This our carrot that the boys dug up from our overgrown garden. We had given up on our carrots, because all of them that we pulled up had been tiny little puny things. Well, this one was quite the contrary. The boys could not even pull it up, it had to be dug out. They were SO excited about this carrot! We cut it up and juiced it the next day and made carrot apple juice.
Decorating the tree. Hannah was not really "helpful" persay, but she enjoyed the experience. Daddy on the other hand was not enjoying this experience, because he had the flu. He tried his best to play along, but he was miserable in bed that day. 
Caleb and Jonah were actually helpful this year in the decorating experience. We hung the ornaments out of Hannah's reach this year, because her curiosity seems to get the best of her. Our favorite song to listen to while decorating is the Disney's version of Twelve Days of Christmas. Caleb & Jonah get the biggest kick out of hearing all the Disney characters and identifying them as they sing!
Just a fun picture! Adam and I were talking the other day about how much Caleb has changed in the last 6 months. He is now talking a blue-streak, and he is so careful about the enunciation of his words. There is not mistaking what he is trying to say. He has really grown up into a little boy!
Hannah in the bath - just a precious picture, nothing more!
Bundling up for Winter!!!
We started this tradition last year (thanks to an idea given to me by my friend Erin). The kids get to pick out an ornament every year. It's their choice (even if it is ugly!). Hannah got a princess (with a little help by us), Jonah chose a little puppy (which I think is a hint to us), and Caleb of course chose a baseball ornament. Last year he chose a baseball and bat ornament. I think he's developing a theme.
Dressed up for church!
Christmas craft time. We painted pine cones and made ornaments this year. Most of the time I wonder if it's worth it, because it is such a long process of preparing and cleaning up - but I guess it is a necessary part of childhood. They have so much fun with it - I shouldn't complain I guess!
Christmas Caroling with the church. We boarded the trailer and drove around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols along with the accordion played by our Music director, Mark. Jonah was so funny, because he was singing his little heart out. He would start off songs and everyone would follow along - he may be a music leader one day himself! I love the memories that are created with the simple things in life.---I still remember when I was dating Adam and we went caroling with his family around Wortham. The songs would start off way too high and by the middle of it we were all sounding like little mice and wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. Great memories!
This is Jonah on a car-trip the other day. He fell asleep and was using the shirt as a sling to hold his head up. He rode for 2 hours like this!
Marshmallow shooters!!!! This was the cousin gift this year at my mom's house. I think the men actually played with them more than the kids. They were shooting them in the air trying to catch them in their mouths. 
Merry Christmas!!!!
I know I have a lot of pictures of Hannah right now, but she's just so darn cute at this age!! Rockin' in her rockin' chair, reading a book, and wearing her new hat!! She loves hats right now! She will also "break dance " on cue, which may have to be a video blog later!
Jonah and Caleb opeing stockings and presents Christmas morning.
Eager to open a gift on Christmas Eve. They all got to open G.G. and Grackle's gifts on Christmas Eve this year. Tootsie even came to share Christmas with us this year.
Caleb enjoying a jump on their new trampoline that they got! Tootsie enjoying watching in the background! BRRRR - it was super cold out there!
Acting out the Christmas story - this has become a Barker tradition. This was Jonah's scared shepherd face, when the angel told him the news!:"
"Joseph" was a very hands-on Dad apparently, because Caleb kept taking the baby Jesus and holding him and kissing him.
Enjoying our White Christmas. How awesome to get to wake up to snow on Christmas morning.
We tried to build a snowman, but the snow was way too powdery and wouldn't even think about sticking together. So instead we had to just settle for snowball fights and snow-angels. What a wonderful Christmas we had this year. I'm so thankful for my beautiful family, my wonderful home, a church-family that shows so much love, and all the friends and family that we have been blessed with. God is so good to us. It has been a wonderful year, a challenging and growing one, but I couldn't ask for more.
"Joseph" was a very hands-on Dad apparently, because Caleb kept taking the baby Jesus and holding him and kissing him. 
Enjoying our White Christmas. How awesome to get to wake up to snow on Christmas morning. 
We tried to build a snowman, but the snow was way too powdery and wouldn't even think about sticking together. So instead we had to just settle for snowball fights and snow-angels. What a wonderful Christmas we had this year. I'm so thankful for my beautiful family, my wonderful home, a church-family that shows so much love, and all the friends and family that we have been blessed with. God is so good to us. It has been a wonderful year, a challenging and growing one, but I couldn't ask for more.
