Finally! Some New Family Photos!

I had my sister-in-law Bradie come over today and use her amazing photography talents to take some family photos. We were WAY overdue. In our last family photos the twins are wearing diapers and not quite walking yet if that gives you any idea how overdue we were for a good picture. I'm putting a few of the shots on here for you to view. Bradie is going to work on the shots on her computer and then we'll get them printed up. :)



Brayden doing what he does best.





That's better!




I'm working on getting some... Happy New Year?... snail mail cards ready to send out. Who knows? You might get a Valentine again this year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too!

Fare Thee Well, Water Board!

A little more than four years ago we had irrigation problems in our neighborhood. If you aren't from the desert west you may have no idea what I'm talking about. You may need to look it up. :) We live on an acre and being a desert (sort of) we have to water our lawn, plants, flowers, trees, bushes, and weeds to keep them alive. Fortunately our neighborhood has pressurized irrigation so our sprinklers run on secondary irrigation water from a small reservoir here in town filled from irrigation canals and larger reservoirs up the canyon. Four years ago we had MAJOR water restrictions, a water cop (an old guy who would harass you if your sprinklers were on 5 minutes past watering time), and NO WATER PRESSURE. You see, every one's sprinklers would turn on at exactly the same time because of time limitations. We all turned on at precisely 6 PM. We live in an extreme wind tunnel and it is quite silly to water at night and in the morning because the wind simply blows the water everywhere. 6 PM found all the neighbors on the curb, hands on hips swearing at the drizzle coming out of the sprinkler heads.

Lynn and I are NOT MILD MANNERED, nor are we quiet. Who knew? We weren't going to sit back and let our lawn shrivel up and die. Nor were we going to let the feed in our pasture die. We had babies to feed, the equine variety. We knew we had an elected water board and if enough disgruntled people showed up to a board meeting things could be swayed our way. IN OTHER WORDS, I knew how to throw a first class tantrum. We put fliers in every water district member's box. Over 100 people showed up to the water board meeting. Police were involved. :) Most of the Water Board members were elderly gentlemen, one in his late 80's. I think it is safe to say they were a bit amused by Lynn and his antics and didn't really take him seriously. THEY LET HIM KNOW THERE WAS AN OPENING FOR A SEAT ON THE BOARD. IF HE REALLY WANTED CHANGES MAYBE HE SHOULD RUN. I don't think the "Good 'ol Boys" thought this young whipper snapper could get himself elected.

Lynn was elected to a four year term. He also got himself on the good side of the Old Guys and has his name of the Water Board checking account. They all have respect for him now.

He decided not to run for a second term. School and 4.0 grade point averages are his priority. Plus, we hope for early acceptance to Vet School next Fall and to be moving the next Spring.

Wednesday evening was the annual Water Board Christmas Dinner and we said farewell to the Board. I think they're gonna miss their young trouble making little whipper snapper. I think they're afraid their meetings might go back to boring without Lynn around. :) Lynn has his own geriatric cheering section for school success.

Baby It's COLD Outside!

I know, I'm obsessed with snow. You would think a person like me would have little to say about it. However it is so high on my Hate list I talk about it a lot. I detest being cold. One thing a companion from my mission remembers most about me is every morning I would whine, "BUT it's cold, I don't wanna get up!" and I would kneel ON my bed to say my prayers, the floor was too cold. I haven't changed much, I still whine the same thing every morning, ask Lynn. :)

You know it's cold when the automatic lights on the barn won't turn on. You know it's cold when the horses actually stand IN the barn. You know it's cold when the horses have icicles hanging around their noses and frost in their nose hairs. You know it's cold when Lynn has to plug in the truck so it will start in the morning. You know it's cold when the snow won't pack into a snowball. You know it's cold when the furnace is set at 74 and the internal temp of the house is at 68 (we have 2X6 walls with blown in insulation...). You know it's cold when the cat hisses at you when you put the garage door up so you can back the van out. You know it's cold when Second Graders actually wear their coats to recess. You know it's cold when the Mountain Dew Lynn left in the garage is frozen slushy. You know it's cold when Lynn SAYS it's cold... hee hee

A lot of things happen at the Barton house and I neglect to post them. So, I thought I would do a bit of it now.

