12 Months of Michael

We took Michael's picture every month with these two monkeys to document his growth. We call them his Monkey pictures. We did the same thing for David and it is so neat to compare them each month....they are really so much alike.

The Torch is Passed on to the boys!

All of you know Mark is a HUGE Laker's fan. His parents saved many, many, many Laker t-shirts. We have now passed them on to the boys....I even snagged a couple for myself!

Michael Turns One

The Jones Clan

Mark and Vicki

Here we all are at the end of a long day! This is after Michael's birthday party, we are all exhausted and ready for bed. David is high on sugar and Michael is just running on fumes!

Here is Michael's Birthday Stash! He did quite nice! Thank you all for being so generous.....He is so loved!

Anna, Shelley, and Michael

Aunt Kelly made Michael his birthday plate. She makes them for all the first Birthday's! We love it....Thank you so much!

Opening presents

Pop and his little buddy Michael!

Gigi and her fabulous cupcakes!

The Birthday Boy digs in!

We are singing Happy Birthday to Michael in this picture! His smash cake was a snowman, made by Gigi. It was so cute and almost too cute to smash.

The Johnson Family

Michael is all smiles as usual!

Papa and Michael are little buddies! Thank you Papa for taking such good care of him!

Daddy and Michael on his actual birthday!

Michael Turns One! His party was at Mimi and Papa's house, on saturday Jan 23rd. His actual birthday was Thursday Jan 21st. We turned the basement into a winter "one-derland" Anything that stood still had a snowman or a snowflake on it! It was so pretty and quite magical. The playroom was great and the kids had fun! Thank you to everyone who came and helped celebrate this special day! I can not believe he is one already!
Michael and Mommy!

Michael was really happy this day but he missed his afternoon nap. He looks sleepy in this picture, I thought it was cute!

Here is Michael opening some pictures on his actual birthday.

Mimi and Papa stopped by on his actual birthday to deliever a few presents! David "popped" in for a quick picture!

Our happy little guy!

Here is Michael's last monkey picture. I can not believe that he is already one. His birthday was January 21st. It was a perfect day and he was an angel as usual!

Here is Michael walking around! He took his first steps a while ago, but he is now walking everywhere. I can't remember the last time I saw him crawl. I absolutely love to see him walk. He still holds his arms out like Frankenstein....so cute! Yesterday he really got good at walking in shoes! He looks precious in his white tennis shoes! He is growing up so much!

Michael's First Year at OneTrueMedia.com

This is Michael's first year in a musical montage! Turn up your volume and enjoy! Thank you to all our friends and family who have made this such a special year! We could not have done it without you!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This is a picture of a single yellow Iris that bloomed in my parents yard on Christmas morning. Here is the story behind it......My Grandmother passed away this past year on January 19th. She was an amazing lady and is was hard being without her this year. But, we were given a little gift to remember her by on Christmas morning. In her earlier years when she still lived at home, she so enjoyed working in the yard. Her back yard was straight out of Better Homes and Gardens. She had such an amazing eye for pretty flowers and in the Spring, her back yard was in full bloom! Years ago, Mom transplanted a few of her Iris Bulbs to our house. They have bloomed every year, right on schedule. Now, keep in mind that Iris Flowers typically only bloom in the spring/summer. Also, keep in mind that is has been abnormally cold this year. There is no reason why this Iris could have bloomed on Christmas........but look! It did! A single Iris bloom in the middle of my parents yard. How can that not be God? How can that not be a reminder of her? We obviously do not know what it will be like in Heaven, but , I like to believe that God somehow allows our loved ones to see the good things that happen in our lives. I like to believe that God let this flower bloom to give us a little bit of Gran on Christmas morning. I like to believe that she was looking down on us all, in our individual homes, watching our children experience Christmas. I can imagine the big smile on her face and I can hear her sweet little laugh. I am trying not be make this a sad post but I miss her so much! In my 31 years on this earth, I have never spent a Christmas without her........and even with her gone , I feel like she was still with us this year! I miss her more than words can say but she is perfect and she is whole, and she is in the arms of God! I am comforted by the fact that I WILL see her again one day in Heaven! I hope she is the first one to greet me, I love you Gran-Gran! Thank you God for allowing us this comfort, AMEN!

Here is our cat Casey. He will be 15 this year. We call him the Energizer Bunny because he keeps Going...and Going....and Going...and Going:)

Christmas morning Breakfast at our house. Pop, Gigi, Mimi, and Papa, always come over and see what Santa has left us. We love having them with us on Christmas morning! This year we had Sausage Balls, Sister Schubert rolls, and scrambeled cheese eggs! Yummy!

Our Family on christmas morning! David looks so funny!

Michael playing with his new Elmo Encore! He loves him so much!

Here is David seeing all the toys for the first time! He is pointing to his Thomas Boat for the Bath tub! He has wanted that for a long time!