Pledge...

I apologize that this video is sideways & dark, but I wanted to post it. I'm just getting around to getting some stuff off of my cell phone and this was something I wanted to make sure I kept.



Taken on Nov. 17, 2012
(Grace was 3 years, 6 months, and 9 days old)

Dear Santa

"Hey Mom, how do you write Santa?"

As I called out the letters to her I went and checked her work...

Not to bad!
Just ignore the U and a T that looks sorta of like a Y. :)

The main thing on Grace's Christmas list this year is a set of Dora Rollerskates!

Thanksgiving Prayer

For some reason I tried to blog this on my phone right after it happened and it didn't go through. Due to my lack of blogging, I just noticed it...

Lots of our family gathered at my parents for Thanksgiving supper. Grace is usually iffy about saying the blessing when its just Scott and I sometimes so I knew for sure she wouldn't say it at Gigi and Big Daddy's while we were all there.

Here prayer is usually a song that she learned at school that starts off, "Lord, we thank you..."

She actually did want to say the blessing as we all held hands in a circle, it went a little like this...

(starting to sing) "Lord..." (pause and then...)

"Thank you for our families and for Thanksgiving. Thank you for everything we'll get for Christmas. Thank you that we are all here together. Amen."

It caught us all by a complete surprise and I think it was the sweetest thing I had ever heard. If only I would of had my video camera rolling. :)

Me, Haley, & Grace - Thanksgiving Night

Nashville Part 2

While in Nashville we also went to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

One of my favorite things in the Museum were the handwritten items from the stars such as letters to their family, but most of all the handwritten lyrics to songs that we know and love.

When in Nashville, we heard you have to go to Tootsie's World Famous Orchid Lounge!

We ventured out of town a bit to visit the American Picker's store, Antique Archaeology. It was cool to see things in the store that we'd seen them "pick" on certain episodes.

A photo of Rippy's during the day. (Where we hung out upstairs after the CMA Awards).

Nashville- Part 1

Back in November, Scott and I had the opportunity to go to Nashville, TN. I have always wanted to go! Not only did we just get to go to Nashville, but we also went to the CMA Awards while we were there. It was the BEST! If you're a country music fan, I'd HIGHLY recommend it! All of the stars together, like one big concert!

We walked over to the red carpet. We didn't have a very good view of it. Under the red drapes are where stars get out of their cars and walk through the white tent to the left. We waiting for about 5 minutes but never saw a vehicle coming so we walked back over to the Arena so we could go ahead in and get our seats.

Our seats were directly stage left. It was a live show and it was amazing to watch how the show was produced. If you didn't make it back from the bathroom before commericals were over, you had to stand outside and miss part of the show.

Lots of artists singing a tribute to Willie Nelson...

After the show outside the arena...

After the show we went directly across the street to Rippy's upstairs and listened to an awesome band. I loved that there was music everywhere in this city!

Hands down my most favorite vacation yet!

Seafood Fest, Part 2 | Boating

Instead of going to the Seafood Festival by car, we decided we'd go by boat. :) It was a long trip and I was concerned how well Grace would do having to be so confined and wear a life jacket for so long but she was such a trooper!

The weather traveling down on Friday was the most gorgeous fall day!

Seafood Fest, Part 1 | Guy Harvey & Marc Montocchio

Scott, Ann, Grace, and I went to the Morehead City Seafood Festival last month. On the first night Ann had gotten us tickets to a reception at 36 North where Guy Harvey was in town.

Guy Harvey is  is a "marine wildlife artist and conservationist. His depictions of sealife, especially of sportfish such as marlin, are very popular with sportfishermen and have been reproduced in prints, posters, t-shirts, jewelry, clothing, and other consumer items. Harvey is also a very vocal and active advocate for marine conservation, having established the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as well as the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, an organization that funds scientific research and educational initiatives." (wikipedia) It was really cool to meet him. I think Scott owns close to 10-15 Guy Harvey shirts not to mention the posters, and other items we have that he's designed.

I was also just as excited to meet Marc Montocchio. I've always said if I could shadow another artist one day, it would be him. However, I'd need to learn how to dive first. Marc Montocchio specializes in capturing unique and stunning images of ocean wildlife in their natural habitat especially in the deep blue waters of the open ocean. His work has appeared in numerous international publications, including National Geographic, Marlin, Outside Traveler, Africa Geographic, BlueWater, Tide, Out There, Voyages de Pêche, and many more. He and his video footage have appeared on such TV networks as the Discovery Channel.

Halloween

This was our first Halloween that we happened to be in Raleigh. We went to E-man and Amy's and went trick-or-treating with their son AJ. AJ was spiderman and Grace was a snowman.

I did make her costume. The red tights, boots, and scarf we already had. All I had to do was stitch some felt black circles on a plain white long sleeve shirt, make a tutu, and make her hat/headband. I was really proud of myself! :)

All the Jones'

The Wilmington crowd came to visit toward the end of the summer! It so wonderful having all of us together!

Ella, Lyla, and Grace (all the great-grand-girls)


Uncle Chip cooked up a yummy shrimp boil!


4 generations of the Jones boys:

Baby Shower

My best friend, Bridget, now has another baby. He's already 2 months old and I'm just blogging her baby shower photos. :/

We went over to Edenton for dinner & a little girl time! She got lots of goodies for baby Evan!

Pirates Cove Tournament

If you know Scott, then you know he loves to fish. Offshore fishing is his favorite. This year he fished in the Pirates Cove Tournament back in August. Grace and I went down on Friday to spend the rest of the weekend. This particular afternoon the boat Double B brought in a blue marlin weighing 521.1 lbs. It was really cool to see such a massive fish upclose.

On Saturday night we stayed too and had a relaxing evening, just the 3 of us!

Snuggles

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. Just wanted to share this photo with you all that was taken this past Sunday. Scott and I had a long weekend away in Nashville, TN and Grace spent time with Tammy, John, Jacq, & Z. :) It sure was good to see her when we got home!



Sorry for the blurry-ness, but its just too cute not to share! :)

NC State Fair

We LOVE going to the fair. Scott and I have tried to go every year because we love to eat the fair food. We've never riden any rides while he and I have been until this year. Riding rides is Grace's favorite part!

Some of our favorite fair foods are the CORN and Ham Biscuits! :) We eat lots of other things there too. We also make sure we go and weigh ourselves too. We should probably go weigh as soon as we get there and then again before we leave so we can see just how much we've really eaten. :)

We even ran into Haley at the fair.

A is for Artwork

Grace has been working on the letter A at school and at home. Can you tell?

Baby Girl

Allie Grace

(taken 9.28.12)

3 years, 4 months, 19 days old

My best friend's baby! :)

My best friend Bridget had a baby! We're so thankful that he is here and healthy and that Bridget is too! They both scared us there for a while!

Meet Baby Evan! :)





Grace LOVES baby Evan. She can't keep her hands off of him. She loves to hold him and kiss him. :)





Playing with Aunt Bridge & Uncle Stephen...


I've had the opportunity to photograph him a few times with my "work" camera too...



Isn't he precious! :) Yay for babies!