2010 So sad to see you go!

i love re-caps and newsletters and usually do a "yearbook" for our family, but decided i would just publish my blog instead in a little book-ish type of way from now on...that way its not such a project at the end of the year...but looking back at this year - wow...we packed a lot in!

In JANUARY....

we moved...which was one of the toughest moves with two kids, being very newly pregnant and having to assemble a million pieces of IKEA furniture...but big thanks to my mom for helping out and we are so so happy here in this cute little house and adorable neighborhood and having a backyard has changed my life!

we had a "B" birthday party to celebrate Bodie's 1st birthday (a month late) and also to welcome people to our new home.

in FEBRUARY...

i learned how to love my husband again...

bryson rode without training wheels thanks to his Christmas present - the balance bike...

we introduced our little/big surprise to most everyone...

in MARCH...

i learned how to write a grant and found out that a grant i had written was approved for the JLLB.

i did the Pink Parlour craft fair with Linz

we started our backyard "lazy garden" and the boys helped

in APRIL...

we headed up to Santa Barbara to celebrate Easter with our college buddies. one of the best Easters we have had!

i did the Fremont Craft Fair

i opened Sweet B Vintage

in MAY...

we drove up to our favorite place - Bishop Creek so that Bryan, Mandie and Jake could run the BHS 20 mile fun run.

i opened up Zoodies.com

in JUNE...

we drove up to Bishop creek again...this time without kids...to fish the lakes at our annual TMAFI

Bryson started pre-school

i did Patchwork Craft Festival in LB

in JULY...

we celebrated our country's anniversary

we celebrated our 9th anniversary

we celebrated bryan's birthday

i re-vamped my blog

matt barnes joined the Lakers!

I did a maternity photo shoot with my cousin, Jen Johnson Photography

in AUGUST and SEPTEMBER....

we prepared for a home birth for our third baby

we welcomed Bobby Rhys Barnes into our family and hearts forever

Zoodies was featured in Daily Candy a week after Bobby was born

we visited Rileys' Farm - our first family outing

in OCTOBER...

i started my dance class with old high school friends

we did Halloween...the best we could...

in NOVEMBER...

we celebrated my birthday

we celebrated Bryson's birthday

we flew to Colorado to celebrate Thanksgiving with my mom and Howard

in DECEMBER...

we started our advent tradition...

we drove to San Jose for a week for Christmas and Kathy's 60th Bday

Christmas 2010

 our christmas up north was so fun and the nice part is that we had a whole week to hang out, so it didnt feel rushed and packed - we got to do a lot in that week!

we had Kathy's 60th birthday party, we got to see bryan's sister cute new place and hang out with her and kirk, we got to see bryan's friend growing up and do dinner again (2 double dates in one week...wow...spoiled!) we got to sleep in a bit while meema hung out with her boys (which was so nice since sleeping during the night was apparently not on Bobby's agenda)

we got to do see our nephew's basketball game, got do do some geo-caching and shopping and present wrapping and eating...oh man...eating...bob went and did it this Christmas! him and bryan brined and smoked the turkey and it was hands down the best turkey i have ever eaten...oh by the way there was also an amazing ham and some of the best ribs i have ever tasted too...yeah...that must be where B gets his mad BBQ skills ;) duh...i knew that...









these boys love their papa. this morning they skipped rocks with papa in this lake for about an hour. i love boys...that skipping rocks can keep them occupied for an hour...i happily watched with a big ol goofy grin on my face.













here are the boys on christmas morning. santa brought them socks and toothbrushes and a flashlight. later, on our drive home, i asked bryson what his favorite gifts were...(he opened like a million) and he said the buzz lightyear ($5 at disneyland for a tiny one) the flashlight ($3 walgreens) and the umbrella (kathy got it for him because he always wants to carry hers).





bodie received monster trucks and you know he was a fan because he is still sleeping with them.









bobby...well...bobby will get something next year ;) just kidding - he got some nice new duds...like his unionsuit...so adorable!










this is bodie's twin cousin - kassai - almost exactly a month younger. she is a little firecracker - i had so much fun just watching her walk - she oozes confidence. i hope she always does!













yay! my first christmas! merry christmas everyone!

Nekky Boy

so...this one prefers the suit God made him. (and i have spared the nekky boy picture for your sake)

i mean- i get it...its fun to be free...but this kid is taking it to a new level.

i just walked in to kiss my boys goodnight...as is my custom...because love is restored when young ones are sleeping and peaceful.




bodie was butt naked.

in a ball.

in his crib.

he was neither naked, nor in his crib when he was put to bed.

he always asks me "nekky boy?" and i will tell him..."NO Nekky Boy!" and then a fit will ensue...unless its bath time...then its on...then nekky boy can run free...

i am so praying that this is a phase...

