Stuffed with Thanksgiving Goodness

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! It kicks off the holiday season, it means amazing food, it means time with family, and it means a time of reflection on everything we have to be thankful for.

This year was extra special because we had fun fall-ish weather (which isn't always the case in sunny California). Brian and I woke up to rain hitting the windows, we made a scrumptious breakfast together and talked about what we were thankful for. We then started the southern cooking process - I always bring the sweet potatoe casserole and apple pie. Brian worked diligently cutting and peeling the apples and I got to do all the fun stuff.

Then off to the family feast at Vic and Nancy Jones. Tradition is key - Brian and Tommy's wiffle ball game (Brian reclaimed the victory this year), picture taking, stuffing our faces with food, and then sitting around in a food coma.

It was a great Thanksgiving!

The whole clan!

Wiffle Ball Competition

The Grub

Stuffed with Thanksgiving goodness

A Neighborly Brinner

In this crazy life that keeps us all so busy.. I try to pretend we live in a small town with neighbors down the road. These neighbors can pop by any time they want and spontaneous dinners are served...

Ok, so this isn't exactly the case - but we do have our neighbors - Rian, Meghan and Wallace! We live just down the road from each other and Meghan and I decided it was time to be more neighborly.. so we have a monthly dinners.

I hosted the most recent neighbor dinner and the theme was breakfast or "brinner" as Rian calls it. Everyone had to wear their pj's.. even Wallace. We loaded up on Paula Deen's ridiculously dessert-y french toast.

Neighbors are the best!

A neighborly "brinner"

In our pj's!

Listening to Christmas music and sipping peppermint mocha coffee!

The Clemmons Say I Do

The day has come.. Jacob and Teri are now officially the Clemmons! November 15th was a day to remember.. yes, there were terrible fires roaring through Southern California.. but nothing could have damaged the beautiful wedding.

Teri was a gorgeous bride and Jacob was a giddy groom - it was a match made in heaven. It was a blast for Brian and I to be a part of their big day = celebrating the life ahead of them. They headed off to Hawaii and we headed back home. We can't wait to see them post-honeymoon!

With the happy couple!

Great to spend time with the girls.

The beautiful bride.

Bridesmaid to the Bride.

Hazel Rose is Here!

Hazel Rose Thrash is here!

We are so excited to add a new troop to the family. Mark and Jamie made it through the 17 hour process with flying colors and Hazel Rose is perfectly beautiful. I brought over some good ole southern comfort food and we spent the evening celebrating with the new family.

Hazel is baby three of the quickly growing family! We can't wait for more..

The whole crew welcomes Hazel Rose!

Gabriella plays with her new buddy.

Mark showing Brian how the diaper change is done.

We can't wait to babysit

Palm Springs!

My voice is hoarse-y! The reason.. spending the weekend with the best girls in the world in Palm Springs. Our friendship began in a house of ten girls during the Biola days. Life has taken us in all different directions - but the friendship remains the same, if not better!

The weekend was full of laughter, dancing, sharing and eating. We spent hours talking, an afternoon shopping, nights out on the town and a day at the pool. Sunday came quickly and we all headed home - sad to leave but happy to have spent three glorious days together.

The Girls - Me (Yellow) , Allee (Als) , Kimi, and Abigail (Gail)

Classic Palm Springs by the pool in October, old ladies swimming in the pool were entertained by our constant picture-taking.

Representing girls with different looks, styles and personalities - friendship made in heaven!

The best kind of shopping - thrift shopping! and no.. I didn't actually wear this fur.. I just bought it.

The Vintage Society Trunk Show

Last weekend was The Vintage Society Trunk Show! It was two years in the making.. many hours spent scouring estate sales and thrift stores searching for the perfect treasures. After two years of blood and sweat, (well, maybe not blood.. but definitely sweat!) it was all worth it.

The trunk show couldn't have gone better. There was an amazing flow of girls from the time the doors opened, and moments where there were lines waiting for the dressing room. It was GREAT!

Brian and Dudley were my biggest supporters, hanging out and working with me all day. Brian was my cash register man and did a fabulous job - Dudley was my shadow following me from rack to rack as I continued to re-stock and re-hang pretty dresses.

Thanks to my friends who came by and even bought some vintage to spice up their life.

Ladies Club!

Ladies Club: a gathering a refined women who discuss culture, politics, and the beauty of being a lady over a cup of tea and scones or a fabulous spread created by one of the ladies...

Ok, so it's not this serious - but it is a gathering a fabulous ladies for a bit of fun!

The ladies of Ladies Club - Kelly, Renee, Me, Meghan, and Sara

Lady Renee Rinehart hosted our lovely brunch gathering!

