4109 Candlestick Trail

Well, we loved our Laramie house and were so sad to leave it, but mostly the land. 17 acres of heaven in the middle of nowhere, but still so close to town. My barn, pond, fencing, animals...I'm going to miss it! I'm not going to lie, tho--the winters were brutal and it was so difficult to grow anything. It was hard being in a place where it was only green a couple months of the year. And the dryness! But we loved it all the same. The people and our property made all the difficulties worth it.

From the top of the hill, looking down on the house

The entry way, stairs immediately to the left go downstairs, doorway to the left goes to the bathroom and master bedroom. Kitchen is to the right. Our tour goes clockwise...

Main bathroom

Laundry closet off the main bath

Master bedroom

Front room--leaving those bookshelves was so so hard!!

Front room

Dining room (we used to have our big maps on the far wall)

Looking into the kitchen from the dining room

Looking towards the dining room

Sun room off the kitchen

Down the stairs to the family room!

Family room

Because everyone needs a sauna. Actually, we used this as our linen closet!

The boys' bedroom

Downstairs bathroom

Storage room!

And to my favorite part--outside

The view off the deck, looking over the pond

Whirlwind couple of weeks! part 1: graduation & houses

These last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement! Stephen submitted his dissertation, walked at graduation and defended his dissertation. "His name is Docta Jones, doll!" These past 5 years of his PhD program have been pretty definitive--the highlights being the births of Trevor and Ruth and the low times being the deaths of both my grandma and mom. We've made lifelong friends and know that the Lord has been watching out for us--as have both of our families--we couldn't have done this without you!!!

Stephen's parents came out for graduation, and stayed a few extra days to watch the boys while Stephen, Elise, Ruth and I went house hunting in Wyoming. While they were here they also finished various projects so we could list our house to sell the day they left. I think we all might have a bit of the crazy bug!!

We listed our MN house on Thursday afternoon, had 7 or showings that day, along with two offers. Gene and Ann left that night, dropping the boys off with my visiting teacher, Judy. Friday (while we were still in WY), we had around 12 more showings on the house, so Judy just kept the boys at her house all day. In fact, we got home around 4:30, got Sammy packed for his choir tour and spent the rest of the evening at Judy's--dinner and a movie while people were perusing our house.

Earlier on Friday our Realtor posted to have "last and best" offers in by 9 a.m. Saturday morning, since we already had multiple offers. That caused offer #2 to up the offer by 5k, and we got one more offer after that. Right about 48 hours after listing the house we had our counter offer signed by the buyers. WOW!!

While all that craziness was going on back home, Stephen, the girls and I found a house in Laramie! It's located on 17 acres just a few miles outside of town. Say what?!?! There is a lawn area, green house, garden, barn w/ outside pen area for animals, a pond, and lots and lots of trees. Walking on the property I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It's at the end of a private road, so there is literally no traffic. It is still and quiet and I can't wait to look at the stars this summer!

Random snippets of my life

George (the she-gerbil) escaped again. This makes the 9th time. And Nancy has gotten out twice now (if you count this very moment). Guess where I found George this morning? If you guessed under my bed at 5 a.m., you would be right. Oh, how I hated to tell Stephen! He kind of hates the gerbils anyhow, but still the wonderful, wonderful man caught her--twice, since I dropped her when he handed her off. Oops.

You want to know what else? The lady at the pet store today told me I was lucky that she went under my bed and not out to the garage. Lucky?? A rodent is under my bed and I am lucky?!?! 

***

While sitting in the car with the babies while the older kids were in ballet the other day (big breath--that was a long introduction!), I realized that a part of me will miss car seats in a few years. It is nice to put the little ones somewhere and know that they can't get away.

***

My dream house is going to have some white board walls. Then it will always be okay to draw on the walls. Doesn't that sound fun?

***

Church callings aren't always about who will do the best job--sometimes they are about what a certain person needs to grow. We have the opportunity to let others learn on our time--just as we are learning on theirs. That thought helps me be a little kinder and more understanding, to my kids and to others around me.

