V-Day 2014

 Love was in the air in the Barnes Yard today. And some seriously over sugared kids crashed and burned tonight.

Gus took on 2 school parties with NO NAP today.

 Porter liked the Minion idea that was all over Pinterest and Brooklyn is obsessed with Frozen so I was excited to find these cute Olaf free printables for her Valentines.

Hugs for their teachers.

Did you feel loved today?

new year interviews

FAVORITES

CEREAL:
Porter-Frosted Flakes
Brooklyn-Cocoa Puffs
Gus- "Dad give me cereal!"

VEGETABLE:
Porter-Broccoli
Brooklyn-Green and red peppers
Gus- "Gus likes vegetables."

DRINK:
Porter- Orange Crush
Brooklyn- White milk
Gus- Water

TOY:
Porter- Galaxy Tab
Brooklyn- dollhouse
Gus- Choo Choo

MOVIE:
Porter- Super Buddies
Brooklyn- Frozen
Gus- Rudolph

TV SHOW:
Porter- Jessie
Brooklyn- Haunted Hathaways
Gus- Caillou

GAME:
Porter- Donkey Kong
Brooklyn- Jenga
Gus- "Big fire engine!"

BOOK:
Porter- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Brooklyn- New Nanny
Gus- Gus the Dinosaur Bus

RESTAURANT:
Porter- Ixtapa
Brooklyn- McDonald's
Gus- "I not want restaurant."

HOLIDAY:
Porter- Christmas
Brooklyn- Valentines Day
Gus- "Choo Choo!"

ANIMAL:
Porter- Shark
Brooklyn- Koala
Gus- "my homework!"

What do you love most about your Dad?
Porter: He plays with me.
Brooklyn: He keeps us from dying.

What do you love most about your Mom?
Porter: She makes me food.
Brooklyn: She lets me sleep with her at night.

What do you love most about Porter?
Brooklyn: He lets me play his DS

What do you love most about Gus?
Brooklyn: He lets me play with his tools. 

What do you love most about Brooklyn?
Porter: Nothing.  She's mean.

What do you love most about Gus?
Porter: Playing basketball.

Where do you want to go on a vacation?
Porter: Disneyworld
Brooklyn: The beach
Gus: "My arm!"

What is your wish for 2014?
Porter: That we will move to a new house.
Brooklyn: I wish that I was a mermaid.
Gus: "My wish...Luna!"

We're thankful for our teachers!

It's the last day of school before our long THANKFUL weekend!  

The kids took these treats to their teachers today.  

I may or may not have eaten the whole rest of the bag of the sweet and salty Bugles I used for these!  Oh my, they are good!

Are you ready to GOBBLE tomorrow?

Wordless Wednesday

Brooklyn's peacock party

 She chooses her theme a year in advance, and for her 7th birthday it was all about the peacock!

 I hope it was everything she dreamed of!

 Twinsies!

 Pin the feather on the peacock

 fun kids

7 year old wish!

Happy Birthday to my very best girl!

SEVEN

My girl turned seven today.  Ca-razy!  There is no way it has been seven years since God gave us our girl.  And believe me, I thank Him every day that He only gave me one girl, because she is plenty enough for us!  I love her so much.  If she uses even half of the strength of her will for something positive, she is going to do something amazing!  
First we celebrated her birthday at school.  Then I told her I would make her anything she wanted for dinner.  She chose chicken tenders, asparagus, and crescent rolls.  And then, of course, I pulled out my wedding dress for her to try on. (wedding dress tradition) 
Happy Birthday to my feisty brown-eyed baby doll!

Rocking the headband from day one!

She and her teacher share the same birthday!

Meet Leila!  So excited!

Peacock party coming up this weekend!

 

Tuesday

Mom to Mom question:

How long did your child suck his/her thumb or fingers?  

I thought she would automatically grow out of it by Kindergarten, but here she is turning 7 next month and still sucking in her sleep. 

Interview with a new first grader

She lost another tooth!

Tell me about your teacher.

Mrs. Kittel, she is super nice!

Who are your friends?

Brielle, Brinley, Bailey, Cameron, Kamryn, and Clark

What is your favorite color?

Pink, purple, and blue, and turquoise

Name your favorite song.

"I know what boys like, boys like girls like me."

What is your favorite TV show?

Spongebob, Austin and Ally, Gravity Falls

Favorite movie?

Teen beach movie

What is your favorite book?

Bible

Favorite sport?

Soccer

What do you like to play?

Hide and seek, tag, follow the leader, jump rope

What do you really like?

My new Teen beach movie dolls and my owl pillow.

What do you not like?

Beans...not chili though, I love chili.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A cop...that's a police officer...and a fire fighter.

If you could have one wish granted, what would it be?

That I could have a little kitten.

What super power do you wish you had?

I could kill mice.

What do you like about yourself?

That I'm pretty and smart and cute...and I'm beautiful.

What would you like to do in first grade?

Play with my friends and have fun!

3rd grader and 1st grader!

Today was the second day of school and everything went as smoothly as the first!  I LOVE a new school year, everything is so fresh, Fall is in the air...it's a new beginning.  I love that my kids love school too!

I gave up control and they both picked their first day outfits.  I think they did well!

 

Of course we welcomed their teachers back with a treat!

 So confident!

(I hope she always is.)

 Porter asked me to please not hug and kiss him, but only to high five him inside the school.  

(I hugged and kissed him in the car!)

They are growing up!

You know I love comparison photos so...

 

I just realized this was the first year Porter didn't wear a polo on the first day.

I can't believe it!

PS Gus and I have been enjoying our glorious naps while the big kids are at school!

Happy No School Holiday

I wonder if home school kids get today off...they should. 

Sometimes I like to do little projects from Pinterest just so I feel accomplished over a lazy weekend, you know what I mean?

I'm super proud of myself for doing these two:

 

for the kid with the abscessed tooth :(

Brag moment:

Barnes kids

Students of the Month for January!

Here are Libbs and Gus sitting in my beloved rocker.

When I was pregnant with Porter, Nate bought me a rocking chair from Toys R Us.  I've rocked all my babies in it.  It's been painted and recovered, and I love it for the memories of just me and my babies...

Here is what is left of it. 

Let's just say...
my Brother-in-law.  leaning back.  wood splintering.  crashing to the floor.  so sad.

I'm putting together a crafty plan to keep it's memory alive!

Halloween teacher treats

Today was Halloween at school. 

We dressed accordingly 

(no costumes-boo)

and brought treats for the teachers.

school's out for SUMMER!

For some reason I'm really emotional about first grade ending.  Porter is just growing up too fast...do you think it's because he's my first born?

Yesterday we went to his awards assembly:

 I am so proud of this kid!

 We really lucked out that the last two years, Porter has been paired with a teacher that was the perfect match for him! 

Jacie was also awarded Student of the Year for her Kindergarten class!

He may not be bigger, but he looks more mature!

I found this on Pinterest...

and had Porter create this.

He gave it to his teacher with a giftcard for a local garden center.

 Tomorrow we SLEEP IN!!