First, our good friends Alan and Tonya bought us tickets to the Cowboy Poetry Festival in Heber this year. They invite us every year and we NEVER make it. I guess Alan knew if he bought the tickets we couldn't cancel on him. What a smart man! Lynn got to meet his favorite cowboy poet and DVM Baxter Black. He talked with us for quite a while and we got our picture taken. He told Lynn he is quite fortunate to have me earning the living and kicking him in the butt while he goes to Vet School. Baxter is featured every month in the Farm Bureau News, for those of you like us who are insured through them. :)



I have Halloween pictures of the kids. We went Trick 'or Treating in Magna this year at my good friend Hollie's house. Our kiddos went out on the town together and had a GREAT time. Lynn had a GREAT time scaring the wits out of all of Hollie's neighbors as they came to the door.
Darth Brayden, Abby Cullen and Princess Elise



Here's a picture of Brayden in his new scout uniform.

He has earned his Arrow of Light, they just haven't had the ceremony yet... Lynn gives the leaders a REALLY hard time every time he sees them. Brayden is well on his way to First Class.

My class was featured in the Deseret News with our Thanksgiving Activities. I'm including some pictures printed here.


Heritage Elementary second-graders try to toss hula hoops onto pumpkins during the school's annual Thanksgiving celebration Tuesday in Layton. Kara Lundsford and Abigail Wright participate in a cranberry relay. Other activities included necklace making, pin the feather on the turkey and a readers theater. Source: Deseret Tribune

AND... The twins are primo Christmas light decorators. You should ask them to string lights on your banister.

NBCT, National Board Certified Teacher...NOT

As many of you may know, I spent last year working on a Master's degree in conjunction with applying for National Board Certification. National Board Certification allows me to teach in nearly any state without having to apply for a new certificate in a state if I should move from one state to another. We will be moving states for Vet school so National Board Certification is a really good idea for me to achieve. Some other advantages are many states put their teachers in the PhD pay lane if NBCT certification is acquired. Not Utah though, ARE YOU KIDDING? Yeah, right...

NBCT certification is a lengthy, grueling process. A teacher must submit a portfolio with 4 specific entries and a reflection section as well as take a 4 hour essay exam which includes 6 different sections at a Pearson testing center. Two entries require video taping yourself teach, and then a written commentary on your teaching. After everything is submitted you wait from June until the end of November for your scores. Each entry is hand scored by three teachers who have reached NBCT status in several different parts of the nation.

Scores were posted today. Needless to say, I was a bit NERVOUS! A year of my life summed up in a few pages.

I didn't pass on the first go round. I scored 270... You must score 275 to pass. 5 points. I dare say it's a bit aggravating to have to retake one entry for 5 points! I'm looking at it as a HUGE learning experience. On my written exam I had perfect scores in two areas. I blew them out of the water. As well as on two of my portfolio entries (not perfect scores but very GOOD scores!) One score on one portfolio entry was NOT so good. I'm having a hard time seeing why it was SO BAD! I'm not even going to look at it. I figure I'll get the new rubric and start from scratch... the new entry can't be anything like the old anyway... I might as well.

My PriciPAL had a few kind words to say to me: 1. She knows of no one who passed on the first try. and 2. Two perfect scores? Are you serious? That is unheard of!

I have to admit she made me feel MUCH better!

According to Cheryl...

Lynn swallowed a squirrel.

I'm still laughing at that one. His mustache does remarkably resemble the summer color of a squirrel. He's contemplating sticking googlie eyes in it with Karo syrup the next time we visit his mom's house.

I've lived with the "mustache" before. He sported it for quite a few years. I think I may have been pregnant with the twins when he asked me why I didn't kiss him any more. I pointed at his mustache. Next thing I knew he came down stairs all clean shaven and looking like a baby face. Well, It's back. He says he's gonna miss me.

I think he looks good with a mustache. It just tickles and goes up my nose so, NO I don't kiss his lips as much. I tease him and tell him one morning he's going to wake up with half of it shaved off. I don't really mean it... UNLESS he starts waxing the ends into some sort of villanous twisted cowboy obnoxious THING.

