Is is safe to take a shower?

I honestly have to ask myself that question when I get out of my shower to find Audrey's face looking like this, thanks to Jane.

I'm not 100% sure...just kidding, I am.

I was going to say "I don't know where Jane came up with this!" But the truth is that I do.

Every once in a while I'll be sitting here at the computer and turn to Jane and say, "Oh! We've got to get downstairs FAST! Hurry, hurry!" And without missing a single syncopated beat she'll exclaim, "Oh! Hurry! It's burning!"

Now where would she get that idea?

Easter Eve

We had our egg hunt with the Mitchells on Saturday, Easter Eve. Jane and I colored eggs, which she loved. Then I told her I saw the Easter Bunny--I think we'll change his name to Spring Bunny next year--come inside and take our eggs away! (It helps to have bunnies all over the neighborhoods here.) She was really excited to see where he hid them.

One skill Jane has been excelling at is "matching." She can match colors, shapes, and things-of-a-kind. She got distracted during the hunt by the chocolate soccer ball.


Winfield, Jack, and Jane

I couldn't decide which picture of Audrey I liked best. She loved her PEEP.

Queen Jane

Unabashedly, I have purposely helped Jane develop a love for all things ballet, princess, and pink. Remember the "girlie house" post? We are reaching a new level, however, as Jane is getting better at imagining scenarios and learning how to take on a character. I set up a little Ikea tent for her which she refuses to acknowledge as anything but her "castle," and Adam suggested the idea of him being the King and Mommy being the Queen if Jane was going to be the Princess. He also showed her how to kiss my royal fingers. I was loving that for about a week until today she switched things up on me and now I'm the Princess and SHE'S the Queen.

How can I be surprised about this after Stake Conference yesterday? I took her out to have a chat about being reverent. She pretty much seemed to be ignoring me until she put her hands on my cheeks and said, "Ok, sweetie. Ubuh dub hertie QUIET mah nanabittie SHHH. Okay? Be nice. Okay, Sweetie?" What else could I do but comply after that lecture? With her royal permission, we did a little bit better for the rest of conference.

Girlie house

Sometimes Jane and I play dress-up, going-to-the-store, or talking-on-the-phone. Here are some of our props.

I guess I like to relive my glory days!

Vids of Jane

This video is from a while ago. I like it because it's fun to see how kids make animal sounds at this age, and also because she is so obedient when I tell her to scoot over. That doesn't always happen these days...

With the help of Leap Frog, Jane has been learning her abc's. My favorite things are her "lmnop" and "z." Whenever I sing to Jane I shake my head around on the long notes to keep things interesting and you can see that she has picked that up on "z." The "Yeah!" at the end is in keeping with a long tradition of Bennion-style singing. Thanks Mom and Dad.

I've got that lovin feeling

This morning Jane was the last one to wake up. As Audrey and I were cleaning dishes downstairs, I suddenly heard Jane's little getting-out-of-bed patter. I raced up the stairs to find Jane much sooner than I expected on the landing outside of her room rather than in it. She saw ME much sooner than she expected, too, which made us both thrill from the surprise of it and the joy of seeing each other. We couldn't help but laugh right out as we basically tackled each other and I listened to her excitedly tell me that she was awake! What a great start to our day together!

(It reminded me of a time that Adam and I bumped into each other in a very similar scenario in the RB at BYU--the exact kind of giddy anticipation as this morning was probably one of the first moments I knew I loved him. Remember that, Adam? We went and got apples down the road right after?)

Jane

When Jane wakes up in morning, before she even opens her door she usually puts on her shoes. She likes her white church shoes the best. Today she also brought her dress out so she could dance, and we just slipped it on over her Cinderella pajamas. It made me laugh (in delight) to see Jane embrace her femininity. So I took a picture. She insisted I get the bow in the back as well.

And here's a little static electricity worked up from the couch in the winter weather.

Like father like daughter

When I ask Adam to tell me what he was like as a child, I usually get a few stories about him sneaking under the kitchen window so his mom couldn't see him running away down the block, sneaking away from joy school by himself and walking home, etc. He was always wanting to be free doing something fun.
So we are here in California for the holidays (well, Adam has gone back to Milwaukee to catch a flight to Louisiana for the Sugar Bowl now) and Jane is starting to exhibit this same behavior. She has learned how to open doors here, since they are much easier to open than ours, and is abusing her talent, if you ask me. We were all in our room going to sleep the other night when we saw this little head bobbing along the wall, a hand reach up to the doorknob, and then some pattering down the hall even after Adam's stern "Jane!" Sneaky sneaky.
Today she wouldn't stay down for her nap. Gammie kept putting her back, the little stinker (Jane, not Gammie). Finally my mom came in laughing because she'd just watched Jane come out of the room on her bottom, scoot down the hall on her little rear until she was "all clear," then stood up, brushed her hands off with one of those "well that's taken care of" sighs, and ran off to play. She is certainly Adam's girl.

