Sunshine

This is Sunshine the canary.  I just got her last week.  I have been wanting to get a canary for a while now, to put in the beautiful cage Dad made before he left on his mission.  It's a great reminder of Dad!  Sunshine is energetic and not shy at all.  She loves to sing, especially to Peter.  She really is a ray of sunshine in our house.

Spring Piano Recital

We just had our spring piano recital.  It is so nice to have the piano year finished up!  Joshua and Andrew both played two songs, and performed very well. They both worked very hard and improved their skills a ton.  What awesome little musicians!

Selfies

Finally getting on board with the selfie movement!

Spring Dance Recital

Caitlin just finished her first year of dance.  There was a spring recital last week and she did such a good job!  Andrew dances as well at the same studio and he is a rhythm master.  I love watching him do his routines because he has such awesome enthusiasm.  Now we take a summer break, and back for more next year!

Mayday

Every year at the close of the school year Gunnison Elementary puts on a May Day celebration.  Each class in the elementary does a dance and the whole school sings some songs.  the 4th graders always do the maypole.  This year Andrew did a square dance, and Joshua didi a futuristic dance to a funky spider song.  I always enjoy Mayday - the kids in this valley are exceptional and I am glad that our family gets to be a part of it.

Pinewood Derby

We love pinewood derby time at our house.  All of us have experience building winning cars, and this year it was Andrew's turn.  He is a wold scout this year and had a great time building a car for the derby.  He didn't win fastest car, but we were still so proud of how hard he worked, and what a good sportsman he was.  It was a lot of fun.  the rest of us took our old cars and raced them as well which made for an exciting evening!

 at the starting gate

 Andrew's awesome spider-man car -- he did the design all by himself.

 boys and cookies...need I say more?

Most original design - way to go Drew!

Some Pig

So we had a unique adventure this week.  Mike and I ran out to Mayfield to give a landscaping bid to a family out there.  They had a pig that had just had a litter of piglets.  One was a runt, and the owner explained that she thought it would die that day.  I asked if we could take the runt home and try to nurse it back to health.  she agreed, and before we knew it, the Barlow house had a pig!

 This is Andrew with the pig the day we brought it home.  He was so lethargic and weak.

 This was three days later...he had energy, was keeping food down, and enjoying the sunshine!

Unfortunately, he took a turn for the worse that night and by morning he was feverish and had the shakes.  I nursed him through the morning, but by 10 he was gone.  It was such a short and intense 4 days with this little runt in the house.  It just felt wrong not to try to save him, and even though we were unsuccessful, I am glad we tried.

Fish tank

Michael has always been in love with fish tanks.  We inherited this beauty from my dad several years back when we lived in Logan.  We have moved it with us to Hyrum, Mayfield, and now Gunnison.  We wanted to wait till we had the basement finished and set it up down there.  Now it's done, and the tank looks beautiful!  We re-stained the cabinet which made a big difference.  Mike wanted to try live plants, so that will be a new adventure this time around.  We went to Provo a couple days ago and got a big school of cardinal tetras to finish off the project.  It is so pretty!

Strings Concert for Joshua

Joshua has been studying cello this year at his elementary.  It is so neat that we have a strings program that reaches into the elementary ages.  Josh is a great musician and plays very well.  I was so proud to see him playing up on that stage...what a handsome guy!  Next year he is thinking of trying the trumpet, so this may be the only time I get to see him perform on the cello.  He did a wonderful job.

 I love this picture -- checking out the program

 on stage warming up

performing with the other fifth grade students

Andrew's baptism

Andrew Joseph Barlow was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints Saturday, May 3rd 2014.  It was such a beautiful day!  Andrew has such a sweet spirit, and a wonderfully strong testimony.  I am so proud of him!

Waiting with Dad before the service

Three generations of Barlow awesomeness!!

Drew with Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa Barlow

A  high five from cousin Owen

Best buddy and cousin Isaac.  His turn in a few more months.

Drew with his best friend Lincoln Sorensen.  These two are inseparable!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Every year Mike and the kids go out of their way to the land of "beyond the comfort zone" to make me a birthday cake.  I have always refused to make my own, so my awesome hubby steps up every time.  This year I am on a diet, so they made me a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, mint chocolate chip ice cream, Josh gave me peppermint patties, and Drew gave me a Hershey's bar.  Wow!  They know how much I love sugar....and that's why I'm needing to diet!  Anyway, Mike gave me a lovely card with the "0 calorie cake" to relieve my guilt and help me to enjoy my birthday treats.  And boy, I did!

Easter

Happy Easter!  As per tradition, we decorated and pipped eggs, made Resurrection rolls, went to the city Easter egg hunt, and enjoyed baskets filled with goodies.   It was a lovely Easter.

 Caitlin in all her morning glory on Easter Sunday.

 Bubbles in the Easter baskets filled the morning with fun!

Happy 8th Birthday, Andrew!!

Andrew decided he wanted a "Plants vs. Zombies birthday this year.  I went all out for my little guy.  we had brain cake and ice cream,  made pea shooters and shot zombies in the yard, and decorated with zombie paraphernalia all over the house.  We even had a sunflower pinata.  I think Andrew had the coolest birthday party ever...if you enjoy brains for a snack!

Josh the Reader

Joshua really loves to read.  I always think he looks so cute all curled up with a book.  I know he is in the living room, but I am sure his mind is far far away.