Just a pause from our discussion of culture, politics and the beauty of being a lady..

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Every summer it's ball time! Softball time to be exact.. this means the men get together to whack the ball and run the bases. The best part of it (at least on my end) is the chance to see and catch up once a week with a lot of the people that we love. The girls, babies and goodies hang out on the bleachers - we yell loud and chat loud. I think we are a fave of the umpire!

This year the men are really making their way in the league - we are actually winning games.. I say this because it's the first season that we have won ... more than one game. It's a blast and let's hope we make it to the world series, or at least the world series of enthusiasm.

Brian, Carrot and Colby 

The burly men of team Clyde of Cooks

Brian, Matt, Kit, Rian K., Ryan Z. cheer on their team in the dugout.

The loudest cheer squad! (Me and Teri)

We love our boys! (Me and Meghan)

Campin' with the Family

Every summer our "family" ventures out on an outdoor adventure. Over the years we have been backpacking up mountains, trekking though canyons, chillin' in cabins and this year we combined all with a three day (non-shower) car camping extravaganza. Car camping means better food, cozy beds, smores over an open fire and toilets instead of holes!

This tradition is one of our favorites and as this family keeps expanding (babies!) we anticipate the years to come.

The Family!

A day spent at swimming holes and water falls. The boys were lovin' it!

A hike that took us to a beautiful day at the lake, peaceful and relaxing.

Lake Love!

Angel Love

One of the best parts of summer is watching our team THE HALOS win! Yes, I know sometimes they lose.. but really watching, listening and going to the games is one of our major highlights. Let's also add that HALOS are having the best season of any team in the majors - not trying to brag or anything - but they are the best.

Another highlight is cheering on our team with great friends - friends like the Clemmens-to-be, Jacob and Teri. The icing on the cake was watching them win the game.. Go Angels!

Two cute Angel-lovin couples!

The girls.. and yes we can name every starter on the team.

Nothing better than a night together cheering on our team.

A Magical Night

Our backyard (created by the most amazing man - Brian Jones) was bursting with excitement as it waited for 13 great girls to fill it with laughter and love. Those 13 girls were all known as the Hermosa Women in the Biola years.

Hermosa was the name of the street and on that street was a house filled with girls who loved each other and loved Jesus. It has been five years since we have all been together and the evening in the magical garden was a perfect way to celebrate and catch up on all the life that has happened.

I had such an incredible time decorating and creating an atmosphere to spend the evening with my favorite women. The patio was filled with lanterns and lights, one long table for conversation and photos of the years gone by dangling from the fence.

Abigail (holding Beth N. baby girl), Beth N., Allee, and Me

Finally after 5 years we all are back together.. wow what beautiful women!

No get together would be complete without the jumping photo!

From Left to Right - Allee, Renee, Janelle, Laura, Natalie, Angelea, Jen, Teri, Abigail, Jana, Beth N., Kimi, Me

The Perfect Summer Weekend

It was a fabulous summer weekend. I really absolutely enjoy summer so much. The long evenings, the warm weather, the festive mood in the air.. it is perfect.

Brian and I started our Saturday with SALSA class... that's right.. we are taking Salsa lessons. Let me tell you.. Brian can sure move those hips, soon we will be ready to take it to the Caliente Clubs!

After movin and shakin we headed to the beach for a little fun in the sun, and after circling through the streets of Newport three times we find a parking spot - you just have to be patient.

The highlight of the weekend was an evening with the Thrash crew in their new home. Dinner was done Thrash-style with amazing fajitas, homemade guacamole, and a backyard patio with the thousands of flowers surrounding us!

It was the perfect Summer weekend.

Dinner Thrash-style!

Showing off Baby Hazel Rose!

Don't Ask....

Our Current State

The personal side of things here in the life of the Jones family (Brian, Beth and Dudley.. maybe someday) will now commence. The years to come have many peaks, valleys and plateaus and we invite you to join us along the ride. Our current state...

Brian - spending his summer working three days a week teaching guitar and tutoring students at Mariners Christian School. Down time has been spent diving into the conservative views on politics.. thanks to Dennis Prager, reading numerous politcal books, and now starting a new house project (more on that later).

Beth - spending my summer working on The Vintage Society and all things related, developing a book called "Stylit", and loving the domestic life. After fully recovering from a Spring that held many strange back issues, I am relishing party planning and hosting (more on that later

Dudley - spending his summer with the Grandparents (while his parents took a 2 1/2 weeks of vacation), but now back at home and couldn't be happier. Working on perfecting the skill of "playing dead" and not barking when he hears strange noises.

Well, there is more fun to come with Yellow Days and Blue Skies!