***

This last Monday was kind of a horrible day. The kind that makes me want to move to Australia. Someone was whining all day long. And I was grumpy and rushed and kept hurrying the kids from thing to thing. Tuesday was as good as Monday was bad. I'm pretty sure me getting up early and reading my scriptures and praying had something to do with it. I think the babies were as whiny as ever, but I was so much better equipped to handle it.

Also, we didn't go anywhere. It was wonderful. I had time to have bad, good and great moments with my kids--not just the bad hurry-get-in-the-car-I-TOLD-YOU-10-MINUTES-AGO-TO-GET-READY moments of rushed days. Wednesday, Thursday & Friday were also pretty awesome. Sometimes I need to scale back our activities so we can just be home together. And read my scriptures. And pray.

Lincoln's big-boy bed

We've been doing a little room rotating the last couple of weeks, beginning at Christmas when Stephen and I moved Elise into her own room--the room formerly known as the den (really the sewing-printer-guest-file cabinet-make-a-mess-here-because-the-family-room-is-too-messy-to-play-in-room). "Space" is more technically correct that "room", as she has no closet or window big enough to escape out of, and my sewing table, printer and file cabinet are still in there. BUT she does have a bed, dresser and little table. And a shower curtain door. And she loves it. :o)

I had my own room from the time I was 7 until I was 11. With the exception of that time and part way through my senior year of high school through my first year of college, I've always shared a room. First with brothers, then a year of college roomates and then I was married!

I digress...back to Lincoln...

Here's the bed situation: Mason has the bed that I made this summer. Sammy has half of the bunk bed set. Elise (now) has the other half of the bunk bed set. Lincoln moved from the crib to Elise's old bed--the original Ikea fort bed. We flipped it upside down so it is low to the floor and got a mattress for it (love Ikea!) on Friday night. Saturday I tried to get Lincoln to sleep in his bed at nap time, but he climbed into his crib instead. After his nap Stephen raised the crib mattress for Trevor (who will soon move out of our room), and that night Lincoln slept (rather unwillingly) in his new big-boy bed!

A few months ago my wonderful mother-in-law Ann sent Lincoln his quilt that she made for him. I got to help pick out the colors and pattern, and I must say that I LOVE IT!!!! My camera doesn't do it justice. Here's another view so you can see the pattern a little bit better:

On Lincoln's inaugural night in his bed he christened it by throwing up all over. Nice. Fortunately the quilt was spared the nastiness. He's better now. Now he sleeps just fine in his bed. In fact, this afternoon when he woke up instead of coming out he started crying. I left him in there, thinking he would get off of his bed and come and join me, but when he kept crying I went in to see what was wrong. I had to laugh when I saw him sitting on the end of his bed with his blanky, binky, bear and sippy cup all on the floor. As soon as I went in he jumped down, gathered up his beloved possessions and was happy as could be. He used to throw his stuff out of the crib and would have to wait for me to come and get him up--he must have thrown everything down and not realized that he could get them on his own now! :o)

The next big move will be putting Trevor in the crib! Crazy how fast everyone is growing up!

Laundry room!!

Have I mentioned before that Stephen is pretty much awesome? Well, he is. This break has been so fun! He took 3 days off this week, and it was so fun to have him home! We played lots of Christmas games, and he did some wood working projects. Both he and I love him doing wood working projects--I get custom furniture and he gets to work with his hands.

Check out our new shoe cubby! There is even a cut out for the broom! He thinks of everything.

He also made a washer & dryer pedestal for me. I had him paint it purple, because purple is a cool color, and everything else in the laundry room is white, so why not? I'm going to see if my sister-in-law will make some vinyl letters for the base. I'm thinking "Hats", "Gloves", and "Scarves". :)

And just for fun, here is the rest of that laundry room wall. We have more storage in another cabinet as well as under the stairs. Funny thing about those shelves...I really wanted storage shelves with doors. I didn't want all my canning (in glass jars) to end up all over the tile floor. Stephen really didn't want to go to the hassle of making them for me, so instead got these. I have to say, he was right. We keep all the glass jars under the stairs, behind a closed door (that Lincoln can't get open). 

