My "threenager"

I often joke that Shepard is three going on 15. He acts like he's the boss, and is already saying, "You're wrong; I'm right." At which point we say, "Well, either way, that's being rude, and we don't act like that..." Then he giggles and says, "You're right, and I'm right. And that's being nice, right?"

He's listening! So funny how some days he likes to tell you all the rules, even when they're rules he doesn't necessarily abide by. Kinda like a lot of adults I know...but anyway.

It's already JUNE. And my sweet little baby boy is about to turn four. I cannot understand how this happened. But I'm going to celebrate, either way.

Here is his annual "yearbook" that I'm ordering. This is my version of scrapbooking. I love these. And I love getting a groupon and discount codes for them too. Yay for groupon and shutterfly! Enjoy.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create your own custom photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Have a good holly jolly Christmas

Shepard loved Christmas music this year. Particularly the instrumental "Sleigh Bells" remixed with "Santa Claus' Party" from the Elf soundtrack and "Holly Jolly Christmas." He kept asking why are they saying "Holly Jolly," and all I could come up with was "it means really good." So he sings it "Have a good holly jolly Christmas" now.
The WHYs are killing us. And fascinating. He analyzes EVERYTHING. From pictures in storybooks, "Why is the man driving that truck?" to weather "Why are the clouds smoky?"...to everything. It's non-stop. I'm doing my darndest to answer all of them patiently and with good age-appropriate facts. However, when he asks my why his pee pee has an "egg," I defer to the Husband.
I digress.
Christmas was mostly lovely. After a whirlwind few weeks leading up to the actual vacation (oh Lord, why was it so crazy!?), we were blessed to have a long span of days together with family. We even got our Illinois family for Christmas this year!!! Then, Shepard got a little virus just in time for Christmas Eve, Day and part of the 26th. He was barely sick all year, then got wiped out for the biggest 48 hour timeframe. Sigh.

Here's a photo recap.

Lego table!

Capturing both of us smiling with eyes open is like getting Bigfoot on film.

More legos

Grandma assists with present-opening

Christmas Day. Feeling ok enough to open a few gifts

Yay for presents!

Books with steering wheels!

Illinois family at Grandma's house

Gigi and Pops sort out the train situation

"Kindergarten toys!" from Harry and Suzette

All the blondies...

It seemed that the pile of presents was never-ending.

Melissa and I doing a selfie...for two. With elfie.

Go Panthers!

Look at our cool helmets!

Gridiron Cousins

All the Jones boys with all the kids

Thanksgiving

Yes, it's the middle of December. No, I don't know what happened to this year.

Here are some highlights from Thanksgiving at Grandma's house:

Aunt Jessica and Cousin Micah hanging out

Cousin Madeleine shares the iPad

Morning snuggles

Hi, Uncle Justin. Grandma is back there workin' up a storm....

Selfie with Shepard

Uncle Matt give Regis some love

Twas the night after Thanksgiving and all through the house...

We're wearing our jammies and hangin' at the house...

TURKEY!

Cousins at play

Rock-tober--PICTURE EDITION!

I simply love October. Cool air, astonishing sunsets, lots of family birthdays to celebrate, fall festivals. I mean. Does it get better? All that awesome-sauce without the stress of Christmas just yet?

We've been having some fun...

Play-doh night with Daddy

Always my jumping super-hero

Hanging out with the Jones clan for Grandma and Aunt Jessica's birthday celebration...

Dino-Shepard

My cousin-of-a-cousin BFF.

Go Eagles longhair.

And of course, we had to hit up a fall festival! We were there with friends, but when you're all chasing your respective progeny, it's sometimes hard to get a group photo.

My pumpkin

sandbox is always a hit

Giant RED TRACTOR!

Daddy is standing on the back...but that was one big tractor!

Along came a spider and sat down beside him

All three of us looking at the camera would be a miracle

HAY. RIDE.

Some of our friends from church.

Running through the mini-maze

Sad pumpkin. It did not make it.

What a nice little vignette they set up!

Fun water pumps with ducks

On Sunday, we got to participate in the York County CROP walk with Shepard's school. Several hundred folks did a walk to raise money for hunger. Team Jones raised $75! Thanks, everyone! We did a one-mile mini-walk through Winthrop campus. Shepard brought along his trumpet and did great walking.

Prepping for the CROP walk at Winthrop (see Tillman tower in background)

Picture in the Herald (Jerod and Shepard on far right)

Waiting to cross the street on our CROP walk with his preschool director

A trip to Gigi and Pops' house

We did a mini-cation in July. It's almost hard to remember now. It rained a lot. Shepard didn't really notice. He was as happy as can be. We did have one nice day at Stone Mountain that little man is STILL talking about...he loved the cable car up the mountain! And, he got to ride a BIG TRAIN for the first time.

Here are some highlights...(click on photo to view larger)

Shepard got to play with Alina. They have learned the art of "cheeeeeese!"

Reconnecting with my old roommate, Sara. (Alina's mommy)

New friends are always fun to laugh with.

(Stone Mountain train) Here it comes!

Ready to ride the rails!!

 

The gang's all here.

Train whistles are VERY LOUD.

 

With the engineer.

Cable car. Ride to the top of the mountain and see "broccoli trees" below.

On top of Stone Mountain

Group shot. Downtown Atlanta in the background.

 

Making "Pops" look super-tall

 

It's a beautiful butterfly.

Ready to ride to the top.

Mom on Stone Mountain.

Holding on to the little climbing monkey.

Catching butterflies.

Oooh. I found a sandbox! Fun anywhere.

Carving on Stone Mountain and site of the Laser Show.

We found this awesome toy at a Charlotte park when we got home.