Our January

Here is what our January has been like...

1. Basketball!  

Bryon coaches both boys' teams.  They were on the same team last year, but Matthew has moved up to the next age level.  Now, they are each other's biggest fans on the bench!  Matthew LOVES playing offense.  He is point guard and loves being in control of the ball.  Thomas LOVES defense.  He begs Bryon to guard the opponents A player before each game!  I was so proud of Thomas on Saturday.  He made the first two baskets in his game!  He ended up scoring 6 points.  

2. Reading!  

I have read several great books lately...

Skeletons At The Feast- About a German family fleeing their estate in the waning days of WW2.  They were trying desperately to escape the Russians.

The Worst Hard Time- I can't recommend this book more highly!  It is about the Dust Bowl, how it came about, and the lives it impacted.  I was deeply affected by this book and learned a lot about life in my state and neighboring states 80 years ago.

The Book Thief-I am nearing the end of this one.  Very interesting told from a unique perspective.  I am really enjoying it.

3. Sewing!  

When I was a little girl, my mother constantly had a sewing project under way.  She quilted, made my church clothes, needlepointed, cross stitched, etc.  One of my favorite projects that she made was my name in flowers.   We were inspired to try and do one for Mary Beth, and the project has begun.  Mom drew out her name, and I (who is the proud owner of much younger eyes) am doing the needlepoint.  Mary Beth can hardly contain her excitement, and wants to see my progress every morning!  I love needlepointing and I can't wait to see the finished project!

4. Piano!  

Twilight has inspired me to pick up Claire de Lune.  I told my music teacher about the inspiration, and she lit up with excitement.  She, too, was a Twilight devotee!  We ended up seeing the movie together (her 1st time, my 2nd)!   I am using the music that my grandmother played with 60-70 years ago.  The music is falling apart, but I love that her handwriting is in the score.

5. Cooking with Mary Beth!  

I decided a while back to let her help me cook if she ever asked to help.  I believe I have created a bit of a monster!  I can hardly walk into the kitchen without her racing over to put on her apron.  She will grab a stool, slide next to me, and say in her raspy voice, "What can I help you do, Captain?"  At times, her "help" is a bit of a mess, but it warms my heart seeing how much she wants to be like me.

6. Taking  medication!  

I have been battling the mother of all sinus infections this week.  It was finally bad enough on Wednesday to go to the doctor with all three kids in tow.  You know it is bad when sitting in a doctor's office with three kids is worth it!  After a cortisone shot, days of antibiotics, nasal sprays, and eye drops, I am still not 100%.  It just isn't fun being a mother when you don't feel 100%.  

7. Watching basketball!

We are so proud of our 2 Baylor teams, despite our loss to #6 Oklahoma this weekend.  Mary Beth can say the players' names in the radio announcer's voice.  Out of the blue, she will say in a deep voice, "Quincy Aaaaaaaaaaaa-Cy!"

8. Meals with friends!

For some reason, I have had the great fortune of spending more time than usual eating with friends this month.  I dearly love my friends, and they add so much to my life.  I feel like I am a better wife and mother after being with my gals!

9. Watching Matthew on the RipStik!

I really hate the way it is spelled, but it is what it is!  Matthew and his neighbor friends can be seen skating around for hours on their boards around the hood.  From the time school got out on Friday, until 7 at night, they were outside!  I would say that without exaggeration,  Matthew was on that thing for 10 hours this weekend.  Is it wrong that as a mother, I have found a new weapon to use against my precious child? ;)  Heard often around the Barnhill house, "Matthew clean up your room, or no RipStik."  "Be nice to your brother, or no RipStik"  "You want to play on your RipStik?  Massage Mommy's feet for two hours."  OK, so maybe not the last one, but Matthew is on his best behavior these days! 

That is it!  Is it really the end of January already?  It will be spring before we know it!

A suggestion....

Can all my wonderful blog buddies consider my plea?

TAKE THE MUSIC OFF YOUR BLOGS!

2 reasons

1. I am talented in a few ways, but cannot read your blog and listen to music at the same time.

2. If I am on the phone and clicking on the computer at the same time, it makes my phone conversation partner think I am not paying attention when music starts blasting.

Just a suggestion.  Do with it what you will....

Southern Living Photo Shoot ready? You decide!

Bryon and I feel like our house is growing up.  Our home, now 9 plus years into parenting, has morphed from a home of large, hard plastic, brightly colored toys, into a more big kid house.  We feel like we have earned the right to live in a breakable house!  However, despite this transition, there are still lots of clues that children live with us.

The phrase I use a lot to describe the cleanliness of our house is, "Is it Southern Living photo shoot ready?"  Of course, the answer is always NO!  Today, while hanging out with Mary Beth at the house, my mind started wandering and I tried to imagine what a Southern Living article about my house would look like.  Here is what I have come up with...

(Nothing was moved around in the house to create this post.  This is how everything was this morning!)

"As you walk into the Barnhill house, you are greeted in the formal dining room.  This is the room that they entertain in on special occasions....