That's not to say that I haven't had any broken jars--Lincoln tried to get a jar of apple cider to bring upstairs and it ended up all over the floor. I didn't know about it until some time afterwards, when he came to lunch with the bottoms of his pants soaking wet. It's a miracle that he didn't slice himself. *shiver* It was one of those times where I think my grandma was watching out for him. I like to think that Grandma is still an active part of my life. I just can't see her now. Just like I like to think that she and Trevor knew each other before he was born. 

Life with 5 kiddos

These next couple of weeks Stephen is going to be crazy busy. I'm not really looking forward to it--but, I've managed before and I will again. :) At least his being crazy busy isn't all that common--not like my friend whose husband works finance in NYC. She's a wonder woman.

Anyhow, Monday started out a little rough. Trevor was congested all night, and when he did sleep he was so noisy he kept me awake. I ended up sleeping in until after 9am. I have to say that I have an amazing daughter. Amazing!! When I got up everyone was dressed, fed and had all their morning chores done. In fact, they were playing outside in the snow!

I learned later that Lincoln had had a poopy diaper and his diaper had come undone...so when Elise went to change him the diaper was hanging down one leg and he was covered in poo! She put him in the bath and swished out his poopy pjs. And the whole time she was concerned that the water running would wake me up. She helps put Lincoln down for naps, or holds the baby while I do that. She makes pancakes and gets snacks and can get both babies in their car seats. She does her school work without being reminded (she had most of it done this morning before I ever got up--and I was up early today!) and is always willing to help out.

The rest of Monday went well--I made bread, played games, watched "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", (their favorite show!) and had FHE and prayers, all with the kids, because that's how we roll here. Elise and Mason made dinner--their favorite: Macaroni & cheese with hot dogs and beans. We had a "romanticky" meal with a tablecloth, candles and our new Christmas stoneware (another sweet thrift store find!). Sammy & Lincoln took a bath while the others cooked. The bath is my new dinnertime babysitter. :) Stephen got home a little after 10pm.

I feel like I'm falling behind. The piles are beginning to grow--on my counter, in the hall, on my dresser, in the front room....But I'm simply not able to do everything right now. It seems like just when I'm about to get something (as in clutter clean up) done Trevor needs to nurse or Lincoln has a poopy diaper or Mason has a new invention to show me or it's time for school or lunch or ballet or dinner.

Yesterday I got in my workout clothes and was all set to do my Jillian workout--I had it all planned out (I should have known something would happen!): Trevor had nursed recently and was asleep, so I could work out, get a quick shower and then do school and nurse the baby. Well, Trevor woke up, Lincoln had a poopy diaper and the kids all decided to do the work out with me. Then Trevor needed to nurse so we did school right then. And then it was lunch time. Put the baby to sleep, make lunch, soothe the baby, put Lincoln down for his nap, nurse the baby, finally take my shower! Only 3 hours later!

Mason's ear was really hurting him yesterday, and when Mason complains of pain, I know it's bad. The last time I took him to the doctor he had a double ear infection, but hadn't even noticed! Sammy woke up in the middle of the night because "it felt like mice were biting my legs." Lincoln is currently cutting molars, so isn't sleeping well, and Elise has an uncomfortable-sounding cough. I cut the boys' hair today.

I think that once I get a good night's sleep (which is totally relative with a newborn!) I won't feel quite so far behind. I do enjoy this time of life!! I know there are things that only happen with my babies in the newborn stage--the cooing and new smiles and curling up and swaddling, along with the frequent nursings and diaper changes and night-time wakings. It's all par for the course. It, too, shall pass. And I'm sure I'll miss it.

