When the BIG kids are gone.....

As soon as we get in the door, Lizzie and Rachel run down the hall, straight into Meghan's room. The purple, pink, princess room is the popular spot for these two, with the Polly Pockets, hundreds of beanie babies, barbies, dress up clothes, 20+ pairs of shoes to try on and scatter about the house...and the greatest part... no one to yell "GET OUT!!!" Just perfect! And then at night, when I am putting Meg to bed and I am exasperated at her room, I make some comment about if she would just spend 5 minutes a day picking it up--she gives me her, famous "are you CRAZY??" look, and reminds me that this in not HER mess!!!

Busy Tooth Fairy

Here you see them....

Now you don't!! Where are you teeth Jon?

Here they are! Jon lost his first two teeth with the help of the dentist!! Very tough, brave boy, like all Jedi Warriors (serious Star Wars craze at our house)

Michael lost one on Monday...at school(FINALLY) The kid has been trying to lose one at school for 5 years because there you get a plastic tooth holder, shaped like a tooth, to wear around your neck the whole day...very highly coveted Kiva teeth.
DAY 4

Celebration Bedtime

What's going on in this picture? Let me tell you...sometimes when a day is finally at its end, Dave turns on an oldie clip from You Tube for the kids to watch while they brush. Here they are watching a clip of an old Pink Panther movie. They LOVE this occasional treat!!

Big Girl

Day 2
Miss Elizabeth started preschool this week. Here she is with our favorite teacher for 3 year olds. Matthew and Jon were in her class. We always told Lizzie that she would go to preschool when she was four...now that preschool has started she says she is four.

Back to School

After a short, fast and FUN, summer, back to school they go. Not to much whining or nerves. Everyone has a good teacher and someone they know in class.
It was Jonathan's first day of kindergarten. This was a sad day for me...the first time I haven't had a little boy at home in 10 years!!! He was excited to go to the big kid's school! He wants to be called Jon (and therefore, write Jon on his papers--smart boy) He still has to get used to the going everyday part of school, instead of the every other day of preschool, but he has the energy of 10 five year old boys, so its just a matter of time.
When Michael started Kindgarten, Jonathan was 8 months old. I remember him spitting up all over my shirt while we were at the storytime they have a couple of days before school starts. I remember lugging him, sleeping everyday, up the long sidewalk, Meg and Matt in tow, to pick Michael up at lunch time (back in half day kindergarten days)
Anyway, in honor of that "where did the time go" feeling that I have had this week, I am going to try that Project 365 that I have seen on other blogs...to take a picture everyday, FOR A YEAR. Then next year we can look here to see where the time went!! Taking them won't be such a challenge, but posting them is another story. I'm going to give a try!!

Matthew Colin Barney

This is Matthew on the last day of school with his 1st grade teacher.


Matthew is seven!! He had a swim party with some of his favorite first grade buddies. His birthdays always remind me about his real birthday--the day he was born. His was an especially memorable birth. First, he was due on June 20th. I finally went into labor on the evening of the 25th. I wanted to stay home as long as possible before going to the hospital. I remember walking around the block around 10pm with the dog and being sooo hot! Finally, around midnight we went and found out I was at 8cm. It really hadn't gotten that bad yet. We hung around with little contractions here and there...they kept offering an epidural, but I thought if I was already at an 8 and it was this easy...no need! In the wee hours of the morning my Dr. came in broke my water AND started pitocin. Then there was no more fun or relaxing. Then I really wanted an epidural, but the Dr. was in surgery (UGH!). It was crazy,and I was screaming. Finally at 6am, on June 26th he was born....9lbs! He had and has an enormous head. With my next three, I asked for the epidural ASAP whether anything hurt or not!!

Matthew at 7!
Crazy about dinosaurs.
Ask questions not stop and will not accept a simple, no thought answer.
Loves reading--sometimes I have to make him stop to go out to play.
Loves scripture stories.
Doesn't like scary movies at all.
Sweet, happy personality---such a great smile.

Rachel at 20 months

The long neglected blog....I decided to do an update on Rachel who all the sudden seems so big!! She definetly has a toddlerish attitude with lots of pouty looks and tantrums. She is still so sweet and cuddly--when she isn't on the floor screaming.

Favorite words
No (can mean yes or no)
Baby- loves to see herself in the mirror and say baby or show me any baby we happe to see
Ouchie
Doggie
I want more!!
Stop!

She must be a budding artist because she is crazy about markers. She has drawn on walls, dolls, carpet, furniture, lots of homework papers. Her favorite thing to do though, is to draw on herself...ugh! See?!


Everyone else is doing great. School is out tomorrow! They are excited! Matthew is a little sad because he just loves his teacher. They had "move up day" today where they met their new teacher and class for next year. Jon finished last week. Our last thing to wrap up is Michael's baseball. His playoffs start Friday. We have a week or so then to just relax until swimming starts.

Here are some pictures of the kids last week while we had a little rain. They love umbellas! This little storm gave us some nice, cool weather for a couple of days-so nice for May!!