The Barnes Bunch

I love the Fall!!

2009-10-23T15:21:00.005-05:00

I love this time of year! There is just something about the fall that gives you a renewed energy and appreciation for life! It is kind of ironic when technically everything in nature is dying or going dormant! I love the holidays and the many activities that come with it. We have already gone to two fall festivals and Greg and I got to go to a Halloween party. I don't have any pictures of us at these festivals because the twins are still young and very clingy. I have found it will probably be another year before we can truly go to one of these things and not have children crying or having melt downs. LOL! I am so thankful for my family and especially my children right now. They add so much richness and color to my life!

The gangster and the flapper girl!

Alyssa at the corn maze for a friend's birthday party!

My princesses and Obi -Wan Kenobi

I am an Aunt!!

2009-09-13T20:38:00.005-05:00

I am an aunt for the first time and am loving it!! My brother, Bryce, and his wife Erin had Kyah Everett Williamson on Sept. 3. He weighed 10lbs. and was 22 1/4 in. long! This was an especially emotional time for my family because Erin almost lost her life in the process of having Kyah. God spared her and we are so grateful to Him for that. I am in love with my nephew and wish I lived closer to him! Check out how precious this little guy is!

Bryce, Erin, and Kyah!

Kyah and his cousins!

What an angel!

Alyssa and Kyah

I love my nephew!!

Why Do Our Babies Have To Grow Up?

2009-08-17T13:13:00.003-05:00

Connor started his first day of kindergarden today and my heart is aching! I told myself I was not going to cry, but as soon as I dropped him off into his classroom, I started bawling in front of all the other parents. I could not even make it out to the car to cry in private. The rather funny part is as soon as the other moms saw me cry, they started to cry too and we all ended up hugging one another even though none of us really knew each other! I can remember thinking when Connor was about 3 years old that school was still so far away and I had all of the time in the world to be with him. Time really does go so fast and I found myself thinking today that before I know it, he will be going to college! I have missed him terribly today and feel like a part of my heart is missing! I know he will do great in school and I know growing up is part of life, but right now I am wishing I could stop time and keep my baby home a little while longer.

Connor on his first day of school!

Family Camp at K-Kauai

2009-07-23T13:51:00.012-05:00

We just returned from family camp at K-Kaua'i in Branson, MS. We had the best time of our lives and plan to go back if at all possible. We spent the week swimming, putt putting, skiing, bluff jumping, riding on a pontoon, riding on a zipline, playing paint ball, and many many more things. We had so much fun and recharged mentally, physically, and emotionally. It was one of the best vacations we have ever had. Each night they had a theme that you dress up to which was so much fun. Greg Smalley was the speaker and we loved hearing him. Our children were loved on by all of the counselors and in return our children fell in love with them. The twins also celebrated their second birthday there. I can't believe my babies are no longer babies! It was a week filled with great memories. I apologize for the many pics, but it was hard to choose which ones and I wanted to show what a great time we had.

Connor and his favorite counselor, Jamie.

Alyssa and Beth, the counselor who captured her heart!

"Support Your Team Night"

Having so much fun at the pool.

My little mermaid!

My fearless fish!

"Parent's Night Out"

"Pirate Night"

Alyssa was Tinker Bell.

One of the counselors horsing around with Connor.

Everybody sang to the twins on their birthday and they got a big bowl of icecream.

"Neon Night"

"Hawaian Luau Night"

Kylee

Ashlynn

Summer Fun!!

2009-06-24T13:09:00.009-05:00

Sorry I have not done a blog in awhile. I just can't seem to get to it much these days, but while I have the time I just wanted to share that we are having a great summer so far. It has felt very busy so far with things like Vacation Bible School, Joyland, T-Ball, swimming lessons, and Parent's Day Out. I even got to leave my family and go to Dallas last weekend to go to my sweet sister-in-law's baby shower. I had never left the kids before, but I have to say it was wonderful! I have to brag that I am married to the most amazing man in the world too!! Greg took care of all four of our kids all weekend by himself. He took them to a T-Ball game on Friday night, then on a family donut date on Saturday morning, then to the Critter Fest at the Science Spectrum, and then to a birthday party. He even went to a restaurant by himself (which I would never have the guts to do) on Father's Day to celebrate with them. He was not even phased by any of it! I am so lucky to have him for my husband. I don't know of many dads that could do all of that and still be in one piece by the end of the weekend! Anyway, here are a few pics of our summer. Enjoy!!

Ashlynn & Kylee

Ashlynn

Kylee

Connor loves the diving board!!