Kathy's 60th Bday Luau

Birthday Girl...Come on...60....???

Bob getting the party started!

Me forgiving Bodie for consuming 4 cups of sugar

Baby Kayo - Bobby's twin cousin

Guilty

Bobby and Bobby

Birthday Girl and Casey

See the food? amazing! that is why Kimmy and I were posted here!

this year we traveled up to san jose a week earlier than Christmas to celebrate kathy's (bryan's mom) 60th birthday. bryan's dad Bob was surprising her with a trip to Hawaii for her 60th, so they threw her a surprise luau. And she was genuinely surprised. And it was genuinely awesome to experience!

Look at that first picture of her...she is 60...no joke...does that woman look a day over 45???? and let me tell you - she doesnt act a day over 30...the woman has more energy than anyone i know! she is an amazing mother, an amazing grandmother and an amazing woman of the Lord. we are very very blessed to know her and love her. so a life to be celebrated for sure!

the night was super special - kristie (bryan's oldest sister) helped throw the event and made sure that every detail was super special. they had a cupcake tier by kristie's friend in san jose (of which was table level, so bodie was able to grab at least 5 that we know of...the joy of being unchecked in a crowd of 60 adults!!!)

there was a DJ, a full on luau spread of food, a slideshow of pics of the birthday girl and all kinds of luau decorations. the highlight of the night was Bob surprising her with a trip to Hawaii in February. It was so neat to see her so loved and surprised!!!

Bryson and Meema

she is the only person i have ever met who can keep up with this boy. bryson's meema (bryan's mother) - and bryson is missing her something bad right now. he always cries when we leave and then asks when we will see her again. she knows how this boy works and knows how to keep him busy busy busy! here they are on a walk to his auntie kristie's house...in the rain....on scooters...love it!

Golfing Barnes Style

i can't wait to share our Christmas stories with you all...but i am also staring at a HUGE pile of paper on my desk...and invoices to create and deposits to enter and about 30 hours of catch-up work so please forgive me if i only share this humble camera phone picture of the boys. it makes me smile. bryan, his dad, mom, our niece kaliya, our nephew kairee and aric all went out golfing at a local par 3 course up in san jose. my FIL met up with more of his golf buddies and their kids/grandkids for a kiddo day where they had a mini tournament and handed out prizes (bryson got this plastic medal he did not take off for 3 days). i did not make it out for the actual golfing so bryan sent me this picture of how he rigged up the golf pull cart to fit our boys.

PS: aren't his pants pretty awesome? he has a matching hat....i still need to take them in a bit and add pockets, but still...amazing...(vintage on etsy)

Bobby at 3 Months

 our sweet little bobby is 3 months! (3 months and 1 week to be more exact :) )

he is so so sweet and we can't stop ourselves from kissing him about 500 times a day. just look at that face! you would too!

Bobby went on his first plane ride this month to Colorado and saw snow for the first time. He celebrated his first Thanksgiving with Mor Mor and Papa Howard and he was our best little traveler! His Grauntie Stephanie made this cute little pirate shirt for him (and matching ones for the bigger boys and they LOVE them!)



he is getting over a second cold (thank you big germy brothers!) but it hasnt affected his sweet demeanor.

he very patiently sits in the office while mommy works or while mommy sews and whenever you look at him he smiles, like "hey! thanks for looking at me!" its kinda sad...but he is mostly in my arms because i can't put my baby down...i think i am afraid he will grow or something if i do...my last baby...so sad...i will baby him until he is old and then i will sneak into his room like that creepy book, "I love you forever"

Sorry in advance Bobby!

Colorado Trip - Part 2 - Highlands Ranch

so...being back now...i am realizing how spoiled i am...having only ever lived in socal my whole life...and getting to visit the pretty snow, and then LEAVE it!

especially with kids...how do you guys do it?

we could not stay in doors all winter or else people would get harmed....and lose hair...maybe both.

but there are also drawbacks to living in a season-less place.

there is such a beauty and rhythm of the changing seasons. they mark your year and years and time.

the snow is also a blanket of silence. a very welcomed blanket i am sure.

in many ways i am jealous of you guys who experience seasons...and then in other ways i envision piles of snow on my driveway that need to be shoveled and 2 hours of getting the boys in snow clothes every day and i change my mind a little.

i like the thought of snow....lets put it that way, shall we?

this is the scenery behind my mom and howard's house in Highlands Ranch - we took a couple of lovely strolls when we were visiting with them. It started snowing on us the first day and on our walk home it was getting dark and people were putting up Christmas lights and it was so nice and winter-y - i am so glad my  boys got some snow experience this year!

on our second walk we attempted a geocaching adventure but the cache was most likely lost in an excavation, but it sparked a new hobby for us!









this picture makes me laugh because bodie was really hanging on to me. and that is bobby i am carrying...and bryson has started to really become clingy too...i feel like a magnet these days.

we had a very full time - full of fun and adventure and new experiences and very little sleep! but we loved spending time with mor mor and papa howard and can't wait to go in the summertime so we can catch us some fish!

