Janie's Day

For Janie's baby blessing on August 30th, we decided to make it a quiet affair at home, rather than doing it at church. However, anyone who knows me, knows that as soon as I find out I am expecting, I am planning the "blessing party" because I get a big kick out of entertaining. So I kind of went overboard for a party in honor of someone who can't even eat solid food yet. In this case, I got to do things a little differently since it did not involve a large crowd. Grandpa Wren did the honors of blessing our girlie and my parents attended as well as members of the bishopric. It was a beautiful blessing and the guest of honor looked beautiful (if a little disgruntled to be in such a fluffy dress) and the feast was plentiful. All in all, it was a celebration worthy of our princess.

I really need a better camera, don't I?

Amy, who runs the business 'Flowerz in her Hair' keeps JLo in bows and bling. She is awesome and she specially created the blessing headband. Isn't it pretty? Anyone with girls, check her out (link on my sidebar).

I love this bracelet but is it not likely to fit her chubby little wrist much longer. Had to document it...
New Jane and Vintage Jane bonding (She is Grandma K's namesake)

Two excellent Grandpas. My kids are exceptionally lucky.

Us five

The feast! It looks like a lot less here than it felt like I prepared. I do have to note that the lemon garnish on the lemonade was all Sam's idea. He saw it on a cartoon and thought it made a good finishing touch. It did, didn't it?

Come on, you totally wanted to see pictures of what we ate, didn't you?

(bowtie pasta because Janie girl is never without a bow! It's all about symbolism and atmosphere people!)

( A Jay special...)

The dessert that is likely to keep me in the will with both father and father in law :-)! We found some new fans for this particular dessert. Dad K even claimed that it trumps what has been his standby favorite (german chocolate cake) for as long as I can remember. If I really like you, I will give you the recipe. It's up to you figure that out though :) Even if you aren't a pecan fan. You will be converted. I promise.

Thank you to the family that attended and helped make the evening special.

Family Camp Out

Despite our good intentions to get out several camp outs this summer, we only managed one (probably having something to do with the new baby!). However, it was action packed, if not very rugged.

The boys learned several new swear words while they helped dad set up the tent

We rode bikes around the campground (yes, the roads are paved. I said it wasn't rugged...)

We attempted to make tin foil dinners that looked much better before they were cooked. We didn't know how long they needed to be in the fire, so opted to keep them in for an hour. Bad idea...

So, we hunted down and dragged home a pizza from the wilds of the Little Ceasar's down the road instead. We were kind of glad it was dark by then, because we were embarrassed to have our neighbors in the next campsite witness our shame!

Dessert turned out okay

This is how Sam posed for every picture. Silly much? He must be five!

Thomas joining Sam in "the pose"

Dad and sis getting in on the action too.

Marriage...is what brings us...together...today...

Today in the car sweet Thomas piped up:

T: "Mom, I am going to marry you when I grow up!"

While I was mopping up my melting heart, Samuel contributed his own comment:

S: "Mom, when you get married, do you just walk around and hold hands?"

Me: "Yes, you do that sometimes. What else do you think married people do?"

T: "They kiss!!"

S: (admiringly) "Thomas, you are really smart! I think married people also dance really good, and when you dance the most good, you get a trophy."

Me: (trying to figure out which of my child's parents gave him the impression that dancing is an integral part of a marriage) "So, I don't have a trophy, does that mean I am not a good dancer?"

S: "Ummm...."

It must be J he's thinking of.

Class of 2022

I'm going to say it! Five years ago, we looked at our baby boy and said "I can't believe he will be going to school in only a few years" and it seems like we said it only yesterday. Contrary to my predictions when he started preschool, I managed to not cry. I must be maturing. Or else I am sick to death of the constant Wren style wrangling that goes on between my monkey boys. Either way, it was still a hallmark day and the whole family accompanied Sam to school on the first day of the rest of his life.

*Interesting note: This child who has woken at the crack of dawn all summer decided a week before the start of school that sleeping in is good. Guess who we have to drag out of bed every morning? It might be a long twelve years...

True to the original Kinsel tradition, he was allowed to pick whatever he wanted for breakfast on the first day of school. He chose strawberry milk, donuts, bacon and ice cream. Three out of four weren't bad, but kind of a waste of the "whatever you want" rule. He'll learn.

In front of his classroom, showing Thomas how it's done at school!

The first of many desks!

*sniff* I'm so proud...

Belly Laughs

Happy 3 month birthday to our little J-Lo! Thomas can really get her to laugh much to the jealousy of older brother who feels like the title of comedy king rightfully belongs to him.

The non-adventures of me in CA

A few weeks ago, Janie and I ditched the boys at home and took a well deserved vacay back to the Bay Area to stay with my awesome sis Bek in her awesome house and play with her awesome kids. Bek had put me up for multiple summers both when I was a penniless college student looking for a sweet summer job and for six months as a homeless army wife. She even took me in with Husband and Baby #1 in tow while J ran a business out there for a summer. So, Bek's house always feels like home to me. Except it's a home where no kids are hollering at me and where I can sleep in and have no other demands on my time or emotions. We took naps and did nothing touristy, but all those oridinary things that seem so much more special when you are not hauling three kids around. You know, like when you lose weight and all those clothes you can fit into again feel like new? It was like that and it was great. We ate at Boston Market every day and visited Naartjie and Trader Joe's and the Cheesecake Factory and the best Goodwill ever. If you ever want good food, good rest, good conversation and good shopping, go stay at Bek's! Tell her I sent you... :-)

Cubby, Janie and Bek - Janie was fussy this morning but would calm down for Cubby. He asked me if I could leave her there.

The two big kids were gone the first two days I was there, so I got to play with Nono (Thomas' age) and hear her chatter and sing and I also got to see little G make the greatest faces

She is a mini Lulu, and so happy...

This looks like a grumpy face, but she was being silly

She spent at least an hour playing with her reflection

and the next hour patting the baby and saying "bababa." While we were there, she also picked up the sign for baby as well.

Then she got tired...

Bek also used her far superior camera and skills to take some pictures of J-Lo

Look at that scowl and those eyebrows. Is this J's kid or what?!

She has Alfred Hitchcock cheeks and you just can't keep from kissing and smooshing them (I bet Alfred Hitchcock had the same effect on people!)

On the way home on the plane, it was open seating and it was obvious that no one wanted to sit next to a baby, so we got an empty seat next to us on both flights. Janie didn't make a peep. This kid is already paying for herself!