Favorite Day of the Year

If Jas and I were ever on any sort of Newlywed couple trivia TV show there is one question I know we would nail.  "What is your wife's favorite day of the year?"  DING DING no hesitation:  The day after Thanksgiving.  AND...even now that certain things have changed in our life (like getting married, having Jonah,etc.) I'm sure I can choose quite a few "favorite" days now (Mother's day was pretty dang awesome this year) I'd still answer in agreement as my original fav. day of the year.  There is something about getting into the Christmas spirit starting with the drive back to T-town listening and singing to our favorite Christmas tunes.  Pretty sure we may have scared Jeez this year with our "Christmas canon rock" duet :)  Jonah, I hope you grow up knowing how important it will be for you to chime in on this one.  We have even seen this performed live.  80's hair and all, but that's another story for another blog.  From picking out the perfect Christmas tree to coming home and popping open a good bottle of rose' champagne, b/c of course the bubbly needs to be in Christmas spirit as well, to opening up every single sentimental ornament we've ever given and received, to finally sitting down at the end of the night cuddled up to watch "Love Actually" this day is just perfect to me. In so many ways.  Maybe it is because my mom was the worlds greatest ornament giver for starters.  She instilled an ornament tradition that I didn't know how Jas was going to live up to but he has surpassed.  Every year she would give me, my brother, and dad, all an ornament that was something of significance that happened over the past year.  I don't know how she did it but it was always perfect.  I started this same tradition with Jas when we got married, and even though I know it sort of stresses him out inside to live up to this perfect tradition, he has nailed every year.  I even have an ornament of the electronic device that was implanted in my body (insert any and all bladder humor remarks) b/c anyone who knows me/us, knows this was more than the biggest life changing event of that particular year.  It's also a good feeling when your best friends give you ornaments from even places they have been b/c they know how much ornaments mean to you.....I do try and buy an ornament from any city/country we visit as well.  It's such a good souvenir to keep the memories of that visit alive.  So Jonah, and to Jonah's future wife, if you ever, that means if something happens to me b/c I don't think I'll let these ornaments go otherwise, gain possession of these, please know how special each and every one of them are, just as I do when I hang any of my grandmother's ornaments on our tree.  So yes, I will still go ahead and say the day after Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year, and favorite season at that.  Right now as I am typing this I am sitting in my happy place.  The room with the beautiful lighted tree, glass of wine next to me, and cheesy Sound of Music live playing in the background.  Side note: The REAL Sound of Music is a classic.....don't ever let any other version interrupt the truth on that one.  I will post more pics of decor later but tree shopping last year and this year, and yes, I wore the same outfit on purpose, b/c I'm a dork like that.  And Jonah is in PJ's :)
 

Overall photo shoot

I should be posting everyone's pic from Jason's family that have ever taken a pic in these overalls but I don't have them.  I need to scan the one of Jason in them, but let's just say these overalls go way back in the fam.  Over 40 years that is.  How special it was to see Jonah in these now and Kelli did a wonderful job of getting some good pics.  Just goes to show that overalls have always and will always be in style :)

I wouldn't have dressed like this had I known we were having a photo shoot....Having said that, I love this honest moment Kelli caught of us.  True love OLL round'

Thankful for Thanksgiving

There is just something about traditions, especially ones that involve family, that just warm your heart and make it smile.  Thanksgiving is one that we have always spent in North AL since before we were even married.  It's relaxing, cozy and full of food and love.  I think this year Allie & Grayson really enjoyed having a cousin that could finally interact unlike last year.  Check out these flashbacks.  WHAT a difference a year makes.....I know I am constantly saying this on this blog, but it is so true.  I can't imagine each year of Jonah's life to think it'll be such a change as it has been the first year.  So for these pics and this family, I am thankful.  There is so much in life that I am blessed with but these two people may take the turkey on this:   

 

Tailgating Extras

Somehow we managed to take Jeez to 3 different tailgates this year! So much fun!!  Here are a few pics.  He had a blast and I already can't wait for next year when I don't feel like I need one of those leashes to contain him :)  But the Ergo worked just fine.  Especially when Joseph let Jeez DJ with his broken iphone.  I mean look at this little hipster (As I was on the phone w/ Dad)

Jonah and his girlfriends :)

Love my silver fox :)

Team Jeffreys

Baptism-aversary!

