Eva--a deserving post

Eva, my oldest daughter.  She sparkles.  She shines.  She loves me and we're best friends.  When she was asking about her childhood I looked it up on the blog and at 7 years old she was only tagged in 6 posts!!  Of course that's because I use Facebook and Instagram but we thought it was time for some Eva highlights and stories.  Since we just got back from Utah we'll highlight that trip a little bit.  It was Eva's first flight.  All three of the others flew as an infant for either a wedding or a funeral.  It was so exciting.  Although today marks a week home, Eva asks to return to Utah several times a day.  She loved it.  She loves her family.  

 Salt Lake Temple

 Eva loves collecting things.  When we went on a nature walk she'll pick one of every flower that she likes.  Paige and Sawyer followed right along with her collecting with her.  Eva finished with three golf balls, sticks, and tons of flowers.  The flowers of Utah are so different from what we're used to.  While we were there, she was also the "Queen" of their secret fort.  She directed efforts to decorate the fort with rocks and flowers.  

 When we were in Provo, Matt and Robyn took us to Bridal Veil Falls.  I thought it was just a waterfall to see but when we got there people were walking in the water so we hopped in too.  I took this shot right when Eva got in.  We weren't expecting the water to be so COLD!!  I think she looks pretty shocked.  She loved it and wouldn't be outdone hiking either.  She hiked just as high as the boys did!

 Luckily, Aunt Becca is magical with all things beautiful.  Eva got her hair done in Becca's style and it took her three days before she took it down.  It took me bribing her with pink face masks to convince her.

 Our pink face masks.

This is just a silly picture we took at the dentist office trying to compare eyes.  She is such a beautiful girl.  I love watching her grow up.  

It's Fall

So in creating your first blog in a few years, where, or rather, when do you start.  Now or way back when you left off?  I'm choosing to start right in there here and now October 2015.  Fall is so beautiful and there are so many fun activities to share.

 We tried Wales West Pumpkin Patch.  It was a fun day trip for the family.  They each got to choose and decorate a pumpkin with train rides, inflatables, and hay rides sprinkled in as well.  We love taking our wagon on these trips because Paige is so happy in it.  

 This was our second attempt at crazy hair day.  Our first attempt was the WRONG DAY!  I was fearful the boys would be totally upset with me but when they got home and noticed my new haircut they commented on how weird my hair looked.  On the real crazy hair day they got off the bust and upon noticing that I actually curled my hair they asked "did you do crazy hair day too?"  

 Jackson has decided he wants to be an author and has started making comic books at night.  He is a natural motivator because he'll often recruit Sam and other friends to write their own books as well.  This was his first day setting up a stand to sell them in the front yard.  He told me he was a little disappointed his only customers were family, but he was happy to earn $1.15.

Paige and our friends the Emmertsons' son Ryker dressed up for the Trunk or Treat as Pebbles and Bam Bam.  

Fall is my favorite

i love a good corn maze, pu mpkin patch, bouncy house, hayride, tractor race, sandbox, sandbox filled with corn kernels, petting zoo, pumpkin launch, farm slide, family day.  i thank you oakes farm.

 we went with our good friends the ritters.  sienna and same are best friends but be afraid of their activities when they are together.  kylie was in jacksons preschool class for 2 years and now they're in the same kindergarten class.

 me and holly.  you know what struck me as i took this picture.  i almost never take pictures of me and other adults.  me and holly are good friends and have been for a while but this is our first picture together.  i have zero pictures with any of my friends.  it makes me want to set a goal.

just pictures

so i feel like pinterest has replaced blogger as what i'm going to do in my precious free time on the computer.  i don't know that i like that.  i haven't been taking pictures.  maybe its the crazy after having another baby.  i feel like i always have a list of wants to do and needs to do but what i'm going to do is sit down and read a book.  here are some moments i've tried to capture on my phone.

i need a better camera.  when babies smile they move and its always blurry.  you get the gist though of her cuteness though right?

Our newest member

Eva Caroline Barnes

March 14th 2012

9lbs 3 oz

i kept waiting to make this post when i had more pictures or better pictures or whatnot. I decided at this stage, you do what you can, when you can. These are the pictures I have now.

I was scheduled to be induced on Thursday but went into labor early Wednesday morning. I went longer than I would have liked without an epidural but all's well that ends well. It certainly ended well I'd say. She's so perfect. The boys are totally in love with her. She is sleeping well and i have had lots of help. We are so excited for all the things that she brings to our family.

In our house we say Roll Tide!!

Yay for the Crimson Tide!

and this was the best pic of the 24 I took. Lori, I was thinking of you.

Thanks Grandma for the extra beach pictures

these were some of my favorites.







oh and also, thanks for another beach trip.

i did a bad thing

i saw my sister calling and didn't answer it because I felt too bad about still not putting up a new blog. in my defense, which is small i know, that was 3 minutes ago.

this is a random sampling of what we might be doing at any given point this summer.

what i left jackson doing...
what i came back to find. yeah, this particular activity has happened countless times.


it's been an AWESOME summer! this is just a day to day thing. wait til i show the rest!