It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!!!

Last weekend, Christmas preparations were in full swing at the Barton household! Nate promised me a Christmas weekend and he came through like a champ! On Saturday, we had a babysitter all day while we played Santa!! I LOVE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!! Nate was a trooper and lasted until about 3 that afternoon! What a guy!!!
After church on Sunday, we loaded up the kids and it was off to get our Christmas trees! That's right trees - Nate finally agreed to two trees! I was finally going to get a family one and a decorative one! What did I tell you - what a guy!!!

Eating a quick lunch before the tree hunt!

We ventured to a local tree farm on the island and set off for the perfect Christmas Tree! As soon as we got our saw, Connor took off saying he knew where our tree was and he was persistent (I wonder who he gets that from???). Well what do you know....he lead us to the perfect tree - he later told us he saw it out his window as we drove in! About thirty feet away we found our other tree - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

Our handy man took the saw and started chopping away.... Watch out for that tree Daddy!!

Nate was more successful at the second tree! Connor was quick to give his dad credit as he said, "Good job Daddy! The tree didn't fall on you this time!!"

As soon as they were cut it was off to the car....

Later that night, with Christmas music in the background, we decorated our family tree downstairs! They had gotten a hold of the tree upstairs with the decorations and decorated it Connor and Cooper style - all decorations on the bottom branches!

Cooper was all about decorating the tree downstairs too -the bottom part!

Connor found the tree for his room and was more interested in decorating that one....

It is so much fun to pull out the ornaments and be reminded of what point in your life that they came from! One of my favorite ornaments is from my favorite first grade teacher - yes that was a long time ago! Connor found his ornament that we had painted his hands on when he was seven months old - how fast they grow!

What better way to end the night after decorating our tree - but with hot chocolate and chocolate chip pumpkin cookies - YUM YUM!!! Thanks boyz for the beautiful tree downstairs!

Now all that is left to do is wait for our favorite guy in red.......

HERE'S THE LATEST ON THE BOYZ.....

Well I honestly thought it would never happen... I thought that Coop would continue to think that diapers were cool and it would carry over into his school years, but over night everything changed and he all of a sudden wanted to start using the bathroom...it's official....Coop is in underwear!! Way to go Coop!!! (This is one happy mom who will now be saving 60.00 a month on diapers... oh what to spend that on!)

In late November, Nate's Aunt from PA came to visit us while she was on a business trip in Portland. In the one day that she spent with us, we tried our best to show her our home away from home and to get that "Northwest" feel! After showing her the squadron and the prowlers we were off on a hike to enjoy the beautiful day and scenery! Thanks Aunt Robin for making the trip to see us - we loved sharing our world with you!!

Nate, Aunt Robin, and the boyz

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving together and I was thankful that we were together as a family. Although it is hard to be away from your family we were able to share it with our military family here! Some of Nate's friends from the squadron came over and we enjoyed a great evening together...lots of food and laughter - it doesn't get better than that!

The next day we packed up the car and headed to Leavenworth for the weekend. Nate's flight doc's aunt owns a cabin right on the river and invited us for the weekend! Cooter, Erin, and Puffy joined in on the fun and we had a relaxing weekend...board games, puzzles, and movies!

Saturday morning we hit the trails and went hiking...

The night before we left though, Connor accidentally touched the wood stove and burnt three of his fingers... of course the thumb he sucks was burnt as well so it took him a little bit longer to calm down! I don't know who was more traumatized by it all...me or Connor (probably Connor)! The next day he was feeling better and has been obsessed ever since with the bubbles on his fingers!!!

The boyz continue to amaze us each day with how big they are getting. They make us laugh with their comments and the stories they tell, and they warm our hearts with their laughter and the way they play together! One of their favorite things to do each night is to dance on our bed to "Shake, Shake" - I have no idea how they fall asleep after this- but they do!!

What can I say... it is non-stop with these boyz!! We wouldn't have it any other way!!

Halloween is not just one night when you are 3 and 4!

Growing up, I remember Halloween being just one night...one night to dress up and one night with lots and lots of candy! Halloween this year for the boyz seemed to be one party after another! The first Halloween party was at our favorite place, Moving and Grooving. They went with their buddy Bryce and spent an hour playing, frosting cookies, making crafts, and walking through the haunted house! When I went to pick them up Connor told me that he had to have the lights out when walking through....I went through it and I can see why he wanted them on!!!

Here are the boyz in one of their costumes - Connor was Batman Pirate (Put on a batman costume and a pirate sword and there you have it - its the newest super hero!) Cooper on the other hand was of course Spiderman making a pirate face!!!

The next week we were off to Bryce's house for another party! This is Brandi's favorite holiday and she goes all out(she seriously needs to consider being a party planner she is that good). She had all sorts of spooky treats for the kids (and adults) and lots of games!!

The party started off by putting halloween stickers all over their individual pails...which they would soon start to fill with prizes from their games! Cooper, who is usually not one for art projects, was the last one at the table and put every last sticker on that pail - Way to go Coop!

The kids had a great time playing all the creative games that Brandi had planned! It is always so much fun to see your kids enjoying their time with their buddies - and Bryce is definitely their bud!

The night that we came home from the party both kids came down with a fever which led to Hand, Foot, and Mouth.....which kept us away from our squadron trick or treating and trick or treating halloween night! The kids were upset and what was even more upsetting is that they had been saving their ultimate halloween costumes that Grandma and Grandpa had given them for halloween night! Their Grandparents had surprised the kids with costumes that they knew that they would like......