He was riding with the vet the other day and holding a horse's head while the techs shaved it's forelock so the critter could receive stiches. The "girls" were teasing him about slipping with the clippers, he told them his wife would thank them for THAT!

Elise was MORTIFIED Lynn grew his mustache out just in time for her baptism. She wanted to know if he was going to shave it off just for her. Lynn teased her back that since she was a twin, she only got to choose what happened on half of her baptism day. AND since Abby liked his mustache, he would only shave half of it off. Which half did she want? The left, right, top or bottom? Elise was NOT amused!

Pictures of Drumming with Zinse...

This picture was published in the Salt Lake Tribune. It's one of my cute kiddos!


Here are two of my boys drumming with Zinse. This picture was also published in the Trib.


The whole class drumming with Zinse!!!! Thank You Utah Arts Council for your GENEROUS GRANT!!!!


Luckily, I can post these pictures because all the students in my class signed media release forms. :) One thing I noticed about myself is I chew my bottom lip when I am concentrating. My friend caught my intense concentration both times! You can see me chewing my lip.

Big News!

Lynn bought a new camera! I will be posting a bunch of pictures to catch y'all up on what we're doing! Love it!

Remote Control

Some of you may know, others, maybe not... Our beautiful Brayden was diagnosed, a year ago last Fall, with NLD, a very mild autism. As his mother, I actually wept with joy because I finally had a name for what I had been dealing with for the past 10 years, a diagnosis, and a way to get school support. That being said, one of the things Brayden struggles with is change, new experiences and any situation he feels he is not in control. Anxiety attacks are common. Lynn and I have become expert anxiety attack diffusers.

Lynn took Brayden hunting this weekend. Brayden LOVES spending time outdoors with his dad. He is a hiking machine and loves mountain trails. He is not opposed to riding the horses in the mountains either, although it takes a little cajoling. He went into anxiety mode the second he realized he wouldn't be riding Henrietta on a trail, but would be trail blazing through the mountains. The anxiety heightened when Lynn told him Henrietta could do it without a lead rope hooked to Lynn and Hank. Meltdown in T- 3 seconds...

Lynn is a joker anyway so you never quite know what he's going to pull next. Brayden climbed up on our mellow old mare and attached to the saddle horn was his old Game Cube remote control. "Funny Dad, funny." The anxiety attack was averted and Brayden looked at steering Henrietta in a whole new way.

Lynn said by the end of the trip Brayden was playing obstacle course with the Old Gal by weaving her through trees and over logs. It's a good thing he never tried to make her run, then the trouble would have begun... she likes a nice easy stroll.

Cross 'Yer Fingers!

So far no one but Elise has come down with the H1N1 virus! I'm knocking on the pressed plywood laminate of my gorgeous desk. I'm thinking I must have gotten her in really quickly and kept her contained. The Tamiflu kept her from getting terribly sick. She was really only "sick" for 36 hours.

In other matters at my school we currently have an artist in residence visiting from Ghana, Africa. His name is Zinsie Agginie. He is teaching us how to drum and is sharing native Fables with us. Zinsie is spending most of his time with the Second Grade, which is my grade. So far our 2nd grade classes are becoming champion drummers. I'm not sure what to say about the hampered, 2nd grade teachers. I'm thinking we need some serious remediation. He was giving us grief at lunch today when he found out 3 of the 4 of us hold Master's Degrees. I gave him grief back when I told him our degrees certainly weren't in drumming. If he wants an educational psychology consult we'd be happy to help out. I'm not surprised at how adept the 6th grade students were at drumming. Too much time on Rock Band?

I will post pictures if I can get one of my fellow teachers to take some photos of me drumming. Hopefully they will bring a smile to your face.

Scholarship Dinner

Last week Lynn and I got to go to Utah State University's College of Agriculture's Annual Scholarship dinner. Why? Lynn was awarded the Dale P. Bateman Dairy Science scholarship. We went to meet the people who provide the money for his scholarship. Only, we didn't meet them. We don't think they were there. Instead, I got to meet his very young comrades in arms. They were very interested in meeting me. It seems they couldn't imagine WHO would marry Lynn and keep him in line. I wonder the very same thing myself at times. It was interesting to note I am closer in age to the parents of his fellow students than I am to the age of his friends. I very well could have been their Second Grade teacher. If that doesn't make me feel my age, I only have to look at the backs of my hands.

