Autumn in Callifornia

We don't "really" have an Autumn in California...I think leaves do drop but usually not until December some time...anyway...we still do try and make it seem fall-ish for the kids.  :-)  For the last 5 years we have gone to Underwood Family Farms in Moorepark , CA  for one of their weekend Fall festivals.  This year ( like last) we went the first weekend in October mainly because it was "Public Safety" weekend.  That means all the Fire Trucks, Ambulances, Policmen, etc.etc. were there to enjoy the day.  It's really neat because the kids get to climb inside of the firetrucks and actually talk to them and see all of the equipment up close.  For the grown-ups it means less crowds...( because it's the first festival weekend) although this year it did get pretty crowded by the time we left.

The kids had a blast...we took a tractor ride, explored the corn maze, watched a fireman drop a pumpkin (filled with CANDY!!!!!) from WAY up on top of the ladder truck, and finally got to go into the big fields to pick out our pumpkins....:-)  The only negative was the HEAT !  It was about 85 degrees by the time we made it into the fields ( since our children are so fair...you can clearly see how hot and sweaty they were).

It was a great morning...I highly recommend finding your own local Harvest Festival and trying it out!

xoxoxoxo

Six months!

Where o where did the last six months go?

Today our Wyatt Frank is 6 months old...

Here are some of the things that he can and loves to do:

1. Wyatt LOVES to cuddle.  He is the snuggliest baby EVER!  He will sit on my lap quietly and just watch the world go by...very unusual for a Barber baby!

2. Wyatt can sit up on his own! ( with the occasional fall backwards, sideways, or flat on his face!) But for the most part he is sitting up..:-)

3. Wyatt is a pretty good sleeper....he takes 2 naps a day ( about 2 hours each) and will sleep 4-5 hour stretches at night!  ( For all of you who know Finn's old sleeping patterns...Wyatt is a much more *ahem* accomplished sleeper)

4. Wyatt has 1 tooth that has popped up and one on the way...:-)

5. Wyatt ADORES his brother and sister.  They are his light.  If they enter the room he is immediately captivated.  It is so wonderful to watch.

6. Wyatt is a GOOD eater.  He nurses a LOT, and adores sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, avocado and whole grain cereal.  He does NOT like applesauce.  I repeat... he does NOT like applesauce.  :-)

7. Finally, Wyatt is a blessing.  He is brings smiles to our faces and joy in our hearts everyday.  We are truly lucky to have him in our lives.

oxoxo

Sweet Potato Raspberries

Not sure this video needs a whole lot of explanation...I think Wyatt just found a new way to amuse himself at mealtimes...:-)

xoxoxo

Sometimes....

the simplest things are the best...

like....

learning to ride a bike (without training wheels) for the very first time...

or

trimming the hedges with dada and getting to use the "sharp" cutters..

or 

eating sweet potatoes right out of the bowl..

take pleasure in the the mundane..

they can be the sweetest moments of life. 

xoxox

A tisket, a tasket, three monkeys in a basket!

....what a bunch of goofballs...they all received new jammies tonight and decided that the laundry basket was definitely the place to celebrate!

Interpretive Dance

Olivia has really been into dancing lately...in the afternoons I will sometimes turn on music and let the kids dance in the living room.  Here is a sample of her *ahem* dancing.  :-)

xoxoxo

Inspired...

We are coming up into my favorite time of year...FALL!  or more specifically my favorite holiday of the year :  HALLOWEEN!  Ever since I was a child I have loved Halloween..the pumpkin carving, the costumes, and of course the CANDY!  As an adult I LOVE dressing up my kids and watching them run door to door.  I think it reminds me of how much fun it is to be a kid and have no worries and just be happy...anyways....I always scour the internet and stores looking for new ideas on how to decorate the house...here are some good ideas that I "might" use this year!!

I especially love the last picture....the little ghosts in a circle are so cute and festive!!

How will you decorate and celebrate Fall?  

xoxoxoxo

And while we are at it..

Here is Finn's 3 year old interview...

I think that Chad especially liked his answer about "what he wants to be when he grows up".

Enjoy!

xoxo

Contentment

Whenever I am feeling discontent....I just think of Wyatt and how happy he is simply munching on his own toes...it always puts a smile on my face and "contentment" in my heart.

xoxox

5 year old interview..

Every year I interview the kids around the time of their birthdays.  I am always amused by their answers and they never cease to amaze me with the answers they give...so fun...:-)

Here is Olivia's 5 year old interview.

Enjoy!

5 years gone in a flash..

i looked up

and there she was staring

at me , those big blue eyes

and all i could think

all i could remember

was the day she was born

and they placed her in my arms

and i stared at my baby

my darling little girl.

and now,

she is five years old

and my heart is full of pride.  and joy. and some things i will never be able to explain...

xoxoxo

Giggle

Wyatt likes to laugh.  He laughs at everything.  He especially loves his sister and brother..they make him full out giggle...he is also EXTREMELY ticklish...it is just so stinkin' cute.

xoxoxo

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