Jane

Jane.  You are just shy of eighteen months and boy are you a little wild cutie.  At your fifteen-months check up you were in the 35th percentile for weight.  Our tiniest baby yet.  Always trying to get you to eat or drink a little more, but nothing is going to fill out that tiny little bum of yours!  You are growing though.  You're just miniature.  And I'm okay with that.  Haha!

This water table has been our best purchase of the Summer.  You spend every minute in the yard at that thing.  I love it.

I don't think we intended this to happen, but it's official.  You have a blankie.  This blanket is preferred over all other blankets.  I have tried a couple times to give you another blanket---this one occasionally needs to make it to the wash!---but you settle best with this specific one.  The second you see it, that finger is in your mouth and you are instantly ready to sleep.  I actually made this blanket for Zoe before she was born.  I hated that I had to make a gender-neutral blanket, but you don't seem to mind yellow.  It is already starting to turn grey.  Haha!

The beach.  I used to love taking you kids to the beach.  Now it is pure chaos.  If you are not getting into other people's stuff (which you are in this picture), then you are trying to drown in the lake.  It's stressful.  You also love the big-kid park.  Problem is... IT'S FOR BIG KIDS!!  But that doesn't stop you.  Essentially, if I choose to bring you to the beach (which I have to) it is not a restful time!  I am following you around.  One time I let the older kids follow you around for a bit so I could sit and relax for a minute.  At first it was harmless.  Then, the next thing I know you are running from one end of the long picnic table to the other.  Back and forth.  Barely stopping at the edge.  What a fun game.  I have never run so fast.  

You are so loved by your brothers.  Here we are at McDonald's.  Noah took you up to the top and slid down the slide with you.  And because you are basically fearless, you let him.

 Here you are sit-dancing to the live music at the Stampede Breakfast with a fork in one fist and melted cotton candy in the other.  Life is good.

 Climb.  Climb.  Climb.  This is your life now.  What can I climb on and how can I make it more dangerous?  You are often climbing all over the kids on the couch when they watch TV and have recently discovered that stools can help you reach anything.  Tu-tu's also help.  Because they are cute.  So you are more easily forgiven by your Mom when you cause trouble.

I took you kids to Kayben Farms.  There are slides on either side of you, but you?  You march to the beat of your own drum and wanted to go down the stairs.  I even sat you down in front of the slide and you just looked at me, got up, and went right back to sliding down the stairs.  Because why not take the harder path?

My addiction has become your addiction.  I usually only let you have a few sips, but you were determined NOT to give this back to me.

  

Head-rush.

Sure doesn't care.

 Whatever she can pull off as a headband, she will.

It's official.  You love ice cream.  And being disgusting.

You also love wearing these particular sandals.  I know this because you find them, bring them to me, grunt, and are only happy once they are on.  Sometimes wearing just one will suffice.

Your buddy and twin.  I mean, if I'm being honest, each of your siblings think that they are your best friend and will do anything for you.  But for some reason when you are having moments with your twin brother, it's just cuter.  Maybe it's because Noah is my ultra-sensitive little guy so when he plays with you it's just extra sweet?  I don't know.  But you two have a bond that is undeniable.  You saw him and climbed onto that couch right next to him and then kept shimmying closer and closer until you couldn't possibly get any closer.  But you tried.  And succeeded.  And then you just sat there and snuggled.  And my heart melted all over the basement floor.

