Cemeteries and Cheers

They have some of the most awesome old cemeteries there...some dating back to the 1500's and then we saw a place " where everyone knows your name"

Harvard

Next we were off to Harvard (or as you would say in Boston...Haaavad) On our was we passed by the EF main office which is just a few minutes from Harvard. We walked through the campus and it was very beautiful. The tour guide told us that of the 24,000 people who apply to Harvard every year, only 2300 get accepted. And if your family's income is less then $60,ooo you are considered low income and the schools scholarships will pay for your 4 year education. The hard part is getting in. He told us that of the 24,000 who apply ...one third of them scored perfectly on the SAT, and one third were the valedictorians of their classes and those kids are among those who do not even get in.

In the last picture, they say if you rub that dudes shoe it brings you good luck...that is why his shoe is so shinny...everyone rubs it. They say there is alot of rubbing going on during finals week. They have so many colleges and Universities in Boston, its just amazing. I think they said there were like 12 or 14 just in Boston. The first picture is of MIT

But i must say that the absolutly BEST part of being in Boston/Harvard Area..was spending time with the very very best Regional Manager and very very best Regional Placement Manager of all time! we got to spend some time with Robert and Amy (from EF, who are now more like friends then business associates) We went out to lunch and had a great lunch with them at a nice, little, out of the way place...this truly was the highlight of our intire trip!!!! (does that work for ya Amy?? LOL)

Boats

Next we went to see the U.S.S. constitution (i think that was the name of it) it is the oldest ship still in operation in the US Navy. It was really very interesting and the stories they told us about her battles were amazing. It reminded me alot of the ship in the movie "Master and Commander"

The Church

Inside the church i found this very much to my amusement! We, in the LDS church always joke about having our own pews. Everyone always seems to sit in the same place each week and when someone else sits in your row it kind of upsets your apple cart. So we joke about how we should all put our names on our pews so everyone knows who sits there. Rich and i joked recently that every week we should just start sitting in different places to stir things up a bit! Anyways, i found this very funny. These were taken in side the church where Paul Revere lit the lanterns. Back then people bought there "pews" if your family had money you would buy your own little box for your family and you could decorate it anyway you wanted to, some even bringing furniture from home to put in their "box" and then i noticed that they had their names on them!!!! so we joked about how our family would not even fit into one of these boxes...but as i was leaving i noticed the larger "family" box!! I bet it was more expensive....

Boston

We started off with a walking tour in the streets of Boston. One of our first stops was at the birth place of Rose Kennedy. Isn't it interesting that a women of such stature started in such a humble place? I loved the old town feel of the streets and the buildings. We then visited the statue of Paul Revere and the church where he lit the lanterns to warn the people of the in pending invasion.

The Trip

Where to start? Well i will start with explaining where and why i went. With the exchange organization they offer trips for the exchange kids called "discovery tours" and my sister and I applied this year to be chaperons on one of the many trips they offer. We were chosen to chaperon the East coast city tour. So we were responsible for 50 kids with one other incredibly funny chaperon from Kentucky (and NOT Kentucky fried chicken!) so it was just the three of us and our tour director, Mike from Boston (great guy who turned me into a red socks fan, not sure how that happened other then just his dedication and devotion to his red socks somehow rubbed off on my) so we started by arriving Friday and planning and strategizing how we would run the week ahead. Saturday afternoon the kids started arriving...that was interesting in itself as we had kids coming into 4 different terminals (luckily there were 4 of us to man the terminals) we only had a few glitches but we ended up getting them all and we were on our way...first we toured Boston and then we went on to New York City and after that to Washington DC.....i will post pictures and tell you about some of our adventures...

Medals all around!

What a week for the Jones Kids....This week was our schools special Olympics in which Austin and Quade participated as they have every year for many years now. They both did very very well. And the crowd of spectators was remarkable!! Austin Received a gold medal in the standing long jump and a gold in the 100m dash. He also received a ribbon for participation in the 4x100m relay. Quade recieved a gold medal in the softball throw and after getting a late start (as he was in awe with the cheering crowd) he received a silver in the 100m dash. He also received a ribbon for participation in the 4x100m relay.
Hayden is on the high school track team and participates in the shot put and discus. (his football coach is also the track coach and will not let him run because he can not afford for his already too small lineman to loose any weight LOL) He did well and received a silver in the shot put and he was in the running in the discus too but his last throw (which was the longest of the day) went out of bounds.
Taylor is trying her hand at throwing as well, as she is on the junior high track team and she got a 4th place in the shot put at the Winslow meet. Not to shabby for her first meet!
WAY TO GO!

