Trip to Keller

This past week we went to Keller for our friend Olivia's birthday! She turned 5 on Wednesday and we are so happy we got to spend some time with them. There are tons of pictures to showcase what we did all week. There was lots of playing inside because of the rain but the good Lord smiled on us with some sunshine for Olivia's party on Wednesday for a little bit and we were able to have her outdoor party as scheduled. It was a great week and we can't wait for them to come up for Gracelyn's birthday in August.

Cannon swinging

Olivia and Gracelyn

Justin being so adorable

Cannon, Justin and Kelly after baths

Olivia and her daddy Harvin

Kelly and those gorgeous eyes of his.

Cannon loved sitting on top of the play set and being king of the yard

The Jones children~Olivia, Justin and Kelly

Cannon catching rain in his drinking cup

Bathing beauties

Birthday girl

Just a swingin

Almost ready to give it up and enjoy a nap in the stroller

Wonder where the boys were riding to?

A camping we will go

Recently we went on a camping trip with a few people from church. I should rephrase that. Some people went camping at Palo Duro Canyon and we went down for the day to be with them. We as in me and the kiddos. It was scorching hot with a breeze but for the most part it wasn't too bad. After we got the campers settled we could settle as well. The kids had a blast hiking and playing around. Cannon went "hiking" as well. There was a small hill close by that he explored. The big kids went on big hikes and Randall went on the Lighthouse hike. 6 miles round trip!!WOW!!! It was our friend Jake's birthday and he had smores for his cake. It was a fun day but I was really glad that we were able to pack up and come home around 9:30 and sleep in our own beds. The kids were filthy and had a slight reddish tint to their skin because of the red clay in the canyon.

Cannon's hike

The girls on their hike

Jake enjoying his smore

Mr. Randall after his long hike. They all look a little sweaty to me.

Michelle and Mason hanging out! :)

Lainee on her hike.

Proud of Cameron

Cameron has been focusing on his irrigation test for 18 months now and he passed the final part in May!! WAHOOO!!! I am so proud of him. The test is very challenging and takes some major stamina to continue with. Way to go Cameron!

Tag, You're it!

Wade tagged me.

Watch out blog world.

First memory: When I was 2-3-years-old we lived in Mississippi. My sister and I stayed during the day at a lady’s house that was more like a make-shift pre-school. Ms. Jane was her name. Her mother lived down the road and we would walk between the two and pick strawberries. This wasn’t what I would consider my first as in I have no idea what order some of the events were that happened in Mississippi but I do also remember my dad’s knee surgery and going to visit him in the hospital. There again I was 2 years old maybe.

First real kiss: Jeremy Little John in the 3rd grade. We were swimming at the YMCA and we kissed under the water. I had to hold my nose and he laughed at me. He was also the moron who blurted out in class that there was no Santa Clause. He actually got sent to the principal’s office for that one.

First concert: George Strait in Plainview, Texas I was maybe 10 or 11. He was going to all these colleges and stopped at Wayland. Tells you how much of a nobody he was back then. I got to tour his bus because my mom was the sales manager for the radio station that promoted him. I do remember him singing Amarillo By Morning and thinking that it was cool there was a song with a town that I knew in the title.

First love: First person I ever loved was Cameron. SERIOUSLY. I never said it to anybody before him. I deeply liked a few boys that if we had pursued a more serious relationship could have been love but nope Cameron was it!!!

First crush: I had the hugest crush on a boy named Tyler from like 6th grade to 8th grade. I mean huge!!! All the little junior high tests pointed to him being the love of my life forever. He was it until I was at the 8th grade dance at school and he farted while they passed out silly awards. Although he was super cool and popular he hardly recovered from that one.

First thing you think in the morning: How many people are still asleep in my home?

First book you remember loving: I loved any chapter books. I am a huge reader and can’t remember the first because there were so many at different stages.

First pet: Fluffy the cat. She was a MEAN black haired cat that we had to get rid of because she wouldn’t let anyone play with her. I cried and cried when I came home from school and she was gone. There was also numerous hamsters and birds.

