Dancing is done.....

Wow, who would have ever thought that Brenna would be done dancing?? For now we are at the end of an era for her. She has spent the last 5 years of her life so heavily involved with her dance company that I am wondering what she will do without it. The tears flowed freely and abundantly during her last number on stage. She has looked forward to the break and is anxious to try something new, but the realization hit her hard. She will miss it all I am sure. Ten hours a week at the studio, fun friends and teachers, frilly dance outfits and fake eyelashes. Growing up and change is hard, but I do believe that she has become a better person because of her dance experiences and I also believe that her little sister Ella will follow proudly in her footsteps!!!
Great job to both of them for the awesome job they did during the Spring recital....you both make you momma proud.

A week in the life.....

Trying to play "catch-up" in my blogging/journaling world can be a tough one....you just get a little behind and before you know it a whole month has passed. Here are just a few of the little things that have been happening in my crazy world.

Sunday's are relaxing around here, we really do take full advantage of being able to spend time with just our little family. One of our favorite activities is taking a break and getting in the hot tub. Jiles surprised us all this last week with wanting to get in with the big kids, he loved the warm water and he was perfectly happy floating around on his back with the life jacket on. He didn't care that Ella was doing cannonballs of the side and that the boys were having a water fight around him. The more splashing that was going on it seemed to him the better.

The pose down....I get a kick out of seeing Jensen give me the flex. He is one proud little dude of his own body.

Cutie #3 and Cutie #6 - We are often told how much Jiles looks like Drew, but we are also often told how much Jiles looks like Jensen.....hmmmm I am not sure which is right. I just see them as my kids.

Ella and the cannonball....she loves being in the water. She is getting really brave this year. I think she may actually want to learn how to swim this summer. She is so different from the boys, who took like fish to the water when they were just little tikes.

Mmmmm Good......

Our school's fund raiser for the year is a Jog-a-thon, lovingly called the "Jogapalooza".....each student was asked to raise/donate $25.00. In return, they got this awesome t-shirt and the chance to dunk the principal in the dunking machine. It was a really cold day (we have had way too many of them this last spring) but everyone had a good time. Brenna and a couple of her friends ran the 2 miles that they were asked to do as well.

Thank heaven for great principals who make it fun to be in school.....Mr. Z made our transition to Summit Academy more bearable for Jensen in those first days of the school year. He got dunked quite a bit that day :)

The 3rd graders warming up before their run with a little karate....Jensen felt like he was a pro because of some past experience with trying out karate earlier this spring. Needless to say, we didn't sign up - you wouldn't think it could be as expensive as it was!! Yikes. Thank heaven for the $20.00 2 week trial.

Jensen ran around the track one time and then was so cute and let Ella join him for his run. They continued around for the rest of the 2 miles together, holding hands the whole time. I don't know if the picture does her shoes justice, but they were mini high heels and she was wearing a dress. What a great lady!! She was so proud to have Jensen as her big brother that day. The smile on her face was almost permanent.

Still hanging out with Jensen and his best buddy, Jake. (Pay special attention to the shoes!)

The end of the year is always busy. This year the 3rd graders had what was called a "Portfolio Party", where they showcase their work from the year. Each student got to invite one person to join them, that could be a mom or dad, grandma or grandpa. Jensen was quite concerned with the fact that he could only invite one of his parents. He was so sure that he was going to hurt one of our feelings.
"Mom, I have a really hard decision to make....." was the way the conversation went. Luckily, quick thinking on my part was, "how about take Morgan??" He was thrilled with the idea, and so was she. This is a picture of them on their date together.

The program. They were all told that they should wear nice clothes, the kind you 'wear to church' - is was nice to see him going to a school function wearing something that the standard blue pants and white shirt of his uniform.

Jensen and his first crush, Kate. He once asked her, "do you think you could die your hair blond??" Oh my heavens. Slightly embarrassing, but really funny at the same time. She is a cute girl and they have exchanged both Christmas presents and Valentines Day gifts....starting a little young.

This is a picture of the Fathers and Sons. aka "Freezing Fathers and Sons". This is what I get on my camera when they come home. One picture of dinner. Oh well, at least it is something. They boys called me at 1:30 in the morning letting me know they were coming home. It was way too cold, windy, and rainy to stay. They all got up early Saturday morning and headed back because J.D. was in charge of breakfast.

My question is why don't they have it later in the season?? We have never had much luck with warm Fathers and Sons, and it is something Jensen looks forward to each year. Who do I talk to about that??