An Update

hopefully i will get some time in the office this week to post some more pics and finish my colorado post...but until then a quick brain fart update:

* bodie hit his head this week harder than i have ever seen a kid hit their head...i called my sister about concussion symptoms...there was a dent...and then a goose egg of epic proportions...he is since doing fine...

* we only put up christmas lights in the backyard this year...it makes me smile though every time!

* bryson has entered his "emo" phase...after a time out because he disobeyed he was crying and asked, "why don't you just sell me away?" to keep myself from laughing i asked him, "who do you think would buy you, Bryson?" to which he had no reply.

"face"

* bobby has found his hands and has also developed a "mad" sound...too bad its super cute and we just laugh at the poor little guy...

* bodie has been cracking us all up with his word explosions - he seriously has like 10 new words a day and is putting sentences together in amazing ways. its weird that this little person we have known for almost 2 years is now speaking his mind. he loves to sing his favorite songs, "yo ho, yo ho pirate ME!" and "inkle bells, all da WAAAAY" and "dragon puncha!"...he is very into praying and always says "Ahman"...he loves to make me smile with his face that he makes, which we call "face"

* i was so proud at myself for finishing my Christmas shopping and intended to make a bunch of home-made gifts and then zoodies orders piled in...so sorry people...you get gift cards

* the only music i have been listening to lately is Christmas music, natch...we listen to XM channel 23 - Holly - we heard this song and were a little amazed! and of course Amy Grant and I am loving the Bebe and Cece Winans album my dad gave me a while back.

* our Jesse Tree is going smashing...i am quite happy with myself that we have done all 5 days without a hitch. Bryson is loving it AND retaining the info! amazing to me...i so so recommend doing this - puts advent into perspective!

that is all...hope you all are well and that you are enjoying this beautiful advent season!

Colorado Trip - Part 1 - Breckenridge

Bryan and the boys doing "face"

we got back last night from our Thanksgiving trip to Colorado. My mother and her husband Howard moved there 3 1/2 years ago and this was our second time visiting them. the first time we only had bryson...this time was, in fact, quite different with the 3 boys. this was our first time traveling with all of them. they did amazing on the plane. i think it had to do with the fact that the older boys sat with their daddy and i had bobby on my lap away from them.

Me trying to surf...note the tongue of concentration

My mountain man

The gang of us

oh and by the way...they almost made us buy a ticket for Bobby because you have to have proof of birth. i still haven't gotten a birth certificate for him (the agent said the letter from the midwife would do) but i didn't know it was for any baby. we had to buy bryson a ticket when he was almost 2 because of that, but thought it was because he looked almost 2...didnt know it applied to babies too! just an FYI if you happen to travel with a lap infant...but maybe you knew that already...like i probably should have.

Me forcing Bodie to have fun...Bodie politely refusing

The sleigh ride through the woods

anyhoo...so we made it to CO and the next day we headed up to Breckenridge for some snow fun. right behind the *gorgeous* cabin we stayed in was the best hill for sledding, so we took advantage of that every day.

we had an Italian style Thanksgiving - my  mom cooked AMAZING food all week...i was so so spoiled...she was in the kitchen like the whole time poor woman! but that is a way she shows her love and it would be so rude not to accept all the mama lovin from the kitchen, no?

Bodie looking so happy...

Proof Bobby was there too...our little bear all bundled up

on friday we met up with my aunt and uncle and cousins (my cousin danny and his family live in CO also) and had a St. Lucia brunch and some more snow play and then hopped on a sleigh ride to this cute little tent/cabin thing where we listened to country songs and drank hot chocolate...and the adults got a little peppermint schnapps thrown in which helped warm us up a bit...and then dinner in Breckenridge with the whole lot of us. good times!

If the boys would have slept well, it would have made the trip extra perfect...i feel absolutely exhausted from trying to get each boy to sleep and stay asleep. every night i would go from our bed to the boys bed and back to our bed, sometimes 3 trips each night. Bodie did not have an easy time of it and Bobby ended up getting a cold and so the poor guy could barely breathe.

