Just another school day..

Isn't this a great outfit? I think it is...and I would wear it...if I had some money to buy everything!!  I got the inspiration from a great blog that I read EVERY day!!  www.jenloveskev.com  Go check it out!!!!  :-)

Just another school day.. by melissab75 featuring metal bracelets

Splendid button cardigan
£86 - my-wardrobe.com

T shirt
oqvestir.com.br

Ganni short mini skirt
€120 - youheshe.com

Forever21 boots
$20 - canada.forever21.com

ASOS cross body shoulder bag
$27 - asos.com

Worthington metal bracelet
$13 - jcpenney.com

One Kings Lane - Perfectly Graceful in Emerald Glass Vase
onekingslane.com

Set of 3 Amazon Bamboo Poles
$80 - crateandbarrel.com

Firsts...

Last week was a BIG week in our lives....

1. Finn started preschool!  ( Just two mornings a week..:-)

2. Olivia started Kindergarten!  ( Every morning from 7:55-11:20)

3. Olivia had her first soccer practice!  ( She took it VERY seriously...)

4...and finally Wyatt started eating some solids..( rice cereal!  )

Whew!!  You can bet by the end of the week this mommy was done!  Of course then I had to go to my "other" work on Saturday..( which , BTW,  is a lot less work then being a stay-at-home mommy)

Hope you all had a good week too!

xoxoxo

Dancin' at the Lake

We took one small trip this summer...to my Aunt's lake house in Bass Lake ( up near Yosemite, CA).  We spent 5 glorious days in the sun , swimming , and eating...it really was exactly what we needed.  Here is a little video that depicts what did on most days...sitting on the dock, munching on snacks, swimming, and spending time as a family. :-)

Pic of the day

Falling behind...

I think that I had a list about that somewhere...

I think that I had a list to make another list about something else I had to do.

That is what my life feels like right now.  Remembering, remembering, and more remembering.  It's a cruel joke that when we are pregnant our memories start to go..we forget about the "list" and just end up snoozing on the couch...zzzzzz...only to wake up 3 kids later and realize the lists are endless.

I had grand visions for this blog a long time ago...everyone would read it..it would become wildly popular and eventually I would end up on Oprah or Ellen and win cash prizes for everyone in my family.

Now I think that it just "is".  It is a way for me to remember.  To help with my "mommy brain" and look backwards...

Can you tell that Wyatt is finally taking acutal naps?  It means that while Finn is doing a puzzle I can write incoherent thoughts on my "unread" blog.  :-)

I promise the next post will have pictures..

xoxoxo

Summertime

Yup....this pretty much sums up summertime.

I know I'm biased but darn it...they are so cute.

xoxox

Too fast...

I am going to blink and she will be going to college.

It's going to fast...like a ride you can't stop...

I am trying so hard to soak it all in...

But , she is growing up and I am blessed to help her with it.

Blessings

I am grateful for today.

I am thankful for my family.

I am blessed to be a mommy.

I am lucky to be healthy. 

I am happy. 

xoxoxox

Transition

We are in transition.  What does that mean?  It means a new baby, putting our house up for sale, selling the house in 4 days, moving out of the house 30 days later, moving into Chad's brothers house ( they also have three kids), and waiting oh so patiently for our new house to close escrow.  :-)

Transition.

It is a concept that is teaching me a hard lesson in patience, thankfulness, and peace.

Until then...this quote will have to do.

Olivia:" Mom, is Finn moving with us to the new house".

Me: " Of course he is honey....(I'm looking a little shocked at this point) Where do you think he would go"

Olivia: "  I don't know....I was just wondering ..."

:-)

Daddy's little clone..

Here is a pic of Chad as a newborn....

Now here is a pic of Wyatt.....

I'd say that Chad's genes finally made an appearance in one of our kids...hahaha!

xoxox

Wyatt Frank Barber

My lack of posting is about to be redeemed...

Introducing...

Wyatt Frank Barber 

Born:  April 4, 2011 at 3:43 pm

Weight:  8lbs 13 ounces

Height:  22 inches

He is a gift. A love. A blessing from Heaven.  

xoxoxoxo

Where's Finn?

Uhhh....Finn?

Where are you?

*silence*

Finn!  Where are you?

*silence*

whispering:  "mommy.....i in da box..."