On a different note... as I am writing this blog today two things are happening. First, it is currently snowing. They say Utah has 4 seasons. Not so, only two. OK, I might give it 3 seasons. Hot, Hot, Hot, dry summer. WINTER that lasts forever and maybe spring for a day or two before it gets HOT. It seems we go straight from summer right into the snow. I used to love snow as a child. The older I get I seem to loathe it. It's cold and makes my body ache. I have to shovel it. I have to drive in it with stupid people who don't know how to drive in it, along with big orange snow plows. I'm thinking Florida with Lynn's sisters is sounding better and better. :)

The second thing happening today is I am taking a sick day. I had to drive in the nasty slushy rain to school and get substitute plans ready this morning so I could stay home with Peanut. She has the H1N1 virus. Yep. It's hit our house before we could get the vaccination. In fact, none of the pharmacies had Tamiflu to treat the virus. My pharmacist (to whom I will be eternally grateful) called all the other pharmacies in the area until she found one that was willing to make the generic form of Tamiflu. Elise has been wearing her little mask from the clinic around the house and washing her hands every 5 minutes. We've Clorox wiped and Lysol ed everything we could think of. Now, we wait. I'm sure Abby will be sick by Wednesday. They're in the same class at school, the place of infection. Elise is the 5th one in her class to come down with it. Mrs. K told me she had the custodian in the classroom twice spraying the room down with the bathroom cleaner that kills ecoli and all other sundry bugs. I called my custodian too... my classroom is getting sprayed down today too...

BTW I haven't posted any pictures because my camera took one spill too many across the pavement and has yet to be replaced. You'll be the first to know when I get a new one. There will be pictures everywhere!!!!

I almost forgot... Lynn helped Dr. Rood at the animal shelter in Logan last week. They were neutering dogs. Lynn got to neuter his first dog start to finish. He was so excited. Dr. Rood said Lynn did it the fastest he has ever seen a student complete their first neuter. :)

Onions...Onions...Onions...

It's that time of year again when I can't step outside without being assaulted with the smell of onions. Layton is prime onion growing land. In fact, the city got its name because Mr. Layton put up a big sign saying, "LAYTON" on it so the trains would stop at the right place on the tracks to pick up his onions. The former fields where our school was built used to be onion fields. We are surrounded by growing onions. It happens to be harvest time. Huge trucks filled with onions drive up and down the streets all day. Hence, the onion smell. A few years ago I had to confiscate a huge onion from a student who had picked one up off the road and brought it to school. I know some PTA moms who have been known to wait on the corner where the trucks turn. They pick up the huge onions to put in the salsa they can. I usually don't mind the smell of the onions. It lets me know fall is here. I crave soup. the only time I really minded the smell was when I was first pregnant with the twins. It wasn't pretty. Onion soup anyone?!?

Update! Update!

For lack of anything that really goes together...

First of all KUDOS to Lynn. Out of the 250+ pre-med or pre-vet students in his chemistry section... HE got 100% on his first chemistry test!!! Yea!!! I think we are on to our 4th 4.0 semester in a row. His counselor and myself BOTH think he will have NO problem getting accepted into vet school on the first try. (Lynn says I need to stop bragging him up too much, he will be WAY embarrassed if all this falls through... typical Lynn).

Here's a tidbit of information for you. Out of state tuition at Oklahoma State University is CHEAPER that in state tuition at Washington State. Lynn says to me, "You've done Oklahoma before. Do you think you could do it again?" Well heck yes. I wouldn't be a missionary this time. Tornadoes aren't so bad. It's the okra I really don't care for. BUT... we just heard Utah's legislature gave the OK for USU to do a take two program with Washington State. It would begin its first year the year Lynn would be ready to start, so maybe we wouldn't have to move... I just LOVE sitting around waiting and not knowing. I plan things out. I'm prepared. I don't like surprises. It's a bit like when the technician said she saw two babies and not one... I haven't been the same since...

