Mom and Janie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janie is always asking me if she can take pictures.

 

 

On August 5^th I noticed that Janie was now 3 ½ so I told her.  I think it made her feel like such a big girl.  She kept asking me questions for the first few days like “Mom, now that I’m 3 ½ can I use a knife to cut my food?” 

While we were in California Janie was showing me which was her right and left hand.  I hadn't taught her this, so I asked her who did.  She said, "Nobody...except Jesus."

After we got back from vacation, I told Janie the next morning that she needed to eat healthy cereal.  Detox time.   She cried and threw a fit because she wanted sugar cereal.  I gave her the options and then let her have her fit.  She followed me around the house crying.  I sat on the couch and she came up to me and found Blake’s nerf gun on the floor.  She picked it up and looked me dead in the eye and said “If you don’t give me thugar thereal I’m going to thoot you.”  I had to walk away because I started laughing.  And then she shot me in the bum.

She went through a tough phase this summer.  My dad even asked me where she came from and that he had never seen a kid so defiant.  She had no problem sassing back to my dad.  We struggled to get her to stay in her bed at night.  Lots of fits and time outs.  She didn’t like going to nursery.  But I’m happy to report that she is coming out of it.  I knew more attention would be good for her once Blake went to school.  So far she has become more helpful.  She hasn’t screamed once because no one is here to push her buttons.  She is a fun girl and I'm excited to spend time with just her.

When Blake was her age he would ride his bike around the block (1 mile) or go for walks or run to get his energy out.  Yesterday I asked Janie if she wanted to go for a bike ride and she seemed excited.  Five houses down she told me she was tired and wanted to go back home.  I tried to get her to keep going but she insisted her knee hurt and she couldn’t go anymore.  Today was a beautiful day so I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk and she said “Mmm, no danks.”

Ty - 14 Months

He isn't talking much but he has a lot of tricks.  He is praying in this picture.  He gets so excited to be part of the group and sometimes he even kneels down.  He started walking when he was 13 months.  He could stand up without holding anything to support himself.  He would kneel and get up on his own.  It looked funny and I don't remember the other kids doing that.

My favorite tricks include:  blinking eyes, dog and snake sounds, blowing a kiss, Ty is so big, holding up a finger for 1.  He is starting to follow directions like go get a diaper, put your binky in your bed.

He can say (but doesn't that often):  Da for dad, Da for dog, ma for mom, and ma for more.  Ch for cheese and tsh for teeth.  Mostly grunts and pointing to stuff while saying "dis."'

He is a picky eater!  I have been surprised.  He likes carbs and cheese.  He won't even eat food that all babies love like blueberries or bananas.  I have to trick him and force him to eat pureed vegetables because there is no way he would eat them as finger foods.  Sometimes he gags or throws up.  He throws everything off of his tray. 

He takes 1 to 2 naps a day.  Overall happy kid.  Oh and he loves cookies.

First Day of School

 

 

 

 

 

I cried my eyes out Monday night and since I have been fine sending Blake to school.  His first day was only a half day and parents got to go with.  I was able to see some of the activities he would be doing each week.  I think this helped me calm down a little.  It was fun to watch him participate in music or dancing activities.  At one point he kept grabbing my hand while we were dancing.  Then he would let go as I saw him looking around and noticing that the other kids weren't holding their moms hands.  Then he would forget and grab my hand, and then realize and let go again.  Sad. 

 

I have loved taking him to story time, museums, parks, etc. and watching him experience and learn.  And I realized that he is going to be loving and learning so much that I won't be able to watch him enjoy it.  I will be volunteering though!

 

After the first full day, when I picked him up he had a tired smile on his face and said "Mom" with a voice like it had been a long day.  Today he told me about 3 little boys that he made friends with and how they played tag at recess.  I saw one of these new friends talking with him after school and said "Bye Blake.  I will see you tomorrow ok?"  Blake told me how he hasn't gotten in trouble at all.  No major melt downs at night so far either.  He wakes up at 7am chatty and ready to go for another day.  I'm so glad that he is loving it. 

Labor Day Weekend

 

We went to visit Eric's sister who recently moved to St. Charles, Illinois.  It took us about 2.5 hours to get there.  Not bad!  We went Thursday night to Monday afternoon.  It was so nice to get away.  Eric and I went to the temple on Friday.  These cousins are so great!  They are so sweet to our kids.  Blake cried for two days because he missed them.  While we were there we went biking twice through beautiful trails and along a river.  On the first ride it started pouring rain half way through.  Lightening and thunder came as we hurried home and we were drenched completely.  Great to have family close. 

Last Days of Summer

 

 

 

 

I just wrote in my journal about how Blake is starting Kindergaten tomorrow and I'm a mess!  I know he will love it and that he is ready.  But I'm still sad.  I'm sad that my five years are up and that we can't roll out of bed every morning and watch Curious George at 8:00. And then decide together what we should do for the day.  And I'm going to be sad whenever his favorite songs come on the radio in the car, which is pretty much every song that he knows.  And I don't know what I will do without hearing all of his million questions.  He will be at school for seven hours a day which is a lot to be away from each other--especially since we have always been together.  Let's be honest though--it's not even like every day was bliss.  Every day was kind of hard.  He is so head strong with lots of energy, and him and Janie fight like crazy.  But he has a love for life and I will miss that for seven hours every day. 

Busy at Work

 

 

 

 

Going back to get more.

blAKE IS HAPPY TOODAY

 

Blake and Janie went outside on Saturday to play with chalk.  I went for a run this morning and left through the backyard and found this.  Pretty much made my day that he wrote this.