See Jane's Day

See Jane turn six years old.

See Jane's request for breakfast in bed: strudel and crepes with berries and cream. 

See Jane happy.

See Jane's sisters.

 See Jane's decor.

See Jane happy.

See Jane's birthday dress. (A night before request. See Jane's mom grumble and buy a pre-made top at Target to make life easier.)

See Jane happy.

See Jane's fans.

(One of them prefers to dine au naturel and one of them was having a moment.)

See Jane make a birthday wish.

See Jane happy.

Sweet, fiesty, thoughtful, passionate, clever, life-loving Jane. It makes us so happy to see you happy.

Happy Birthday.

See Jane grow here, here, here, and here.

Independence Day 2012

I love this day.
 We weren't in our sweet little Utah home town (the best place on earth to find yourself on the 4th) and we woke up too late to catch a parade in the morning, but we still managed to have ourselves a fine time.

Red, white, and blue pancakes with "help" from Olivia.

And later, a picnic, swimming, and the 'works with new friends.

Newly neighbored cousins watch the fireworks:
Cousin Lucy: I'm told.
Emme: I use my baby fat to keep me warm.

Cousin Lucy: What da heck was dat?!

Both: heeheeheeheehee.

Uncle Joey gave us a rather unforgettable FHE lesson this week on "Why America is the best 

country in the whole world." 

Excerpt:

Joey: "What's your favorite thing?"

Kid: "Candy."

Joey: "Candy is in AMERICA!"

Joey: "What's your favorite thing."

Other kid: "My toys."

Joey: "Your toys are in AMERICA!!"

Joey: "Do you know that in some countries, their kings just kill people whenever they want for no reason?"

Kids: (woah, this just got scary.)

Joey: "Do they do that in AMERICA?"

Kids: "No!"

Joey: "See how lucky we are to live in AMERICA?! So when you say your prayers, be sure to thank Heavenly Father that we live in America, the best country in the whole world!"

I did. And I do.

Happy Birthday America, we lit some candles for you last night.

This Week. . .

. . .we liked:
Jane-picked roses-

Good reads-

Poolside buns-

"Drive-in" movies-

Backyard blackberry pickins-

Sisterly love. . .

. . .and window seats.

Painting

Quite an undertaking. . .

. . .but I am loving our new grey walls so much. 

Glad Tom Sawyer here could help me out before he starts work next week.

Home

Hey, thanks for all your insightful comments that time when I was bummed. With this new blogger format sometimes I forget to disable comments before I post. I think I'll forget to do that some more for a little while. Moral support can be really nice when you're starting over.

Here we are, going home:

(Pardon blurry pics. Good glass is packed)

I think we're going to like it here just fine. Now on to the settling in. . .

Musings of a Sleep-deprived Soul

Well, we drove away from Pittsburgh.

That didn't feel too good.

I woke up this morning on a mattress on my brother's floor in Memphis. It was barely light out and for a few moments I thought I was in my own room in our old little red house. Then a tight feeling around my heart sorted things out for me. We really left. Were we really there?

I lay there trying to make sense of how the people that have filled my life for the last four years are now, at least day to day, just black and white letters in an email in-box and a sparse few pictures on a blog. That doesn’t seem right. I guess, though I do recommend it, caring hurts.

I've been in to see our new house. It's lovely, but feels like it doesn’t belong to me. I'm anxious about whether or not I can make a place a home again. Like, I don't know if I have it in me.

Now, because this post is borderline "Old Yeller,” I will add that living close to my great older brother and his wonderful wife I just know is going to be gangbusters. 

Also, I shouldn't write blog posts late at night when everyone has gone to sleep and I'm feeling tired and lonely. I guess since I'm the only one awake I'm going to have to tell myself to buck up and have a little faith.

Hey, Kate. Buck up! And have a little faith.

 It's gonna be alright.

Last of the Burgh

Pittsburgh, here's to the last few memories:

Dr. Keitz, best Peds Rheumatologist out there (with best German accent, to boot.) Jane's tears are a combo of saying goodbye and knowing it's a blood draw day. She was such a tough cookie this time.

Last couple of trips to the water steps with friends, Prykes and Olsens:

Pirates/Mets game with our kids, Mom W., and the Kimbers. Best city view in baseball. Rare win made it extra sweet.

The breezy summer night walk across 6th street bridge back to our cars after the game was equally fine.

And nothing quite like spending 7 bucks on a cotton candy to make you feel like you can spare a buck for a bum on a bridge. Jane was particularly eager to be the one to put some bucks in the various panhandlers' cups. 

Our convo-

Jane: Mom, are these the helpless people?

Me: Um, they're homeless, Jane.

Jane: Why are they homeless?

Me: Well, some are sick and can't work. . .(etc.)

Jane: Then they should just buy a house. Or find one that's empty and live there.
Or someone should for sure get one for them. . .(etc.)

(further down the bridge.)

Jane: Wow! A lot of people here have homeless.

(and further)

Caleb: Look at the big buildings, Jane. Would you like to live here in the city?

Jane: Oh yeah. It would be so fun. Then I could help all those people.

Me: (tight squeeze on that sweet little hand in mine)

Caleb, checking "lighting illegal fireworks" off of his bucket list. Thanks Parkers, what a great night.

Mandee's baby shower cakes. Like I said, I only do cakes for people I really love. Girl, you are on the list.

Sorry we didn't get a better picture of us cuz our eyes were all red from crying. Miss you.

And then we packed up our little red house. . .

And said goodbye.

    

I think Olivia expressed her mixed feelings about our move quite well one day while we were packing:

Olivia: This house is made of poo.

Me: Hey! No it's not. 

Olivia: Yes it is.

Me: No it's not. That's not nice to say.

Olivia: Yes it is. I hate this house.

Me: Olivia, do you really hate this house?

Olivia: No. No I don't. I don't hate this house. I just really love it.

House, I also think it would be easier to leave you if you were made of poo.

Dear friends who let us crash your pads after they kicked us out of our home: consider yourselves in possession of one big fat giant WE-O-U. It was the best of times. Hope we can make it up to you soon.

Pittsburgh: It's been real.

A Date

We had a little ditty of a date in the city.

Really stellar dining at Six Penn Kitchen:

 This is Caleb just before he told me to please put away my camera because he felt like he was on a date with a cyclops:

So I let him have a turn. I don't like to do that much, but now i have proof that I exist. And that I went on a date.

 Then we did some posing:

 (I could use a little sun.)

 And we ended the night with a show.

Hey Caleb, I had a really nice time tonight. Call me!