Abby and Elise started back to dance today. They have tap first and then ballet right after. Two hours of dancing. They looked a little tired when I picked them up tonight. The kids ride their bikes to and from school as well so their little bodies are getting a work out. Abby was curled up in the recliner with her eyelids half shut. I had to jiggle her awake to do homework.

I need to take a picture of the floor in Brayden's room. I make him clean it. It does no good. Minutes after a clean inspection the Lego's are back all over the floor. If you stop and take a minute to look at the mess you can see how well it is organized into type, size and color. You have to navigate the labyrinth to get to his bed. Luckily for me I am not scared of a little plastic so I can pin my baby boy down with the covers and give him kisses every night.

I personally am taking one day at a time. My huge class of many second graders has been a bit daunting. They are, shall I say, NEEDY. It takes us FOREVER to do anything. I had to stop what I was teaching in math and go back and begin very basic addition. Too many of them just didn't "GET" it. I knew I was in trouble when a boy raised his hand and looked at me totally confused and said, "Mrs. B? What IS subtraction?" I feel for the kids who are soooo smart they look like they are bored silly. I do have a few of those. I'm thinking my aide will have to take out the smarty pants to challenge them, instead of the low kids to catch them up.

Last night I dreamt about making my class practice lining up. They never did do it and we were late for lunch and never did make it there. Any dream interpreters out there who want to give me a reading?

One thing I know for sure. I'm happiest when I am too busy to worry about myself. The more dishes piled in the sink the better. I wouldn't be less busy or have it any other way.

I'm Voting for Condo!

We keep talking about where and what we're going to do when we go to Vet school. I'm voting for a little 3 bedroom condo. You know, the kind where you have no yard work. After today I'm REALLY thinking I want a condo. We have 3 peach trees and they were loaded this year. We gave away as many peaches as we could. We still bottled around 100 quarts of peaches. My mom had mercy on me and came up from Salt Lake to help. We set up our usual Barton cannery in the garage. When we get going we have 3 processors going on camp chefs. I'm glad Lynn was here to lift canners full of water.
Oh what a day. I think I may have to see the chiropractor for a few weeks to get my neck and arm back in alignment.
I do have to admit.... I will be enjoying those yummy peaches this winter. :)

My Birthday

I had my last official Birthday. I'm not counting anymore. I decided I will stay 39 forever. It worked for my Dad. Why not work for me?
My Birthday was on the 4th. My kids made a big deal of it. I guess it's because I make a big deal of their birthdays. Abby made me an "I Spy" bottle. Elise bought me an itunes card so I can download songs I want onto my ipod instead all the old twangy country Lynn likes. Brayden got me a new lanyard for my school ID. It say USU AGGIES all over it. I'm so proud we have effectively brainwashed him into being True Blue, Aggie Blue. :) The kiddos voted to take me to shrimp night at Chuck 'A Rama. (Brayden's favorite...)
Lynn got me a way cool diploma frame from USU's bookstore for my USU diploma. He said, "It's only been hanging out in your cedar chest for over 15 years. Time to brag about it..." Now we're going to order an identical one for my master's diploma when it finally gets here.
(I'm guessing he did his shopping at the bookstore..)
Lynn took me out on a date, a real honest to goodness date on the 5th. I got to choose the restaurant and activity this time! Way cool.
Did I mention the elephant and giraffe picture Ashley drew and her mom scanned in and sent me from North Dakota?!?! Too cool.
It great being loved so much.

UPDATE...

Hallelujah! Mike the Mink was let go somewhere near the Weber River yesterday afternoon. I am still dancing!!! I guess he was too vicious, smart and smelly to keep around. :) Thank goodness Lynn is a smart man.

Mike the Mink

Lynn and his critters!!! I'm always amazed at what makes it home. We were having a garage sale on Saturday morning and our neighbor "fetched" Lynn home to his garage. Not unusual. Lynn is good at disappearing. He was gone awhile, also not unusual. He came back with a critter. I looked into the cat carrier and asked, "Where'd you get the mink?" Lynn wanted to know how I knew it was a mink. Hello, taught a mink farmer on my mission...
Anyway, the neighbors found the mink in their garage cozying up to the cat food. The last time they had critters in their garage (4 baby raccoons) Lynn came to the rescue and caught them too. We think this mink might be one let go from a mink farm a few months ago just East of South Weber. He's very friendly, AND he walked right into the cat carrier.
Lynn looked online and called the Mink Farmer's Association and confirmed our critter was indeed a mink. (Only needed to ask me!!) Lynn named him Mike. Actually, we're not sure he's a him. He could be a her. No one is willing to look close enough to find out. He lives in the barn. Apparently, mink farmers don't take loose mink back after they've been in the wild. They can spread disease that way. Now we have a mink, and he stinks. Lucky ME!

