A Camping We Will Go, A Camping We Will go!!!

Last weekend I turned 33.... the great thing about my birthday is that I share it with my sissy, Jessica - so no matter how old I am each year - I know that someone else is also getting old too!!!
Anyone who knows me knows that I love birthdays!! I was especially excited about this year because Nate was home!! Believe me he heard it all week from me about my birthday..whenever I wanted something all I would say is, " Remember, it's my birthday week"! That's right I said week - it's not just one day!!
All I wanted for my birthday was to go away for a night with him WITHOUT the kids! Yes, my personal genie granted that wish for me! That morning he took the kids and I to our favorite breakfast place and that afternoon we were off to Bellevue...the mecca of shopping and restaurants!!! What a way to spend your birthday...shopping and the CHEESECAKE factory!! Needless to say I think I gained the weight back that I lost before Nate came home all in a little piece of heaven we like to call cheesecake!!! Oh and I found my new signature drink... it used to be raspberry sours now its pineapple mojhitos!!! Yum Yum!!! To top it off Nate also bought me a new pair of jeans....luckily I tried them on before the cheesecake!!
Nate also surprised me with a new sleeping bag because the day after we got back we went camping with the kids!! For those who live out here...Jim Creek is the place to go with kids! We had the ultimate kid camping site and to top things off we were the only ones there - which was nice as the pirate noises from home followed us there! Our campsite was nestled against the woods with the sound of the creek nearby! We spent three days and two nights at our campsite and had perfect weather! We spent our time bike riding, hiking, killing monsters, boating on the lake, and doing it up camping style with popcorn, lots of hot chocolate, smores, and yummy hamburgers and hot dogs!!!

Connor and Nate putting our home away from home together!

Pictures at Jim Creek

Hot Chocolate and Coffee for Mama and Daddy in the morning!!

The Boyz making the campfire!

Nothing beats a campfire with hot chocolate and popcorn!!!

I have already made a list of more camping items we need..... one thing is for sure though - Camping is definitely going to be a Barton tradition throughout the summer!!

Keeping Up With the Bartons!!

Instead of keeping up with the Bartons I think it needs to be keeping up with my blog!!! I tell you my hubby being home is really cramping my blogging time - KIDDING!!! I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it has been to have him home and the family back together again! It has been amazing with the kids - Connor is back to his normal self.. and I know that is due to the Daddy influence being back!!!
It has been a whirlwind since he has been home and we have been going, going, going..I think we have been trying to make up for the last four and a half months in the last three weeks!

We spent a great Sunday at Jungle Playland celebrating our buddy, Bryce's, birthday! Thankfully there were no broken fingers!!! ( well of course there wasn't - nothing ever happens like that when Nate is home)

Connor, Cooper, and Bryce

It was so great to have Nate home for Father's Day! I was all excited because I wanted to take him to the O'Club for a brunch like the one that they had for Mother's Day...well what do you know they don't do that for Father's Day... so basically guys get off the hook for Mother's Day and can take the Mom's to the delicious brunch but we still have to cook on that day...WELL that just meant I would have to really make something scrumptious!!! My girlfriend Melissa and I put our cooking hats on and off we went ( of course I had to take pictures because it was a great dinner.... presentation is everything)! We met for dinner at the Boersma's and I am not trying to brag or anything but I think we could have been serious contenders on the next top chef!!!

We started off with a hot crab dip and bread, followed by tomato basil soup, then a lovely green salad, and for the main course..... baked salmon on wild rice and asparagus with raspberry -honey sauce!!! Well if that is not enough to make your mouth water...to top off the night..homemade chocolate chip cheesecake - what can I say - you can call me the next Martha Stewart - without that whole jail time!!!

Here is a couple of videos that I wanted to share with you....Things have definitely changed around here since Nate has been home- he has brought life back into the house!....I guess its true what they say.."Boys will be Boys"!!! I definitely have the best boyz!!!!

BATMAN RETURNS

On Saturday we had some of Connor's (and ours too) friends over for what else.... a BATMAN party!! Connor was all ready to go in his own personal batman costume! His buddy Levi even showed up in the one we gave him for his birthday! Two Batmans in one room...boy did we ever feel safe! He had a great time with all of his friends and of course loved all of his gifts... Thanks everyone!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BATMAN!!! (If you want to hear the music just scroll down on my blog and pause the blog music)

It's Just Like Christmas!!

When Nate and I were dating, he attended the Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, New York (which I might add had the most amazing Italian restaurant there that has since closed down but I thought that I would mention it anyways). As you can imagine he wasn't able to come home a lot due to his hectic schedule but every time he would, his mom would say how it was like Christmas every time he came home..... Well I can definitely agree with that!!! It is like Christmas when he comes home from deployment!! The boys were so excited to see what Daddy had brought them - okay, so I was too!!!
Let me tell you something about my hubby if you don't already know this... this man can shop AND he has great taste!!! Here are some of the goodies that he picked up for me!!!
He also bought me a canvas painting from Hong Kong!!! I am definitely going to be styling with these purses!!! Thanks Nate!!

The boys were equally excited about their gifts!!! They are just like their Daddy in that they love t-shirts!!! I think t-shirts are to guys as what purses are to girls!

The hit of the night were the coats that he bought the boys.... They have their names embroidered on them....These have now replaced their Prowler coats - Superman and Batman still fly though!

What completes a superhero outfit...well socks of course!!!

Here are my personal superheroes!!!

Nate also bought me these bowls in Japan - I love them!!! What did I tell you??? Does he have taste or what?????

So.......... MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Back Together Again!!

My hubby is back and my family is back together again!! June 2....I thought it would never get here.. and then there were times that it was coming too quickly as I looked around the house/yard and my list of things to do was not getting shorter! As I put up the signs and the flags it was an all too familiar feeling as I had just put them up 8 months ago!!!

