Boys in Trouble

Have you every found yourself facing a situation where you have a choice:  start yelling or get the camera?  Andrew and his friend Lincoln put me in one of those recently.  They were playing upstairs with all the toys, games, puzzles, etc which should be ample entertainment for hours, but chose to keep themselves busy with the popcorn supplies instead. I came upstairs when things got quiet and discovered two boys with bright orange sock bottoms, two empty Tupperware buckets, and a carpet covered with popcorn kernels and butter salt.
"We wanted to make our socks orange" they told me with big innocent eyes.
First I counted to ten.  Then I sent them to individual naughty spots while I cooled down.  After a good while we all had a serious "why was that wrong, don't hurt the house" kind of discussion and I sent them back up with the vacuum.
After that I finally thought about the camera and caught this pic.  We ended up spending the evening vacuuming salt out of each individual crevice in the carpet and finding kernels in the shag with our toes.  I bet if you come visit and walk around with bare feet you may still be able to hunt down Andrew and Lincoln's kernels.  I guess a new house with kids in it doesn't stay new for long!

Christmas 2011

Christmas is just magical.  This last one was particularly fun because we have kids that are so willing to believe in the magic of it all.  Caitlin was such a treat.  She got a baby doll with a stroller which she thought was the best thing that had happened to her in her life.  None of the other presents mattered after she opened that!

Andrew asked for another t rex so he could have battles between the two.  So now we have two huge t rex figures, and a very happy five year old.

I guess Santa decided that if we are going to live in Gunnison there had better be a rifle in the house.  Joshua was so excited to get the airsoft bb gun.  It has actually created some quality father-son time.

New fishing reel for my outdoorsman

Even the dog gets remembered on the big day.  Daniel gave her a fire hose chew toy that she didn't put down for days.  Her favorite toy ever!

Shooting practice Barlow style.  plastic cups on a picnic table in the dirt back yard with a dog.

The big surprise from Santa this year was a new trampoline.  We have had so much fun with this already!  The boys love it, and so do I because I can finally talk my kids into going outside.

We had such a wonderful Christmas!  Now we can rest and recoup till next time.

Bath Time

I love it when babies get mad. I have a great pic of Joshua when he was a babe pulling his ears and squalling, and now I have one just as priceless of Caitlin! She actually loves bath time but this day was an acception to say the least.

Purse Girls

Oh how I love being a girl!  And something I love even better is being a girl along with other girls that I love!!  Heather came for a quick visit so we all got together at Carries.  We watched sappy movies, ate plenty of chocolate, talked up a storm, and soaked in each other's company.  During our visit we noticed how similar and bold each of our purses are and had to get a picture.  I love my sisters!

Sanpete Skies

The night sky looks so different when you get away from the city.  Gunnison has been a great place to live for just that reason.  At night the stars are incredible from our house.  The sunsets are to die for as well.  The other night we were driving and had our breath taken away by the sight of the moon.  It was enormous and surrounded by an eerie green and golden glowing ring.  bisecting the sight was a dark jet contrail.  The picture does it no justice, but I wanted to share nonetheless.  The sky holds some pretty impressive things.

joshuas birthday

My awesome little dude turned 9 in December.  We had such a fun party!  Because his birthday is close to Christmas we decided to have a Polar Express movie party with hot cocoa, pajamas, and of course, birthday cake! (cupcakes count, right?)  I can't believe how fast he is growing and becoming his own independent person.  I have to keep reminding him that he will always be my baby, even when he is all grown up.

I am so sorry for the anxiety I may have caused you...

So I am completely aware of the stress I have caused all of my devoted blog fans by my blatant failure to update for almost three whole months. But do not fear my dear stressed out friends. All is well, and I am back! Prepare yourselves, because you are about to be deluged in Barlow blogginess. I have to admit that the main reason for my neglect is pure business. I have been wrapped up in a few large decorating projects along with a new calling and a revived ambition for exercise. I have also been striving to study my scriptures more diligently. Now that I have these big goals fairly scheduled anuncorked into the mayhem of my life, i think I can succesfully squeeze blogging back in. Hallelujah! So hopefully you have been faithfully checking the buzz every now and then during the dry time and are around to see that I really am still a blogger mom!