First Day of School

Brayden

Abby

Elise

The first day of school was on Monday, August 24th.

Brayden started 6th grade. He told me he took a math pre-test where he was one of the last people finished and it took part of his recess. He had to figure out bias and 15% tips and area of things. He said he thinks other kids MUST have guessed because he worked out the problems and he was "sure" of some of his answers. He must get that gift from his dad.

The twins started 3rd grade and for the first time are in the same class. They have my good friend Joan Krogman. At first they were dismayed to be in the same class. They were NOT happy with the arrangement but are adjusting and doing well. Mrs. K says they are very independent and have different friends. She called to tell me how Elise acts like a "mini" teacher. Elise told her the 1st grade buddy she is assigned to was going to be a lot of work and is, "quite a handful." Abby is Miss Friendly and has all the boys looking at her with 3rd grade crushes (although she would pop me one if she knew I told!)

Lynn started back at USU the same morning and is VERY HAPPY to be back in school. He has two history classes this semester to finish up his general ed. He says college girls are the same as they always were: 18 and cute! Although they are must more scantilly clad than they were 20 years ago...

I started school with 28 cute little bodies in my room. I have been exhausted all week and ready to drop from the shear energy expended to keep all the bodies on task and in their seat. It took us 8 tries to figure out how to line up with out talking, touching and running. It's going to be a year!

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Evans for taking the kids to school for us on the first day!!!

HE DID IT!

We finally got Bray on the big roller coasters! We had a bit of a strategy in place. First, we took his friend Justin with us so Brayden would be less likely to cry and carry on and show us a full blown anxiety attack. Then Lynn decided we would just walk right on to Colossus without saying a word and before Bray had a chance to get worked up, he'd be on the ride. It worked like a charm. He rode Colossus three times in a row. Then, I grabbed his hand in a vise lock and hauled him over to Wicked. He did it and said he liked it too. Behind him in the photo is the first hill of Wicked, straight up and straight down. He said he kept his eyes open too! Makes a Mother so proud!!!

Scout Camp Out

Brayden went on his first official 11 year old scout camp out! Lynn actually got to go as a dad and not a leader! They packed in, dug a fire pit and enjoyed themselves! Pictures! Enjoy!

RODEO!

Lynn took the kids to the Weber County Fair Rodeo. He bought them all a new hat. You'll notice the hats all fit their personalities. Elise.... Miss Pink. Abby.... Daddy's little partner. Brayden.... Indy. They had a GREAT time! And I got a night off! Now they're rooting for the Derby on Saturday!

What to do When Your Babies Grow Up...

Sounds like a good title, eh? Wish I knew. One second you're rushing to the NICU to change their diapers and make feeding and bath time and the next thing you know they're 8!

I have a favorite country song I listen to these days, heck if I know who sings it. If you know please tell me. I never get to hear the artist who sings the song because I sing along and my kids who are in the van with me act like they are dying an ignominious death and scream and cry until I quit singing. Yeah, I probably would too if I had to listen to me.

Oh, the song..... It's "Don't Blink". That's right. Don't blink. They grow up too fast. I've tried really hard to enjoy my babies at the age they are and not wish the time away. I made sure I cuddled them and rocked them as much as I could. Cuddling and rocking is quite the feat with a baby sucking on a bottle in each arm and a 3 year old in the middle of your lap having his favorite story read to him for the millionth time. But somewhere along the way, I blinked. My baby girls turned 8 and were baptized on the 4Th of July. Quite the experience if you asked them and me. Two is always better than one. :) Someone made the comment about how pretty their white baptism dresses were. Gorgeous! It never ceases to amaze me how different these two babies born 4 minutes apart are in size, taste and everything. Just look at the difference in those two dresses. Abby danced around the dress shop in the 3 way mirror. The sales lady commented on the happy little princess she was. Elise always takes the grand entrance the more drama the better and after 20 dresses found the one that was just right and made her "Queen of the Hour" Entrance. The next comment was, "Soon you'll be helping them pick out their wedding dresses." My jaw dropped in shock. WEDDING DRESSES?!?!? Who are you kidding? These are my little 4 pound babies. BITE your tongue! Lynn patted my back later and told me I had a good 20 years if he could help it. Better be 20 at least, no less than 15!