Spring break

Spring break is upon us and its pretty uneventful so far. We did not go out of town like 90% of the community did. We caught alot of flak from the kids for not planning to go somewhere but honestly it just pretty much slipped my mind to plan something because in the past we have never been able to go anywhere because Hayden was playing baseball and its pretty much "against the law" to leave town if your playing baseball. So it just has never been in my mindset to plan a vacation during spring break...oh well....maybe next year. So Rich has been working and the kids have been playing...friends over everyday, sleepovers etc...trying to make it somewhat fun! Hayden has been working hard doing yard work to pay off his parents for the snowboard "he" bought in October as well as his traffic school costs for his speeding ticket. His good good friend Dolan has been here visiting from Utah and they have been hanging out 24/7 for the most part. He is going on a fishing trip tomorrow with a few of his buddies and is excited about that and he had a big bon fire here tonight with about 20 kids (so i guess not everyone left town) that was a good activity that we will be happy to host again in the future. Austin has been working each day at the theater. Taylor has been hanging out with Dolans little sister. Noah and Sawyer have been hanging out with anyone that is around to hang out with and Quade is pretty board. He loves school and pretty much does not like a change in his routine. He has been listening to his music player pretty much none stop but that's really about it. Its finally warm enough for everyone to play outside and stay out at night jumping on the tramp. In fact, Taylor, Noah and Sawyer have slept outside in the tent or on the tramp every night for the last 4 nights. Ahhhhhhhh it looks like spring is finally here. I am leaving Thursday to chaperon an "EF discovery tour" trip with my sister Lynn. We will be gone for 9 days in chilly Boston, Manhattan and Washington DC. We are really looking forward to that so i have just spent most of my time this week trying to keep the house clean (that's a joke) and trying to keep up with the laundry so that i can leave the house and kids in the trusted hands of my hubby! He is the greatest for letting me go and I love him for letting me do this! thanks Rich, Your the BEST! I will be back after the 6th with more pictures im sure.

Pinewood Derby

Well Noah and Sawyers 8th birthday just happened to be the same day as the pinewood derby. So they doned their brand new scout uniforms and after opening presents we set out to their first scouting activity. Nothing like firing them up for scouting by starting out with a super exciting activity. They spent the previous week working on their cars with their dad. Needless to say, we know how to make the cars look COOL but were not so hot when it comes to making them FAST. So we have some studying to do before next year. Sawyers car came in 4th place (last) all night long and at first he was upset but after awhile he didn't really care anymore. Noah's car came in either 2nd or 4th all night long. But like i said..we know how to make a "pretty" car as Noah got 3rd in show!

Welcome to Scouting boys!!

Derby Video

Here is a video of the Derby when Noah and Sawyer were

in the same race. Sawyer is in the first lane and Noah is in

the last lane.

Another birthday!

Yet another birthday...i can not believe my littlest babies are 8 years old today! where has the time gone. It seems like just yesterday that we were in Idaho awaiting the arrival of these sweet "bonus babies" but at the same time it seems like a lifetime ago.....

Happy Birthday "babies" (hayden says they will ALWAYS be called "the babies"

Wrestling!

Noah and Sawyer signed up to do a week long "little kids" wrestling clinic... Noah went the first day and then ended up getting sick and staying home the rest of the week. Sawyer went to every practice. On the last day they had a tournament in which they both competed. They divided all the kids up into small groups. The boys did really well. Noah received a 2nd place and Sawyer got 1st place! way to go little wrestling dudes!

San Antonio

I returned home on sunday evening from Texas...to a very well kept house! way to go Rich!! We had a good meeting and a good time in San Antonio. I got to spend time with my mom and my sister and with alot of friends that i enjoy spending time with. Our meetings went well (this was an EF trip) and i learned alot. I never realized what a cool place San Antonio is...i was really not at all excited to go to texas but once we got there we found it to be very beautiful. In San Antonio, they have what they call "The Riverwalk"... basically it is a canal that runs through the heart of downtown. On the riverwalk they have a TON of resteraunts all facing the river. Most with outdoor seating. It really is just beautiful. They have river taxis that take you from place to place. We spent all our extra time on the Riverwalk. We also got to have a special treat in as it was St. Patricks day weekend and this meant there were many bagpipers and Irish bands in and around The Riverwalk. They even had a parade on a boat where the band/bagpipers would go down the river on a boat, past all that would stop to watch them. The other cool thing they do for St. Patties day is that they turn the river green!!! yep!! green!! When we arrived on friday it was just a normal mucky color but by the end of the weekend it was VERY green!