How could you tell these sweet faces that they couldn't go trick or treating! We let them go to a couple of houses on the block and then called it evening! It was still a lot of fun though and the kids didn't seem to mind that they weren't out very long...they still got tons of candy!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for our sweet costumes! They were the best ones out there!!!

Black Ravens + 49ers + Cardinals = MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

I am sure you are wondering why I would post a blog about Monday Night Football because those who know me know that I do not watch Monday Night Football and I am thankful that Nate does not either because then I do not have to do the whole "Recreational Companion" ( if you are not familiar with that it comes from a book about the top five needs of a man).
Tomorrow night though I will be tuned into this game because our very own Ravens - yes my hubby, will be doing the fly by in one of the jets! Nothing like the sound of freedom to start off a Monday night game!

Unfortunately they are taping the fly by before the game, since the stadium is enclosed, and showing it on the big screen - Let's keep our fingers crossed that the camera men for ESPN show the screen during that time! During half-time they will be recognizing the Ravens on the field!!! That being said, I think I can handle Monday Night Football for one night!!! GO RAVENS!!

Happy Belated Birthday To My Boyz......

October went as quickly as it came! It was filled with soccer games, a visit from Nana and Papa, sicknesses, the craziness of the boyz schedules, and birthdays!!! Two of my boyz celebrated their birthdays and we did it up Barton Style! On the 16th we celebrated........ (can you guess???)

Nate's 29th Birthday!!!

Nate is not like me when it comes to birthdays....basically he doesn't like to spend the entire week celebrating it... well I wasn't going to have any of that! The day started off with the family and I bringing in lunch for his squadron, then we had a fabulous dinner that night (if I do say so myself)!

Nate was feeling his age and had the boyz help him blow out the candles!!

Nothing says I love you like a pair of motorcycle boots!!

The birthday celebration did not end there as Saturday night we headed to our friends MOVIE FLYER (which is this big semi truck that has a ten person movie theater inside - decked out in leather chairs and surround sound which you can actually feel in your seat) We watched Indiana Jones on the big screen and enjoyed a night out!!!

Happy Birthday to my best friend! I could sit here and write all the things that I love about you but it truly would be a very long blog.... I thank God for bringing you into my life 1o years ago...you are an amazing father and husband...and I love being married to you!!! You have filled my life with adventure and love!!! xoxo

And so the partying did not stop there... it was on to this little guys birthday.......

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Cooper

Happy 1st Birthday!

Yes he was even doing pirate faces at age 2!!!

I can't believe that you are 3!!!

Cooper had two days of celebration..... We threw him a party with his friends at our favorite place Moving and Grooving! The kids attend classes there during the week and it is run by this amazing couple! The party was filled with everything that he loves to do there....singing songs, playing with the parachute, running around to the songs, playing on all the slides, riding bikes..... and of course all the extras for his birthday....hats, cupcakes, and PRESENTS!!!!

The actual day of his birthday he was able to open his family gifts...which included the present from his Nana and Papa that each of the grand kids get when they turn 3....

( We have already have had to talk to the boyz about not playing bumper cars with each of their power wheels!!)

Cooper - you have filled our lives with joy with your fun loving personality! I love so many things about you..... I love
1. how when you laugh you try to laugh even harder and louder than the last time!
2. how you always want me to hold you so you can play with my hair and suck your thumb!
3. how you tell me that you love me at all times of the day.
4. how each night you tell me that you want to pray like me...then you say the "Now I Lay Me" prayer and then show me how you folded your hands!
5. how you always like to look at the bible while you are singing Jesus loves me!
6. how much you love your brother and try to do everything that he does!
7. how when it is nice outside you go and wait on the steps for dad to come home.
8. your pirate faces and noises...and when you tell me that you are a nice pirate!
9. your sense of adventure!
10. how caring and sensitive you are!

Happy Birthday Cooper! I am amazed everyday at how big you are getting and everything you do! I can't wait to see what this year has in store for you! xoxo!!

THAT'S MY MAN!!!

Last weekend we ventured up to our favorite place, Jim Creek, for a weekend of camping! This time not just only for a family getaway but it was also a squadron function as one of the Chief's was retiring. What made it even more special was that he had asked Nate to give his retirement speech....that's right my man was the main speaker! It truly was an honor for Nate as LT's usually aren't the ones that speak at the retirements.
I was overcome with overwhelming pride as Nate stood before Chief Thrailkill's family, friends, and his squadron talking about his accomplishments and what he had done not only for the prowler community but for our nation. He talked about how being in the military was not just a job it was a lifestyle....a lifestyle that can only be fully understood by those who live it. Not only did Nate give an outstanding speech but he looked amazing in his uniform!!

After the speech we retreated to our cabins with Brandi, Cooter, Bryce, Erin, Puffy, Katie, and Carl for the remainder of the weekend!!!

There are so many things that I love about camping... I love planning and preparing the meals for the weekend, sitting lazily by the fire drinking and roasting smores, watching the kids explore and go on secret missions to find hidden treasures, and enjoying our family and friends!

Katie, one of the girl's in Nate's squadron, camped with us and bought all the boys Spiderman fishing poles - she also made these incredible cinnamon rolls that the boyz couldn't get enough of! She definitely is going to have to be a regular with us!

Coop was all about practicing before his Daddy took him and his brother to the lake!

Connor became the master at finding lizards... although after the first one he caught we had to teach him not to squeeze them so hard.

Jim Creek has become our favorite family outing as we have embraced camping together. I just love the fact that it is all about our family when we are there...no distractions but just each other! Life doesn't get better than that!