Making cookies with Grandpa

Grandpa let Laynee pick out the cookie cutters, roll and cut the dough and put the cut out cookies on the cookie sheet. I'm just wondering why as a mom I can't be more patient like that. I think it's because I'm always in a hurry to get things done instead of really enjoying the moment. Anyway, I loved watching Laynee helping her Grandpa.

Christmas Dresses

My older sister, Julie, gave me both these dresses when I had McKinley. The girls happened to both be in photo-taking good moods.

Santa Claus is coming to town

Gingerbread house

My good friend, Jen, bought this gingerbread kit for us to do this year. Man, those kits are the way to go. The gingerbread is pre-cut and the frosting is like REALLY sticky glue. We had so much fun doing it together.

Dresses by Grandma Bell

Grandma Bell made Laynee this dress last year and it still fit this year, so she went to the fabric store and found the same material to make one for McKinley. So cute!

Christmas Card pics

Away in a Manager...Take 1, 2, 3

6 Quirks

I wasn't tagged to write about this but Molly and I did talk about it when she was staying with me a few weeks ago and it made me think what my quirks are. I was surprised how quickly I was able to think of six of them. That probably is an indicator of how many quirks I actually have.

1. I am obsessively on time (or early.) If I'm not on time for some reason, I usually have "planned" being late in my head or someone else has made me late. It's an annoying problem with me and usually causes me to stress out more than necessary.

2. I don't like wooden spoons AT ALL. I don't have any in my kitchen. I always think they are going to give me slivers, even though I know they won't. (This problem may come from the fact that I had a wooden spoon broken over my bum as a child. I was traumatized by that. :) I'm sure I totally deserved it actually.)

3. I'm terrible about getting the laundry out of the dryer before the clothes start to wrinkle because I don't think it really matters. Although I will iron if I feel like the occasion warrants having neatly pressed clothing.

4. I am a total list maker. I have lists for everything (groceries, chores, people to call, errands to run, projects for the future, what I need to post on my blog.)

5. I've never really liked to be hugged, but I've gotten better at doing it and accepting it. Sometimes when things are hard all you really need is a hug and for someone to tell you that things are going to be ok.

6. When I'm on the phone, I often times hang up before the goodbyes are finished being said. I have no idea why I do it, but I know that I do and it's probably really aggravating.

My Girls

I had these professional pics taken of the girls a week ago. There were 3 others, but I've put them on Christmas cards to send out. :) I'll post them on here after I mail out the cards.

McKinley's adorable laugh

Alliance Church Pumpkin Patch

Saturday, October 25, Kevin and Brooke and kids came to town to go to a Fall festival downtown. Instead of doing that we went to the Alliance Church Pumpkin patch. They had face painting, goats to pet, hayrides,bobbing for apples, pony rides, a maze for kids, cotton candy and a pumpkin patch. With the weather cooperating and being able to be with family, it was a great day.

Me and the girls

Laynee and cousins Rosie and Carson petting a goat

Laynee enjoying a horse ride

Beauty and the Beast Costumes

Belle, the beauty (yes, she is wearing makeup)

Cogsworth, the clock (drawing this on her face was a pain)

Belle, Lumiere, the candlestick (my costume was pathetic, I know.) and Cogsworth

McKinley's first tooth

McKinley got her first tooth today. I wasn't expecting it since Laynee didn't get a tooth til she was 13 months. Surprisingly, McKinley hasn't been too fussy about it.

Janna's Favorite Quotes/Thoughts/Scriptures

I added a link on the left hand side of this blog to a blog named Janna's favorite quotes/thoughts/scriptures. It's basically just what it implies; thoughts, quotes and scriptures that I really like. I wanted a way to keep track of things I come across that touch me or make me really think. Feel free to check it out and comment.

Baby shower for my Sis

I went to Great Falls last week. The main reason was to attend my younger sister, Heidi's, baby shower. These are a few pics from it. I'm so excited for my sister to be a mom!
Heidi
Group Photo
The sisters and sisters-in-law
The Fall-themed food table

Cousins Halloween Party

My sister-in-law, Brooke, organized a "Cousins Halloween Party" last week at her house. The cousins painted pumpkins, went on a parade in their costumes, wrestled with Kevin, played musical chairs, ate food and watched a Halloween movie. I didn't have a close relationship with my cousins. I think my kids are so lucky to have that.
Painting Pumpkins

"LayneeBug"

Parade around the Neighborhood

Not a post to brag...