Texas!

Im leaving in the morning for Texas! we have an EF meeting there this weekend and Rich has decided for the first time to sit this one out...so i will be traveling with my mom and meeting "the girls" there (you know who you are!! LOL) Im looking forward to it...even though its a meeting we do have alot of fun!! Maybe i will have a picture or two to post when i get back.
See ya when i get back!

expensive boys

The "babies" birthday is coming up quick and I decided I cant afford to have 8 year old twins!!
I made a trip over to the book store to get their scouting uniforms since their first pack meeting/pinewood derby is the same night as their birthday. And.....Ghezzz Louise...2 scout shirts, patches for both, 2 scout book, 2 neckerchiefs, and 2 slides for the neckerchiefs....$98!!!!! And I still have to get them scriptures, $64 each without cases to put them in....and ghezzz maybe something FUN for their birthdays!! ...oh and I need to get them some new Sunday clothes for their baptism.... these two are going to break the bank and they are only 8 !!!!!

Good News!

Brittnee got the Job at the boys ranch, she starts today and will shadow for a few weeks to be sure she knows all the ins and out and to make sure she is cut out for working with the boys. They let her know that this is much different then the kids shes used to working with as those kids usually WANT to be where they are, doing what they are doing...which is not the case for these boys so we will see how it goes. I think she is excited for and up to the challenge! ...Also Rich came back from taking her to her new home with a glowing report of the place she is living and the people she has met. So moms mind is put at ease for now...whewwww

Haydens 18!

ALL BOY!

I cant believe my baby is 18 today!! Happy birtha day hayden!!

Man, i am getting old...i now have three "adult" children!

how did that happen!! LOL

Each birthday this year seems to remind me that im not a spring chicken anymore.

Although it was fun rubbing it in with Hayden that he was the only one of our babies that caused so much trouble coming into this world that i have scars to show for it!!!

But for the most part that is the only real trouble he has caused in his 18 years!!!

He is a true joy to us and we feel very lucky to have such a smart, friendly, out going,

considerate,(to others, not his brotha's) kind, gentle hearted, son.

He is really a good kid and i can only hope now that he is 18 that does not somehow magically change.

Changes

well i have not posted in awhile 1. because there was not anything new and 2.(the main reason) was because i loved going to the blog and seeing the rainbow picture and hearing the rainbow song! oh well i think its time to move on.....speaking of moving on, Brittnee has decided its time to move on. she left her job of just over a year at Hidden Meadow Ranch in Greer and is moving today to Sierra Vista. She is on the road as i type, car loaded down with all that she owns(and alittle of what we own) and Rich is pulling the horse trailer with her prize possession... "Dallas". She has plans to work at a Boys ranch with their horse program but she has one more interview to insure the job. lets keep our fingers crossed, otherwise she will be working anywhere she can find a job. She has some temporary housing with hopes of getting into a different place once she gets a job.
hummmm this is the interesting part of being a parent. The part where your kids grow up and make their own plans and have their own ideas and weather you agree or not you have to step back and let them do what they will. Having her move ALL of her stuff from our house, me turning her birth certificate over to her (this was especially hard for some weird reason). And just basically letting go....I told her when she left today that i felt like i was loosing her and i just wanted my little girl back. Don't think that went over well LOL. Its not that we were seeing her often when she lived in Greer but this is just so far away that i feel like we will just never see her now. ok...im babbling now so i will finish this up by saying this....

Letting go is the hardest part of being a parent!

Rainbows!

Rainbows! and boy did we see lots of them!!! This one was from the top of Diamond head!

Flags

Another experience that i wanted to relate was when we went with the exchange kids to visit Pearl Harbor. When we went out to the memorial that stands over the U.S.S Arizona there was a park ranger there that was trying very hard to untangle the HUGE American flag that flys over the memorial. It was a very windy day and she was having a very hard time... Some of our kids stepped in to help and it ended up being a lenghy period of time they were needed. Some of the kids caught some great shots of them helping with the flag and after it was over and we were walking away. Some of the kids mentioned how cool it was to be part of that and said it was one of the coolest things they had ever been apart of. It was nice to see the respect and excitment the kids had for the flag of our country. We were so proud of them for offering to help. Really, a great group of kids!

