Under the big top

Or something like that! We went to the circus last night and had so much fun. I know I said I didn't remember the last time I had gone sledding- but really, I know it was when I lived in Provo 7-8 years ago. I REALLY don't remember the last time I went to the circus. I know I went when I was a kid, but couldn't tell you when. I didn't really know what to expect.
Basically it was just a hodge podge of random things- exactly what I should have expected. I think the highlight of the night for jared was riding this sad little pony. He LOVED it- and I thought the pony was going to pass out. But hey, he sat in a saddle, wore his cowboy boots, and rode a horsey that was exactly his size! so fun! but even this morning he was quick to remind me that he did NOT get to ride the elephants too. I felt badly- he really wanted to. But I wasn't going to pay $8 for him to ride in one small cirlce on top of an elephant. At least the ponies went round and round for quite a while!
It was pretty dark in there, so I didn't take many pictures. But there were tigers and lions and bears- oh my! Skanky hula-hoopers and trapeze lady, and totally awesome motocycler guys! good times!

I highly recommend......

Lately there have been a few things that I have found that i really am enjoying........ so i thought i would pass them on.

FIRST: THIS game.My sister amy had recommended i get this for jared for his 2 b-day, and i didn't. So she got it for him for christmas. he LOVES it. If you have a child between the ages of 2-5ish maybe more, it is a great way to reinforce colors, numbers, matching, counting, letters, words, etc. We play by the rules, but also make up lots of other ways to play the game. I also love that it has both and begining and advanced set of cards. Fun Stuff!!!


SECOND: THIS foundation, i love. Usually, I just use THIS tinted moisterizer (which i do love in the summer)- those that know me know i am NOT one to wear much makeup. But lately i noticed that the moisterizer wasn't doing much for my pale winter face. So i searched for something new and found this. i usually go with neutrogena because i have sensitive skin and have found it works well. And then, i was looking for this kind of applicator because that is one kind Carmandy uses a lot on TLC's What Not to Wear. I know, i'm pathetic, i get my makeup tips from tv. but hey, that is how it goes. But i really like it, so i thought someone might want to know. It is light and feels great on my face.


THIRD: THIS organization. If you live in the state of Utah (not southern) then you should look into this food co-op. We got our first order on Saturday, and it did NOT disappoint! the produce was fresh and beautiful, the meat was frozen and packaged well, the bread and rice are great...... and it is CHEAP!!!!! LOVE IT!!

Snow is falling all around.....

It snowed all day today. It snowed all day sunday. So, we didn't get to go out to Park City for our sunday night dinner with Shawna's fam. We decided to go tuesday afternoon instead and take jared sledding- his first time!! I know, we live in the snow, but never go sledding.
Jared LOVED it- until he got snow all up his back. Jason hurt his back on sunday, so that meant I had to be the one to take him. I don't even remember the last time i went sledding. SOOOO, we just went down the hill on the side of the house, just to see how it would go.


So FUN!!! Jason brought Spencer out for a turn. he HATED it. I thought at first it was just because he got squished when i took him down with jared, so i sent him down with his big cousin Jake. As you can see, that didn't help at all.


Thanks Doughmans!!! Even though it is COLD COLD COLD- the snow can be fun!

Melts my heart

Spencer has been waving for a few months now, but it has just been recently that he has started doing it on his own when he hears the appropriate words: hi, bye-bye, nigh-night. Whenever ANYONE (even if it's the tv) says any of those words, he starts waving that little hand. I LOVE it when he throws his little hand up by his ear and moves that little wrist back and forth.

I love my KNIGHTS!

Jared's imagination never ceases to amaze me. He is always "someone"- the other night he brought jason these pans and lids and golf clubs and said "here is your helmet, sheild and sword" Then all day yesterday he wanted me to do the same thing. gotta love it!

See.......

I do get my kids dressed every once in a while..... maybe! Oh, wait, jared isn't wearing pants! oh well. He mostly just wears underwear when we are just hanging out at home because it is easier for him to take on and off by himself. That way he goes to the bathroom by himself. and he wants to do EVERYTHING by himself lately.

They were just being soooo cute the other day- they love each other so much. Jared still thinks spencer is little enough for him to hold, and every so often he tries. But Spence THINKS (KNOWS) he is almost as big as jared now. They are so fun to watch together!

Question

How do i respond?
I ask jason: "How does it taste?" about the "new" dinner i made tonight.
He responds: "It's good, it just tastes funny"

New fun things.....

Gramma Carrie sent the boys Kung Fu Panda for christmas- and jared LOVES IT! He is hilarious to watch as he tries to be the dragon warrior. He'll run all over the house being crazy. AND- for my birthday we got this fun little trampoline- both for my sanity and fitness. It burns off a ton of jared's winter wiggles, and it is a great little winter work out for me. It has these cool resistance bands attached to it- and it came with a short workout DVD that i love. GOOD TIMES!

