The Barb Bunch

Fred is on the Naughty List

2013-12-02T10:25:00.000-05:00

Rowan came in my room this morning to tell me that Fred drew all over the pictures they had taken. He said, "You're not gonna be happy mama, he made us look like pirates."

Pirates? haha

Meet Jax

2013-12-01T19:55:00.000-05:00

My kids have fallen in love with my brother's new corgi puppy. With that face can you blame them?

He's Baaaaaaaaaaack!

2013-11-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

Look who's back! Fred our Elf on the Shelf showed up today!

Picture Perfect Holiday

2013-11-29T18:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2013-11-28T19:08:00.000-05:00

Hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends, family and plenty of FOOD. Today is especially wonderful because this hot guy has the day off from the hospital AND its the 11-year-anniversary of our first date! I am so thankful and blessed to have him in my life and that he loves me the way that he does. We have grown closer than ever this year and I don't take that for granted. There is always something to be thankful for, and I will always be thankful for him.

I Can't Put My Arms Down!

2013-11-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

I took this photo today and I couldn't help but think of Ralphie's little brother in "A Christmas Story." It took me almost 30 minutes to dress them in all of these layers. I am pretty sure they spent about 5 minutes outside before coming back in. Kensley would have stayed out there forever, but Rowan had enough. He tripped and fell down and sat most of the time. After they came in and had hot chocolate and warmed up, K informed me she was ready to go back out. Maybe tomorrow sweet girl!

Epic Date Day

2013-11-25T19:47:00.000-05:00

It's been a crazy, crazy month with the move and getting settled into a new routine. So it was perfect timing that Dave and I had a chance to spend the entire day together ending with the Third Eye Blind concert. It started with us waking up at 6:45 to get ready for Christmas pictures. If anyone knows me you will know that I am NOT a morning person and I am never up before 7:30. For some lame reason when you wait till the last minute to schedule pictures this is the time they give you to be at the studio.

How Rude.

Surprisingly, we all got up and dressed and out the door on time. The pictures turned out really well. We dropped the kids off at grandma's and started on the hour long drive to Cleveland. Until half way there, we realized we forgot our concert tickets. Please tell me I'm not the only one who is so forgetful. We were so worried about the kids and having everything we needed for them that we totally forgot the two most important things of the day. So we turned around and headed back home.

Before we started back to Cleveland we made a quick stop to see this-

Have you heard of it? It's a small independent film. It might catch on.

After the movie we headed to Cleveland and made the terrible decision to forgo our coats because we didn't want to have to hold them through the concert. Within 5 seconds of stepping out of the car I regretted my decision. I had on a paper-thin cardigan sweater and I could feel my skin slowly freezing. Then the doors we thought would be open were closed and we had to walk around to the other side of the building. We stopped in a store real quick to warm up, but they didn't have any heat and the workers were standing in front of a heater wearing winter jackets, scarves and hats. I debated buying a hoodie in the store just to warm up a little but decided against it. We finally made it to the House of Blues only to find the doors locked because they weren't open. So we stood in the door way snuggled till they opened. I risked hypothermia but it was worth it to sit and get to stare at this guy...

After we ate we went to stand in line in the "skip the line" section. Which happens to be in a back alleyway. Which had no heat. Which was FAH_REEZING. So my sweet hubby went back to the store and bought me this...

The warmth I felt was amazing. After a lot of standing in line, nearly falling asleep standing up I was so tired and feeling nauseous from standing in the heat after working hours to stay warm, we were rewarded with a really awesome concert. Every time I see them is better than the last.

Truly though, the best part of the day was spending time with Dave. It's far and few between that we get time together but when we do it's so worth it. Just remind me to bring my coat.

Morning Snuggles With Daddy

2013-11-22T12:12:00.000-05:00

What K is Thankful for This Year

2013-11-20T12:15:00.000-05:00

Bless.Her.Heart.

When Life Gives You Marshmallows...

