What is Your Favorite Grown-up Christmas Memory

This one is easy for me. Six years ago we bought the house that we are currently in. Moving day was Christmas Eve. We did not even decorate the house knowing that we would just be taking it down. We had a good turn-out of people to help us move and we were out of the old house by 10 am. By noon all the beds were set-up in the new house. By the time we got settled, it was time to get ready for Lyle's family Christmas party and by the time that was over we were so exhausted and just fell into bed.

Santa left a note for the kids stating the because he had to find us we had to find our gifts. We looked for the gifts, found them, and brought them back up to Lyle and I bed to open them. I love all of us on the bed opening gifts and having a good time.

Lyle then took us to Denny's for breakfast. It was one of the best Christmas'.

What is your Favorite Christmas Movie?

Confession time: I LOVE watching any and all Christmas Movies. They are all inspiring and sometimes a tear jurker. I like this time of year because almost every channel has some movie about Christmas on. So I don't have ONE favorite.

What is Your Favorite Holiday Tradition and Why?

My favorite holiday tradition is getting together with the family. Every time we are planning the get together we talk about playing cards or other games but more times then not we just talk the day away while the kids play.

I LOVE getting together on the holidays wither it be with just my husband and kids or with my parents and siblings or my in-laws. Family always makes the holidays.

What is Your Favorite Day of the Week and Why?

Question for this week. My favorite day of the week is Sunday. Not because I get to fight with all my kids during Sacrament Meeting or that Lyle doesn't get home until after 3pm. I enjoy Sunday because when everyone finally does get home from church we usually don't have anywhere to go and we are able to spend time as a family. It is very rare for Lyle to work on Sunday and we spend the time watching a movie and eating popcorn. I have a picture of every one of my children sharing a bowl of popcorn with their dad. He starts them young by eating the rough part and giving them the soft part to gum when then are just a couple of months old. The kids look forward to this every week.

What was your Favorite book to read as a child?

Some friends and I are doing a little journal writing on our blogs. One of us asks a question and everyone else needs to reply on their blogs.

The question this week is "What was your favorite book to read as a child?" I was a HUGE Judy Blume fan. Any and all of her books I would read. When I was smaller I loved "The Monster at the End of This Book" I still enjoy reading that book to my own kids. Its so cute to hear William say "You turned another page!"

September 11th

On September 11th Lyle and I took the kids to a National Guard street fair by Deer Valley Airport. One of the guys that Lyle worked with is in the National Guard and invited us.

The kids had fun playing on the Helicopter and riding in the fake boat. It was a great trip for the family.

Our Little Campaign Manager

Josie was a campaign manager for one of her friends during Student Council elections. This was the poster that she put together. I thought she did a good job. I like the voting booth in the first picture.

What the HAIL!

Arizona got not just one but two weird hail storms in a 5 hour time. The first one came at 12:30 pm and had pea size hail, but a lot of it. The second storm came at 5 pm and had golf ball size hail. This one did the most damage. My older kids were still on the bus and I was very happy when they finally made it home. We didn't get too much damage other than one window on the house, both passenger side mirrors on both cars, some running lights on Lyle's truck, and our ADT sign.

This is a picture of the first storm. I scooped up some hail to show the kids later, but they were able to witness it first hand on the way home from school.

It caused a lot of damage to a lot of people but I still enjoyed the storm.

Time Out!

Anna was using a box for a table to take notes during Conference. William decided to sit on the box and fell through. After calming him down he picked-up the box, told it that it was "a bad boy" and "Time Out!" He then picked it up and set it in our time-out place. Then he came to me and told me, "Box, bad boy. Time out!" After a couple of minutes he went back and took it out of time out.

I can aways count on William to give me laughs!

Like Father, Like Son

When Lyle was about 1 year old he cracked his collar bone crawling out of his crib. About 1 week later he took his walker off of the stairs and finished breaking it. Then when he was 13 he broke it again. Well Lyle Jr, aka: William, broke his last night.

Anna thought is would be a good idea to take the rolled up sleeping bag that Austin was taking camping and have her hold one end, William hold the other end, and have her 6 year old friend jump on it. Needless to say William was spun around and landed on his shoulder. I knew something was wrong when he cried for about 25 minutes. Then he wouldn't reach for any toys. I called Lyle and he was on his way home.

