THE GREAT CHOCOLATE EMBARGO

It's true, my name is Meredith and I'm addicted to chocolate. No really, it's a problem.

I haven't gone one day without chocolate in . . . . i don't even know how long it's been, but I would say at least 6 months. So I've taken matters into my own hands. It's time to break the addiction, . . . .therefore I've decided to ban ALL desserts until June 22. I've made it 14 whole days so far and let me tell you . . . it's NOT FUN!! I miss my sweet, gooey, rich, decadent friend. I'll see you in 3 more months.

just in case you wanted to know

i know it's a lot of information but haven't you always wondered what St. Patrick's Day is all about?

Had it not been for a band of Irish marauders in the fifth century, March 17 might've been plain old Maewyn's Day — because Maewyn wouldn't have changed his name to Patrick, and he likely wouldn't have become a saint. In fact, it wouldn't have been a Day at all.

But as it happened, a certain 16-year-old Welsh lad was kidnapped by those Irish marauders, and during the six years young Maewyn spent in servitude as a shepherd in Irelandhe experienced a religious awakening, then spent years studying in a monastery. He took on a new name, Patrick, and a new calling — converting his countrymen to Christianity.

Patrick certainly had the luck of the Irish — as a young man he escaped the captors who enslaved him, and several times later in life he escaped arrest by the druids who didn't appreciate his missionary activities in their midst.

He was successful at his chosen mission, too, founding schools and churches and performing baptisms; within 200 years Ireland was a Christian country. The shamrock, a trifoliate clover, became his cleverest teaching tool, which he used to explain the Trinity — three elements forming one entity.

In his Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, he writes:

So, how is it that in Ireland, where they never had any knowledge of God but, always, until now, cherished idols and unclean things, they are lately become a people of the Lord, and are called children of God.

There is some blarney in the stories about Patrick, too, most notably the one which has him delivering a sermon on a hilltop and thereby banishing the country's snakes. Unless one understands this symbolically to refer to pagan practices, it can't be true, for Ireland had no native snakes.

Saint Patrick died on March 17 in the year 461, and this date was declared a religious feast day. TraditionalLenten prohibitions were waived; dancing, drinking, and eating meat were allowed. In Ireland, most businesses, excluding restaurants and pubs, close on March 17. Nowadays, in an effort to present the best face of Ireland to visitors, a St. Patrick's Day festival is celebrated in Dublin from March 13th to the 19th. It features music, theater, dance, comedy, a treasure hunt, performance art, fireworks and more; it draws over a million revelers.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, however, but in New York, in 1872; the parade became an occasion for downtrodden Irish immigrants to declare their pride in their nationality. Parades now take place across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

How to celebrate St. Patrick's Day:

• Wear green
• Pin a shamrock to your hat
• Speak with a brogue
• Wear brogues
• Wish your friends and family "Top o' the morning to ye" and every so often cry out "Erin go bragh!" (Ireland forever)
• If you're a mayor, dye your town's rivers green and paint your lane markers green.

i just thought that you might be interested in this.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

I took a trip to Hell this weekend

So 6 months ago my sister, Shannon, called me up and said she wanted to do this 204 mile relay race from Prescott AZ to Tempe AZ and that she wouldn't do it unless I did it too. At the time I thought that sounded awful. I had JUST had a baby by C-Section and training for a race was NOT what I wanted to be doing. But I reluctantly agreed and the training began. We assembled a team of 12 girls including myself, 2 sisters, 4 cousins, a couple of their friends and my bestie from high school. Along the way quite a few dropped out and were filled in by a couple more cousins on the other side of the family and some VERY last minute replacements (like the day before, thank you Courtney!) But we were determined to get this race done.

The "FlabFighters" right before the race started, left to right: Evelyn, Meredith, Meghan, Marisa, Courtney, Kelly, Jenn, Debbie, Shawn, Windy, and Karina (Shannon was taking the picture)

Some of my teammates, Debbie the Awesome Aussie, Kelly my cousin, Evelyn the bestie, Shawn a cousin's friend, and Courtney who saved our day

Meghan, Meredith and Windy

Meghan Decorating the Tahoe

Some Jones cousins, Meredith, Marisa, and Meghan at the starting line

the girls from my car Karina in front, Evelyn, Meghan, Shannon, and Windy

Meredith and Evelyn

my sisters and I on day 2, are those tired eyes or what?

