It has been beautiful the last couple of days!  Today we were at the zoo and it was 60 degrees and sunny!!  These pictures are from the park yesterday.

Naomi's first time swinging!

Mia's first time on the "big girl's" swing!

                       

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I'm sorry that I have neglected you.  We have been busy over here at the Jones house.  Good busy.  I really should be studying right now but I figured that I was overdue for a post.  Studying?  Yes, I have to take a test to get my teaching license up to date in Colorado.  A long story that I don't feel like writing. Anyway, I have to try and remember everything I learned throughout school in the subjects of math, language arts, social studies and science.  It is not going to be fun and it's really not going to be fun if Naomi has a hard time sleeping the night before.  Back to my post.

 We got some great memberships for Christmas this year.

 The Aquarium being one of them.

 Naomi loves looking at all the fish.

 And, I love having fun places to go as a family.

 We also got a membership to the Children's Museum, which is always a good time.

 Mia gets to work on her culinary skills,

find her inner cowgirl,

 and act like a two year old.

Naomi is happy that she gets to play too and doesn't have to sit in the stroller the whole time.

Mia has come to love her tie dye shirt from Grandpa

 and thinks it's hilarious to make a funny face for the camera.

 Naomi is just so stinkin cute I can't even take it.

Before nap (above) and after nap (below).

 

 Gosh, I love these two.  Especially when they play nicely together.

 Do you see the bottom teeth?!

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We took Joe's brother, Mike, out for Birthday sushi last week and Mia had a blast perfecting her chopstick skills...

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Mia is officially potty trained!!  

She has been ready for awhile, but I wasn't.

 After Christmas, we put her in undies and decided that pull-ups were only allowed during bedtime.

 She has done AWESOME! It's actually been super easy.  

 She hasn't had any accidents outside of the house (thank goodness) and even went potty for her teacher at Sunday School.

 I know that we should be doing undies during naps and bedtime too but I'm already waking up too much with Naomi.  One more wake-up to change soiled bedding might set me over the edge.

 Mia is so quick to learn that she'll probably figure it out on her own

 She gets things the first time, remembers information after only being taught once and takes pride in being independent.

She is a lot like her daddy.

Joe and Mia took these photos last night after a major meltdown.  We went out to eat and Mia had a crazy temper tantrum when we left the restaurant.  Not sure exactly why, but she screamed all the way home, which resulted in her sister crying as well. Thank goodness we were only 10 min from home!  Last night totally caught us off guard because it has been awhile since she acted this.  Anyways, as I was putting Naomi to sleep, Joe was able to calm Mia down by having a little photo shoot on the computer. : )

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I came across a few more Christmas pictures that I wanted to post.  

Santa baby playing in the ball pit.

 Mia and Uncle Cody decorating the gingerbread house.  Mia LOVED this and worked very hard to make her house pretty.

 Joe, Nick, Cody, Colton and I all went skiing while my mom watched the girls.  

 It was my first time skiing since we moved here (about 4 years ago).

 The views are always breathtaking!

Grandma and Naomi

Uncles

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2012 was an exciting but challenging year.  With Joe being in grad school and welcoming Naomi in May, this past year was our most challenging as a married couple.  It feels good to know that we pulled through together and along the way made some great memories.  I have a feeling that 2013 will be full of accomplishment and adventure. 2013 will include Joe's graduation, our 5 year wedding anniversary and Naomi's 1st birthday.  I am hoping to strengthen friendships, get more sleep, be a better homemaker and most of all, be a better wife.  I'm also hoping that I can start exercising again. ; )

Here are the top 10 moments of 2012...click for the corresponding blog post.

Top 10 of 2012

10. Mommy and Me Valentines Party
9. MN visit/Kari's wedding
8. Joe's International trip to Turkey and Israel
7. Mia transitioning to a big girl bed
6. Mentor teaching job
5. Family trip to Oregon
4. Joe buying his first BMW
3. Family visiting for Christmas
2. Mia's zoo themed 2nd birthday
1. Naomi's birth

My favorite picture from 2012

Happy New Year!!!

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