Lyle got home and off to Goodnight Pediatrics we went. He has to wear a brace that looks like a backpack without the bag part that pulls his shoulders back. When we were loading him up in the car afterwards he told us "Backpack off". We just had to laugh.

Lyle and I made a date out of it and took him to Johnny Rockets for dinner. It's my own fault this hap pended because I was telling Lyle that morning that this was the first night we didn't have meetings or anywhere to go.

Fun Ride at the Barnes Home

William found the time honored ride of his older brother leg! Austin will get home from school and William will hop right on.

Austin is such a good big brother that he lets him do it day after day.

Couldn't ask for better kids.

Elder Robert D. Hales

We had the wonderful opportunity to have Elder Robert D. Hales come to our stake and speak to us. I was honored to be asked to sing in the choir. I have been singing alto because we have so few in our ward choir so I was a little bummed that he would be sitting on the other side of the stand than I was. Imagine my joy when he sat two rows in front of me! I could have leaned forward and touch him! He gave a great talk and I was motivated to go to the temple more often.

Even though we got there early Lyle and the kids had to sit in the overflow because everyone got there early. I thought that the kids would be able to see anything. Lyle said that when Elder Hales came in and everyone started quieting down and standing up even William felt a difference in the room. Austin was able to bet the rush and shook Elder Hales hand. He was even more exited because he asked him how you feel the spirit and he answered him! This was a MAJOR boost to Austin's spiritual health.

After it was over I just wanted to avoid the crowd but was stopped by everyone. Elder Hales turned to me and shook my hand. Elder Hales is all the kids talked about during dinner. What a great Sunday!

Teaching Austin

Austin decided that he didn't have time for his laundry and let his whites sit in the dryer for 2 days. On Saturday I made him get them out and told him he would need to iron his shirt. (He started to hang it up telling me it looked ok) I had him get the iron and ironing board out and told him he would need to ask his dad to teach him how to iron.

Lyle is a much better ironer than I am thanks to his mom. After ironing the first shirt with him Lyle made him iron his second shirt by himself. He did a good job.

Now I have pictures that they can both iron.

Anna's Daisy Scout advancement

I finally found out how to get the pictures off my phone (just had to go on-line to my account). These are pictures of Anna at her Daisy Scout Advancement from last year. She was so happy and proud of herself.

This is the last year as a Daisy Scout. She moves up to a Brownie next year.

When you need your cookies I can get them for you. Both Anna and Josie will be selling them this year.

D-Backs Game 2010

As a lot of you already know, Lyle's Union gets D-Back tickets for the Union members on Labor Day. This is the third year we have gone and have enjoyed every one. This year William was old enough to really take everything in. His eye's were huge looking all around the stadium.This was after a lot of hard work to get him to sleep. I have the same picture of Lyle holding William asleep from all the games.
I try to take this picture every year too. The problem this year is that I remembered the camera but forgot to put the memory card in it. This would no be a problem because I always carry a back-up in my purse, but I left that at home also. These are the pictures from my cell phone. At least I got some pictures.

Loves the Rain

Did you know that William LOVES water? It was raining the other day so Lyle let him go out and splash in the rain and run underneath were it was coming off the roof. He had a BLAST.
(I tried to upload the videos that we took but I am having a problem. I might try to upload them later.)

New Hair

So I was inspired by my daughters and decided to cut my hair. Lyle had to work on Saturday and I thought that it would be the perfect day to do it. I took myself to lunch and went to a place that is right by my house. Other than the bangs being a little to short, I like it!

Havasupai

This year Austin's scout troop hiked Havasupai. I have not been able to develop his pictures yet (he ran out the first day), but this one was printed up by his scout leaders (so its a picture of a picture).

He had a lot of fun, but ended up with HUGE blisters on his feet. One of which he broke open on a toy the night he got home and had to ware a sock on that foot for church the next day. I asked him if he would do it again and he said "NO!". I will ask again in a couple of months.

Can I borrow some money?

At the last visit to the dentist he took x-rays. I was surprised at how many teeth were about to be evicted by adult teeth coming in. This was on all three middle children. The first round came to be on Friday when Anna lost one of her front teeth with the other one to follow soon. (school pictures are going to look wonderful)

Does anyone know where the tooth fairy can get a loan?

