Sweet Friday!

We knew it was going to be a long day yesterday, and it didn't help that Thomas woke up at 6am yelling, "We are going to the Sweet 16 today!" The kids were so excited about going and almost as excited to get out of school at 10:30 am!

We packed the car and headed south. It was so encouraging seeing so many BU stickers on cars heading towards Houston on Highway 6 then I-45! When we were almost to Houston, we dropped off Emmy Lou at my in laws house. They were thrilled to have some Mary Beth time for the evening and we knew she would be so excited to have cousin time with our three nieces.

After we said goodbye, we sat in bumper to bumper Houston traffic for a while, but made it to the stadium in time for hot dogs, snacks, and merchandise purchasing. Baylor had rented a large room across the street from the stadium to gather before the game, and I enjoyed visiting with my high school/college friend, Sam.

Then, it was time to head to Reliant stadium, where the Houston Texans play. Apparently BU fans were a little miffed that ESPN earlier in the week said our Houston game wouldn't be like a home game, since Bear fans didn't travel well. Many BU fans drove the 3 1/2 hours to Houston and there must have been 200 BU fans to every one for Duke, Purdue, and St. Mary's! I have never seen so much green and gold in my life!

As the game was starting, I tried to settle my nerves. You couldn't click on ESPN.com without seeing a picture or a reference to Omar Samhan. So many analysts picked them as a surprise winner. However, by a few minutes into the game, it was obvious who the better team was. And Omar Samhan, who was the leading scorer in the entire tournament, only had 3 points in the first half!

The entire stadium was rocking. On one of our cheers, one side yells "Baylor!" and the other side yells, "Bears!" The noise from this was thunderous. I got a little choked up! What an amazing memory to share with our boys! I wish all my friends and loved ones could experience the game with Matthew. That is one crazy fan! The boys were hilarious and so grateful that they got to go.

Of course, by half time, when our hopes for making the Elite 8 came more into focus, Bryon was already scheming on how he was going to make it back down for Sunday's game! Where there's a will, there's a way. The boys will be coming back on Sunday! My in laws were thrilled to get to keep Mary Beth for the weekend and Bryon will pick her up again on Sunday after the game.

We stayed and watched the Duke/Purdue game to see who we would play on Sunday. Wow. Duke's defense was impressive. This one will be a tough hurdle, but I hope that our boys can play as well as they did last night!

Sic 'Em Bears!

The entire stadium was colored in green and gold!
Taking in the sweet success of the first half.

Sic 'Em Bears!

There is never any doubt that we Barnhills are big Baylor fans! Matthew can hardly wait 8 years to attend school there.

We are also huge Baylor sports fans. For the past 15 or so years, we have been LONG SUFFERING football fans. However, our basketball program, which suffered some huge scandals nearly a decade ago by some of the players and former head coach, has been on the rise. The girls even won the NCAA women's championship a few years ago. They are a joy to watch, and are returning to their mid last century glory.

Every summer, Baylor puts on a basketball camp with many of the Baylor players helping. Nearly every day after camp, I would find Thomas playing one on one with Anthony Jones (the last picture with Matthew and Thomas in it), who was so sweet to Thomas. If you are watching the game tonight, he is the one in the white sweatband. The players were so happy to pose for pictures and play with the kids. Every one I talked to was so polite and seemed to genuinely enjoy being with their little fans. I love this team both because they are so much fun to watch, and that they are such sweethearts.

Last summer, I talked to Baylor's head coach, Scott Drew. His daughter and Mary Beth are friends in ballet class. He asked me if Baylor and Alabama played each other, who would I root for? I said Baylor! I will never waver in my loyalty to Bama football, but I am so proud of our Baylor team and basketball program, I could never root against the Bears. Of course, Coach Drew knew something I didn't know. Baylor and Bama ended up playing each other over Thanksgiving, and Baylor lost in the end. One of our few losses of the season! ;)

We are so proud that both our men's and women's teams made the Sweet 16! I am excited to root for our boys tonight in Houston. Win or lose...what a great season!

A day with Aunt Bernie

Bryon took off work on the kids' final official day of Spring Break, and we headed to Aunt Bernie's farm near Bryan/College Station. Aunt Bernie is Bryon's great aunt, but was more like a grandmother to him growing up.

I have written before about Aunt Bernie, but wanted to say again how much I adore this woman! You have got to love a woman in her late 80s who is taking a computer class, lives on her farm all by herself, and wishes she had a .22 instead of a Smith and Wesson gun! She also is a fabulous cook and I enjoyed spending a while looking at her recipes with her.

Bryon's parents surprised us and showed up on the farm as well. They brought their granddaughter, Allie, with them, and Mary Beth enjoyed some girl cousin time.

The kids had a blast! Literally! Both boys got to shoot Bryon's gun for the first time. I did, too! I didn't get a picture of me, but I have the sore ribs this morning to prove it. The boys rode around in the gator (a glorified go cart) and Matthew was thrilled to get to drive it alone.

Up until this year, Aunt Bernie raised and bred a herd of cattle. This was getting difficult for her so they turned her farm into a bird sanctuary. The kids and I loved looking at her birds' nests.

After a fun day enjoying the country and plenty of sunshine, it was time to come home. We are hoping to make the most of our final game free weekend and work in the yard!

Some signs of Spring and a few other pictures

Lots of signs of Spring around our house! Here are a few. Mary Beth needed some warm weather clothes. She fell in love with this hat and it just happened to land in her pile of clothes to purchase!