Our good friends the Boersma's and the Brown's came with us to celebrate and welcome Nate home. The feel of patriotism surrounded us in the hanger and of course the overwhelming excitement of the fact that our husbands were coming home!!!

Melissa, Bryan, Jon, Lydia, and Kristyn

Connor and Cooper were definitely more aware this time of what it meant that Daddy was coming home... Connor was jumping up and down yelling, " My Daddy is coming home!!!" But as always ...it is a test of true patience because the fly in's are rarely the time they say they are!!!

Due to the weather, the jets could not do a fly by in formation but they all came screaming into the break one at a time to give us a shout, "THE BLACK RAVENS ARE HOME!!!"

Nate flew the 500 jet (which the Skipper is in) so that meant it was going to be right in front of us...perfect, not too far to run!!!

It doesn't get any better than this!!

Since Nate was flying in today it also meant that CONNOR TURNED 4!!! We celebrated our little guys birthday that evening with cake and presents!! As you can tell he was very excited about his Batman costume....thanks Nana and Papa!

Cooper was trying to be very good about the whole thing but he kept asking where his presents were and when his birthday was....sorry buddy you have to wait until October!

Happy Birthday Connor - thanks for being so patient in waiting for your Daddy to come home!!! I am sure you would agree in saying Daddy definitely was the best birthday present!

It is so surreal having Nate home and our family back together again!!! We are looking forward to a relaxing summer in Whidbey and enjoying just being together!!!
Thank you Nate for coming home!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!

To my sweet little boy.. I can't believe that you are four years old today!! How I wish that I could sing Happy Birthday to you but I promised your Daddy that we would wait until he got home!!! 11 more days to go and you will get to blow out your candles on your Batman cake!!

I love your prayers at night as you thank God for Daddy and for your birthday when he comes home. You have brought so much love and joy into my life!!

I can't believe that you were ever this little....well actually being 9lbs 10 oz... isn't quite that little.. you actually looked like a toddler next to all the other preemies that seemed to be born on the same day!! You were worth every pound that I gained (all 65)!!!

May 21, 2004

2:52 p.m.

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday!!

Connor, there are so many things that make my heart melt!!! Here are some of the things that I pray never change...

I LOVE......

1. When you wake up in the morning and call my name and want me to pick you up from your bed for a morning hug!!
2. How when I tuck you in bed at night and you tell me "Sweet Dreams"!
3. How you always ask me if I am happy!! (You know what Connor - you make me happy)
4. How a kiss from me can make every "owie" feel better!
5. When you walk into my room as I am getting ready and you tell me how pretty I am.
6. That your eyes light up when you talk about your Dad!
7. That you ask me about heaven and love Jesus!!
8. How you sing Veggie tales in the car or know the words to the music on Spirit 105.3
9. The stories that you tell - I never knew that you and your Dad saw a talking whale!!
10. That you want to be a Navy pilot like your Daddy!
11. Your zest for life and the "ALL-BOY" mentality you have!
12. How you can make Cooper believe that the toy that you have is better than the toy he has so you can have it!!! (You definitely take after your mama)
13. What a great BIG brother you are! He looks up to you! You keep sticking up for him!!
    

You have brought raising a boy an adventure:

You are the best spidey-pirate ever!!! Keep running around the house with your pirate noises...

I wonder...

1. If when you get older you will still want me to carry you to the car when it is raining so your shoes don't get wet!
2. If you will still yell for me when you go potty because you are amazed at the bubbles you make!
3. If I will always think of you as a little boy at every milestone in your life.....as I watched you receive your certificate for preschool... I wished that I could freeze that moment so you would always stay this young!

Connor, I pray that you will live life to the fullest and not take a single moment for granted. I pray that you will grow up knowing and loving the Lord! I am so proud of you and am blessed to be your Mama!!!

xoxo

When the sun comes out......

When the sun comes out... everyone in Whidbey comes out to play!! Last weekend was amazing..the sun was out and it was great!!! We are only talking about in the high 70's low 80's but to us on our island that is the calling for summer....and that meant people were out in their bathing suits, shorts, and tank tops!!! For us, it meant that we were able to turn off our heat for the first time and it was time for a trip to Wally World (aka Wal-Mart) for some new PJ's - my boyz opted of course for Batman and Cars... here they are sporting their new PJ's - They truly define the word "COOL"!!

Saturday was an amazing day with heat and sunshine!! By 12:00 our car was packed with beach toys, a cooler, and an umbrella and we were ready to hit the beach! We met some of our friends at Bowman Bay right across from Deception Pass for a day in the sun!! I was hoping that these white legs might attract some color before the fly in! Although the beaches here are not quite the sandy beaches that some may be used to....you definitely are in awe of the beauty - I wish they were clear in my pictures but we had a breathtaking view of the Olympic Mountains

Connor and Cooper had a great time playing in the rocks/sand, climbing the rocks, and putting their feet in the cold water!!! Cooper was a little too adventurous and fell into the water. He opted to stay out of the water the remainder of the day with a bag of pretzels!!! You gotta love comfort food after falling in the water!

Connor on the other hand was my adventurous one wanting to climb everywhere!! Every motherly instinct in me wanted to keep calling after him to come down but I was reminded of Nate's early deployment email reminding me to let "our boyz be boyz"!! As the sun was wearing down on him and the tiredness of the day was beginning to set in... Connor retreated to a log by himself telling me that he wished his daddy was home......Don't worry buddy he will be here sooner than you think.. I promise!

Connor and Cooper....you fill my days with laughter and love! Thank you for an incredible weekend as we welcomed the sunshine together!! Here is to many more sunny days ahead at the beach!!! xoxo Mama