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 - Entries from Angela and Carter . . . or at least from Angela and what she thinks Carter might share if he could type.


December, January, Febrary, March, April . . .

“Every cliche about kids is true; they grow up so quickly, you blink and they're gone, and you have to spend the time with them now. But that's a joy.” Liam Neeson

Note from Angela

Where to start . . . Surgery in December. #‎findingme‬. Loving What Is.

Earlier in 2015 #findingme started by me looking at how I could create a better balance with my work/home/family/personal life. Working out at Barry's Bootcamp San Diego and with Angel Chelik as a personal trainer gave me the much needed push and support as the distribution shifted and balance started to take hold. Luckily around that same starting point I made contact with The League Chiropractic & Sports Rehab Clinic and Dr. Rob who within 2 appointments had fixed a knee problem that had been bothering me for 2 years. YAY for no more knee pain - what a difference that makes!

Later in the year my life coach moved but made herself available for appointments over FaceTime (gotta love technology!) plus I started working with Brandi’s business, Domination Nutrition, to get my eating in shape — finding out what foods my body didn’t like and eliminating them from my diet. What a difference -- I had no idea how good I could feel!

In late summer I got some personal health news that led me to the decision of getting a prophylactic bi-lateral mastectomy. The decision was made after what seemed like countless appointments and endless research. It's a decision with which  I was very comfortable.  I had the procedure done on December 22.

I feel so fortunate to have so many resources and friends available to me. While being on my personal journey for #findingme I have come to believe, that beyond a doubt, everyone of us is a sum of all our parts, thoughts, habits and actions + it does take a village.

When you total it all up, it’s quite a village who has supports me on my journey and continues to work with me to design a path that is reasonable, responsible and healthy - a path that is responsive to change and flexible when needed. ‬

One of my biggest AH-HA Thoughts become things!  I know this to work for a FACT! In November 2014 I quit saying "I am tired". I just don't sat it all all. I can honestly say that I am rarely tired any more. Now to look at "I am choosing to be happy" . . . ‪#‎gameon‬ ‪#‎findingme


Winter Break:

#‎winterbreakgamesupdate‬ . . . Grandma Jones is a champ-- Trouble, Candy land, Monopoly Jr and Suspend have all been played. Travis and Grandpa just took C ice skating so poor Grandma could have a break.

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My mini-nurse is worn out... A little too much Christmas and worrying about his mom. He has been very attentive and helpful. Maybe a doctor in the making. 😷❤️

Side note : C is not a snuggler so having him here by me is all that much more sweet.

‪#‎findingme‬ ‪#‎takingiteasy‬ ‪#‎speedyrecovery‬

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Nothing like going for ice cream in my PJ's -- and no makeup (no makeup for almost 2 weeks- crazy!)

‪#‎findingme‬ ‪#‎icecreamismedicine‬

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January 29

This week was my first week back to work since the bilateral mastectomy I had 5 weeks ago. Overall it was good (some tears but nothing unmanageable). 😊

I had a great team / village who kept things rolling while I was away from work and limited in what I could do at home.

I am grateful for my health, my family, my friends and all the love in my life. ❤️

While I was on leave I didn't miss the "being busy", being out, etc. I LOVED the quiet.

At some point it dawned on me that I don't think I have EVER in my life taken the time to be so quiet and still- with being the oldest in my family, always working more than full time, plus school, and RID, then adding on top of it all becoming a mom-- I have always had a lot of irons in the fire ALL at the same time.

Now the challenge is going to be to hold on to some of this peace I have found. I am committed to holding on...keeping healthy and prioritizing those people and activities that matter most above unimportant tasks that keep me busy.

I now understand what people mean when they say that having "something wrong with you" can be a great catalyst for change if it's viewed that way.

‪#‎findingme‬


March 15

Who was a First-time campsite reservation maker? = me

Who was trying to get a site in Yosemite in July? = me

Who had read that sites fill within seconds of the website opening? = me

Who was logged in and ready to go right at 7 AM as the website started to allow for July bookings? = me

Who has a site in July?

drum roll please . . .

= ME!!!!!

Whew!