Our first trip to Lagoon for the 2010 season!! Yay!! We didn't get passes last year because of the baby, so this year every one was ready to go! Ella loves the 'whale' ride....looks like a couple of pictures that I have of myself in the very same spot.

Jiles did not get out of the stroller for the entire day. It was cold and he was tired, but what a little trooper to stay put for the 5 hours that we were there. He only fell asleep for just a short while, otherwise we just kept of feeding him. He is truly a dream child.

We invited friends for the big kids, Brenna and Ashlyn, and Morgan and Andrew (a boy that she met on the cruise to Cabo, luckily enough he lives here!!)

My kids all love the spinning, make you dizzy, want to throw-up rides. Drew, Jensen and Ella all on the Scrambler. Not the best picture, but really hard to get a decent one when you are going around and around that fast.

Another soccer season came and went for Ella. She stayed with the same team as last year, having "The Pinkies" turn into "Cotton Candy" - the pink shirt and blue shorts are not my favorite outfit. The weather this year has not been great. Monday nights come and so does the rain. We were lucky I think to have 2 games where we all weren't freezing to death. Unfortunately this meant that Ella had very little support and cheering going on from the sidelines. It was usually just me who went to the games and her dad a handful of times. We forced the issue on her last game of the season and it was a requirement for all to go and be her cheering section.
She really hustled this game. She knew that there were people watching and rooting for her. It made all the difference in the world for her.

I love it when I get a good action shot. I love the candid moments of our lives. I love looking at the intensity on her face and the way her body is moving as she is watching the ball. My little girly-girl in shin guards and cleats is something that puts a smile on my face.

I tried to take a picture of J.D. and I at the game. I am a little bit of a dork and did not realize that my zoom was all the way in because I was trying to take pictures of Ella on the field. Needless to say, I thought this picture was funny and a little bit cute. I kept it and blogged about it. :)

J.D., Morgan, Aunt Julie and Tate.....

Janeen, Owen, Brenna, Aliza and Drew.

I informed everyone that they are all required at each and every game that Ella has in the future, because the girl played out of her head. She was really trying to make an impression on all of us.

So, yes, it was cold. Ella did not want to wear the pink jacket that I brought for her, so unfortunately for Jiles it meant that his mom was sticking it on him. I think he looks like E.T. walking around the field.

Pretty, pretty in PINK!!

A week in the lives of the Barnes......sometimes nothing special, but at the same time very special. I love my blogging/journaling. I love being able to remember the simple times.

Life as the mom.....

I so often feel like I need pictures to go with my posts, but as I have sat reflectively this morning I wanted to take a moment to write about each one of my kids and what is going on in their lives right now. Mothers Day just passed and as always, I feel extra blessed. Each of my kids making me a homemade card with a similar theme, they all love their mom!! What more could I ask for? We live in a busy world, I am not immune to it. I am usually up and going in the morning, before lunch with errands of any kind, ranging from doctor or dentist appointments to grocery stores and banks. Today we have been all kinds of lazy.

As J.D. and I sat in bed last night discussing our days we were watching a particular T.V. show where the son was graduating from high school. I suddenly found myself teary eyed in the realization that Morgan only has 1 more year left. Sure I have known it, I have talked about it, but it wasn't until I actually thought about it did it hit me like a wave. It almost makes me lose my breath. Maybe it was because of the day she and I had enjoyed together 'We have done all grown-up things today, Mom...' was her reply when we got home from opening her a checking account with her very own debit card and picking up a job application to the"Treehouse". I cannot begin to explain the amount of pride and joy I take in knowing that I am her mother. She got accepted into the Dental Assistant program for next year at the Jordan Technical Center, leaving regular high school every day at 11:30 and she couldn't be happier. She is ready to be a grown-up. She is ready to move on. I, however am not ready to let her.

Brenna is so excited to go to High School. Yesterday we had a doctor's appointment for her to have a physical in order to cheer, she went from the 15% in height to the 75% in just 2 years, no wonder people keep telling her how tall she is getting. Watching her grow is amazing. She is full of confidence, something that I always dreamed of. She has grown from a stuffy-nosed little girl with teeth too big for her mouth to a gorgeous 'tall and lanky' (as the doctor put it) young woman. She is funny with personality oozing out of her!! She will make an amazing cheerleader at Alta High - they are lucky to have her!!