My little man!

I never see Connor without a smile when he is in the water!!

Alyssa is swimming all by herself with her noodle! This is a first for her!

Alyssa has turned out to be quite the little fish.

My baby girl!

Connor hits the ball!

Connor runs!

He touches Home plate!

Go Astros!!!

Happy Easter!!

2009-04-12T16:20:00.010-05:00

Easter weekend has been such a blessing to our family and was filled with many great memories. Even though we had so much fun with all of the egg hunting and candy we made sure our kids knew the true meaning of Easter. It is truly a time of celebration for what our Lord did for us. Here are some pics from our weekend!!

Alyssa making a funny face!

Connor making a funny face!

Our kiddos with friends who came over to have an Easter egg hunt in our backyard.

Ashlynn in our backyard during the egg hunt!

Kylee hunting eggs at the Spirit Ranch.

Connor & Alyssa after the Easter egg hunt at the Spirit Ranch.

Our family at the Spirit Ranch. It was cold!!

Hunting eggs!!

Hunting eggs!

Our family on Easter Sunday. Greg was sick and did not get to go!

Cowabunga Connor!!!!

2009-03-29T15:47:00.004-05:00

We celebrated Connor's 5th birthday this weekend and had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Party!! Connor actually turned 5 in December, but we decided to wait and have a party for him in the Spring so he could have a party at the park. Well, of all the weekends of beautiful weather we have been having, it snows on the weekend we pick!! Connor was a great sport about it and we celebrated it at our house instead. It was so much fun and Connor said he had an "awesome" time. That is his new favorite word these days and we hear it all the time. I am so proud of my little guy and can't believe he is 5 and starting school in the fall. He is such a good kid and we are so blessed to have him.

Getting ready to blow out candles!

Our little man!

Cool cake!

Aunt Erin posing with Connor and Alyssa!

Turtle Power!!

Connor's fan club!

"I love my big bro !"

The Polar Express

2008-12-11T19:48:00.014-06:00

The Polar Express came to Lubbock this year. For those of you who don't know, it is a train ride patterned after the movie. We took Connor and Alyssa and had a great time. It was Greg and I's first train ride as well. It lasted about an hour and we rode to the "North Pole" and Santa and his elves boarded and gave all the kids bells like the movie. We were served hot chocolate and a cookie on the way and listened to the story of the Polar Express and sang Christmas carols. It was a great way to celebrate the holidays and the kids really enjoyed it.

The Conductor let Connor hold his lantern.

The Conductor punched each kid's first letter of their name in their ticket.

Santa is handing them their bells.

I can hear it ringing!! (Which according to the movie means you believe in Santa!)

I can hear it too!!

Tis the Season

2008-12-06T21:01:00.012-06:00

I cannot believe that it is already December and Christmas is fast approaching. I have found myself stressing over the silliest things like we need to do a Christmas card, I need the perfect Christmas outfits for the kids, I need to finish my Christmas shopping, I need to finish decorating my house, etc. I find myself wanting to have everything perfect for the holidays. What am I thinking?! Today was a gentle reminder to me that spending time with my family and making memories with them over the holidays is what matters most. We had so much fun going to the Science Spectrum petting all of the animals, making Gingerbread men, and getting our picture taken with Santa.

Kylee enjoying her gingerbread man!

Ashlynn chowing on her gingerbread man!

Connor and Alyssa having fun petting the camel!

Kylee feeling the tongue of a cow!!

Greg helping Ashlynn feed the cow!

Alyssa and her gingerbread man she made!

Connor and his gingerbread man!

Our family and Santa!!!

Happy Halloween a Week Late!!

2008-11-08T13:47:00.005-06:00

I am a week late in getting these up, but here are pics of the kids on Halloween. We had a great time at the Fun Fall Festival at church and went to a few neighborhood homes after that. The kids had the best time dressing up and the twins did great keeping their costumes on!!

Princess Alyssa

Spiderman

Kylee as a buttlerfly and Ashlynn as a flower

We are Walking!!!

2008-10-29T14:14:00.013-05:00

The twinks are finally walking!! I can't believe my babies are no longer babies anymore, but toddlers. It is so much fun to see them toddle around, but bittersweet at the same time. These are our last babies unless God miraculously intervenes!! :) It is sad to be leaving the baby stage in our house, but we look forward to becoming an all walker family now. It will make life a little easier for us. It is so funny because even though the girls look so much alike, they have such different little personalities. Ashlynn is so very careful when she walks with her hands raised high and her concentration on her feet. She is very slow and methodical. While Kylee is crazy and out of control when she walks!! She practically flies everywhere and is trying to run before she can walk very well.