"HI MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!"

xoxoxoxoxo

Father Daughter Dance 2011

Olivia and Chad went to their 4th Father/Daughter dance at Malibu Presbyterian Church last Saturday.  I think it was the first year that Olivia really understood that this was HER night alone with Daddy.  They had a wonderful time dancing, working on a craft, eating cupcakes, and visiting with preschool friends!  Every year I marvel at how she has grown and this year was no different.  She is growing up soooooo fast.....:-)

xoxoxoxoxo

Tired

ok....i think you all knew this post was coming.

i . am. tired.

and, the baby isn't even here yet.  ha!

The weather has been nice so soon I hope to have some pics up of the kids playing and such....until then you might be able to find me in sitting down some where...or maybe just laying down some where with the kids crawling all over me.

And while it is really annoying that I get out of breath washing the dishes...in a way I relish it.  It forces me to slow down and just enjoy being with my little monkeys...

xoxoxoxo

Sometimes....

Don't you just feel like this?

Or maybe mom asked you to smile for the camera and you ( being a  2 1/2 year old - very - small- nap - today- kind- of - day) took a swipe at the camera....hmmmm...

But wait....there is always a light at the end of the tunnel....usually when there are promises of cookies, or a special video , or maybe just mommy playing peek-a-boo.  The rebound period from grouchy -to- sunny is very quick....like maybe...4.5 seconds.

  Pretty amazing...and they thought that 7 month pregnant mommies were moody...:-)

xoxoxo

And so it begins...

I was wondering when my job as "mom" would take on a whole new meaning...like "car transport lady".  Well, that role has officially started....well...actually it started last year when I started driving Olivia 19 miles to preschool twice a week, but now the fun really begins.....otherwise known as "enrichment" activities.  hahaha!  

Olivia has wanted to take dance for a long time...but I didn't think she was ready until very recently ..and...we got a membership at our local YMCA and they offer introductory dance lessons.

Soooooo...she is now enrolled in Tap/Ballet once a week at the Y.  She friggin' loves it.  And I don't blame her.....her teacher Miss Lisa is a hoot...very patient yet firm, they get to tap their little feet to great music ( Austin Powers soundtrack at her second class) , and at the end they have "free" dancing with scarves to the soundtrack from the Little Mermaid.  Pure girly heaven....:-)

Here are some pics of her concentrating and practicing her moves...:-)

xoxoxox

Merry Merry!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year....we stayed home and celebrated with family from both sides, relaxed, and just enjoyed each other.  The kids were really into everything this year and really enjoyed both Advent and all of the other Christmas activities...

We are truly blessed.....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

2 and 4 year old interviews...

These are a little overdue...as with everything else, unfortunately my blog has been put on the back burner...but here are the kids' 2 and 4 year old interviews....pretty good stuff if you ask me...:-)








xoxoxoxo

Pistachios

When Olivia was about 2 1/2 years old she became obsessed with pistachios.  When I mean obsessed I mean that whenever we would set foot into her Grammy's house she would immediately make a bee-line for the dish that held the little nuts.  She would then proceed to ask me to open each one.......

Now...she can open them herself and has passed her love of the nut onto her brother.  We were at Trader Joes the other day and I'm not kidding when I say the girl practically got down on her hands and knees and BEGGED me for a bag of pistachios.  What's a mom to do?

At home she proceeded to carefully explain to Finn how NOT to eat the shell , to peel the shells away , and then eat the "treasure" inside.  Finn, latching on to his sisters' excitement is hooked , HOOKED , on pistachios.

I guess there are worse things, right?  ( sorry for the poor quality of the pics...just figuring out the new camera).

Oh, and this pic is for free.....sometimes a girl just has to express herself ..........:-)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

5 months came along really fast...

I simply cannot believe that I am 5 months pregnant already....just the thought of childbirth sends chills up my spine BUT at least there is a really nice end result. :-)

Here is a recent pic of the "bump".  Baby is moving sporadically BUT when he/she does move it is quite intentional and deliberate.  Hmmmmmm.....i wonder what this means about he/she's personality?  One never knows....:-)

Overall the pregnancy has been VERY easy ( knock on wood) and I am enjoying carrying my little one around in my ever expanding belly....*sigh*.  

xxoxoxoxo

My new favorite...

Sorry for the lack of posting....my 1 year old camera broke....( yeah, so not happy about that), and I had to break down and buy a new one....soooooo...here we go again...:-)


My new favorite...

xoxoxoxo

Neverland dreams..

....i love that i still have "some" control over what the kids want and will wear for Halloween....*sigh*...I know the day is coming when that will not be the case....

...so this year they made mommy very happy and obliged me by transforming in to TinkerBell and Peter Pan.

...my heart flutters when I see them....:-)

xoxoxoxo