Question: Who is the funniest person in our family?

Answer: Jane

Jane's 2nd birthday

What a fun day! Jane's birthday was December 4th--yesterday! The day before was Sesame Street's birthday theme--perfect tutorial for Jane. She was SO HAPPY all day long. From waking up to balloons in her bedroom, to the birthday song, to the cousins, to the candles, she was smiling so hard I think it made her cheeks hurt, as you can see in the cupcake picture! Pure joy in her little face! I know she really felt special. We practiced showing two fingers for "2," and found the easiest way was to use both hands. My little 2 year old! At her party (with Jack, Winfield, Charles, Audrey, Kate, Mommy, and Daddy) we played the piano, "Happy, happy, birthday!" (Duck, duck, goose), and "Pin the flower on the stem." We had confetti cupcakes and Jane's favorite ice cream: Peppermint.

Jane is a BIG GIRL

Jane is wearing BIG GIRL panties! Gammie, Uncle (Richard), Samuel, and Porter came for a visit and helped Jane learn how to "hurry, hurry" to the potty, and gave lots of praise for each success. Day 1: 15 accidents and 2 successes. Day 2: 1 accident. Day 3: 2 accidents. And Sunday was the best. She made it all through church and almost through choir practice. I have to admit that most of the accidents since that first day were because we were away from home. Pretty good, little girl.

And Audrey got her first taste of rice cereal. Yum.

B Y U!

Is this brainwashing?

I was surprised she remembered this a couple weeks after me showing her! Surprised and proud.

Halloween

At the ward Halloween Party, a week before Halloween, Adam and I went as ourselves 4 years ago. (We had matching track suits from our BYU dance teams.) Lame, I know. Another lame one was Audrey's "costume." I just put her in a sleeper that had a ballerina on it and put this bow on her head and called her a dancer too. And Jane wore her ladybug costume from last year. I didn't know how lazy I was until just now seeing it in writing. Oh well. It was a fun party.

They had coloring for the kiddies where she met up with a fellow lady bug.

Jane just plopped right down and ate up her candy.

Adam caught me eating some of Jane's loot...

On the actual Halloween, Jane and I (and Adam joined us a bit later) met the Mitchells and the Hansons at the mall by our house for trick or treating. Jane's lady bug costume was half wet, so we came up with this Christmas ___? 5 minutes beforehand. I overheard a girl saying "Oh look! It's Santa Clause!" Maybe! Should have thought of a pillow for her belly.

With Jack and Winfield, both Anakin Skywalkers.

We ended the trick or treating at the new play place in the mall. Jane thought it was cooler than trick or treating.

Apple picking

Does it get any better than this?

I made 3 jars of apple sauce and we've made 3 pies so far. Adam makes the filling and I make the crust. Jane helps us eat it. Teamwork.

John and Ida's Wedding

The 2nd marriage this year in the Bennion family! John and Ida were married September 26, 2008 in St. George, Utah. Ida is from there and we were thrilled to be there on their beautiful day. These two make such a wonderful couple. I couldn't help staring at them all day :) Adam took a few (or something like 200) pictures, just trying out the camera. I LOVED her dress. Bennions

Everetts Aren't these faces funny? Ida was taking a rest from smiling. My dad looks great. John was probably resting his face too, but it looks like he's transitioning to husbandhood/manhood. I don't know what I'm doing. Jane wanted "in" on the boys' shot.

Christian brought his girlfriend so we took some teaser photos in front of the temple.

The family luncheon was catered Cafe Rio!!! I had all my wishes come true :) Who else thinks John and Ida are cool now?

Jane and Audrey missed out on the Cafe Rio.

Uncle Richard just got home from his mission (Mexico) just a week earlier. I was pregnant with Jane when he left, so he, Jane, and Audrey all got introduced.

The girls at the reception: dancing and socializing!

Jane coached everyone on catching the bouquet. I think Ida's sister caught it.