Good Morning Daddy

Rae sent this to me in a text this morning.....great start to my day :)

2011 Christmas Card

2011…where did you go? 

Owen loved playing soccer this fall while Rob & I coached his Under-6 team, the Toucans.  His favorite number is his age, 4, and his favorite color is still green.  This year he started preschool and has taken to it very well.  He loves it and is learning so much.  He also loves his teacher, Mrs. Jagoda, she’s great.  Owen is a creative lego builder and an excellent big brother who we can count on to be truthful and responsible.  

Laci is your typical 2 ½ yr old; she says “no” all the time and she insists that things need to go her way.  She loves pink and purple and playing with her dolls.  While she may be a little rough with Jane, she adores her very much.

February 24^th , 1 day late, Jane Mae Barth joined our family.  It was a snowy day in Paradise, Ca, but it was another bright moment in our lives.  Jane has recently started crawling and finds the smallest bits and pieces of things she’s not supposed to have on the floor.  We are pleased she is crawling because now she entertains herself more and follows us around the house instead of getting upset when we leave the room.  She loves attention and being held…she’s been spoiled by her Gmas, Aunts, and CousinsJ  She is very quick to share a wide-mouth-opened smile with us almost every time anyone makes eye contact with her.  She has a unique little growl she does all the time that elicits a laugh from anyone that hears it; she often growls when she is eating or smiling.

Rob is still employed with Butte County.  He joined the Sheriff’s Office for part of the year as a 911 Dispatcher and loved it, however, he went back to Child Support Enforcement because he chose to stick to a regular schedule for the family’s sake; we love having him around normal hours again J  Now he has taken on a new position at Butte County’s Human Resources department as an HR Analyst.  He’s excited for the change and the new challenge. 

Raeanne enjoys being home full time with our 3 wonderful kiddos.  She enjoys making crafts, baking, and taking “little trips” with them.  She’s endlessly busy running taxi for Owen and Laci to preschool and keeping up with Jane’s demands.  She’s the best mother!

We are grateful for Heavenly Father’s many blessings this year and forever families.  Owen recently reminded us of how fortunate we are when he said to daddy, “Dad, I wanna keep you and mommy forever.”

Love, Jane Mae (10 mo), Laci Rae (2.5), Owen Robert (4.5), Raeanne, and Rob

   

Together Forever

Last night while we were eating dinner somehow the discussion came up w the kids about being together forever; Raeanne and I didn't bring it up, Owen mostly led the conversation. Out of the blue Owen leans over to me and gives me a really nice hug aroung my neck and said, "Dad, I wanna keep you and mommy forever." I love my little man!

Masquerade

Me, Jed & Cari ready for our party to begin!

Tiff, Cari & I

He hee! ")

Jed & Tiffanie put on a Masquerade last month. Everyone made or purchased a mask and most dressed up in "time period" attire. We danced, ate and had a great time!

In case you can't tell who's these masked faces are:

1st Row-Dustin, Raeanne, Cari, LeAnne

2nd Row-Amanda, Christina, Audrey, Tiffanie

The Fords, Justin Hancocks, Craigs, & Jed Hancocks

Bruces, Boulants, Barths & Robertsons

Havens, Cox

Our hosts, Tiff & Jed (his picture makes me laugh every time!)

Jed & Rob hittin' on Virginia

Justin pimpin out his ladies LeAnne and Cari ")

Some people might think we're wierd for dressing up for parties like this, but we have a great time getting together and doing something a little different.

We're really blessed to have such a big circle of friends!

Christmas Gift Idea for the Kids

I took a quick peak at Pinterest this morning before picking up Laci from pre-school and saw this great idea for a present for the kids. Potentially no money involved too.

Our lovely neighbors, the Robertsons have been doing this and I've always liked the idea.

One-on-One Date Night

If you have more than one child consider taking each of them on a private one-on-one date night. You can go for dinner, ice-cream, to the park, to a movie, but the only requirement is the date is a duo. Strike that, there are two requirements. Turn off your cell phone and give your little one your full attention.

What to give under the tree: Consider a gift certificate, a box of ice cream cones, or a box of popcorn depending on what your plan is!

(We got our Christmas tree! Isn't it a beauty ") )

Halloween

We had a pretty decent Halloween this year. Except for Owen refusing to wear a costume of any sort. He would only wear something if it was just like a shirt and pants. Finally, the night before Halloween he agreed to be a cowboy as long as I was a cowgirl with him.
Laci wanted to be a princess, and I have to say she was really cute! It was really fun curling her hair and I even let her wear a little makeup. Just a little.

Here's the fam. I decided to draw in my eyebrows for something different, and I think I look like a fool, ha! I have such a funny looking expression on my face. Good lesson learned.
Jane was the cutest little witch! She wouldn't keep her hat on though.

