Meema and Papa

This was taken the day we came back from TMAFI...love this picture - i think you can tell how much they love their grandkids - how much the kids love them...Bob stayed with the boys by himself for 2 days before Kathy came...pretty amazing grandpa! We are very blessed to have them in and a part of our lives, even though there is 360 miles between us. Love you meema and papa!

Welcome Riley Kajsa!

Would you look at this little angel? How perfect she is? I may be a little biased...being her auntie and all...but my goodness..this little ball of joy has me a perfect blubbery mess. I was talking to Bryan last night and told him that I didnt realize I would be so emotional about this baby...I knew I would be happy...but didn't think I would be crying this much. (His response was, uh...really? cause everyone else knew) Every time i see her...every time i hold her...every time i think of her name...man...here i go again. Let me just say I am in love! So over the moon excited to get to hold her and meet her and watch my sister become a mommy. So fun!

My sister did amazing. She was 6 days past her due date and very emotional and very ready to meet this baby. She had irregular contractions and said she didn't quite know when to get to the hospital, but when she did she was already at 7! She had the baby naturally at the hospital and she said her birth experience was amazing (except the pushing...she wasnt a fan of the pushing) and peaceful and everyone at the hospital respected her wished for a drug-free birth and even encouraged her! i am beyond thrilled that she had such a good experience. Beyond proud that she did it and beyond grateful that the baby is healthy and perfect.

I keep plotting how to get over there and hold that baby...my own babies are a bit of a hurdle. i come home though and hug them tight and try to get them to stop growing. i can barely remember when they were sleeping sacks of potatoes. why does it go by in a heartbeat? and why do some stages seem to last a lifetime? My little framed "This too shall pass" is my daily reminder of that...both the good and the bad!

Thank you to all of you for your prayers! And keep them coming! She is recovering slowly and hasnt slept since last wednesday...and if you are a mom you know exactly how hard it all is - being exhausted and in pain and needed all the time. but she is truly happy and such a natural - it is so fun to watch how in love with her baby she is and what a good mommy she already is...that little girl is one lucky lady to have such amazing parents and so many people around waiting to love on her! Praise the Lord!

TMAFI 2012

Every year as we make our way up the winding highway 168 up into the Sierras that overshadow Bishop...i cant help but exhale deeply and breathe in deeper and feel a little like we have come home. I love this little area of California so much. We have some roots here - my grandpa worked a mine not too far from Bishop and our family would take yearly trips up to Mammoth. Bryan grew up going to Tahoe (just the other side of the mountain) so it is familiar ground these Sierras. And this little fishing trip - TMAFI - started out just an excuse to get an awesome campsite (see second to last photo) and has turned into an excuse to spend quality time with friends cities away. 

Little did i know when TMAFI began it would turn into what it has. This year was a rather small turnout, but most years we have had around 25 people. I am hoping for a big crowd next year since it will be the 10th one! But this year was so nice to have a small group. The kids stayed with Bob and Kathy at our house, so Bryan and I got to have some (much needed) alone time. I have been on trips and stuff, but never have i felt so completely relaxed. i prayed...a lot...i read books...i sat and thought. when was the last time i sat and thought? i couldnt even answer that...i am so continually distracted on a minute by minute basis at home. There is always something i am neglecting - be it laundry or work or cleaning or sometimes my children or husband...there is always responsibility here - it isnt a restful place. so its nice to be able to get away where cell phones dont work...where road trips spark awesome conversation, where the air is crisp and fresh and the stars come out for a show every night. its nice that my husband and i both love it too...it wouldnt be quite as fun if we didnt. we enjoy each other's company very much...it helps. i still think he is the greatest guy i have ever met.  And even though i wanted to win something awful this year...i secretly hope he gets a turn - because he is almost as good a fisher-person as me :) 

Barnes Boys - Where They At

Bodie Boy...he has been a little stinker lately! so mischievous (and dangerously quietly mischievous) i am talking drawing on the walls, drawing with crayon on the car window, sneaking into the fridge and throwing food all over, punching his little brother and then looking like he did nothing wrong...and then he has been the opposite of quiet in not so fun ways - throwing a tantrum for an hour when i made him dress himself (bryson couldnt wait to dress himself...and get himself into the car seat by himself - they are so different its eerie) and tantrums in general...whining just about every sentence. its been a little difficult with him...but then he flashes you this smile (see picture above) and he looks at you with the same eyes of his father - the eyes that just melt you and you can't stay mad at him for long. oh this boy! he has my number! it drives me crazy!!!

