Out of the Sand

While in Galveston we spent much time on the beach but some of my favorite moments were just conversations in the car, silly or cuddly moments in our condo and a few of the sand-free tourist stops.







We had a blast touring the rain forest at Moody Gardens, especially the butterfly exhibit.



G could have stayed there for hours just trying to catch one.

The animals were amazing, terrifying, interesting and beautiful all at the same time.



Since it was a week day and school is back in session, we were one of the only families there that day. We got lots of attention from the staff. It was neat to learn fun facts about the animals and to have someone point out some of the harder to spot creatures. After a lesson on bats, G decided he wanted to try doing things upside down for a while.



He kept assuming this position and announcing, "I'm a bat!". Funny kid!

We even got to see a Dora movie in 4-D! It was a new experience for all of us and I think we were all caught off guard at the first blast of mist in our faces as Dora flew her plane under a waterfall.





G also took his first swing at Putt-Putt Golf in Galveston.



Yep, Hole-in-One on his first swing! He's a natural!

After playing one round he asked to "Play Putt-Putt right now?" repeatedly. Even at 8 am the next morning he was asking me if we could go play putt-putt. The last night of vacation we obliged with a trip to another one of the local putt-putt courses. Although there was no hole-in-one that night, we still had lots of fun.



Yep, that is the best the lady at the course could do.
Yep, I played putt-putt like that.
Yep, G has started saying yep. He draws is out. It's hilarious.

It was memorable family vacation. A week together, uninterrupted is a beautiful thing. We are all looking forward to future family vacations, possibly even back to (as G calls it) our little yellow Galveston house.

The Beach

We did it! We timidly ventured out on our first family vacation. Turns out there was nothing to be timid about because we had a blast!

We made the 6 or so hour drive to Galveston to play amongst the waves and soak up the last few official days of summer. Since having G we hadn't really ventured out, unless it was to visit family, so we weren't really sure what to expect or if we would regret the whole thing.

6 days of vacation later, we have no regrets, tons of memories and far too many pictures to show for it. So many pictures in fact that I am going to have to break this up to share it all.

The Beach:
Introducing G to the beach was fabulous. I have long been a lover of the beach or any place near water and I hoped that he would too. We had been talking it up for weeks and although he had no idea what he was in for her was excited none the less. Upon actually seeing the beach and putting his toes in the sand, well, we was a little timid at first, but he embraced it quickly.

He now loves to build sandcastles, search out seashells, jump over and run from waves, and to just sit and let the water wash over him.





Nolan took to the beach quickly too. He felt so at home there that he spent most of the time sleeping. He did wake up long enough to get his toes wet a couple of times and to join us at the tail end of our last night dinner picnic in the sand.





More of our fun away from the sand to come...

More on that {Father's Day}

After celebrating only two Father's Day's it has already become one of my favorite celebrations of the year. There is hardly a thing in the world that is more tender to my heart than seeing the man I love with the babies we share. As G grows so does his obviously adoration of his Daddy. And as he grows the number of things that the two of them can share in grows as well.

This past Father's Day, Matt wanted to start the morning at the driving range trying out his new driver. So after breakfast we all loaded up and headed out with a few extra plastic clubs in the bag.



I am not sure how Matt envisioned the trip going, but he hardly got to hit a ball. Most of the morning looked like this...



The sweet thing is, whether he envisioned it or not, I don't think he would have had it any other way. G was in heaven getting to hit the ball a few feet and learning to use the tee. He would come back and sit with Nolan and I and count as Daddy hit five balls and then it was "my turn" again.

I think it was a perfect picture of Father's Day. The selflessness that being a Father brings and the joy that being selfless miraculously gives you in return.

See before kids I imagine there were a million things that Matt never imagined that he could do, would want to do or would even love doing
Like sharing his last bite of pudding or even his cherished lick of the lid,
Singing the ABC's softly on repeat to calm a fussy baby,
Reading the same book 5 times (or more) in a row because that sweet "again daddy" is just so irresistible,
kissing boo-boo's,
wiping snot,
making diaper changes a count down game to distract a squirmy toddler,
sitting in the little chairs at the library watching a production of the Tortoise and the Hare,



driving to the call of every bus, plane, horse, or cow, buying knee pads just so he could give G horsey rides on the wood floors
or spending your morning at the driving range like this...



Our boys are so blessed to call him Daddy and the sweet thing is I know at such young ages they already feel it.



Matt, you are the boy's hero and my rock and we love you always!

See last Father's Day here.

This Week

I stared while my Smushers napped



and delighted in his new and ever present social smiles.



I laughed as G amused me by trying on everything as a hat,



continued his love of salsa,


and as he got ready while I did.


Cousin's played


and daddy mowed.


And when the week was over, we rested.

Busy Bunny: Part Two

The Easter festivities continued on to Easter Sunday at Lola's house. We started the morning with a big breakfast and soaking in the hot tub. Mommy's 40 week pregnant body needed the relief. And since I had done water aerobics the day I went into labor with G I figured a little exercise in the hot tub couldn't hurt, right?
Well we ended up doing lots more playing with the water toys from G's Easter basket than water aerobics and it turns out playing with water toys doesn't induce labor like water aerobics might have?

My favorite part of the morning was watching G discover the bugs. These beetley June bugs were everywhere and G was loving them. Such a boy!





