Christmas Day 2008!

For Christmas this year Jason and I got the boys two little kitties!

They are sisters and they are 6 weeks old.  

This is Bella under the tree!

This is Dottie on her new blankie!

Brock has finally gotten his first pet!

Laura has finally gotten the twin girls she has been waiting for!

I hope you all had a Wonderful Christmas!  This year I am so grateful for my family and our good health.  My 9 year old niece was diagnosed with bone cancer last week and it has forced me to reflect on the truly important things in this life!  Our families mean everything!  I am so grateful to be a member of the true Church of Jesus Christ and for the knowledge that I have of my Savior.  My heart is overcome with gratitude for Him, for his ultimate sacrifice for us so that we can live again with him, and with our families forever!  

Christmas Eve 2008!

Well Christmas Eve was a blast as you can see!  Ryder is the ghost of Christmas past.....i guess?!

We had the Kelly crew and the Elders over for dinner!  

I made everyone their own  "toastie scarf"!  You heat it in the microwave and it stays warm for a long time.  They were a hit with everyone!

The Elders showing off their new scarfs!

Jason and Brock having a bonding moment!

Let it SNOW let it SNOW let it SNOW!!!

This was taken last Sunday on Dec. 14th.  We were sitting watching t.v. when we saw a family of deer eating our grass.  I couldn't believe they had gotten SO close to the house.  They must have been really hungry!  Usually when they are in our yard and they see us move through the house they run away.  However, when I got up to grab my camera, they just froze and kept eating.  

This was taken this morning Dec. 18th.  All schools closed down today and last I checked we may have broken the 1952 record of the most snowfall in a 24 hour period here in Spokane.  I think we have had 22 inches and counting.  

This is what I saw when I opened our garage door this morning!

We have 1 mile of road in our subdivision from the front gate all the way to our house.  Jason, who is extremely sick today, has been out plowing our roads and neighbors for hours now!!  What a day!!!  

Happy Birthday Jeannie!

Happy Birthday to the Worlds Greatest Mother-in-law and Grandmother!

Jeannie is one of the most gracious and generous people I have ever known.  When I married Jason I hit the jack pot for Mother-in-laws!  I have to admit that I didn't fully understand that almost 12 years ago, but through the years as I have "grown up", I have come to realize how truly important you have been in my life.

Jeannie has taken our family on two cruises over the last few years.  This is Jeannie and Brock on our cruise last December 2007!

This has always been one of my FAVORITE pictures of Jeannie! (sorry about the scanned copy!)  This was taken just minutes after Zackary was born.  I can honestly say she was equally as excited over the births of all of my children as I was!  She justs glows in this picture and you can see the the love in her eyes.  

Jeannie was there for me when I had all four of my boys.  She was actually in the room with us when I had Zackary and was able to be apart of that special experience.  It was always such a blessing to have her help and she would always stay at least a week and take care of everything!

When Jason and I lived in Vegas we would take the kids on trips to Legoland and Disneyland every year.  These are some of my favorite memories as Jeannie and Gordon would always meet up with us for a really FUN time!

This picture is of Gordon and Jeannie at one of our trips to Disneyland.

This is a birthday picture especially for you Grandma from Parker!

He is Harry Potter(of course) and you and he are picking the flower together!  He told me he colored lots of hearts because he loves you very much!

I hope you have a Fabulous Day, you deserve it! Lots of Love, Laura

Papa Jongewards Visit!

Papa Jongeward flew up last week for a visit and the boys have loved every minute with him!  On Sunday he brought out a bag full of presents from him and Grandma and Carrie!  Thanks you guys so much for the awesome gifts!  The boys especially like the blankets!  

The boys with their new hats, sweat shirts & blankets!

Zack and his new cozy blanket!

Monday night we took a trip to the mall with Papa and went to see SANTA!  Ryder wouldn't sit with Santa for another year, so it turned into a Family picture once again.  

December 4th, Another Crazy Day!

Well this picture should explain ALOT!  The whole potty training thing is quite time consuming!  The game boy was incentive and it definitely works!

This was the sunset tonight and I just had to take a picture!

Parker finally convinced his Dad to build him a puppet theater!  Can anybody guess what Parker wants for Christmas?  He is going to be our performing arts major!  