Bodie slept so little during the trip, which is i think the real reason i am exhausted. On the way home from the airport he fell asleep (around 6) and didnt get up until 8:15 this morning - which is a record for him (he usually wakes around 5:45-6.

but the million cups of coffee helped...plus the chilly mountain air. breckenridge is just breath-taking beautiful. It so helped to put us in the mood for Christmas, even if we did come home to 70 degree California weather.

Bryan and I agreed that it was hard, but so worth it and we are glad that having 3 kids doesn't stop us from exploring and living and exposing our kids to new experiences...even if people at the airport look at you like you are nuts...and about a million people tell you, "looks like you have your hands full!" because we do...but it doesnt stop us...because we crazy like that!

Bodie did not care for sledding...but he looked adorable!

on our way...

to colorado...for our first trip with our party of 5! i have our bags packed...plus a party bag for the boys to *hopefully* keep bodie occupied long enough to not make the flight miserable for all.

P.S....packing for 5 is a workout! both mental and otherwise.

we will be heading up to the mountains (weather permitting) and spending a couple days cozying up in a cabin - we are looking forward to no computers and no work and lots of play...not looking forward to the COLD - looks like the high will be 15 degrees tomorrow! ouch...

wish us luck...throw up a prayer...we have a lot to be thankful for and excited there is a holiday reserved just for that...well...that and eating...hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!!!

The Second Child

we would have never bought bryson a scooter before he turned 2...nor would we think to put him on the balance bike...there is just something about this that doesnt seem right!

Bodie on Bryson's Razor




Bodie on the Balance Bike

Bobby at 2 Months

okay...i am a wee bit late for this post...i realize...almost 2 weeks late, so he is more like 2 1/2 months but humor me...

sweet bobby b. he is a little sweetheart - this month he has really been cooing like crazy - big huge smiles for us and any time you pay him attention he is over the moon about it.

this month he has been active like crazy - holding his head up so well and practicing jumping on daddy's lap.

he has been sleeping much better too. he still spits up a lot, but wakes 2-3 times a night, and now i can help him go back to sleep after his second waking. the trick is to put him in the bassinet, not hold him...much to my sadness. i wish i could cuddle him but its not helping either of us out.

big brothers are in love with this boy too. they fight over who gets to hold him. i sneak peeks of bryson singing to him and bodie sneaking kisses. he is such a perfect little puzzle piece to our family. he fits in seamlessly and i could not imagine our life without him. although its only been 2 1/2 months...i feel as though he has been a part of our family all along...its odd...but this month has really been about me feeling like our family is complete and he helps seal that deal ;)

The Golfers and How to Cool Up Hand Me Downs!

my husband is little bit brilliant...although he is the only boy among his siblings and did not have to share his boyish toys to the extent these three will have to, he knows how to make hand-me-downs seem cooler than they are.

bryson just turned 5 this week and for his birthday he received a big boy set of golf clubs...a VERY nice set of clubs...like when bryan told me how much he spent on them i was a little taken aback... but its an "investment" he assured me...ummm..mmm...hmmm...okay...if you say so, honey! bryan also took him to the "big boy" course (a local par 3 - they only did the front 9) and he started his next level of golf classes. so this has all been very exciting (for them) of course. 

Part of our dilemma in our household right now is how to encourage sharing, but also how to keep the "bigger boy" toys separate from the "little boy" toys. bodie should not in any way be playing with bryson's clubs - bryson also needs to learn how to care for *very* nice things/property. so bryan was very intentional with this...

first he took bryson's old clubs and had them shortened at the golf shop...then he spray painted the club part white to appear new and he got them re-gripped and lastly, he got Bodie his very own new standing bag. 

to help show Bodie the difference of ownership, Bryan had me print out some pictures of the boys and attach them to their bags to show "this is Bryson's!" and "this is Bodie's"

and it worked so well! i was so blown away! we all made a very big deal of bodie's clubs and you could tell he felt pretty dern cool...

i love that bryan's brain thinks this way - i would have just given him the old clubs and be all like, deal...these boys are very lucky to have such a creative and thoughtful daddy!

Ready for the So-Cal Hurricane Season

i think these two "dress up" in some fashion every day...love it! 

sunset reflections

my *bigger* boys have been gone all day with their dad. i have a lot of catching up in the office to do...so i have had a quiet house...which is amazing...my brain can think...but its also bittersweet -i miss my boys' chaos and laughter too. bryan is good about filling me in on the special times when he has the boys - he just emailed me this picture he took on his phone of the boys at the beach.

i wish i was there and not here...but it is so so nice that our boys have this time with their dad. this was our dream - to have the both of us raising our children like this...and although i feel more than a little over working (if you know me, then you know i have been trying to get fired for the past 6 1/2 years) i can't help but look at a picture like this and know that we are making the right choice.