2013-11-17T12:18:00.000-05:00

Making the Best of a Situation

2013-11-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

We moved into the house on Thursday and we won't have heat (thanks gas company) till Tuesday. I have been struggling with my anger about the whole situation but we are making the most of it. Thankfully we have a woodburner in this house and one of my dad's friends was so generous and donated a bunch of wood to the "Keep The Barb's From Turning To Popsicles" fund. We also have been blessed with a little warmer weather this weekend. Very thankful for that. This morning I woke up to this...

Everything I love most in this whole world is right here with me in this room. Things could be so much worse and I took a moment to realize that this is a temporary inconvenience and that some people deal with no heat on a daily basis. My family is healthy and very much happy (the kids treated this as a camping experience) and that is all that matters right now.

In some positive news, Dave met our new neighbors and they seem wonderful. They even let Dave borrow their riding lawnmower to mow the lawn as we don't even own one yet.

So sweet of them.

First Fire in the New House!

2013-11-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

I'm Dreaming of a White...Thanksgiving?!

2013-11-12T12:42:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning to our first snow fall this year. Nothing makes you panic about moving into a new home like knowing that you might have to move in the middle of a snow storm. Luckily, this should all be melted by then. So for now I'm going to make a hot cup of cocoa, curl up in bed with a good book, and enjoy this.

I HATE KISSES!!!

2013-11-07T12:45:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago when the kids were getting ready for bed they came downstairs to give me hugs and kisses. A nightly tradition that I cherish and I'm sure they do as well if only for the fact that it allows them a few extra minutes outside of their covers. This night in particular, when they gave me kisses I pretended to HATE them and wipe them off. The kids thought this was hilarious and started smothering me in kisses and kissed me even more! Reverse psychology at its finest. The best part of my whole day!

Late Night Boredom Selfie

2013-11-04T12:53:00.000-05:00

Mummy Dogs for Dinner!

2013-10-31T21:00:00.000-04:00

Disney on Ice: Rockin Ever After

2013-01-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

This year Dave and I decided not to do a lot for the kids for Christmas gift wise, and instead focus on doing more "experiences" with the kids. Kensley's "experience" was tickets to Disney on Ice. Yesterday afternoon we took Rowan to Grandma Patti's to hang out, (Don't worry he will get his own "experience" soon!) and then Dave, Kensley and I drove up to Cleveland to see the show.

We got to the show and immediately dropped $10 on cotton candy and a princess crown. She refused to eat a hotdog or anything because she saw the cotton candy first and wanted that. When we headed to our seats we sat down and a guy was coming around with snow cones. He yelled, "Anyone like a snow cone?!" and Kensley shot her hand up. He stopped and looked at us and I had to say no. You should have seen her face. I told her we would get one in a little bit. That meant about 5 minutes later. Another $10 spent on a snow cone and princess cup. She then proceeded to spend more focus on that snow cone then the actual show.

At the beginning of the show, Mickey Mouse came out and she turned to me and said, "See mom! I TOLD you he'd be here!" I guess I should have researched a little bit about the show. I assumed since it was Disney Princesses on Ice that all of the princesses would be there. She kept asking when Cinderella was going to come out and I kept telling her I am sure she's coming out soon. She never did. She wasn't part of this show. My little Cinderella dress wearing girl was not happy. She asked me where she was. Why she didn't show up. She explained that she must have been throwing up. (K was sick last week so maybe that explains why she would think that?!) I guess the lesson learned is do your research mom before you tell your child a princess will be there.

Even without Cinderella being there, and even after dropping huge amounts of cash on junk food and princess gear, I would say it was 100% worth it. We got to spend the afternoon with our very own princess and she told us she loved it and wants to see the princesses again soon!

