Jack wins all the jelly beans!

That's an expression Evan's family has used for years. I don't know the story behind it, but we use it as an accolade when someone has done something great. Last night Jack definitely won all the jelly beans! Several nights now he has slept for seven or eight hours at a stretch, but last night he fell asleep around 8:00 after eating only half a meal--and proceeded to sleep till 5:30. I fed him on one side (one very sore side!) and at 8:00 he's still sleeping soundly. None of my other kids slept through the night till they were eight months old. Jackson has been our easiest baby yet. Hurray for Jack!

And in other recent Jones household news, Jed is now reading! It finally clicked that if you put C-A-T together it makes a whole word. Evan has been working with him quite a bit in the evenings since January because I was burned out and getting nowhere with him. Whatever he did got Jed over the hump. It thrills me to no end to hear my boy reading words on a page!

Tucker is showing great signs of improvement since we took him off gluten. He's still skinny as a beanpole; can't keep his pants on. (Thank God for overalls!) But he's much happier and less clingy now, making all of us happier.

My parents and Kristi were here for a visit last weekend! It was lovely to see them and spend time with them. I love seeing Evan and my dad conversing. With both of them being in the trades and both being pastors (or erstwhile pastors), they have a lot in common and never run out of things to talk about. My mom spent all day Thursday with me and the kids (Daddy and Kristi came a little later). It was fun having her be a part of our daily routine. She held Jack while I taught Jed school and helped entertain the little ones. It made a happy day for all of us.