Eipic Spring Break

I was determined to make Spring Break feel like something fun!  And guess what . . . it was a total success. First we went ziplining with the Miner Smith’s, we spent some time at Balboa Park with the Bennett’s and then we had the Mincy’s at our place for a long weekend . . . couldn’t have asked for a better week!

Carter chose his own haircut 

This was a BIG deal . . . C needed a haircut and when talking about going to get one he asked if he could pick his own hair cut.  I must admit that this threw me!  Could he really be old enough / big enough to decide on his own haircut?  It only made sense that I would agree to the boy’s request, right?!  Doing so was not a decision I will ever regreat.  C seemed to stand a little taller, walk a little prouder and just overall be a little more mature after making that big decision on his own.  So fun to see that litteral trasformation right before my very eyes.

The Jones family got a cat!

C had been begging for a pet for quite literally YEARS.  Finally I thought we could manage the addition and told C and Trav that if it was up to me we would have no pets, but if they decided we needed something, then I would support the decison.  We adoped George the organge tabby on April 8.

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April 10

Family TV time.

We love Anthony Bourdain! Sometimes we have to do some explaining - but good lessons about so many places -- food, politics, people.

This makes my heart happy and fills my bucket. 💕

The old me would never take time to "lay around and watch TV”. 

Now I realize . . . This is not a waste of time. ❤️

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Notes From Carter

The "drop in" finally happened. Last week C tried and tried but just couldn't muster enough courage. Today it happened!! Big thanks to Mr Jeromy for the great lesson.

Carter opted to visit his cousin and meet the baby rather than go skiing. He says it was "the best decision!"

In February tarted weekly family meetings.

January got promotoed to Level 3 in hockey

MARCH - On this stormy, no-school day, C decided to rebuild a several hundred piece broken Lego Coast Guard Ship. (Rebuilding broken Lego kits can be a killer!!!)

Can I just say that being able to find a few "missing" pieces almost made me feel more successful than going back to boot camp?!

Taking time to build Legos and enjoying it = ‪#‎f


Notes & Quotes that Mommy caught

December 10, 2015

When one's father is an engineer they might be given a calculus book to read for the evening's reading time.

C: Mom, is it ok to write the name of daddy's college book on my reading log?

M: Sure. We can save "The Night Before Christmas" for another night.

INSERT MOVIE


December 15, 2015

C: If I was to only get one thing for Christmas I'd want it to be a lava lamp.

M: 'Cause you've always wanted one ?

C: Yes, you know that!

M; I guess I just never really believed you. 😳


December 20, 2015

This morning as I was getting out of the shower there was a knock at the door . . .

M: Yes?

C: Mom, I have bad news!

M: What's the news?

C: You just lost at Monopoly . . .

(I was thinking, "I wasn't playing, was, I?!")

I rolled a few times for you and you landed on one of my properties that had a hotel and it was $1thousand and some other dollars and you went totally broke!

M: Shoot! Guess we'll have to find another game.

C: No, that's alright, I'll set it up and we can start again.

M: Good, I can't wait!


January 15, 2016

After C watched the movie Cinderella...

C: Mom, how old were you when you got married?

M: Too Young.

C: Did you get caught?

M: Well, we weren't so young that it was illegal, but we were still younger than I'd recommend.


January 15, 2016

C's thoughts on the stuffed animal industry (from a child who has A LOT of stuffed animals.)

C: Have you noticed that there really are not very many stuffed cats?

M: Now that you mention it, I guess you are right. Why do you think that is?

C: I bet people who make stuffed animals noticed that mostly people want to buy bears 🐻 and dogs 🐶 so they don't make a lot of cats 🐱 'cause they don't want to go out of business.

M: I bet you are right. A company needs to know what people will buy.

Hey, do you think that you think a lot?

C: Well,there is a lot to think about!


January 17, 2016  

While playing Monopoly - Things were getting serious! C just threatened to "paper-cut" daddy with a $1 bill.


March 7, 2016

Favorite quote of the day.

C: Creativity always wins!


March 30, 2016  

C waiting for our out of town guests to arrive: Mom, maybe they got the wrong coordinates and they don't know where we are!