I would love to go ahead and start this by saying how disappointed in myself I already am w/ this blog gig I've got going on, or not going on I should say.  I still have to update beach, pumpkin patch, more of f-ball season, Halloween and the list goes on and on. But as a parent, or even as a non-parent, that sounds familiar right? A list that goes on and on.  Anyways, I digress. This post is about your Baptism Jeez.  We just recently celebrated your Baptism-aversary :)  11-11-12 was a HUGE day in the life of you! Jonah Presley Jeffreys you were baptized into the Catholic Faith by Fr. Deasy at Holy Spirit Church.  It was such a special day.  I still remember the day clearly.  I woke up with so much emotion I could barely contain my excitement.  I cried ALL AM while getting you ready.  Tears of happiness.  I knew you had no idea just how big of a day this actually was, but one day you will.  I seriously have had so many moments during Mass before you were ever here, just tearing up thinking about A. Having a child of my own and B. Having that child with me at church, experiencing the greatest mysteries our religion has to share and offer.  I have prayed every single day since you were in my belly, from the moment we knew your existence that you will always grow up strong in your Catholic Faith.  That you will stand up for what you believe in always, and know that you are truly blessed to be a child of God, in a Faith that started this whole thing people call religion.  You have prayed countless rosaries already with me, starting again, when you were a child of God's making in my belly, from when you were a newborn rocking you, feeding you, holding you, crying with you, praying the prayers that you already know so well.  Now, on the way to school, getting in 3 decades before dropping you off but making sure we say our special intentions daily for the day, as well as asking those special saints to help us out in whatever it is we need them to intercede for us.  This is not only a tradition we have started Jonah, this is your Faith.  A Faith that I will write once again that I pray you group up proud to represent.  I can write so much more on this subject, but it is one I am truly proud of, and honestly one of the happiest days of my life- 11-11-12.  The day you were Baptized.  I hope your Daddy and I make you just as proud being your role models as you grow up in our family, and in our family of the Catholic Faith.  This is my daily prayer.  God, please give us the strength and knowledge to raise our children in the image and likeness of you, and love you above all things, for Jonah, you are the greatest gift that God has ever bestowed on us.

You smiled the entire time, you knew how special this was!

Team Jeffreys

You wore Papa "D's" Baptismal gown - so special

Your Godparents! Nanny & Paran

The whole Anderson/Jeffreys clan

The whole Jeffreys/Wiginton clan

All real celebrations have cake!

Elizabeth, Grant, Chambers, Alicia, Intern & Dan all celebrated with you.  NP - Audrey, but she was here :)

For this child, I have prayed.  You have no idea :)

State fan all the way.....

I am so proud of Jonah and the way he has been staying true to his Dawgs :)  Yesterday State played KY and this is how he went to school (do you really always expect me to get a perfect pic?)

And tomorrow Bama plays TN so he went to school like this....

I just want to point out that A. State did beat KY last night :) B. Even though Jonah's supporting BAMA today, check out what is in his left hand.  That's right. A cowbell.  A cowbell that he was ringing loud and proud all AM long.  I can see it in his proud eyes, he's definitely a bulldog at heart. Which is fine by me.  Bama has enough psycho fans.....State fan it is! 

Waffle house

I think Jonah could eat waffles every day. For any meal really.  Me too.  There is something about that unique shape that you can turn your pancake into that just makes it taste better.  We had a waffle weekend not to long ago - one AM with pumpkin waffles and the next with banana waffles.  Both were a hit.  I can't wait for Jeez to get to make his own:)

First tailgate!

Jeez had the opportunity to attend his very first tailgate party for the Bama/Arkansas game last weekend.  It was alot of fun! I did a ton of this......

Aunt Kate helped out and did a ton of this......

 
JO JO did alot of this......haha

 And all in all the first tailgate experience was pretty awesome.  Complete w/ milk, water, and chickpeas of course.....with a side of pumpkin beer for mommy.

Belated beach pics!

So...I'm already behind. No shocker there.  BUT, being the type that loves to write descriptive stories, it kills me just to post a few pics w/out a full "set the scene" make you feel like you are there w/ us in the moment type scenario, but I am thinking, judging from my lack of posts already, I may just have to do that once in a blue moon....so all of you 3 total readers out there, bear with me :)  The beach was an absolute blast and I hope to start making this a tradition.  Having said that, here are a few, or a ton, of pics:

What would you top your sandcastle with?  A ball was perfect for Jonah. Me...I'd probably choose a wine glass ;)

Team Jeffreys

I see a chuck.  We've got Jeez, that's all we need.

Sweetest beach boy

Shhhh mom gave me cookies for breakfast *pumpkin cookies!

Can you keep up Da da?  #notachance

WHOOOOO HOOO the beach is awesome!

He's taking his life guarding duties seriously

AM beverages.....#byebyebottle

Favorite beach snack - BBQ chickpeas

WEEEEEEE!!!

Let me FREEEE!

Ready for the Saints!