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.
4 comments:
I know it has always been a tradition that it is just you, Adam and the babies on Christmas morning, so I really do appreciate Adam coming to get me and letting me see those precious babies and how excited they were on Christmas morning.
The children are what make us rich in our lives and if we pay attention we can learn so much from them. I know I learned a lot from Adam and Collin throughout the years. Collin was so funny because he made you stay on your toes because he would take things literally the way you said them. Adam taught me patience by turning up classical music for me. :)
Hannah was such a joy and I loved her little crazy face. Caleb says every word very clearly and slowly, the English would be proud of him, since we tent to wreck the English language so much. And Jonah is truly the big brother now, watching over his little brother and loving on his little sister. I had to ask Jonah to get Hannah down for me at one point so she wouldn't fall and he jumped right in and did it. They are so very precious and so very special to me. It was a blessing for me to see them, more than anyone knows, except for maybe Mimi and GG.
I look forward to everyone being here when Collin and Amy arrive tomorrow. I wish my camera worked, but it is not feeling well. Mandy can you send me that picture you took of me and all three of the babies, by email?
Thanks again for sharing your family day with me. I'm so thankful Tootsie has three very loving grand babies who know how to genuinely love and are so free to give their love. What a blessing those three angels are in my life.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
I miss your posts, Mandy. Are you busy or something? :) Can't imagine you having so much to do with three little ones all under the age of five and teaching three days a week, plus being a pastor's wife.:)
Thanks for sending the picture you took of the babies and me. I had hoped your words of saying it was good was not what Adam's face depicted while looking over your shoulder. I'm afraid my son knew me well enough to know that is not a good picture of Tootsie, but thanks for sending it anyway.
It won't be long before we are all together again, provided Collin and Amy can make some decisions. :)
I believe my escort will have a descent camera and I will ask him if he minds bringing it with him. I know the one I want, it just does not fit in my budget right now. So hopefully we will have some wonderful pictures of this celebration.
Collin finally explained to me how Adam was the best man and the pastor who would marry them. I didn't know if he was going to be jumping from spot to spot up there or not. :)
I hope and pray all is going well in the Barker home.
My Love,
Barbara
BaBy Lovely ..^^..
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