIONS KERI & KYLE!

Ashley & Steve's Wedding

Ashley and Steve were married on September 26, 2009.

We were so blessed to have so many of our family and friends there to celebrate this special day.

In the morning the house was full of girls, make-up, curling irons, hairspray and Oregon football!

Ashley was such a beautiful bride... Steve cleaned up real nice too!

All the sisters were brides maids including a couple of Ashley's friends. Morgan was the flower girl. Nate was one of Steve's groomsmen and Corey filled in last minute.

Bishop Rowley did an EXCELLENT job performing the wedding ceremony. Great words of wisdom and love were shared.

Morgan caught the bouquet and Corey caught the garter. The cutest thing was when Corey pulled Morgan out and danced with her!

CONGRATULATIONS ASHLEY & STEVE!