April 3, 2016  

Maybe a few too many cartoons---???

C: Mom, when G had surgery was she awake?

M: No, she was asleep.

C: How'd the doctors do that- hit her with a crowbar or something?

M: (holding back a lot of laughter) Umm, no, no crowbar. They have medicine for that -- anesthesia.


April 4, 2016  

We had NPR on for approximately 10 minutes during the car ride after school. Most days we just have music or quiet time.

Just a few of today's questions from C:

1) What is climate change?

2) What is homeschooling?

3) Why would teachers treat the African American students differently?...That's just wrong!


April 8, 2016  

Daddy and C wore me down. . . Meet George.

Adopted this evening.

While on the car ride home George was crying.

C: Mom, I can't stand it. Not because it's irritating but because it is hurting my heart to hear him cry.


April 11, 2016  

At bedtime tonight...

C: Mom, I can't wait to be asleep!

M: Really?

C: Yep, you know that feeling when you feel kind of cold but then you get in your bed you feel all warm and cozy?

M: I sure do.

C: Well that's what I am so excited to feel.

🌙💫🌟

Good night sweet boy. ❌⭕️❌

‪#‎takingtimetolisten‬ #‎findingme‬

I remember when, at bedtime, there would be what seemed like 101 requests that would come from that same child. It's true - The days are long but the years are short.


April 14, 2016 

Bedtime good-nights...

M: C, I'm so happy that I have you for my son.

C: I'm so happy I have a cat.

😳

🐈


Note from Mommy to Carter

When I look at you from afar or right into your eyes I see a boy who is kind, caring and full of love.  I smile just thinking about you and what your future holds.   

Jan 10, 2016, 3:40 PM

The days are long but the years are short . . . .

Spring

"Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded."  — Jess Lair

Note from Angela

Spring . . . The days are getting longer and we are all happier with the added sunshine.

The whole family is LOVING George the cat.  He is totally supporting my desire for light-heartedness in the house.  If I had only known how much joy one orange cat could bring a family I would have suggested getting this guy a LONG time ago.

Careter is growing up . . . Where’s that  boy who used to be my baby? "Mom can I pick my own haircut?" Two months ago Carter asked if he can pick his own haircut. He then sat in the hair shop flipping through hair designs and choosing which would be his new do. I watched him with amazement as he explains to the hairdresser, Christina, what he wanted his hair to look like. When I'm voice some concerns, his reply was "well you know it'll grow back if we don't like it". During his next haircut he asked if he could get designs cut into the hair on the side of his head. I was a little reluctant as with Travis but we agreed and he then had his hair designed. I feel like he grew up by a decade in just a couple haircut. He was so proud of making his own decision and so pleased with the results. You could just see the pride as he walked a little taller and looked a little more confident.

Carter finished school on June 8. He's now a third-grader. I remember being so upset when California change the ed code meaning he would go to kindergarten a year later. But as I look at him now and see how fast time is going I am grateful that he went to school when he was six instead of he was five.


Notes From Carter

I am totally rockin’ doing my chores.  I follow my checklist and get all my stuff done all on my own.  I really like being in charge.

I was having a lot of trouble in spelling.  Dad made some suggestions that mom and I change how we do my studying.  I still don’t like doing the work, but I am getting 100%s on my spelling tests.


Notes & Quotes that Mommy caught

April 29, 2016

C: Mom, can you come back and lay by me?

M: Sure. What's up?

C: I'm really sad. Remember when we were driving, then you stopped and you got out and you threw away my little car in a dumpster?

M: Yes.

C: Why couldn't you just put my car on the china cabinet?

M: Because the consequence for being mad and throwing a toy car at me while I was driving was intended to be such that you would never get that car back.

C: Don't you think that was a little too dramatic? 

M: No, I think it was the perfect consequence. You know, I threw away that car probably more than 5 years ago and 1) you still remember the situation 2) you have no doubt that I am serious when I say "I don't give chances" and 3) you have never thrown anything at me since that happened.  I'd say it seems like the consequence had the intended results.

after a long silence....

C:You can go back to your bed now.

‪#‎loveandlogic


May 3, 2016

Oh the tears!