What an adventure to say the least. starting with a 3 mile run straight uphill for poor Shannon, the hills I never thought would end, trying to nap on the desert floor with ants circling around, by the way, my sister Windy can put up a tent like nobody's business, losing Karina in the middle of the night during her 7 mile run (thank you kind runner who found her) shannon's 8 mile run in the middle of the night, the portapotties!! i've never used so many in my life, the 1 am run on the highway and spotting my teammates at jack in the box as i ran past them wishing i could join them, sleeping on the pavement in a middle school parking lot at 6 am (not really sleeping), praying that the boy who got hit by a car while passing his teammate water would be ok (we still don't know) the tears that EVERY team member shared as each of us finished our last legs, and finally watching Shannon join us at the finish line to end it all pushing kelly on a grocery cart to get her across the line cause she ruined her knee for this.

In the words of my sister Shannon, "hell is a never ending Ragnar Relay Race, with the need to poo every 20 minutes!" That's what I did this last weekend, and you know what . . . I would do it again.

but for now, i'm resting.

WHAT IS A RAGNAR RELAY ANYWAY?

Ragnar was a 9th century Norse King. He was a pirate, a raider, a conqueror, an explorer, and a wild man. The tough, fearless, rugged attributes of this Norse King are shared by all who participate in a Ragnar Relay. In much the same way, a Ragnar Relay provides runners the freedom to roam, to explore - a free-spirited curiosity to get out there and experience outdoor adventure. And maybe even to conquer. And though tough or rugged may not perfectly describe you, these attributes become a goal - something to strive for.

In a Ragnar Relay the wild nature of this Norse King is embraced by many participants. Participants who aren't afraid to paint their van plaid, to bring along their own hair band, to join together in yelling as they cross the finish line. You may think that you are not one of them, but you are. Everyone has a wild side and nothing brings it out of you like a Ragnar Relay.

Long live the Ragnar in us all

This is what I'm doing this weekend. Just me and 12 of my friends/sisters/cousins divided into 2 vans to relay 202 miles. Does that sound like fun or what?

VALENTINE'S DAY

Every year for Valentine's Day, my thoughtful husband

gives me a boquet of roses. So sweet, I know, and I'm sure

many of you receive the same or similar gifts. Now, I

don't mean to seem ungrateful or snobbish, but this year

I'm taking issue with the florists in our lovely Mexico.

You see, they tend to make their flower arrangements

look like they're going to a memorial service, i.e. the picture below.

So this year I removed the beautiful dozen red roses and put them in my own vase.

Much better I think.

i love these two girls. they make my day.

and he's so handsome. happy valentine's day to my wonderful husband.

The Birthday Party

Mercedes turned 5 yesterday and had herself a PARTY!

It was fun to have all her friends here to

celebrate and play.

Here are a few pictures (in the wrong order of course and i don't know how to fix it)

of all the festivities.

Her exact words were "THIS IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER MOMMY!"

opening the presents.

blowing out the candles

busting the pinata

jumping on the tramp (why did i spend money on the "brinka brinka"?

morning birthday pancake with a candle (her request)

It really was a great day. We love our sweet Mercedes, and we're so glad she's five!

To My First Born

Dear Mercedes,

Five years ago I met you face to face, though I'm sure we knew each other for eternities before. I'd never known a love like that existed. I thank our Heavenly Father everyday for sending you to me. You are the sunshine of my everyday. I love you and I hope that you have a very wonderful and funtastic FIFTH BIRTHDAY!

Love, Mommy

My Valentines.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!!

WHEN THE CATS AWAY

Rusty was out of town for a couple days. This is how we spent our time.

Mercedes watched "UP" 3 times.

and Roxy tried green beans and SURPRISE! she liked them.

New Year's Eve PaRRRtaY!

Rusty and I hosted a New Year's Eve Party this year and had a great time.

Thanks to everyone who could make it! It was really fun!

Sorry all the pictures are in the wrong order.

The After Party Tornado

Danny, Dave and Rusty ring in the New Year

Justin, Erin, Jason, Muffy, and Evan

New Year Cheer! (sparkling cider)

Janae and Justin

the host and hostess

Brandon and Jackie

FYI: all beverages in pictures were NON alcoholic.