...............................and play a round of PIG or HORSE if there is time.

And then there is the table where Elizabeth loves to display her collection of bees.  She loves bees and is always looking to add to her collection.........

and so when she found that Baylor BasketBall on the floor, she thought that the "B" theme would be enhanced!

Elizabeth and Bryon would love for their guests to relax and read at their house.  Anyone up for Fancy Nancy?  Pinkilicious?  Perhaps you forgot your toothbrush?  You are welcome to use their Hello Kitty toothbrush, should the need arise.

Bryon and Elizabeth love to entertain their guests.  When you step into their guest bathroom, have a seat and stick Mary Beth's fake lips in your mouth!  Nothing makes guests feel more at home then when they can laugh at themselves!

Ahhhhh, the kitchen.  The heart of the home.

The Barnhills are an active bunch.  When Elizabeth is washing the dishes, she loves to hop on the Rip Stick and give it a go!  No more just standing there and washing dishes.  That is soooo 20th century!

Elizabeth's favorite way to relax at night is to hop in the tub.

and if she gets really bored soaking, she can always play with a mermaid who spins and spit out water!

Bryon and Elizabeth are products of the 1970s.  

They like to pay homage to their beginnings by displaying an important 1970s image.....

The Fall Of Saigon."

OK, so maybe we aren't completely ready for that imaginary "Southern Living Photo Shoot", but we wouldn't have our house any other way!

I can't look at in anymore.

I had a great time with Bryon at the Sugar Bowl, but I cringe slightly when looking at the photos.  I need something else on my blog!

I am home today with Little Emmy Lou Who.  Happy as a clam.

There has been a lot going on the past week.  I hurt for my dear friend, Karen.  I am blessed by her friendship.  I am blessed by my friendship to Tesney who doesn't seem to mind too much when I follow her around like a puppy dog.

I am blessed by my family.

That's all I feel like writing today.

Have a great week!

The Sugar Bowl!

Bryon surprised me with Sugar Bowl tickets on Christmas morning!  We calculated that it had almost been 3 years since we went away for the weekend, so we were both excited about our upcoming trip to New Orleans.

We had such a great time!  I got lots of dirty stares all over the place driving east on 1-10 in Lousiana.  Apparently LSU fans aren't the biggest fans of the "Scarlet Letter"!  Once we were in New Orleans, I was around my people again!  Bama fans as far as the eye could see!  Everywhere we went, we were greeted with "Roll Tide!"  I love the Bama Nation!  We feasted on beignets at Cafe' Dumonde, and had a great meal at Nola's, Emeril's restaurant.

As we were walking up to the Super Dome, it seemed there were 10 Bama fans to every 1 Utah fan.  In fact, I sorta felt sorry for these fans.....until the game began.  Good grief!  We were not prepared for that stomping!  It was a depressing game, but we refused to let it ruin the weekend.  The Crimson Tide did so much better than expected this year.  12-2 is nothing to be ashamed of!  The next morning when we went to breakfast, we were greeted still by loyal Bama fans giving us a warm "Roll Tide!"  Looking forward to next year!

The best part of the weekend was hanging out with Bryon.  It was so great just being together.  We were so happy to pick the kids up from my sweet in laws yesterday.

New Year's Eve

I always love having my family over for New Years!  It has become one of  my favorite holiday traditions.  New Year's is such a laid back, wonderful holiday!  I always make the same, yummy black eyed pea meal, and we enjoy watching football and hanging out.  

Since we left for New Orleans on New Year's Day, we had everyone over the night before.  Mary Beth and I cooked all day, and we even squeezed in some time rocking out to ABBA (Mary Beth singing into the red spoon.).  What can I say?  That child is more like me every day!  She loves to cook and wear an apron.  When she needed to leave the kitchen, she begged me not to do any more cooking until she got back!

I didn't take pictures of the family as we were busy playing cards, but managed to get a few of my funny nephew, James.  While the adults were busy, he decided to help himself to, well, the rest of the chocolate cake!

Matthew's pictures from Conroe

As mentioned before, Matthew took lots of pictures with his new camera.  It is interesting to see pictures from his perspective!

The Holidays Part 2

The day after Christmas, we headed down to Conroe to be with Bryon's family.  Unfortunately, my camera was left on my chair, along with several presents that were supposed to go with us!  Matthew did bring his new camera, and as soon as I figure out how to download his pictures, I will post them.

While we were away, my 3 1/2 week old nephew came down with RSV, and was hospitalized for several days.  We got home from Conroe, and got to spend time with my other nephew, James, while his brother and mom were hanging out in the hospital.  We were blessed with incredible weather last week, and spent most of the days at home outside.  Matthew became and old pro at his rip stick, and we didn't see him much after he got the hang of it!  I will say that the rip stick is extremely difficult to get on.  It is funny to see how many things my 9 year old can do that I have never been able to do!

The Holidays Part 1

Here are some pictures from Christmas.  We had a great time with family, and the kids were so cute!  We have such fun and special traditions in our family, and it is always nice to have lots of time together!