Hawaii Trip

Rich and I just returned from our annual Hawaii trip with the exchange students. It was very fun and VERY wet! I think we had a total of 2 REAL sunny days (just enough to regain my tan) but even then they were a bit chilly...we wore our Jackets more then we ever have on this trip and that was pretty much everyday. We visited alot of places and did alot of things. We visited Several different beaches, Waikiki, the North Shore, rode the catamaran, snorkled, PCC, Pearl Harbor, Poly lookout, hiked diamond head and the lighthouse trail, the famous flea market, saw plenty of rainbows, and im sure there are several things im leaving out. The kids were great and were very well behaved and followed all the rules (or at least they had us snowed into believing they were following the rules LOL) the whole group played all the silly games we planned and did not complain or think they were stupid. They were a very lively group who were very helpful when we needed it and always asked to help when we did not need it. They truly made this trip one of the best, with the rain and all!

Birthday slide show

SO now they are 13 which makes me REALLY old...although luckily we had bonus babies that are keeping us young!

We had a great time together for their birthday, we had our typically family party with dinner, cake, presents and of course....SILLY STRING! Quade used to be deathly afraid of the stuff and would run in his room and hide (we had to discontinue the practice for a few years after that) but not this year...this year he asked for it!!!

He surprised and impressed us in the morning when he woke up and we asked him what day it was and he said....BIRTHDAY!!!!

Taylor enjoyed her day as well with a special out to lunch date with her dad!

all she wanted for her birthday was a guitar...so maybe someday you will see me posting about the next big star!!!

Birthdays!

Birthdays!

Well, one of the Joys of having two sets of twins is the shared birthdays! We just celebrated Quade and Taylors birthdays on the 8th. They are now 13 years old!!! WOW, how time flys. Rich and I talked about the day they were born and what a crazy time that was. We had just come off of 5 days with no electricity because of a really big snow storm. Me being on bed rest all thru Christmas and he trying to keep bored kids happy, cooking off the wood stove and trying to keep food from the fridge (now out in the snow)cold (remember..the electrcity was out) Then only to have it come back on and go into labor in the middle of the night. That was only the beginning of our Journey! Life flight to the valley, early delivery, weeks in the hospital (3 hours from home and my other kids)...but finally..we brough home two beautiful babies!!!

UGH....

Well Christmas break was great, we had alot of fun and alot of sleeping in (except Quade) but it is/was time for it to be over and for these little chicks to get back in school! Whewwwwww .....and THEN.....We heard the snow was coming....Nothing....still coming...Nothing....no wait...really...its still coming....Nothing....and when it DID finally decide to come...it had to be the very same day they were suppose to go back to school. But NOOOOOO....instead we got a SNOW DAY!!! oh yeah....Well the kids were pretty siked about it, and mom DID get to sleep in ONE MORE DAY...so i guess it turned out ok. We only ended up with about 3-4 inches of very wet snow, but up in Pinetop they got over a foot. The road to sunrise was closed so I'm guessing they got a few new feet of snow. This year i believe will turn out to be one of our best years for accumulation of the white stuff! YEAH

One more time....

Rich took the 3 younger kids snowboarding again last week and they did end up figuring it out. (i saw video evidence) Taylor and Sawyer have really got the turning and stopping figured out while Noah is more into the "banzai" approach. He does know how to turn but would rather just go as fast as possible and wipe out at the end. Rich did tell me how he finally decided to go into the lodge and watch the kids on the bunny hill from the window. He watched Sawyer come down three times and if he did not fall he would pump his fist in a "whooo Hoooo" manner and then look around to make sure dad saw him. He would not see Rich and would get really frustrated. So after the third time he fell on the ground and beat his little fists out of frustration that dad did not see how well he did...well at that point RIch decided to go out and assure him that he was watching and did see how well he did. When Sawyer came down again he told him he was watching and that he was doing great and asked him if he was upset when he did not see that dad was watching and Sawyer very casually said...nahhhh .....i didn't even notice you wern't there.....

What a sweetie that boy is....