He is offical

After cleaning our bedroom I finally put Lyle's certificates in there frames. He graduated in 2005 and I bought the frames shortly after that so it has only taken me 5 years to get all of it together. Lyle hung them up and after much shifting they are finally straight.

2010-2011 School Year

The kids started school on Tuesday. They were so happy! (as was I) This was taken right before we walked out the door.My big 1st grader, Anna. She wore the same outfit to Meet the Teacher the Friday before. I think it is her favorite.
Jared starts 3rd grade this year. He is happy to be in the same class as all his friends this year. I don't think the teacher will know what to do.

Josie starts 5th grade this year. She is ready to get into the thick of things and learn more. I think she is also excited because she has to read for homework so she can have her face in a book and I will not bug her to do her chores around the house.

Big Man on Campus, Austin, starts 8th grade. When we went shoe shopping he is wearing the same size as his mom. He is always going up to people we know and checking on if he is taller then they are. About 6 more inches and he's got me beat.

I am looking forward to a great year. I know the kids are also.

We are OVER!

After 15 years and 5 kids we are parting ways. Although there was support at first it has been lacking in the last couple of year. I can't relax and end up with a pain in my back! I am moving on to bigger and better things.

Lyle and I finally got a new bed! We went from a Queen size to a King size. We spent all morning cleaning our room and getting the room ready. Then in the afternoon we picked-up the bed (saving $ 60.00 in a delivery charge) and brought it home. After we moved the old bed downstairs and let the kids jump on it for the last couple of days. This is my 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed. So far one has not fallen off.

It has been GREAT with the bigger bed, but Lyle and I still end up meeting in the middle.

Water, Water Everywhere

William loves water. Always has. Even his first bath he sat calmly through and to this day would love to stay in for hours. When we go swimming he wants to jump in and just go (it's very scary). We went camping and it rained (which we all enjoyed). William took off his hood and let the rain fall on his head. Then he found that it would drip off the edge of the trailer faster so that's were he went.

You can just tell by his face how much fun he is having.

Happy 15th Anniversary

Today is Lyle and I 15 year anniversary. I can't believe we have been married that long! I love this man so much. He goes to work everyday and works very hard so that I can stay home and take care of the kids, the house, and be involved in different organizations. He is my best friend and a wonderful support when I need it.

2 years old

My little man turned 2 yesterday. I can't believe how time flies. The doctor asked me if he uses a spoon ok and I told him yes, but you can tell from this picture that he prefers not to use one.

We called everyone to come and get cake and ice cream. William did not wait for his brothers and sisters. He was patiently waiting with a big grin on his face.

This is the cake a picked up from Coscto. William loved dinosaurs and he wanted to eat his cake as soon as we picked it up from the refrigerator at Coscto. (Sorry its on its side, I couldn't flip it)

Going, Going, GONE!

Josie decided to donate her hair again to locks-of-love. This will be her second time. I was so sad to see is go as I REALLY like her hair. I was going to have it cut right before school but both her and Anna couldn't wait.

I am shocked that I did an ok job on her hair, even with the tears in my eyes.

I'm proud of her decision to donate the hair.

She is such a big person for the decision that she made.

She loves the new look. Right before school we will go to a professional to fix the mess I made, but for now she is ok with how it looks.

Youth Museum

I got a Culture pass for the Youth Museum. I thought it was the Children's Museum that is downtown. This was located in Mesa by the Temple. It was really cool. The kids didn't want to leave. I loved it because it gave them something to do and didn't cost anything but the gas to get us there. The girls doing an art project. They had different projects throughout the museum for the kids to do. Anna playing house. They had a kitchen with all the fake food and pots and pans and also a living room with books and couches.

The kids had a BLAST building these blocks up and crashing them down. I don't know if Austin had more fun or William or everyone in between.

This was right at the beginning. The kids wanted their pictures taken in the windows.

These are those sound things were you put your hand between the bars and it plays music. The boys enjoyed this part.

The also had art work and other musical instruments to play throughout the museum. There was also a special room just for drawing on the walls. I would defiantly do this again!