Jane.  You make me a little bit crazy.  And maybe I am saying that because I came fresh from church and you are not quite in nursery yet so I want to die!  But, even though you are crazy, you have somehow managed to have me and this entire household wrapped around your little finger.  Earlier today, we were trying to pack and organize because we are going on a road trip to Montana.  Suddenly I turn around and you have emptied out one of the baskets full of clothes that were all nicely folded, but were now strewn across the floor.  Do you know what we all collectively did?  "Oh Jane!  You are hilarious!  She is so cute!  Awww!"  Blah blah blah, because you own us and you can do no wrong.  And it's so true.  One of my favourite things that you have been doing these days is reading a book to yourself.  You'll grab one of the library books, plop yourself down on the ground, open it up and then speak gibberish.  You have just barely started to mimmic and can say words like, "side!" for outside; "Ah-duh!" for all done; "Ah-duh" also works for Amen; "Nooo!"  This usually means yes and is your automatic response to practically everything.  "Jane, do you want a treat?"  "Nooo!"  "Do you love me?"  "Nooo!"  "Do you want to have a nap?"  "Nooo!"  You have also started doing high-picthed "hoo-hoo" for you owl and "Hap-hap" for your bunny, which means "hop-hop."  You also bark like a dog and meow like a kitty.  Usually these noises are accompanied with a gentle hug/snuggle of whichever stuffy you happen to be holding.  These days, your owl is the winner of most-loved.  You are also learning the kids names.  You've got Noah's down, "Nooooo-wah!"  Watching you learn to talk is basically the greatest and I could listen to your voice all day.  Unfortunately, you've also learned to scream.  So.  High.  Pitched.  I am trying to get you to say "please" instead.  So far it has worked once.  I am going to tell myself that you are working on exercising your vocal chords and will be an incredible singer one day.

Montana!

The second we got to my parents house, I cried in my Mom's arms.  They just returned from their mission (Gilbert, AZ) like a week ago! And here I am dumping myself and all five of my kids on them.  It was a blessed reunion and Mom immediately turned on Grandma mode and read the girls books before bed.

 The next day was the Fourth of July so we met up with Sarah and her clan for a pancake breakfast at the church.  Jane was in love with Hannah.

We spent the day swimming.  A lot.  And eating.  A lot.

My favourite view all week.

We played this game all week long.  I threw the ball at the kids and they had to jump into the pool and catch it.  Some days we had the whole pool going.  I was the most popular person in the pool!  Well.  Because everyone else was in a line.  Outside the pool.

I think my favourite event of the entire week spent with my parents was letting the boys stay up late and watch fireworks on the beach.  Usually busy things like this stress me out, but once we found a spot to sit and got our ice cream, it was all worth it.  I think the funnest part was we were sitting close to a tuba player who played songs all night!  Haha!  Some of the songs or sound-effects he made on that thing were hilarious!  Made my night.  And then we had to drive home.  Boo!  Not the funnest part of the night.

We went on a walk and Mom told us that sometimes people dip their hands in the river and get their hands all muddy so they can make a hand print on the gazebo wall.  They thought that was the coolest.  Until Noah fell into the water.  He was ticked!  Usually when he gets like this, there's just nothing that will make him happy.

So he spent most of our walk like this....

 ...Until Jackson.  Jackson is one observant little guy.  And he knew the best way to cheer Noah up was to make him think that getting wet was a good idea and something they should do together and on purpose.  So Jackson took off his shirt and got in the river and really committed by dunking his whole body!  After seeing Jackson do that and not care about being wet, Noah's heart softened up and he joined him.  Not only am I proud of Jackson for being observant and cheering up his brother, I am also proud of Noah for turning his day around and choosing to be happy.  Love these boys of mine.

Tiny ice cream for a tiny girl.

This picture?  This picture is a lie.  I think I read for ten minutes.  Total.  I was usually playing with kids, getting them something to eat, helping them with their goggles, hugging them because they got hurt, taking pictures at their request and my fav, visiting with Mom.  This picture is what I want to become one day.

I love this girl's smile.

 We went to the park on one of our mornings.  It was over thirty degrees.  Worst idea ever.  We went straight to the swimming pool after this.

One of Jackson's tricks.  And he totally went right through that tiny hole!  He could be in the circus.

Freedom!  It was so hot that the pavement would burn your feet.  So.  She didn't get far.  

We usually went to the beach during Jane's afternoon nap so I could be baby-free for most of it, and then I'd get her after her nap and bring her for an hour and we'd do dinner.  Well, this time we came in the morning and boy was it nice!  Jane was fresh (and I was fresh) and LOVED playing with this watering can.  It made for a lovely nap too.  A nice long one.

 So bright.

Noah is mad because we didn't get a cheese pizza just for him.  When will my kids ever be not-picky?  There is ALWAYS ONE!

This is the Summer I took Zoe's life jacket off and let her swim around on the stairs and deep-dive for little fishies.  At the beginning of the week she was too scared to take it off, but once she got a taste, she never wanted to go back.  She LIVED under the water!  Jane also learned that she liked the stairs towards the end of the week and liked to pick up the fishy-toys at the bottom of the stair.  Not so deep that she had to dunk her head, but to her elbow was quite alright with her.