The rest of the afternoon was spent with extended family and the most delicious hamburgers (thanks babe!). G hunt, rehunt, rehunt and rehunt his Easter eggs crying out an enthusiastic "Alright!" each time he found one. His personality is a constant thrill for this smitten momma!

Sharing Life

This is Kristin.
She is the best when it comes to many things, but friendship being at the top of that list.
She is an inspiration. Bringing out the best in those around her.
She is an ear. A soft place to land when it feels all else has failed.
She is a challenge. Never letting you settle.
She is a caretaker. Looking out for others (especially me) and never expecting the gesture to be returned.
She is genuine. Just listen to her laugh and you'll know what I mean.
A few weeks ago she was waiting...
Now, she is a mother and it suits her like she was never meant to be anything else.



This is Asher. Her son. What a gift they have in each other.

I am blessed. I have spent 12 years as her friend. We have shared apartments, clothes, laughs, drinks, meals, countless memories and our lives. For the past year and a half, she has shared in G's life too. Not just as a by-stander or on-looker. She has truly loved him well. And you can tell by the way her loves her.



Over the last 9 months I have been able to share in her pregnancy. Now, I get to love her and Asher through the long nights, hard choices, and sweet firsts. Just like she has done for me. I get to share in his life and even though he is only a few weeks old it has already brought tremendous joy.





Although this post is for Kristin, I would leave a terrible gap if I didn't mention her amazing husband. Austin has been a large and wonderful part of mine and my family's lives since they began dating almost 10 years ago. Truthfully, seeing him become a father and the subtle changes and softness it has created in him is equally beautiful to me. I am so proud of you both.

The past few weeks have brought at times sweet, hot, unexpected tears. The kind of tears only overwhelming joy can bring. The kind of tears that I am blessed to experience because I share life with you. And what a blessing it is!

So Much Love Now and Always to you, Kristin, Austin and Asher!

For more pictures of this sweet boy and her pregnancy progression visit It's A Jones

A 70 year old Spud?

First, let me say this year has been busy. I mean bizzzz-Eeee! I have gotten so far behind I don't even know where to start. This includes taking pictures of my little man. So I am just skipping over a few things like the fact that he is now 1 and a half and talking like crazy and jumping to what I do have pictures of. On to the post...



Turning 70!
What an occasion to celebrate. Especially when it is someone as special Spud or Papa to G. I don't know if I have said it here before, but I seriously hit the in-law jackpot. They are beautiful people, who thankfully taught my husband how to be an incredible man, husband and father. I am beyond thankful for them and the cherished role they play in our and our little man's life.



More about Spud...
Spud is a loved guy. Not just by his family, but by his enormous group of friends, business community and seemingly everyone he comes into contact with. If you have met him this is no surprise. He is easy to love for one simple reason... he loves. He truly loves people. Spud is the kind of man who keeps his word and will ALWAYS be there if you need him. His character bears the meaning of wearing your heart on your sleeve. If he loves you, you know it. And with loving comes giving. He gives tirelessly to causes he feels worthy and passionate about, including our little family.

In order to celebrate...
It had to be big right? A man as loved as Spud has to have a grand 70th. So Jeanie, his wife, got to work. Along with the wife of a dear friend who Spud shares a close birthday with, she planned an enormous party. She sneakily got family and friends in town from as far as Seattle and Boston and schemed a great surprise. He showed up at one of his favorite restaurants thinking they were having a small dinner to celebrate and the entire restaurant was shut down, on a Saturday night, and filled with over 150 friends and family. He saw his brothers and sisters and the tears came quick. Mine were quick to follow and a quick glance around showed I wasn't alone. Then we celebrate. Late into the night and early the next morning there was drinking, eating, roasting and toasting, dancing and a few more joyful tears.



To continue celebrating...
All of the Newton's got together on Sunday to just enjoy each other in the small time we had since most of the out-of-towners were leaving on Monday morning. It is precious to see G play with all of his gorgeous girly cousins. He LOVES them. They follow him around like a herd, then rush back to report what funny non-sense he is babbling or antic he pulled. It is also precious to see family together in such great numbers. Although, we were missing a few, having this group together was precious time that couldn't be better spent.



Happy 70th Papa! We love you!

Christmas in Pictures

The celebrating started on Christmas Eve with my side of the family gathering at our house to play for the afternoon. We exchanged a few presents, but mostly just played and enjoyed good food and good company.




G loved playing and reading with his Uncle Kyle and was caught red handed asking Grandmommy for more and more reindeer food.



We went to Christmas Eve service at church and since there was no child care G joined us for the service. Although he was seriously tired by the end, he did remarkably well. Only making himself known by saying "Mom, Mom, Mom" during the service. His voice was so precious I couldn't even begin to shush him!

The next morning G opened a few presents from Santa, Mom and Dad.







Then we headed out to Grandmommy Lola's for breakfast and fun with Lola, Kyle and Ashley. I didn't get many pictures because our sweet little bug was too tired to even open a present.



After his nap, we headed over to Nonnie and Papa's for lunch, family fun and more gift exchange.





G loved playing with his new Duplos and racing cars with Addie.



We had a wonderful time squeezing in as much family as possible and even have one more celebration to go this weekend!