First question you'll ask in Heaven: Why is there a history channel? No, just kidding Wade… History is not my thing but I would seriously ask how a baby is made. I know how babies are MADE but I want to know how He decided it would be formed in the womb and the stages of growth. I mean why didn’t He just make the first baby 7 lbs and you could be pregnant for like I don’t know… 3 weeks maybe 4 to get things ready and then out comes a baby. Why wait 9 months? Why can’t we be like dogs or cats and have a shorter gestation period? It is a phenomenon to me.

First thing you think of when you hear the word 'vacation': ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES!!!

First best friend: Brandy Morphis. We were great friends all through elementary school.

Last time you dressed up: Our friend Jeremy’s wedding. It was a formal wedding and Cameron was the best man so I had to dress up as well. I had just had Mason 6 weeks prior and it was not as much fun as I would have liked it to have been because I still had so much weight to lose.

Last thing you ate: Pei Wei~We just got it here in Amarillo and it is super yummy. If you don’t know it is fast food version of PF Changs and if you don’t know PF Changs then I feel sorry for you.

Last CD you bought: uhh… I have no idea. I NEVER buy cd’s. Seriously NEVER. WAIT I remember now. I bought my nephew the new Kenny Chesney cd for his birthday. It wasn’t for me but that would be the last one I bought.

Last (good) book you read: I just finished the Redemtion Series by Karen Kingsbury. GREAT set of books to read. There are 5 in the series. I hope to get started on the Firstborn series next.

Last time you cried: I attended a funeral for a very young mother/wife the first of June. Her service was beautiful and very moving. Makes me want to hold my babies longer and kiss Cameron one more time before he leaves each day.

Last time you told someone you loved them: When I put Gracelyn to bed a while a go. She is so funny because her new thing is after you say “I love you.” She says “I love you more than you’ll ever know.” AWWWW….

Last really funny thing you did: I crack myself up all the time so I have no idea. I do recall a conversation with Teresa about lions and tigers. It wasn’t the last thing I am sure but it is still a funny on myself. When we were talking about visiting the zoo recently I told her that I wanted to take Gracelyn to see the lion exhibit that just opened. The zoo here in Amarillo is FREE so you can imagine that the exhibits are a bit dated and not at as exciting as a regular zoo. But anyways we had something to look forward to so I told Teresa (over the phone) that I wanted to see the tigers. The conversation went as follows:
Me: We are going to see the tigers want to go?
Teresa: I thought they were lions.
Me: Well they are lions and tigers. The boy is a lion and the girls are tigers.
LONG PAUSE… So as to not make me feel like an idiot she politely said okay and we went on with our conversation. Not until later~ A LOT LATER~ did she ever say anything about the lions and tigers being different animals. I knew that but had convinced myself they were the same animal just different because of their gender. DUH… I taught 2nd grade folks!

Last thing you watched on TV: Food Network~Next Food Network Star. I would give my left arm to be on that show. No wait my left pinky toe. I would need my arm. I would need to know how to cook as well but that is another fantasy.

Last Halloween costume: I haven’t dressed up since forever. It would have to be high school I think. I was a farmer in overalls, straw hat, hay sticking out of places and flannel shirt. Not very amusing I know.

Last concert attended: Third Day about a year ago. Toby Mac opened for them.

I tag Kassie, Jill, and Renay, . I can’t wait to read what all they have to say!!

Happy Father's Day

To my husband that makes being a father look effortless I commend you. You are a natural. I couldn't imagine my life with out you in it and I know that our kids are better because of you. You are the Godly man that you are commanded to be and I am so grateful. You have shaped and molded them into the great children that they are. I love to see their eyes when you walk into the room. It is amazing to see how much love they have for you.