 Shannon and Justin sold their cabin and happen to be there the same time as us.  I was so happy they could come and spend an afternoon with us.  And in Shannon-fashion she spoiled Janey with a stuffy.  A stuffy that is now easily her favourite toy.  Thanks Shan!

I bought this hat thinking I would look all trendy (but mostly because the sun was so ridiculously hot that my face needed a break).  All this hat did for me was make me look like Zorro.  I really enjoyed playing with my kids in the pool.  Somehow, it wasn't ever so stressful that it wasn't worth it or that it wasn't fun.  That is a nice place to be.  Let's not pretend that Jane isn't at a hard age and that she didn't try to run away from me many times though.

 Love this picture of these pretty twin girls.  Seriously, my Mom when she was four looked a lot like Zoe!

We went into West Glacier park to go for a walk.  The drive was pretty, the parking was stressful, and the kids were good.  Except for the part where Ellie wouldn't eat her perfectly good ham and cheese sandwich.  This is what I mean about picky-eaters.  Well.  I kind of lost it on her and my parents got to see my true colours!  Honestly, I cannot abide kids that will not eat perfectly normal yummy things.  If it was Indian food or Asian food or food that was a step away from what they were used to, I would let it slide.  But a ham and cheese sandwich!??  I kind of let it ruin the entire experience for about an hour.  My parents have never been more quiet.  Haha!  (Probably because they were appalled by the screaming woman.  Oh right.  Their daughter).

It was SO fun stopping and walking around on the logs.  Ellie, my most uncoordinated child kept wanting to balance on the logs on her own!  So, I followed her, but this sort of thing is also not my forte.  I was not interested in having her swept away by the river (this was pre-sandwich.  Post would have been another story).  I don't even know where Noah went.  He disappeared exploring.  He was pretending to be a spy with a gun and kept trying to sneak up and shoot me.  It was adorable.  If you can call shooting your Mom adorable.

And then the sandwich happened.

Thankfully we made up by the end of our walk.  But it took a lot in me to humble myself towards my seven year old!  Haha!  I am grateful we went.  I have been to Whitefish many times over these part nine years and have never been here!  I would definitely come here again.  And I would pack peanut butter and jam.

Jane got chocolate.  Okay I did.  And she stole my cone.  After a while it got too gross to salvage.

Eating ice cream is an exhausting business.

  What a fun week!  I am eternally grateful to my Mom who jumps right in and tends to have more energy than I do with my kids.  As much as I missed Joe, I was given the extra physical help from my Mom and enjoyed our time together.  My kids were dying to come visit Grandma and Grandpa O and are dying to go back now that we are back home.  The boys enjoyed some chess games with Grandpa and I enjoyed that Dad just so happened to take naps the same time that Jane took naps so I could enjoy being in the sunshine instead of having to be stuck inside!

We headed home on Sunday.  I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to bless me to feel the Spirit at church before we left.  Sometimes I just say that in prayers, but this time I really meant it.  So often I am too busy with Jane to really feel much of anything but frustration.  Well.  My Mom took her for the first ten minutes and then she acted up and I had zero toys.  And my snacks were not cutting it, so I took her out.  I usually don't, but I did this time thinking that I could just sit and listen in the foyer.  But all the chairs and benches were being used so I gave up and let her run free.  At this point I had given up on feeling the Spirit.  God just wasn't going to answer that prayer today.  It made me a little sad actually.  Like maybe I couldn't feel God anymore.  Was I so out of touch that He just couldn't reach me?  Well.  After trying to come in and sit in our pew several times, it was time for the intermediate hymn, "I Believe in Christ."  As soon as I started to sing the beautiful words, I bawled immediately.  I couldn't sing the rest of the hymn.  I had to just listen to the congregation sing these beautiful words about the testimony I know I have of Him.  Sometimes I forget that my testimony IS strong.  It's stronger than I think.  And God does answer prayers.  Maybe not in my timing, but in His perfect timing.  I wish I could always remember the feeling I had in that moment.  It was like God was saying, "see, I DO love you and I CAN hear you and I AM watching over you."