So,

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow
For babies grow up, I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

10 years, 5 pregnancies, introducing Mason

Stephen Mason Jones, born April 2004, my age: 23

We were living in Beaverton when I got pregnant with Mason. I was still commuting to Corvallis for school 4 days a week, and the first month of pregnancy was really, really draining. It was such a relief to finally be finished! The time between Elise and Mason when I was finished with school was another unique time for me. Stephen had a good job, and my only job was to take care of Elise. We made friends with another couple in our apartment complex, Ben & Heidi Boyer, who had a little girl 2 months younger than Elise. Heidi was also pregnant, and due 2 months before me. It was such an easy time of life!

Months before I became pregnant with Mason both Stephen and I had an experience in the temple--we were sitting in the chapel with our ward when we both had the impression that there was a little boy waiting to come to our family. Stephen had a vision in his mind of Elise playing with a little brother. We both remember wondering if Heavenly Father was warning us that this child was going to something special.

I had a great pregnancy. I was so much more relaxed this time around than I was with Elise. Heidi and I went walking together with our babies most nice days. We spent lots of time together. I watched her little girl, Rachel, when she went to the hospital to have Elena. She and Ben watched Elise when I went to the hospital to have Mason.

Here's me a week before having Mason:

We had decided on his name, Stephen Mason, after Stephen and his mission president, President Kenneth Mason. We decided to call him Mason--but Mason Stephen just didn't have the same ring to it as Stephen Mason. President Mason was very touched when Stephen called him to tell him the name of our little baby.

I was induced with Mason 2 days after his guess date. It was my midwifes on-call day, and I really wanted her to be the one to deliver Mason. It was also a Monday. We went in at 6am and hooked me up to the machines. Mason was born that afternoon, around 2pm. My epidural wasn't so strong this time, so I was able to move sooner after his birth. Again, I was absolutely famished! He was 8 lb 10 oz, and had the funniest silvery widows peak.

Since we don't like to have a baby birth without some excitement to go along with it, we moved into our first house exactly one week after Mason was born! And not only that, Stephen, his dad and my dad immediately started ripping down walls. Literally. Again, Ann made sure that I had a quiet space before I ever got to the house.

I hung up sheets to make "walls"--and so I wouldn't have to deal with all the dust and wires. Until we moved 4 years later we were always working on the house. It was perfect when we left! Mason grew up wiring, sheetrocking and doing carpentry work. I'll always remember the day after we moved in. Dad Jones was doing yard work (my birthday present was a weed whacker!). Elise was playing on the swing set in the back yard and Mason was in his car seat right next to her. Gene was edging the lawn not 2 feet from where Mason was sleeping--and Mason kept right on sleeping!

When we put him in his own room at about 3 months he figured out the going-to-sleep-on-his-own thing in 2 nights. It was wonderful. It was also wonderful that he was such a good sleeper--I remember Stephen taking out the kids room door frame late one night...with a sawzall.

Mason was very predictable the first two months of his life. EVERY two hours he would eat and poop. It was like clock work. Absolutely amazing. He ballooned up, too!

At 3 weeks:

At 8 weeks:

At 3 months:

By 4 months he was sitting--well, it was more like he had such a wide base that he couldn't tip over. Here's him at 6 months:

He didn't crawl until 11 months or so--he was just too high centered. :o)

And there is the first year of Mason's life! Finally documented.

"Stephen's Vanity" aka "Claire's Dream Cabinet"

As I previously mentioned, I like to have an idea and have someone else create it. :) Especially when it turns out exactly how I envisioned it--or usually, if Stephen has anything to do with it, even better! There is a corner in our living room that drives me nuts. Everything about our living room is neat and tidy and uncluttered...except this one corner. It houses a small bookshelf and all our daily school supplies--books, papers, pencils, you get the idea. Here it is:

A complete and utter mess, with no way to make it look nice.

Enter one very talented husband who loves woodworking...3 complete designs and one week of building later, check out this baby:

To say I love it is a complete understatement. I now have all that stuff that was shoved on the bookshelf/floor inside a sleek and attractive cabinet. There is room for each of the kids' school boxes, library books, picture albums, etc., etc. It is beautiful and perfect, and I think it is almost as great as Stephen does! :) :)