I love this picture of MB!
My house needed a Spring update. Love the new Pottery Barn throw pillows!
Matthew is center and slightly left top row.

As soon as Thomas spends any time outside in the sunshine, his freckles come out of their winter hibernation! So adorable!

Matthew's select team. With his eyes closed, he looks so much like Bryon! (top left)

Mary Beth has inherited my love of gardening. She couldn't wait to plant her Veggie Tales and Sesame Street vegetable seeds!
Mary Beth's best friend came over to spend the night last night. They were excited to be wearing the same outfit!

March

I very hesitantly turned the calendar this week to March. In our house, March comes in like a lamb and ends roaring like a lion. I am trying to gear up for it!

We not have our Spring schedule pretty well mapped out. Life, for me, is pretty quiet until 3:30 pm. Starting the week after Spring Break, here is a glimpse of our life in the evenings:

Monday- 5:30 Mary Beth soccer practice

5:30 Matthew baseball practice

Tuesday- 5:30 Thomas soccer practice

5:30 Matthew soccer practice

Wednesday- 5:00- Matthew piano

5:30- Thomas piano

5:30-7 Matthew select baseball practice

7- church

Thursday- 4-5 Mary Beth ballet

4-5 Thomas Zumba

5:30 Thomas soccer

5:30- Matthew baseball

Friday- 5:30 Mary Beth soccer

Saturday- Ensemble piano practice, 3 soccer games, 1 baseball game

Sunday- Church, then 2 hour Matthew select baseball practice

Now, before you report us to the overcommitted family police, I will let you know the upside of our schedule:

*Usually, in the Spring, I have more one on one time with each child. One child is at practice and I am sitting in the car with another one. There is lots of quality time with each kid during this seemingly hectic time.

*Bryon feels sorry for me and tends to get home a little earlier in the Spring! ;)

*Many Spring evenings are rainy, and we get lots of rain outs which is always an unexpected surprise!

*The kids are doing what they love. I love having three children who are interested in so many things!

*The days begin to get longer, so we still have time after practice to go on a walk or play in the backyard.

*The kids have 1 1/2 to 2 hours of free time after school every day.

*I can do anything for 12 weeks! Then it's the summer!

We were all set to go to Angel Fire, NM for our second annual Spring Break trip, but we decided to have a "Staycation" instead. We have had a busier than average winter, and have neglected our yard and some home projects. Bryon is taking off a few days and we are praying for good gardening weather!

Also, in March, we celebrate Texas Independence from Mexico. Here is Mary Beth getting ready for her Texas Sing Along today. Let's keep it on the DL that she is wearing boy boots and hat! ;)

She is having some breathing issues lately. I thought she looked adorable doing her breathing treatment decked out in western wear!
She just can't help herself. ;)

Mary Beth right now..

Mary Beth fell flat on her face at recess a few weeks ago. It was quite a mess! I neglected to take a picture of her bruised face until a week later.

I have a special place in my heart for kindergarten and kindergartners. I adore this age! I can't believe we only have three more months as kindergarten parents....ever! I can't think about it or I'll cry.

Here's what's going on with our favorite kindergartner:

*Happy. Happy. Happy! She has such a joyful spirit! Mary Beth has a beautiful smile, and loves to flash it all the time. Her teacher describes her in the classroom as joyful and up for anything.

*Extremely obedient. I can't remember the last time I had to get on to her about anything. She has never gotten a color change at school, but does get changed to "blue" (one step above starting position "green") almost daily. In fact, all you have to do to get her to do anything is offer her a "blue"! ;)

*Her favorite after school activity, other than playing with her best friend, is to watch Full House. She loves getting her bibi's (her two blankets that she has had since birth), crawl in my lap, and watch her show.

*Recently, she was given the option of wearing something with Disney Princesses on it. She wanted nothing to do with it! Princesses were her favorites for YEARS! Now, she loves Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Zhu Zhu pets.

*Happiest around her girls. Mary Beth loves being with her friends. Not only her dearest friend in the world, Whitney, but also sisters of whatever teammate is playing with her brothers. She has spent quite a bit of her life at the boys' sporting events, but she always finds a friend!

*Fashionista! She always needs a purse and accessories before going out the door. We asked her to get dressed for school on Thursday, and this is what she came up with! Along with offering her "blues", she will also do anything for a swipe of lipstick on her lips!

*Quite a little goofball! Mary Beth loves making us laugh, and she has lots of funny accents and facial expressions. The other day, before being corrected by me, I asked her to get ready for bed, and she said in her hickest accent/neck rolling, "What are you talking about, girl?"

*Speaking of her voice, she still has a very raspy voice. It is very distinctive. I wonder if she will be a singer? She has a deep, throaty laugh that I never get tired of!

*She still loves to dance, both in her ballet class and at home listening to music.

*Mary Beth is still a little peanut with small hands and feet, but I have noticed that she is getting harder to carry.

*She has become quite the Daddy's girl lately and wants to be with Bryon at all times. This could be because he buys her candy or treats constantly!

*Mary Beth loves reading her AR books nightly but is not the biggest fan of homework. Homework is BORING according to Mary Beth. This is very different from the boys who begged their teachers for homework at this age. This being said, she ADORES kindergarten and her teacher. I could not have asked for a better teacher for MB. She was everything we had prayer for for our little girl.

*She adores her big brothers and they would do anything for her. Mary Beth is truly the sunshine in our lives!