Connor at the Regional Trumpet Fest in Ellensburg the other day. He took second place, which sounds so much better than last...there were only two competitors.

Lake Powell

Finally! The long awaited trip to Lake Powell. Eagerly anticipated by all Jones children. Not by their mother. More like dread for me. And I hadn't even been since 2000! But this year I didn't have any excuse. We live close and I wasn't pregnant and my babies were old enough to have a good time. And now I'm actually a Lake Powell convert! I had a great time and was even sad to leave. I would have been happy to stay another day. Maybe next year we'll stay for the entire week. Connor gave up Powell this year so he could attend Scout camp. We missed him! It would have been fun to see him out on the water. And yes, we could have fit him in the boat...I was amazed at how many cousins and uncles piled into each boat. Thanks Uncle Gordy and Uncle Al for being such great and patient drivers!


For those who were sitting out the ski run, there were plenty of other activities. My girls loved swimming with Aunt Linda. With the help of a few flotation devices and lots of cousins.

Fienna really had a blast at the lake. After a day or so we were able to get her in the water. She had so much fun floating around in the frog floaty. She kept slipping down but it didn't seem to bother her. Elsie became Fienna's new best friend. Fi also loved the blue dum-dums Aunt Gery kept passing to her.


Boat rides for Greydon were more about sleeping. It's the only way to get a toddler to nap down at Powell. If they get cranky just jump in for a ski run. In no time it's nap time.

Floating was not to Greydon's liking. At least at first. Mean parents that we are, we kept him out there until he started to enjoy it and laugh a little. But the next day, there was no way to get him back in without repeating all of the screams. Somehow, Caitlin convinced him that a Kayak ride would be good.


This was my favorite part of Powell. These little cousins are so close in age. There are 3 December babies, Wade, Missy and Elsie and Fienna was March. They had a grand time together. Aunt Marilyn brought a pool to put on the top of the boat and the babes spent lots of time there.

Elsie, Fienna, Missy

They were together for meal times too! This became the community green bean platter. Wade, Greydon, Fienna and Missy couldn't get enough. I filled this plate several times. That was after they ate all of Uncle Reed's beans.

And this is why the big kids come....Caitlin got up on her first try at surfing. Was so excited! All 3 of the girls popped right up on the water skis too. It really was fun to sit in the boat and watch. Especially to see them grinning.

Down by the Crab Dock

Greydon and the girls. Connor decided to stay and work with Grandpa. The two of them brought their lunch out to the beach for just a little while then headed home to mow the lawn or drive the tractor or something manly. We like to go to the first beach by the crab dock. It's sheltered from the wind a bit and before the bar. Not any waves to speak of. There's also a little stream to play in, or try to dam. There were a couple of seals playing in the water. They came in pretty close so that was exciting for the girls. Greydon would much rather crawl around like a seal.


These two are a riot together. Fienna lives in la-la land and Greydon follow right along behind. She was actually using his head to push herself up as she climbed the rocks. And he didn't seem to mind.


While the other girls were busy building a dam and splashing in the water Alaina was treasure hunting. She found some pretty nice shells but I think the seaweed pleased her even more.

Tea Party

The girls were missing their activity days tea party and were very disappointed. In fact, Brenna didn't want to leave for Grandpa and Grandma's house! She wanted to stay home so she wouldn't miss tea. So Grandma put together a great evening for them, complete with fancy dress and hats.





And how do you end a successful tea part? By reading out of the dictionary, of course. Some of the evening's new words - camelopard, botryoidal and something else I can't remember.




Thanks, Grandma, for a great party! The only thing missing was scones with clotted cream!

Going on a Bear Hunt

These are the woods I grew up in. I love it up here. It used to be ideal for bear hunting, (just with my eyes of course. but my friends hunted and actually ate bear.) back when logging was still an industry! We'd come up in the late summer afternoons when the day was cooling off. The bear and elk would be grazing in the clear cuts. Those clear cuts from my childhood are now thick forest. There is a certain beauty in a clear cut and I must admit that I miss seeing them. Now when I go home to visit my parents I have to make a drive up Charlotte Ridge Road, into Elliott State Forest. A truly beautiful place to be. And it's right behind my parent's home. Oh, we were successful! We did spot one bear. I was too busy watching him to get a picture.




Notice that Fienna is not in this photo. She was absolutely terrified of bears. She was sure one was going to get her. So we stayed in the van. I couldn't even keep the window open. She wailed and shook when I tried to open the door. Fienna would much rather go on a daisy hunt. And it was a very successful one.

Look at him now!

these photos are from Aug and he's looking great. It seems like Greydon went into the hospital looking like a baby and he came out looking like a boy. I think he grew taller, he also lost weight and I gave him a haircut. He still has his PICC line here but it was only a 25 minute dose once every 24 hours. Not really a bother. He quickly grew accustomed to it and dragged the medicine bubble all over the place. Tried to put it in his pocket but it was just too fat. He even tried to help hook up the tubing. Now it's September and the boy is running, jumping, climbing. I really can't notice the limp anymore. I do have panic moments. He bumped his knee the other day and it seemed to hurt more than it should. He hollered and cried lots of big tears. But it didn't last long then he was off again, looking for trouble.

Hi knee may not be back to normal in these photos but his activities sure are.

meanwhile, back at the ranch....

summer slumber parties! The Bolins were in town (we bought our house from them and their twins are the same age as A and B) the first week of the hospital stay. What a blessing for our family! The 4 girls had a ball together. They stayed at Sue's house. She's our amazingly wonderful neighbor (and Keyton DeGiulio's aunt). And they stayed at our house when I finally was home and feeling almost human. Connor and Gavin slept wherever these girls weren't. It was just great how it all worked out. Reed and I were feeling overwhelmed and our friends and neighbors just took over for a while.

Fortunately this lucky girl got to attend Girls' Camp. She wasn't even 12 yet! But since she was soon to be and all of her classmates were going she was sneaked in. Caitlin had so much fun! And since she was so busy enjoying herself, didn't have time to worry about Greydon. And her parents didn't have to worry about her.



My mom was able to come for the last couple of days of the hospital stay and for a few days following our release. She brought a bunch of doll glasses for the girls. They immediately put them to good use. Doesn't Fienna look like Mary Englebreit?

they're such fun, darling girls!