Bryson spent the first 2 weeks of summer with Bryan's parents - his meema and papa - in San Jose. He gave them a run for their money i hear...he did tennis camp with his meema for 2 hours and then would swim for 2 hours and then would golf 9 holes with his papa....like every day...i love meema and papa...and i know they had a blast with him. He has boundless energy this one. Since he got back Bryan has been taking him out on the course a lot and practicing with him here at the Barnes Country Club - he has been improving so fast! He entered his first tournament yesterday and took first place! holy stuff! SO EXCITED! i did not go, but Bryan said he played the best he had seen, totally stepped up his game - of course! there was COMPETITION! he takes after his mama (and dad!) - he par-ed 7 holes, made a birdie on one and bogey-ed one - so it came out to even par (they only played 9 holes). he sank some 8 foot putts and played with total Bryson confidence. when i was tucking him in last night i told him how proud i was of him. "I'm proud of me too mom!" - bryan and i talked about how this is the first award he has won solely on his own merit. that is something to be proud of! bryson also told bryan that golf is now his favorite sport and he wants to play it every day. i really hope he sticks with it...not just because it is difficult to get hurt playing golf...but because he has such a gorgeous natural swing, he could really go somewhere with it!

Bobby boy...Bobby had hand, foot, mouth disease a couple weeks ago and it was AWFUL. poor baby had blisters on his tongue, roof of his mouth, his cheeks and the backs of his lips...it was not fun. for about a week and a half he didnt eat much and was super cranky and had a rough time sleeping...but then...just like that...it was over and we had our happy crazy bobby back! and it was so nice to have him back - i got him from his crib and he flashed a big old goofy grin and oh my gosh...this kid...he just lights up your world! 

with bryson gone, it was just bobby and bodie and so interesting to see how they got on. bobby is talking so much more now - it is so fun to hear him say "Um On Bovee" and equally adorable things. he copies everything his brothers do (aghh!) and is fearless with the skateboard. he is already doing froggy foot while golfing and can balance like no ones business. he is growing way too fast - he can climb out of his crib and just searching for a bed for him is causing me to hyperventilate! he never got the memo that the baby isnt allowed to grow up!

4th of July!

This was the extent of our decorating this year...

bobby super pumped about the bike parade

The line up

i am aware it is the 9th of july...and really...i am amazed that i am telling about the 4th of july in july at all. its my day in the office today and what i should be doing is budgets and reconciling and all kinds of boring accounting stuff. but we have had such an amazing week i feel like i should be on vacation. which is not allowed for people who own a pool cleaning company. summer vacations are forbidden...but in my head i am on vacation...

so on the 4th we took part in the annual kids bike parade with our friends the Douglas' - so fun! and we are usually late, but this year we were early so we got to decorate our bikes a little better and register the boys - we usually just jump right in since we are late. after a nice bike ride we rode home and put bobby down for a nap and bryan bar-b-qued some pork bootie...and i got to read a book and bodie looked for bugs. we had the douglas' over...the neighbors over...my mom and sister and brother in law and don and julia and it was a low-key amazing time. the kids all played extremely well. we did the mentos/diet coke geysers in the street, which was hilarious and totally more for the grown-up (ish boys) and lit a little backyard firework display that exceeded any and all expectations. the food was amazing - as was the 3 desserts...i wish it could be 4th of July every day...except for pool parties...if no one had pool parties on the 4th of july that would be perfect!