Thanksgiving 2008!

Thanksgiving 2008!

We had the first snow of the year on Thanksgiving Day, it was so Beautiful!

My Dad flew up from Utah to be with us!

Our good friends the Hubbard's joined us last year and again this year as they are definitely adopted family!  

Sisters!

Well I hope all of you had a Wonderful Thanksgiving!  This year we were the hosts and really had fun hanging out with everybody.   My Dad, the Kory Kelly family, the Kerry Kelly family and the Hubbard's all joined us!  I am so thankful for so many things this year and feel especially grateful for amazing family and friends.  Love you all! 

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

Monday the 24th was my big brother Davids birthday! (I went through as many pictures as I could find and sorry but this is what I came up with!) 

David is 3 years older than me and even though we were the closest in age growing up, we weren't always the closest. 

David was always so cool that I wanted to constantly be hanging around him (and all the other girls around!).  So I ended up the pestering little sister.  

David and I got really close when he came home from his mission and I love those precious times we had together! 

David met Rachel and married her in 1995 and now they have 5 beautiful children; Darby 9, Layne 7, Lauren & Mackenzie 4                                                             and Morgan 2!  

This is David and I on his wedding day!  I was so emotional that day.  I had mixed emotions because I was so happy for him, but sad because I felt like I was losing my brother.  Actually that day I gained a SISTER!  I love you Rachel!

We were always playing around having a good time!

This is us at our Grandparents house back in 1990!  Got to LOVE the vibrating belt!  

I hope you had a Wonderful Birthday David, I love you!

Green and Gold Ball

Saturday night Jason and I went to the church for its annual Green and Gold Ball.  He knows I love to dance and so he humored me and went along for the "ride"!  Thanks Babe for being so Awesome, Fun and Gorgeous!  I love you!  

Family Fort

Sunday after church the kids came home and wanted to build a fort....I of course said "NO" because I didn't feel like having everything out of sorts and knowing it would be easy to build but a huge pain to get the kids to clean up later!  Dad comes home soon after we did and was in a really good mood (probably because of the new calling which allowed him to BE home after church!) and of course says "YES"!  Needless to say they all had a blast collecting blankets and turning the couch on its side.  We let the kids all sleep in it that night and Parker drew pictures to label everyones room.  Good Times!

Till We Meet Again!

Tonight was very emotional for me as I had to say goodbye to someone who is very special to me.  My dear friend Loraine is the Grandmother to one of my closest friends Heather.  She has allowed me to adopt her as my own Grandmother this past year and we have always had a special connection from the time we met.  She has filled a big void for me as I have had both of my Grandmothers pass on. 

She had emergency surgery this past month and we all feel so grateful that the Lord saw her through it!  Her daughter in Seattle has chosen to move her closer to her and so Loraine leaves tomorrow for her new home.  I know Heather and her family will miss her dearly as will I and all the other people who's lives she has touched.  

We had a wonderful going away party for her at my home on Sunday and it was so amazing to see her friends of who have known her and loved her so many years!  I feel grateful to have known her even this short of a time and look forward to hopefully making a trip to see her in Seattle when she goes through the temple for her first time.  Loraine was baptized a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints just over a year ago.  She was just finishing her preparations to go to the temple right before her surgery.  She is an inspiration to me and I look forward to witnessing her make that next step.

This is a picture of Heather, Loraine and Cheryl.

                                                        Three generations of Beauty!

Parker Riley Jongeward Turns 6!!

Thursday Nov. 6th was Parkers 6th Birthday!  I took cake into his Kindergarten class at school and our family went out to eat at Red Robin for dinner!  

Saturday we had his Harry Potter birthday party at 

our house and had lots of fun playing games and doing 

crafts with all his friends.  Saturday night we celebrated

with the Kelly family and ate his special Harry Potter 

Birthday Cake!  

I am so thankful for Parker and his sweet spirit that 

he brings to our family!  He is the entertainer in our

family and loves to put on a show when ever he can.  He loves to sing, dance, play music and DRAW... DRAW... DRAW!  He was picked out of his class to paint a picture

for a power point presentation that will be shown at the schools Veteran Day Assembly.  

We LOVE YOU Parker!