~Mason loves your patting and sweet words. He knows you are loving on him and cherishing him. Mason knows that you have great dreams for him and want the best for him.
~Cannon is his daddy's boy through and through. I love that. I love that he looks for you first thing in the morning and that he anticipates seeing you at the end of the day. I can tell by how he checks the front door when he hears a truck. He gets giddy thinking it is his daddy. He adores your play times and I know that he is already thinking that he wants to be just like you when he is bigger. A momma knows these things.
~Gracelyn thinks you are a prince and wants to know if God is going to give her a prince just like He gave you to me. She is in love with you and in her eyes you at "it". You can do no wrong and the world revolves around her daddy. You are a perfect example of what I want her husband to be. Those are awfully big shoes to fill but I know that God has heard her request for her prince and He is working on it. You have set a pretty high bar as far as husbands go.

I love you Cameron and cherish you. I am proud to call you mine. You make my days better and my life sweeter. Thank you for being the kind of husband and daddy that people write books about. (The good kind) You are my hero and inspiration for being a better parent. I am just following in your footsteps. Thanks for taking the lead.


For my brother-in-laws I wish you a great day! Eric and Jerry, you are great daddies and I am so thankful that my beautiful nieces and nephew have such great fathers.

To my father-in-law thank you for being you! You are special and so precious to me. I appreciate your wonderful kind spirit. I can always count on a great hug from you that makes me feel appreciated and loved. Thank you for your example to my kids.

I hope my own dear daddy has a great day! You are the best and I love you so much. What a great Godly man you are. I appreciate your love and unconditional support that you have always given freely. You have fulfilled all I have ever needed in a earthly father


Dear precious heavenly father. Thank you for loving me and blessing me with these men in my life. I am richer for it! I love you and praise your name. I give you all the glory!

Happy Father's Day!

100th post

This is my 100th post. I have seen on other people’s blogs where you post 100 things about you. I know it would have been easier to just say “Hey look, it’s my 100th post!” but oh well here we go…