And look out Cinderella, when we come to Disney World...We are coming for you!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2013-01-05T18:48:00.000-05:00

I was pretty spoiled today by the hubby. First thing in the morning he woke me up to the sight of some birthday balloons. The number 1 balloon popped so I guess I am only 3 this year ;) We had an amazing dinner at my favorite restaurant with amazing wine, filet and some hot lava cake. I also hit the birthday swag jackpot! Earrings, a sparkly make-up bag, Mumford and Sons CD, a new pair of skinny jeans, a comfy sweatshirt and cozy socks, my favorite body lotion and a cute penguin hand sanitizer dispenser.

A Case of the Sickies

2013-01-03T18:39:00.000-05:00

Daddy is super sick, so if he wants to hang out with us this is how he has to do it!

This was very much needed...

2013-01-02T18:36:00.000-05:00

It's the beginning!

2013-01-01T18:33:00.000-05:00

Rowan's 2nd Birthday Party

2012-08-04T14:27:00.000-04:00

There is really only one word to describe Rowan's Birthday Party...HOT! It was over 100 degrees with the heat index and we were all suffering. Grandma Patti nearly passed out! So yeah...it was hot. It was also a lot of fun and I know Rowan had a great time so it was all worth it.

His birthday was Pirate themed. We had the cupcakes made and then I printed out the cupcake toppers and Dave sat and taped them all to toothpicks. Such a good Dad!

I thought for a long time about how to do the treat bags and came up with an idea for a treasure hunt. I made the maps without thinking about the actual park, but it would have been neat to have made the maps more accurate for the kids.

K and Ro trying to beat the heat in their cool shades!

We had each family bring a covered dish and we had sooo much food! It was all delicious! I found an idea on pinterest to cook the hot dogs in a crockpot and then bring them to the park. A much better option than sitting in front of a grill cooking them...especially in that heat!

The treasure map bags included a pirate patch and compass for the kids to put on and use while they looked for buried treasure!

Getting ready for the BIG GIFT reveal...

What could it be?

I think he likes it!

Overall the party was a success...even if we melted!

Cheerios Game

2012-08-04T13:55:00.001-04:00

As a mother I am constantly trying to find things for the kids to do to drag them away from the t.v. I try to limit the amount they watch but it's a constant struggle when Rowan is begging to watch Mickey Mouse and Kensley will sit and watch the weather channel if you would let her, just to watch t.v.!

So enter Pinterest...I have been searching on there for activities for the kids and came up with this activity. I don't think this actual activity was on Pinterest...I just looked around the house for some items that would be similar. Basically I just had the kids string cheerios through kabob sticks. I didn't know how much they would get into this but Kensley sat at the table for over an hour playing "The Cheerio Game" as she called it. Basically, she raced Rowan to see who could get the cheerios all the way to the top first. I don't think she even noticed that Rowan wasn't interested in racing her ;)

They had a fun time and it was nice to have them spend some time entertaining themselves!

Fun at Grandma and Papa's

2012-06-24T14:35:00.000-04:00

It has been so hot this summer! Our favorite way to keep cool is spending time at Grandma and Papa's. The kids are loving the chance to spend time with them and swimming in the pool!

A lot of popsicles have been consumed...

Someone really loves his papa

My sweet boy loves to get in the pool with grandma and use the strainer to pick out leaves and bugs from the pool. He doesn't want to do anything else. He didn't even want to stop to have his picture taken...haha

K is getting so much better at swimming. She really is a fish. I love how much she enjoys swimming.

Perfect day and so glad we can visit family and stay cool!

Kensley Age 4: 20 Questions

2012-03-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

What is your favorite color? Pink!
What is your favorite toy? School Bus
What is your favorite fruit? Apples
What is your favorite tv show? Spongebob
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Broccoli
What is your favorite outfit? Anything with pink on it. And silver.
What is your favorite game? Princess game on Kindle
What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks
What is your favorite animal? Giraffe
What is your favorite song? ABC's
What is your favorite book? The Very Busy Spider
Who is your best friend? Mya
What is your favorite cereal? Frosted Mini Wheats
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play and rolling in the grass.
What is your favorite drink? Chocolate milk and apple juice
What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My bunny and pink teddy bear
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mommy like you! :)