My cute husband

Notice the flag in bodie's helmet

Baby Riley's Baby Shower

Sorry for the picture heavy post, but i couldn't pick which ones to leave off! Thank you cousin JJ for snapping pics for me, or else there would be no way to document the lovely day that it was! Liz and I threw a shower for my beautiful sister Sara-Britt in my backyard this past weekend. The weekend before my Aunt Stephanie and cousin Melissa threw Sara-Britt the sweetest most amazing shower ever for our family...and when we got there Liz and I realized they had the same idea in their mind for a theme (yellow and gray) so we quickly decided to re-think the theme since we didn't want to even try to compete with the professionals that they are...it was seriously amazing!

So we just used things i already had and kept it simple and it was a lovely day and just what Sara wanted - no agenda, no fuss, no games, just lovely women spending time together and blessing this (highly anticipated) baby Riley. There was a prayer of blessing on this baby and chatting time and then she opened gifts. Liz and I had arranged a group gift to get her the stroller she had wanted...little did i know she thought no one would buy her that stroller since it was a little pricey, so she registered for a different one in the mean time. to make a long story short...we were able to somehow surprise her with the stroller. She has just about all she needs and more and is ready to stop working (she was ready for that a while ago) and prepare to meet this baby!

Such a special time to celebrate. She is going to be the most amazing of moms and I can't wait to see her become a mom to her baby girl - she is going to fall so deep in love! It makes my heart happy to know she has an amazing support system within this group of women to help walk with her on her journey. 

Dear Riley - Your Auntie Carlee is so excited to meet you! I have been praying for you since the day I found out your mother was expecting you. I can't wait to take you to tea parties (if you like that sort of thing) and ballets (again, if you are into it) and make you wear dresses I made (when you are a baby you can't stop me...but when you get bigger I will let you decide). Whatever type of person you are, I have full confidence you can't help but be pretty awesome, since you are going to have pretty awesome parents who love the Lord, love life and know how to celebrate all that life blesses us with and how to deal with the stuff that life hands us that isn't so pleasant. Just remember you can always come over to Auntie Carlee's house if your mom doesn't want to play princess with you or if you want to learn how to catch bugs from your cousins or if you want to just bake some cookies with me. I make really good cookies just like your mom...

Love you Baby Riley!!!
Auntie Carlee

A Letter to Bryson

Dear Bryson,
Today you shocked your dad and I. We make you and your brothers stay in your room until 7:00 (even though you like to wake up at 6:00) - all year we have been struggling with keeping you all in...with you and Bodie getting yourselves dressed...with your brothers and you not screaming. Well today, young man...today you and bodie and bobby all came out of your room promptly at 7:00am and you had dressed bobby all by yourself! including his diaper! (it was on backward, but that is okay). You told me that you like making me happy and that you see how I am always doing stuff for you guys. I dont think my heart could have swelled more!

I have seen such a change in you since you started Kindergarten. I have seen you change the way you get frustrated with your brothers. I have seen you become such a gentle teacher with Bodie. I have seen the way you care for Bobby and look after him (most of the time). I have seen you make more of an effort to remember all the things you are responsible for (backpack, sweater, lunch box, homework). I have seen you own up to your mistakes and work really hard to do better. I have seen how well you listen and how you always help Mrs. Clanton clean up the balls and jump ropes even though you never use them...because you are ALWAYS playing tetherball....by the way...i have also seen what an amazing tetherball player you have become...i saw you beat that first grader. i know you think i didn't, but i did! i see lots of things you think I don't see ;)

I am so glad that God gave you to me so that I can be your mommy. God has shown me a lot about love and patience and self-lessness through you. Believe it or not, mommies learn lessons still. I want you to know what I pray for you every night when I tuck you in:

Dear God - Thank you for Bryson. Please help me to know how to parent Bryson in the best way. Thank you for his independent spirit, for his endless curiosity, for his love for life. Please help him learn how to temper those things as well. Please help him to have a grateful heart. Please give him sweet dreams and help him to dream about amazing things like (i switch these out each night) ice cream and baseball and catching bugs. Thank you Jesus.
Amen

I hope you know how much I love you...and I hope you know it through what I do...and maybe you do, since you are doing the same thing for me!
Love you dearly,
Mommy