Drew, my strong and silent boy. He is growing also, I said to J.D. the other day "we are raising a man-child..." I always wondered what it would feel like to have my son be as big as me. He got on the scale the other day and I actually gasped when he told me he weighed 131 pounds. I love watching him wrestle with his dad. I love watching him pass the sacrament. I love watching he and Jensen curling up and going to bed together at the end of each day. I love watching his confidence grow at school when he pulls his 'not so good' grades up. I love watching him teach himself how to juggle. I love watching him try to use big words and act like a grown-up. I love that he still loves his mom.

Jensen is a boy that I get a giggle out of almost every day. He is one of the happiest people I have ever known. Jensen is such a responsible boy, he loves knowing that his 'tasks' are done. He is a self-motivated child when it comes to homework and helping around the house (not so self-motivated when it comes to waking up in the morning!!) Jensen loves to eat! He always orders off of the big kid menu, loves bacon on his burger and Chili Verde burritos...his eyes are almost always bigger than his stomach, but he gives everything he chooses to eat his best effort. Jensen is the best kisser around. He is not afraid to 'pucker-up' and just plant one on us - sad for me to admit, but sometimes they are more than I want. I need to remember that each time he leans in I need to savor the moment and realize that one day he will be sharing those luscious lips with other girls.

Ella is just Ella. I can tell she is growing and wanting more than just me all day every day. Sad for me to admit, but my little girl is ready and excited for bigger things. Kindergarten in the Fall is something that she is looking forward to. She is learning to prefer her own bed instead of the couch in mom and dads room. She surprises me with the knowledge she has of her letters and numbers. I am realizing with each child that I feel blessed to have smart children. They do not struggle to learn. They enjoy the process and are eager to learn more. Ella is playing soccer again and for the most part likes it, on some days I still see the 'princess' come out in her and she wonders to herself if soccer is really what she wants to be doing. She loves her chocolate milk in the morning with melted cheese on bread, all served to her on her Princess plate - I know, I have created this....I will take full responsibility.

Jiles is growing (notice the continuing theme) - why can't time just slow down. I want to remember these days, but they go by at such speed. He is a great sleeper, 10-12 hours at a shot, a great eater, almost anything you put in his mouth, and a great smiler, will give it up a just the slightest look. He has 2 teeth and I don't see the signs of any others coming in. He loves to stand at the open window in my room and look in the backyard, he likes to yell out to anyone or anything (the horses). I wish someone in our house was named "Abbey" because that is what he says, I am not sure if he is trying to say 'puppy' or if I am giving the kid too much credit. Maybe it is just the sound he likes to make!! :)

Black eyes, lawns and DOGS!!.....

There is no rhyme or reason to this post....

Starting out with Ella coming home from her buddy Gabe's house the other day in tears and what seemed to be at the time, the tiniest cut on her eye after she fell, somehow, off of his slide. Within a couple of hours the eye got a little swollen and started to turn purplish blue. I felt bad because I really didn't give her much sympathy when she came home crying. The eye continued to get a little darker for the next couple of days and I think she was a bit proud of her injury. She felt like she was one of the 'boys' - my girlie girl with a black eye....something to remember.

Is it appropriate for 8, (almost 9) year old boys to be mowing the lawn?? At our house it is. Jensen has learned this spring to help out his dad and big brother Drew in doing the yard. He does a great job and it goes by quite a bit faster with another one helping out. J.D. broke down and purchased another mower, so while Drew does the backyard Jensen works on the front yard. So far everyone is happy with the situation and eager to help....once mid July rolls around and the heat kicks in we will see if the smiles are still there.

This tree is one of my favorite parts about my yard in the spring. I think to myself every year, 'I really should take a picture' and I never have. Usually a storm rolls in with amazing winds and blows all the beautiful pink blossoms off before I get around to it, so this year I was determined to get a picture. Unfortunately, it is hard to get the full effect of how pretty my pink tree is. It is right in the middle of my front yard - and as silly as it is, I am very thankful for that tree. It puts a smile on my face:)

I know, I know....what are we thinking?? Ella has never quite given up on Lily, (our last Yorkie). So after 2 full years of her praying (literally, every dinner and bedtime pray included her) for our long lost dog - not really lost, just found her a new home. I broke down and J.D. found us a 2 year old, house trained dog. He is turning out to be a really great fit for our family. Although we all loved Lily, she was small, 3 pounds, and VERY needy. Bruce, yes Bruce, is bigger, around 9 pounds. Drew and Jensen can really rough him up and he loves it. The dog is great with Jiles and Ella is over the moon. She keeps saying to me, "Mom, thank you for bringing me home a new dog!"

Life is crazy busy. There are so many things I could write about....not all super inspiring or interesting. This is my life. I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything.