Viva Las Vegas

Most of my posts here on the blog are about the kiddos, even though the title states otherwise. So, we are going to change that!! This one's about ME!

Last month, I got a very unexpected invite on Facebook for a random trip to...Las Vegas! Seriously, I wouldn't have cared who was inviting me at the time, I probably would have jumped on board with just about anyone. Can you say "Mommy Break"? But to make the sound of vacation even better, it was with my amazing girlfriends from high school. 

I haven't seen most of these girls in almost 8 years (Wow, I'm old!) and mainly just keep in touch thru facebook and blogs. Although I feel like I know everything about them, thanks to technology, I was frightened things might be awkward with the time that had passed. Senior year was a rough year for me, and I was scared that this trip may take me back to that hard time in my life.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

The weekend should have started with a blunt warning that we would not be mature nor ladylike all weekend long!

We got there late on Friday night, and stayed until Tuesday morning. Unfortunately AmyLyn and Kim weren't able to stay til Tuesday, but did convince their husbands into letting them stay until Monday!
We crammed as much as we could into that short amount of time. Temple Saturday afternoon followed by lunch and then an AMAZING opportunity to see The Phantom of the Opera that night.

After dinner we walked thru the shops at the Venetian and ate dinner at a little cafe. These pictures prove our immaturity!

I'm truely in love with our group pictures from the weekend!

We also went to the aquarium, shopping, ate A LOT, and watched the water shows at the Belagio. But most of all, we just laughed, cried, and had the time of our lives.

Is it February 2013 yet?!

6 month checkup

Today we went to Gracie's 6 month checkup. I'm in awe at how fast she is growing and how quickly the time has gone. In the same amount of time, we will be celebrating her first birthday.

CRAZY

Stats:
27" Long (78%)
17 lbs 11.5 oz (69%)
17" Head (59%)

It's funny, because a bunch of people lately have commented that Gracie has a big head...guess it's just all the hair that makes it look bigger!
She is getting so big though. She now hates to be laying down. It's like there's an on/off button on her back. As soon as it hits the ground she starts screaming because she wants to be sitting. But she is a PRO sitter. She has officially gone 2.5 hours yesterday without falling over and just sitting in the same spot. I'm not sure what kept her entertained for that long, but she was very content!

While at the doctor's office, William took a video (Mommy's way of keeping him entertained!). He may become our new cameraman.

I thought I'd post progress pictures of Gracie from the last 6 months.

One Day:

4 Days:

1 Month:

2 Months:

3 Months:

4 Months:

5 Months:

6 Months:

I can't wait to see what the next few months have in store for our family and the joys this little girl will bring.

Oh, here's the video William took.



Christmas Eve 2011

I'm in love with my little family!! I get so much joy out of watching the excitement in the kids eyes with the holiday spirit.

This morning when I checked the baby monitor, I could not see William so I assumed he was awake and playing where the camera doesn't show. Well, I was wrong. This is what I found when I went into his room.

When I asked him why he was in the closet, he told me he was hiding from the trains!

Um...ok!

Tonight we got to open our jammies! Or should I say, William opened everyone's jammies!

Poor Daddy was sick all day, so he was all bundled up while he watched Will open the presents.

This is the first year William is really understanding the Santa thing, and it's so much fun!

Before bed we put out cookies cookie for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph.

It started out as multiple cookies, but Will ate one.

And then he tried to eat the carrot and when I told him no he informed me "carrot make Will fly like Reindeer". 

Then he started to run around the room with his arms out making the "shoooom" flying sound!

LOVE THAT KID!

Santa had hit our house by 9:30!! Gotta love an early Santa!

Santa tracked snow into the house and even left the kids a note.

But boy, that Rudolph is a MESSY eater. There are carrot slivers all over the floor by the door.

But Santa left the kids a ton of presents.

I can't wait to see their excitement while they open them all tomorrow!

"SANTA!...I know him"

I love any reason to celebrate, and so now that the holidays are here...it's really time to play! I've been trying to do something "extra" everyday for the kiddos. Something with a Christmas theme, and something to build a memory.

William has been watching some fun Holiday movies. "The Polar Express" and "Santa Clause is coming to town" are his two favorites. I didn't think he would be old enough this year to know or understand Santa, but I'm sure due to these movies, he's loving the idea of Santa!

Today we got invited by our friends, the Hallows, to go visit Santa and 2 of his reindeer up at Weber State. 

We were waiting in line when Santa showed up, and boy did William love it. He didn't want to stand in line after that. He kept trying to run to the front just to see Santa. When it was our turn, Will was the only 2 year old who wasn't screaming when it came time to sit on Santa's lap.
As soon as I picked him up to put him on Santa's lap, he started talking his ear off. Neither Santa or I could get a word in.  I was lucky enough to get a few pictures as he took a break to yell "cheese".

Gracie loved the candy cane she got from Santa!



After seeing Santa, we went outside to see the reindeer. After we got home, William asked me why they weren't flying! lol, too cute. I had to explain to him they have to save up their energy for Christmas Night!

I can't wait for the rest of the month and all the fun celebrating we get to do!





Gracie 4 months

Wow, the other day I realized it's been more than 2 months since I have posted. At first I turned to Sean and told him "I'm a horrible Mom...I haven't updated the family blog". But I quickly reminded myself that instead of updating it, I'm making memories with my babies!!

Oh, and I also have been  updating my other blog, and there's family ones on there too. So you can get a quick update there from time to time (www.ourthriftyideas.com)

BUT, today we had Gracie's 4 month checkup and I decided that we needed an update on this precious little one.

Here's her stats!
24 3/4' length (65 percentile)
14lbs 13 oz (71 percentile)
16 inch head (35 percentile)

She got shots today, and took them like a champ. She didn't cry for the first one, but started to after the second. William was sitting on the table with her and he started crying too and yelling "ma sista, ma sista". As soon as Gracie heard his voice she turned to him, stopped crying, and started to laugh!! I get teary eyed over the bond these two already have!

She's having a hard time with the after effects of the shots now. She's currently out cold on the couch!

Oh, and today was her first day with Piggies! She's to die for!

Also, she has become a PRO TALKER!!! Check her out


How in the world did I ever get so lucky to have these babies in my life?

The big 2!

Last week was William's 2nd birthday!!! I can not believe that he is already 2 years old. It seems like just yesterday we were finding out we were pregnant for the first time. What a crazy life it has been having him in our life, and I love every minute of that craziness....well MOST every minute!

To celebrate his birthday we started the day with opening presents!! He was more amuzed with the wrapping paper than opening it. Guess that's what I get for having animal paper!

We then met Grandma at Thanksgiving Pointe to go to the Farm Country. Of course, he was in heaven. He even rode the pony all by himself (after a little hesitation), and went back for another ride!

What was going to be a trip to the Farm Country ended up also being a trip to the Kids Garden as well as a ride on the golf cart in the main garden at Thanksgiving Pointe. What more could a kid ask for on his birthday?!....Arctic Circle!

Yup, we had his birthday dinner at Arctic Circle. He ate french fries, a rice crispy treat, Dr Pepper and a chocolate ice cream cone! He also wore himself out on the play place!

What a fabulous birthday!

On Saturday for his party, we rented a bounce house/slide combo. Wow, talk about the highlight of William's year. He didn't go in the house for almost a complete 8 hours. He LOVED that thing. Probably the best money spent in a long time.

And boy do I have amazing pictures from it.

"Picnik Show"

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Gracie JAYNE Barker

When we were trying to come up with names for our baby girl, I knew I somehow wanted to give her a "family" name. Something that would be meaningful. Especially since William has a full family name, she needed something special as well.

And of course, it needed to be from my side of the family!

Sean came up with her first name, Gracie, and for some reason after that it just fell together!

Jay - My Dad is the most amazing man I've ever met. Gracie will grow up to be so proud to have been named after him.

Jane - Jane Mifflin is my Mom's best friend and just like my second mom. She has always been a part of my life and hopefully will always be a part of Gracie's as well.

Somehow putting the two names together sounded just perfect. That's how we came up with Gracie JAYNE Barker.

On a side note, it wasn't until earlier this week that my dad realized that Gracie was named after him!! haha. Although he had the conversation multiple times, with multiple people! I guess that's what old age will do to ya (j/k Dad!)

Gracie with her Grandpa

Gracie with Auntie Jane

Gracie will be proud to carry that name when she's old enough to realize where she got it. Who wouldn't be proud to be named for these two?