Owen & cousin Ethan. They had a blast at the ward trunk-or-treat.

Here we are on actual Halloween night. I changed Laci & Jane's costumes since we had a couple different ones. We just walked up and down one street and came home with a TON of candy.

Owen had a fun little Halloween Party at school. Actually I think they called it a Harvest Festival. I forgot about how schools have to be different that way...


Here's Laci the first day of her little Pre-School. It's a 6 week program, just 3 days a week from 8-10:15. It's kind of like a second Nursery since most of the students are from church.

Cleaning your fan blades 101

I found this idea on Pinterest the other day on how to clean your fan blades and decided to give it a try. It sounded super simple.

All you do is take a pillow case, put it over your blade (so the blade is in-between) and then drag it over to remove all the dust! It worked so well I did all 4 of our rooms in under 20 mintues. It probably could've gone faster but with 3 little ones running around under you it kinda slows ya down a bit.

I almost didn't post these pictures, it's embarassing, but it was too amazing to not to. ")

-Before-
gross I know!

-After-

amazing!

Hawes Pumpkin Farm

We had the chance to go to a SUPER COOL pumpkin farm in Anderson. It had lots of neat things for kids & adults both. Corn maze, tractor rides, tire swings, bounce thing, train ride, zip lines, stage coach & pony rides, rock wall, tricycle races, face painting, plus a huge pumpkin field with pumpkins ranging in size from ginormous to tiny.

Notice Laci's shirt? We got an add from The Children's Place in the mail and as soon as she saw this one she wanted it! She loves cupcakes, & she'd point to which one on the shirt she wanted and that Owen could have, and Mommy, and that Daddy could have.
Anyway, after she pointed out the shirt every day for a couple of weeks I finally bought it for her ")

Rob & Jed racing the zip line ")
Train ride, Owen's favorite

Jed was fortunate enough to get free tickets to the place, and kindly invited us.
Thanks guys!!!

The kids were really good so we bought 'em an ice-cream

Laci loved the zip-line! I was so proud ")

Owen was brave too

If you're ever in northern Cali, be sure and check out Hawes Family Farm.

An "Awwwe" Moment

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch folding laundry while the kids were playing on the floor. Owen's been really into legos. It's so fun to watch what he builds and comes up with. Kids can be so creative.

Anyway, all of a sudden Owen just turns to me and says "Mom, I really want a brother! Can we have one?" I told him that I wanted one too, but it'll be a while and it's up to Heavenly Father when he comes. Then Owen replied "Yeah, he's in heaven right now, but I really want a brother!"

Awe, so cute. ")

I know that our family is not yet "complete", but I am no where near ready to have another baby yet. I really hope we can have another boy though. Maybe Owen knows something I don't. ")

Seriously?!

Are people really that oblivious and rude?!!?

Today I went to pick up Owen from pre-school and on the way Laci fell asleep. I was soo tempted to just leave her in the car while I quickly ran in, but I knew something would probably go wrong if I did. So I picked her up and carried her around to get Jane. I'm carrying Laci with my right arm and Jane in her carseat in my left arm. Not really easy, but I was getting it done.

I was planning in my mind how I was going to get through the gate that's in front of the classroom that you push over to open/close. As I walked around the corner of the building I saw that the gate was locked. (Oh great I thought!) But then I saw that a woman was sitting outside another classroom. I thought (Perfect, she'll come over and help me open the gate) but did she...NO!!! She totally ignored me, didn't even look up, and I walked right in front of her! Then as I get closer to the gate another parent comes out with their child, opens the gate, and then closes AND locks it!!!! Seriously! I know you saw me because we just made eye contact! RUDE! Wow, I couldn't believe it. I cannot believe people can be so unhelpful! I was so frustrated!

And speaking of being frustrated, here's another story. Although this one is cute.

Yesterday we got out of the house and into the van late to take Owen to school. I wasn't happy and was sharing my disappointment & frustration with the kids. As we got down the road Owen speaks up and says "Mom, you just need to get over it." He wasn't rude or sassy, he was 'just saying'. I laughed and said "You know what Owen, you're right. I do just need to get over it and move on." I guess sometimes our kids do here our criticisms/lectures we give. :) Oh, and a little while down the road he asks "Are you over it now Mom?" I say "Yes bud, I'm over it" Then he says "Yep, it just takes about 2 minutes and then you get over it."

It was a good lesson for me to hear that day, and now that I read this, it's good for me today as well. ")

Toucans 2011

We had a great opening day of soccer this morning. Lots of fun! Our Toucans won 4-3; Gooooooo Toucans!!!

Labor Day 2011

The Owens drove out from Utah and the Parrotts were nice enough to let us spend a day on their houseboat. It was a lot of fun. The kids had a blast; Rob got sun-burnt :)