Kylee

Ashlynn

Best Friends!!

Ashlynn (left) & Kylee (right)

The Corn Maize

2008-10-25T16:25:00.011-05:00

We went to the Corn Maize with our Sunday School class and had a great time. We always enjoy going to the maize and hanging out with friends. It just would not be Fall without it. I love the fall!!

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-11T20:45:00.024-05:00

We went to the local pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins and take some fall pics. It was an enjoyable morning as well as entertaining watching the kiddos play.

"Classic" picture of our sweet kids!

Princess Birthday Party

2008-10-05T21:40:00.019-05:00

Alyssa turned 3 years old and had her very first official party. Since her current passion in life is to be a princess, she decided that was what she wanted her party to be about. We had so much fun doing nails and makeup. Being that Connor was there and a few other boys, we also incorporated super heroes who got to have their faces painted and tatoos put on. Even though it was challenging getting our house unrealistically clean and everything ready for the party, it was so much fun and very worth it for our little princess!

Princess Alyssa

Princess Alyssa & her royal siblings

Princess Alyssa & Spiderman

"I love my cake!"

"When does my party start?"

Painting Nails

"Do you like my makeup?"

"How about mine?"

Getting ready to blow out candles!

The "Twinks" and their usual poses for pics!
We are trying to work on them actually opening the eyes for once! :)

Group pic of all the princesses & super heroes who attended the party.

The Brave & the Beautiful

2008-09-06T20:29:00.010-05:00

Alyssa got a new hair-do this past week and looks absolutlely beautiful. Furthermore, the lack of screaming in the mornings when having her hair fixed is a much added and needed bonus. We were all ready to have our family photo taken when the day before Alyssa decided to climb up onto her dresser and then proceed to fall off. She got a pretty bad cut and we had to take our very first ER trip. I have to say that is pretty good considering it has been four and a half years! Alyssa got 6 stitches, but was so brave. She was great at the ER and never cried. She even fell asleep while the doctor was sowing her up!! My brave little girl!!!! Needless to say, it will be awhile before we do pictures!

How Sweet!

Goofy Grin

What happened?!

Ouch!!

Hurt, but still a ray of sunshine!

Barnes Wrestling Mania

2008-08-28T14:42:00.006-05:00

We may be a family of mostly girls, but you would think it was all boys. You lay on the floor at your own risk. The twins are the worst at attacking and they make growling sounds while they do it. It is hilarious! Everyone lives to wrestle in this house!!!!

You may be bigger, but there are two of us!!

How many kids can attack Daddy at the same time?

Alyssa has mommy nailed to the floor!

Who is wrestling who?

Pile on!!

New Braunfels Vacation

2008-08-15T15:17:00.004-05:00

We went to New Braunfels with my (Holly's) family last week for vacation. We had a wonderful time and spent it in the river, Schlitterbaun Waterpark, shopping at the San Marcos outlet malls, and just hanging out. Greg and I were very nervous about traveling with four young children, but I have to say the kids were awesome and with the help of family we had a great time!

The Whole Family

Holly, Connor & Alyssa floating and swimming in the river!

Alyssa was great and really came to love the water more after this trip.

We could not keep Connor out of the water. He is part fish!

Greg, Alyssa & Connor floating the river.

Ashlynn playing in one of the floats. They make great playpens!

Kylee posing for her picture!

Connor & Alyssa taking a morning walk.

Connor & Alyssa

2008-07-31T14:38:00.007-05:00

These are pictures that my very dear friend Teri took of my kiddos. I thought she did a fabulous job!

T-Ball Season Ends

2008-07-29T16:49:00.007-05:00

Connor really enjoyed playing T-Ball. This was his first season and sport to ever play so it was fun watching him adjust to playing sports. Since all the players were 4 and 5 year olds it was very entertaining watching the games. We enjoyed the season and were sad to see it come to an end.

Alyssa

2008-07-25T15:51:00.000-05:00

Loves Her Dolls!!!

Swimming Lessons

2008-07-25T15:25:00.005-05:00

Our Little Fish

Connor loves jumping off of the "Plank"

Kylee and Ashlynn

2008-07-25T15:03:00.005-05:00

Ashlynn

Kylee

Ready to Hit the Road!!

Swimming Lessons

2008-06-14T09:45:00.004-05:00

Kylee

Ashlynn