1. I am a Christian
2. My name is Keri
3. My birthday is May 11th
4. I have the best husband named Cameron
5. Gracelyn is my oldest child
6. Cannon is my middle son
7. Mason is the baby
8. We have two dogs that are super sweet Baron & Blaze
9. I was born in Plainview, TX and moved to Amarillo the summer before my 6th grade year
10. I have one sister
11. My parents and Cameron’s parents are still married. That is a phenomenon in this day and age.
12. I just celebrated my 8th wedding anniversary
13. In the past year I have gained 30+ lbs.
14. I like to scrapbook
15. I sleep on the right side of the bed
16. I have my ears pierced twice but never wear earrings in the top holes
17. I have 4 nieces and only one nephew
18. I drive an Excursion
19. Our house sits on about one acre of land
20. I grew up going to Camp Blue Haven
21. I took Latin in high school and only passed because the teacher liked me. She was my favorite teacher ever!
22. I was president of the Art Club my senior year
23. I have never broken any bones
24. I played basketball and ran track in middle school. Who knew my talents? The coaches that's who. I never played hardly and I ran the relay so that I didn't have to run the entire length of the track.
25. I majored in Community Health my first two years of college
26. I don’t know what a Community Health degree means
27. I have lost 35 lbs. in the past year
28. I would still like to loose another 7-10 lbs before August
29. I taught public school for 6 years
30. My fingernails grow really fast and are relatively nice looking if I do say so myself
31. I love reality TV way too much
32. I am a pretty good cook when I actually cook
33. I love kitchen gadgets
34. After many years of church hopping and not being happy we found our family at Plum Creek Fellowship
35. I teach pre-K at Kid U
36. I can’t whistle~Not even a little bit
37. I am not the best housekeeper but I love it when my house is spit-spot shiny clean
38. I hate doing laundry!!!!
39. I attended 8 different schools from 1st grade – graduation
40. I lived in M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-humpback-humpback-I when I was little (This is how I learned to spell it)
41. My sister and I used to do radio commercials for the local station when my mom worked for KVOP & KKYN (Are you impressed I remembered the call letters mom?)
42. I remember useless details like where things go in people’s houses and how they decorate. If you move something around I’m likely to notice if it is missing.
43. I collect crosses. All shapes/colors/sizes
44. I wear minimal amount of makeup and would prefer if all women decided to just quite using it all together.
45. I would have plastic surgery in a heartbeat IF I could come home on a morphine drip.
46. I have a very high pain tolerance but I still need pain meds. (I like those little pills! HA!)
47. Chocolate~BLAH! Hard candies are more my style
48. I get very anxious flying but would rather fly than drive any day
49. I wear contacts
50. I would like to get braces sometime
(WE ARE HALF WAY THERE FOLKS!)
51. I love pictures in frames more than knick knacks
52. I spend way to much time on the computer reading blogs, websites, and mommy forums
53. I take a nap almost everyday
54. I am pretty crafty
55. I love to sew
56. Reading is my #1 hobby
57. I want a hammock to be able to read in and watch the kids play outside
58. My first car was a 1974 Buick Regal (Don’t be jealous)
59. That Buick was a nice shade of brown with a very complimentary cream roof.
60. That same Buick honked its own horn occasionally when you turned right. Usually when it felt like I needed to be embarrassed turning into the parking lot of school or something.
61. My favorite candle is something that smells like I have been cooking like cookies or something
62. I have too much crap on my fridge.
63. I got married outside
64. I love eBay~Wahoo 100% positive feedback
65. I am good at word puzzles and games. Okay not good but I like them.
66. I could spend $1000 at Gymboree for the kids and not even flinch
67. I could easily spend $1000 at Gap for me and not feel guilty about that either
68. I would seriously be in huge trouble with my hubby if I ever did #66 or #67
69. I had lots of pets growing up at different times in our lives. They either died, got given away, ran away, run over, eaten by the other hamster (remember Renay), or something else. We didn’t have complexes about it either it was good for us.
70. I have had an infestation of Brown Recluse spiders in my home!!! Makes you want to come on over huh? It is taken care of don’t worry.
71. The mice ate them all, HA!~I hate mice
72. I hate snakes worse-All kinds there is no such thing as good snakes even if they are suppose to keep the bad rodents, snakes, pests away.
73. I sometimes wonder why I live in the country i.e. mice, snakes, spiders, etc…
74. I am HORRIBLE at keeping up my kid’s baby books
75. I hate to write thank you notes
76. I love getting thank you notes
77. I have O- blood
78. My favorite drink is Diet Coke with Vanilla
79. I have been on George Strait’s tour bus.
80. I was a candy stripper when I was around 13 or so.
81. I don't know if the above word means I wore a uniform with read stripes on it or I took my clothes off. To clarify I wore the uniform with red stripes on it. I did not take my clothes off. HA!
82. I am horrible at spelling and most grammar rules. #80 is a great example of that. Praise God for dictionaries and spell check.
83. I hate house work
84. I hate thinking I am lazy but it sure sounds like it after re-reading this list!! HE HE HE
85. I love reconnecting with friends from the past
86. I hate being 31. 30 eh not so bad
87. I have not gotten a speeding ticket in more than 10 years (at least)
88. I have never ridden in an ambulance
89. I have never been in a car accident
90. I have not a clue of what to do if I were in an accident either example-call police, exchange insurance papers, talk to other driver, don’t talk to other driver (in case he sues and I inadvertently said something that will implicate me later)
91.I have an over active imagination
92. I hate it when people are mad at me and I actually did something to provoke it. If they are mad at me and I did nothing wrong then I don’t care. No wait I do care. I am pathetic.
93. I love having a newborn in the house.
94. I can’t part with Gracelyn’s baby clothes. We are pretty sure we won’t have any more kids and if we did it would likely be a boy since I went overboard and have 10x’s the amount a normal child should be allowed to have.
95. I love run-on sentences! I call them rambling sentences.
96. I love to wear flip-flops about as much as my hubby hates them
97. I want to go on vacation so bad this summer. Someplace where Cameron’s cell phone won’t work.
98. I love useless information. Sometimes it comes across as being a know-it-all but if I don’t get it out how can I make room for new useless information? It is a vicious cycle.
99. This took me way too long to do when I should have been cooking, doing laundry, cleaning the house, or writing thank you notes. Oh the list goes on and on and on…
100. I love blogging!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to Kassie!
Happy Birthday to Kassie!
Happy Birthday Dear Aunt Kassie!
Happy Birthday to You!!

We love you and hope you have a fabulous 30th!!!

Well-Child-Checkup and a week of heartbreak

We went this morning for Mason's WCC and he is just an awesomely healthy baby boy. My babies have always been in the 90-97% for weight and height and Mason is no exception. We weighed in at 17.2 lbs and 26 1/4 inches long. He showed off his rolling over skills when she put him on his tummy to check and see if he was pushing up and all that developmental stuff. He aced it all. HE'S SO SMART!! Ha!!!

We did start cereal last week. Mason started waking up during the night and I thought he might be hungry so we tried it out. He likes it okay and it is helping him sleep longer. I didn't care that he was eating during the night before but since he had been sleeping all night and then waking up I was desperate to get back to my full night's sleep. UGH!!! It is worth trying in my book. It worked!! It did with Gracelyn when she was little but didn't with Cannon so you can't guarantee that that trick works with every kiddo.


This week is also full of heartbreak for several people in our lives. I will keep a few of the people nameless but some of the things that are going on are really hard to overcome and just too much for one week. Please keep all these people in your prayers and I will update as I get more information.
1. Our good friends from church have a little girl that had a CAT scan and it showed she has fluid on her brain. The fluid is considered an amount that is not of concern at this time. She is still developing great and there are no signs of this being a problem for now. The doctor was just great about the information and tried to calm their fears for their baby. I know that God is protecting her and will continue to be faithful to them.
2. A member of our church suddenly passed away on Sunday afternoon. Death that occurs in a family is hard at any age and any circumstance but for this family it is just a little more heartbreaking. Her name is Britney Upton Rodriguez and she has a 2 1/2 month old little boy. Britney was the last of the girls at church in our little baby boom to have Jose. We all just saw her family a few weeks ago at baby dedication at church. They all were there cherishing the moment and basking in the joy of this new baby in their family. I could go on and on about the amount of tragedy that this family has gone through but just pray for them to have peace and know that God is with them.
3. Jordan McCall my coworker from Kid U received some hard news about her cancer tumors. They are not responding to the treatment protocol like they had hoped. In her last blog update you could sense the disappointment but along with that let down you could see God shining through her words. Check out her blog and pray for her.
4. Cameron's dad nearly cut off his finger yesterday. While doing something with the mower he clipped his finger and the tip is broken. It took 13 stitches to attach the skin and save the tip of the finger. EEWWW He is doing okay but is out of commission for a few days. I just hope that the pain is minimal and that he heals quickly. Gracelyn was extremely upset for Papa to be hurt!
5. A two year old that lives down the street from my parents and sister ran out in the street yesterday and was hit by a motorcycle. The man was EXTREMELY upset while Renay was talking to him and the little girl is in critical condition. My family doesn't know the family but it is a very unfortunate situation with many factors that are just heartbreaking. Pray for the little girl to survive and be whole again. Pray for the man who hit her. He kept saying over and over again that he wished he could trade places with the girl.
6. Finally and the most sad to us is that a couple we have known since before we were married are going through a marital hardship. Satan is attacking them and at this point looks like he is winning. I don't even know exactly what to pray for but I do know that God is bigger than marriage problems. God can heal the broken hearted.

God is good. He does great things and answers prayers. Please put those knees to the floor and pray!

4 months old

Mason is 4 months old now. He is rolling from his front to his back. Laughing all the time and of course being adorable as usual. We have enjoyed our start to summer with park outings and playing in the sprinkler for the past few days. The kids are good and loving getting to sleep late and stay up late. We naturally fall into night owls when school is out. I love it...

Hope you all have a wonderful week.