Keeping Up with the Joneses: Hodgepodge

First, let me start off by wishing all of you a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The Jones family hopes that all of you had and continue to have a wonderful holiday.
Our Chanukah and Christmas was a little bitter sweet. Yes, it was Blake's first holiday season which is pretty exciting, but was not quite the same because my mom, Grandma to Blake, has been in the hospital since the Monday before Christmas. We really look forward to next year's holidays when Blake will be a little more aware and a little more into the traditions our family will share together.

Chanukah
The holidays started off with Chanukah. We also shared the first night of Chanukah celebrating my brother's big 3-0 birthday! We really enjoyed having A & M in town. By the time they left Blake was head over heels in love with his Uncle A & Aunt M and we can't wait to see them again hopefully soon. Before heading to A's birthday dinner, we went to the lobby of my parents building to light the Chanukah candles. Blake absolutely loved this. We even sang Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel and he was having a ball! Below are a few pics...

Here is a pic at home on the 4th night of Chanukah...

Christmas
Christmas morning Blake came running into our room jumping on the bed begging to open presents. Well okay, not really. But I picture that in the coming years anyway. We woke up and opened a few presents, ate a nice Christmas lunch with Brad's dad and spent the rest of the day being lazy. Brad is in charge of photos and video and he chose to take all video so unfortunately I only have one, yes only one picture to share from Blake's first Christmas. We'll try to get our act together a little more for next year.

Anniversary
The holiday season also brings another day of celebrating...Brad and I's wedding anniversary. This year we celebrated 5 glorious years together. Its amazing how fast time goes by. The past year was even more special in our marriage as we welcomed our amazing son Blake Logan into the world. I feel incredibly blessed to be married to my best friend, who I love more now than I did on our wedding day and to have started a family together. Our home is filled with so much love and my one wish is it always stays that way. Despite my mom being in the hospital, Blake's grandpa refused to let our anniversary pass by without a proper celebration. He kept Mr. Blake while Brad and I stayed the night at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. Thanks Grandpa!!! We had an absolutely amazing night together and even dined at the restaurant at The Mansion. It was a heavenly evening and a night we will always remember. Happy 5 years Bradley, I look forward to the next 50!!
Us at dinner...

Mom
After a very rough past year with mom feeling so sick and now having her second hospital stay and after more tests than any one person should ever have to endure, a diagnosis has been made. If anyone likes to google, google Goodpasture Syndrome. It is so rare that she probably had a better chance winning the lottery. We are grateful they can finally begin a course of action to get mom better, although we know its a very long road ahead with not so fun treatments. Blake can't wait to get lots of cuddles from his Grandma very soon! We love you!

The good news is we were sent a package by Brad's mom with a CD of some pictures from Thanksgiving, yea! Here are a few pics...
The girls plus Blake on Thanksgiving