This is the blog for Gavin and Carrie Jones and family. We lived in Papua New Guinea for 18 years working to see lives transformed by the living Word of God in support of Bible translation. Gavin is a helicopter pilot. Carrie, who has her degree in Public Health, worked in the lab at our busy rural clinic. Currently, we are serving the mission in the USA in Recruiting, pilot training, and facilities maintenance work. Our son, Isaac, was born in 2004 and married Meagan in 2025. Our quintuplets, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, and Grace, were born in 2012.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:3-6
When Seth was watching this video with me just now, he started clapping at the part when the camera turned to him patting the red exercise ball. He obviously thought his performance was superior to that of the girls! :)
I was so glad to have Isaac home again after two weeks in Oregon, I burst into happy tears when I saw him coming down the hall in the airport. The babies were all in the car and absolutely lit up with smiles of glee when they saw their big brother. He had them all laughing immediately, even squealing. They very clearly remembered him, and they were happier to see him than they had been to see Gavin and me when we were reunited after our CA trip! We can tell who is the favorite family member. :)
Isaac, Aunt Jonelle and cousin Mari
Isaac at his day camp. This was one of his favorite activities: the rope swing and trampoline raft.
Isaac returned Saturday, and it's Gavin's birthday today! What a big year it's been for him, and I'm so proud of the father, husband, friend, worker and man that he is.
These pictures below are actually from another birthday party on Saturday, but we'll pretend it was to celebrate Gavin. We had a pizza and pie party tonight for Gavin once all the babies were in bed. They weren't in a celebratory mood. :} We could hardly get them into bed fast enough, poor tired tots.
Back to the photos below: Gracie is in green and Marcie is in purple. I had to use my phone to take the pictures, so they're not the best. Sorry! The boys were also there, but I didn't even get photos of them. It was a little hectic. Two sets of toddler twins and other young kids added to the fun.
The babies were absolutely fascinated with the balloons.
Gracie's eyes match her dress.
Sam pointed out that it looks like the weight of the flowers on their headbands are pulling their little heads down.
They're mirror images almost!
Goofing around on the porch under Grandpadad's watchful eye. Left to right: Gracie, Will, and Seth.
It's bedtime around here. The girls were just talking and giggling and squealing together. I could only peek in enough to see Marcie was standing up, but I could sure hear Grace's little laughter and sweet, soft little "ba-ba-ba-ba" punctuated by her laughing squeals. Of course, as soon as Marcie realized I was peeking in and didn't come all the way in to deliver her from sure and certain sleep, she had to start complaining. :} Grace is letting her take charge of that. Frequently when one stops complaining the other one(s) will start up as if they were just waiting for the first one to drop the baton, so we'll see if Gracie picks up the refrain when Marcie quits. (Update: both fell asleep without any more fussing, thankfully!)
Other quint news tidbits:
Marcie continues to charmingly barrel head-first through life, letting nothing (including siblings) stand in her way. She still falls a lot, but today when I saw her fall out of the corner of my eye I just ignored her. When she saw that I wasn't watching, she picked herself up and kept going, no fussing at all. :) EVERY time she sees me, she needs me to hold her and she lays her head on my shoulder. Then she'll go off and play again; it's so cute to be so loved! She's definitely a momma's girl.
The lower kitchen drawer (a "safe zone") is the babies' favorite place to find new "toys." This is Marcie - who tends to do the splits while standing - and Will in the doorway, obliging me with a huge smile. Marcie was too busy just then.
David is standing for prolonged periods of time and cruising back and forth across the furniture. He's also getting into everything possible (see below) and is mad about the cabinet locks that have thwarted his playing in the trash can. He is very, very attached to a plastic noise-maker stick. As Aunt Deb says, "Have stick, will travel." It's so funny to watch him crawl around with it. He's more of a daddy's boy.
We sanitized David's hands after this little exploration.
Will started pulling to standing in his crib. (He's been pulling to standing for a while now, but the pack 'n' play is a little trickier because of its mesh sides) I find it so cute to go in and see Marcie, David or Will standing up and just waiting for us to come get them.
Will is definitely the most excited about/by his siblings. He just adores having them around! His sweet dimpled smile takes over his whole face when he sees another baby coming out to join him, or when I bring him out from his bed to where the others are playing. He seems to be more a momma's boy than daddy's boy at the moment, but that could change tomorrow.
Exuberant, communicative Will
Seth continues to be the sweetest, happiest baby alive, I think. It's amazing to see how bonded he is with me and how much he loves people in general when I think back to those months he spent in a plexiglass box with a tube down his throat. For 2.5 months no one could hold him, and sometimes we couldn't even touch him without his oxygen saturations plummeting because it was so stressful to him. Clearly that traumatic time in his life hasn't harmed his precious personality, praise God!
Seth is sweet while asleep too, but then I guess all babies are!
It's not that the other babies aren't sweet, too, it's just that they tend to be more focused or driven, more busy to get to their desired goals, more demanding to receive attention. Seth just sits there, plays with what he can reach - and his reach is ever-increasing!, and loves everyone around him. As soon as he catches anyone's gaze he breaks into the most winning baby-toothed smile! It makes you feel like a million dollars.
Gracie is a daddy's girl and is the sweetest little babbler and arm-flapper when relating to people. The flapping arms mean "Pick me up!" The babbling is very happy and utterly darling. She's very busy, and as soon as she finds a new toy the other kids tend to rush her to take it away. Poor little thing! I gave her the spoon from my coffee mug today (always highly prized) and she had to fight to keep it and kept losing the fight. But the other babies would lose interest quickly and drop it in front of her again, so she'd pick it up and keep playing with it. She only fusses a little bit when she is stolen from, whereas Will and Marcie yell in frustration! David bears the theft of his toys remarkably well, as did Seth until a few days ago. He had finally had it with Marcie stealing his toys, so when she robbed him and sat down right in front of him with her back to him so he couldn't reach the toy, he YELLED and grabbed her and shook her. It was hilarious! I intervened on that one. :)
Sweet little Gracie
I'm being hit by waves of sleep, so I'll close this very long post.
Isaac is currently in Oregon with his cousins and aunts and uncles, having a wonderful time at day camp. He has had people say to him, "Wow, you're the one with five brothers and sisters?! You must be glad to get a break from all those babies!" to which he's been replying, "No, I miss them! I don't want to get away from the babies!"
He's been so precious on the phone, asking if the babies are awake, and trying to visit with Will via Skype last night. We treasure him and his love for his siblings. Thanks to all of you who have made him feel special and have been praying for him in particular during this new chapter in his life.
I miss you so much, Big Brother Isaac, my original baby! :) - Love, Mom
Marcie and Grace today at Lynnette's - it's fun to get out of our house for a while!
Seth
Will
Seth again (I can't decide which picture is cuter!)
Their 4th of July outfits from my former prof and advisor who came to play for a day. Thanks, Lori!! Seth, Marcie, David, Gracie, Will (left to right)
David on left, Will in front, Seth on the right. He has to wear a onesie (thanks for this one, Judith!) all the time to cover his g-button, otherwise the other babies grab it and pull. It's so hot we leave the others in diapers only most of the time.
Seth fell asleep jumping again. We have a misting system and fans on the porch, thankfully.
Pretty Miss Grace. Marcie matched but was asleep. Again, thanks to Lynnette for outfits!!