Disclaimer: So, I don't know how many of you are really good about tracking what your kids are doing. I only do so-so on keeping notes of their accomplishments. I'm going to start putting notes in my blog. This isn't to brag about kids but more as a record of what they are doing.

Laynee learned this morning how to button and unbutton her sweater. She has done it over and over about 5 times this morning.

McKinley is playing a new game. Sometimes when I'm holding her and someone comes up and talks to her, she pretends to be shy and puts her head down on my chest. Then she puts her head up, smiles and looks at the person. If the person tries to talk to her again, she immediately puts her head down again. I didn't realize how cute it is until last night, her Aunt Brooke was holding her and someone she doesn't know well talked to her and she did it. I got to just watch the whole thing. So adorable!

Papa and Grammy's bed

Even though my parents are gone, their bed is still getting lots of use. Cousins: Ethan, Laynee, Landon, Lydia and Lincoln watching Monsters, Inc.

Carving Pumpkins

For family home evening on Monday, we had Matt's parents over and we all carved pumpkins. What a mess, but Laynee loved it and even drew a face on her own for her little pumpkin.

Scraping out the guts.
Carving the face

Grandpa and Grandma

My own little pumpkin

The finished pumpkins

All lit up

Benson's Farm

We went to Benson's farm (a farm right off of Reserve Street in Missoula) with the Banna's to pick out pumpkins to carve. The kids thought that running around the pumpkins was fun and Laynee got to pick out several small pumpkins.

Kady Banna and Laynee


Laynee displaying her pumpkin


McKinley


Sisters

One of Life's mysteries

Why are chubby thighs


only cute


on a baby?

McKinley 7 months old

Commentary from Laynee about General Conference

So we watched General Conference (a semi-annual meeting with the Prophet and Apostles speaking that's broadcased on TV) this weekend. Laynee had typical 3 year old commentary.

#1- Laynee watching Elder Joseph Wirthlin speaking, turns to me and says, "Look Mom, he looks like Old Grandpa." (Old Grandpa is her Great Grandpa Bell.) See the picture comparison below. I guess they do kind of look alike.

Elder Wirthlin


Great Grandpa and Grandma Bell with Laynee as a baby

#2-Watching the prophet speaking Laynee says, "Mom, President Monson's face looks kinda weird." Me, devastated because we have 2 other couples over to watch conference, asks, "Why?" Laynee putting her hands by her cheek and pulling her hands downward says, "His face goes down." I tried to explain to her that when you get older your skin gets droopy. She looked at me like I was crazy!

McKinley's sleep patterns

Okay, so I will be honest, McKinley has been sleeping in bed with me almost since birth. It was mostly out of necessity so I could get as much sleep as possible. Those of you that have more than one child understand this. (Those of you that only have 1 child probably think I'm a terrible mother.) Anyway, last week she started waking up 6 times between midnight and 6am to be fed and then between 5-6am and would squirm and wiggle and not go back to sleep, so I decided that it was time for her to move out of my bed. On Thursday night, Laynee was having a hard night, so I decided to feed McKinley and lay her down in the pac-n-play in the office. She SCREAMED for awhile, but I felt like I needed to spend some time with Laynee. After a fairly long time, McKinley finally went to sleep. (When I went in to feed her sometime around 2am, she had a poopy diaper and I thought, "I wonder if that's what she was screaming about..") So we survived that night of screaming it out. Since that night she hasn't fussed for more than a few minutes and then has gone to sleep. So last night, I was carrying her around and realized that she was acting a bit tired, so I went in and layed her down. She looked up at me and smiled. I said good night and turned off the light and shut the door. There wasn't even a fuss. She slept from 8pm to 4am, I fed her and then she slept til 6am, I fed her and she slept til 8am. I can totally live with this schedule!

Homecoming KPAX news story

Our friend, Brittany Tait, is a reporter for KPAX and did this story on Griz Homecoming. There are some pretty cute shots of my kids (watch for the double stroller and one of just Laynee at the end of the story) and a few dorky comments from me. Those that know Dan Stark will find his comments pretty funny as well. (Ignore the commercial for Vann's and feel free to stop watching after the story about the parade.)

Laynee's 1st Day of Preschool

Laynee started preschool last week. She absolutely loves it and I'm already impressed at the things she is learning. The first day she came home and told me that if someone gives you a snack to eat that you don't like, you don't say "Yuck. I don't want that." You say "No thank you." I had to laugh. I guess my child needs help learning manners.