C's fish is dead. I think that Betta Baby (aka Ruby) had been around for 3 + years. C loved that fish!

C: Mom, if you saw she was sick why didn't we take her to the vet?!

And then more tears. . . from both of us 


May 22, 2016

After Jo and Scott were dropped off at the airport ...

C: I miss Jo.

M: What do you like best about when she's here?

C: I can't say what it is, it's just all good.

M: It's a good energy in our house, huh?!

C: And it's happy and fun energy too.

It really feels good when others love your kid like you do and he loves them right back!!❤️

Our whole family loves the couple of visits we get each year and continually feels that they are not long enough nor frequent enough. ✈️

‪#‎friendswhoarefamily‬


Note from Mommy to Carter

We make a great team.  I love being responsible for teaching you and accountable for learning from you.  I really do love you “more than you say!"

“The best things you will ever make: memories, love and time.” K. Barteski

June

“QUOTE

Note from Angela

Summer is here and I was committed to make it feel like something special.  C and I have made a point to do something fun after camp and in the evenings.  We’ve been pretty happy with our dillagence and follow-through.

Trav planned for the Jones and Cheney siblings to do the Rock ’n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon.  I couldn’t run it but I did walk it — and jogged a little bit — and finished in just under 3 hours.  I cried as I crossed the finish line . . . I couldn’t believe I did it!  I owe a big thanks to Travis for pushing me to do it.  

Notes From Carter

I didn’t think that I would like Camp Gulls; the last 2 years have not been very fun.  This summer at Camp Gulls has been GREAT.  We are having a lot of fun and I really like being there.

I really like not being in school and not having homework.   


Notes & Quotes that Mommy caught

June 9, 2016

First day of summer break . . .

Carter was given the ultimate day off and a complete zigzag day (a day where we stray from the regular routine).

C was allowed to stay in his PJ's, watch as many movies as he wanted and play on the iPad as much as he wanted.

Part way through the morning he asked if part of the zigzag day could be a trip to get donuts . . . I thought "Why not!"

C: "If on a zigzag day you don't go to Krispy Kreme you are messin' up.  If your mom won't take you to Krispy Kreme then she is messin' up.  I'm lucky 'cause my mom isn't messin' up! 


July 1, 2016

While driving home from dinner we were on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and passed The Gentleman's Club.

C:Mom, what's The Gentleman's Club?

M: Well...Its a place that has half-naked women inside and people come to see them.

C: Oh, I thought it was a place where you'd take classes to be a gentleman.

M: Nope. Kind of the opposite. 



Note from Mommy to Carter

When we put our minds to it we can both get our needs met.  I am glad that you tell me what you want / need and I am very happy that you are learning to be patient when you have to wait.   


Summer Vacation

"Few things things break us out of our routines and awaken us to the living substance of happiness more powerfully than travel.” Albert Camus

Note from Angela

Stopping, listening and being flexible lead to THE BEST vacatoin ever!  Travis has always wanted to rent  an RV and take a road trip. This summer we did just that.  We rented a 24 foot motorhome and drove to Sequoia then Yosemite and then on to Idaho. What a great experience!  While in Sequoia and Yosemite we took private tours.  We got to see any landmarks and learn about the parks. We all enjoyed our time together and everyone was on their best behavior.  :-)

Notes From Carter

I really liked being in the RV.  I basically had my own room up in the top above the driver’s seat.  I got to help dad with the hook-ups and got to play games with mom and eat while dad drove.  Having an RV was GREAT.  While in the national parks I met new people and played with some fun kids.  I felt very independent while I rode my bike around and went places without my mom and dad.


Notes & Quotes that Mommy caught

July 28, 2016

Seems that my boy has heard me talk about habits - especially eating habits. 

While on our family vacation he saw me reach into the cupboard of our rented RV and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was getting a snack. After he saw me pull out a package of cookies he said "Mom, just because you are on a vacation in an RV doesn't mean you should make unhealthy choices!" 


Note from Mommy to Carter

I loveed our summer vacation.  I was very grateful that you were so patient in the RV and I really enjoyed watching you take in all the sights.   Thank for being you!!



© Angela Jones 2016