Mr. Independent

Another year older.....

On jan. 9 i turned the big 28! kind of crazy if you ask me! That was a friday, and jason had drill all weekend long, so the night before we just went to CHUCK E CHEESES! that is where we went for jason's 27th and jared has a picture that he looks at all the time. There is a newer one close to us that just opened up and we get fliers in the paper for it all the time. sooo, he has been begging for MONTHS to go. We told him we were going to a surprise. As soon as we got close enough that he could see the sign he yelled out "chuck E cheeses- i want to go there!" he guessed his surprise. It is actually rather inexpensive (especially with the coupons) and he LOVED it- not to mention that really jason and i love the games too!

As far as turning 28 goes, it has put me in quite a reflective mode lately. I keep wanting to write some long post about all that is going on in my head, but i keep just doing all the fun catch up posts instead, and then i'm too tired to write anything worthwhile.

But i will say this for now- it's a new year in the world, another year for me. i want it to be better than the last. I want to be spiritually stronger for myself and my family. I want to focus my time on REALLY teaching my boys. I want them to have the respect and trust in me to know that i am (and jason, of course) one of the first places they can look for answers. (not that i'll have that answer, but i'll always be willing to help them find it) i want to feel like me physically- i've gotten so lazy with myself. I'm in total organization mode right now. My house is driving me crazy! i feel like i just organize and organize and clean and clean to have it all get messed up again 10 minutes later. I know there has got to be a way to change that- i'm on a mission to find it (other than the flylady) i want to be the wife and friend my husband needs. I want to love my church calling, no matter what it is.......

I know, that is a lot of wants. and I could keep going. But i really am finding little ways to turn all those wants into realities. They are all worthy desires that can be and are being formulated into goals that will put my path in a stronger direction. I know i'm on the right path, i haven't really lost that- i just want my steps to be firmer on the journey, my foundation to be firmer to hold me up when i need it, and my heart to be softer all along the way. here's to year 28!

TIme is FLYING!

On New Year's Eve we had our anniversary. We actually went out the night before to celebrate. Life has brought us lots of twists and turns over the last few years, but it really has been wonderful! I'm anticipating where the future will take us- it could be anywhere! Thanks for keeping a smile on my face babe- LOVE YOU!

Climbing the red rocks

and last, but certainly not least, these are some random pics we took on one of our hikes up behind jason's mom's house. Isn't it gorgeous? it was especially so because of all the snow on the mountains behind us. Jared was being "megatron" and throwing HUGE rocks down the mountain. he is hilarious!

Happy New Year!!

We went to First Knight again this year. I think last year was a bit better, the set up and all, but we had fun! the kids got to ride in this little train- which jared still talks about- they bounced in bouncy houses, got balloon animals, danced, played, did crafts, etc.

then we went back to grandma's house to bring in the new year with new york- 10pm is a little easier for the kiddos to handle. heather and tom bought bubble wrap rolls. we counted down, then they stomped away! making lots of fun loud noise. at first it scared jared, but eventually, as you can see, he was in on the "i'm hording this pile so no one else can get it" idea. So fun to be a kid!

Fun Stuff!

After everyone but us and the Ludlows had left we got to do other fun stuff like: swim in the fun indoor pool,

go to jumpin jacks and play on all the crazy inflatable stuff,

tear apart grandma's house (shhhhhh- don't tell her- i don't know where I was, but i came into the living room and found spencer like this- he was quite proud of himself!)

and we got to go and visit my grandma and grandpa barker while we were there. I forgto to take pictures while there- sorry!-- but we had a great visit with them. Grandpa is on a special diet for his kidneys and has to drink rice milk now, just like jared. He thought it was pretty cool that they had his milk in their fridge!

Happy 28th Birthday Jason!

Dec 27th is Jason's birthday. We celebrated the night before with a fun game/dance night. It is sooooo GREAT! We did blowing relay races, capture the lizard, musical chairs and DANCED, DANCED, DANCED! Just some good old fashioned fun! And, since half the group was leaving the next day, we did the little tradition a writing down our family predicitions for 2009. Lots of gramma going on a mission, justy kissing girls and getting his liscence, brady baby, baby walking, predictions- and many more that i am already forgetting!

Afterwards we went back to the house and did cupcakes, rootbeer floats, and opened presents.

The next day, his actual birthday, we hung out and said farewell to doughmans, wilsons, and mckes. I'm so grateful for my amazing husband and that we could celebrate his birth with so much family. I love you!!!!

We also had a little miracle happen that day. Jared ate a meat and bread sandwich. For those that don't know him that well, you might not understand how incredible that is- but it is AMAZING! he LOVED hanging out with his older cousin tommy (who is almost exactly a year older). He wanted to do almost anything tommy did- even eat new food!!! For a new year's FHE we had done some goals with the ludlows and jared's was to eat new food- this got him started!