Now tonight, my baby boy is on his first Boy Scout overnight camp out! Sigh, sniffle, sniffle, snort. As Elise said, "Mom, it's not like he hasn't gone before. Dad's with him too. Jeez!" True, Lynn was the 11 year old scout leader and Bray always got to go too. BUT, this is the first time he's gotten to go with his troop, as a scout, and Lynn isn't the leader. He's sleeping in his tent with his friend Justin. Oh, my baby boy.

Then tonight, Abby grabs her teddy and blankie and climbs in my lap to be cuddled. Ahhh! bliss! Just how I like it. I guess I've got a bit more time. Then Elise climbs in my lap! I was a virtual twin sandwich! No way I could fit all 3 now if I wanted to. I rocked my babies and I remember, "Don't Blink!"

Legos, Legos, Everywhere!

Brayden turned 11 on the 23rd of July.

The kid LOVES Legos. He designed a Lego cake out of his Legos and I, out of the goodness of my heart, made it for him. I hadn't ever played with fondant before so it was a new experiment for me. I was very glad fondant comes pre-made in the bright colors! I have to send a HUGE thanks to MOM Evans for all the years in 4-H and all the cooking lessons which have made me unafraid to take on projects such as this.

Brayden loves Legos. He got all Legos for his presents! Go figure!

Happy Birthday to my B-man!

Now You Knew Better Than That!

Have you ever done something and then thought later, "Duh? I'm such a dork?" That would be the story of my life. I'm always impetuously doing things and then thinking later maybe my action wasn't such a good idea. Can you say QUEEN of Open Mouth Insert Foot? I'm thinking maybe I have ADD tendencies.... Hmmmm. What was I talking about? Oh, yes doing something and then thinking later maybe I shouldn't have done that...

How many of you have met Elise? On the surface she seems like a well mannered obedient child. AND she is for everyone but me. She is the Queen of Tantrums (a title I used to hold but has now been passed on to my posterity). Saturday morning she got "into it" with her twin sister Abby. Abby is the Queen of Quick Wit and a Sharp Tongue (a title also formerly held by me and passed on...). Needless to say there was some screaming, scratching, punching and hair pulling (NO! I didn't do any of it!). To help them calm down and hopefully solve the problem I sent Abby to their room and had Elise sit on time out in the family room. AND the tantrums BEGAN! Usually I have great patience and will just step over Elise and ignore her or tell her she's not doing it right she needs to kick harder and scream louder. Not on Saturday. We were getting ready to go to an Evans family reunion and my patience was shot from earlier tantrums. Plus I was afraid she was going to kick over Bob's fish tank. I am very proud of the fact I haven't killed him yet and I wasn't letting a tantrum ruin my record. I counted back from 5 for her to get back on time out. It usually works. Not that day. So I proceeded to hook her under the arm pits to plant her butt back on the couch. As I turned, she threw herself back. I really hurt my back. Yep, I knew better than to pick up a hysterical 72 pound 8 year old. Too late now. I'm walking like an old lady with scoliosis.

It gets better! My friend Joan Krogman calls to tell me about great back to school sales at Target. I can't answer the phone, I'm at the chiropractor getting deep tissue ultra sound. Now Joan is my good friend who went through my Master's program with me. She is going to be the twins' teacher next year. Elise answers the phone and tells her, "Mrs. K. I hurt my mom. BAD! yep she tried to pick me up when I was throwing a tantrum. Yep. You know me the 8 year old Drama Queen. I have to take her Diet Coke in bed..." On and on she goes. Mrs. K is in laughter tears. She's going to have a Drama Queen crown made and ready for Elise on the first day of school, and Elise is proud of it.

Yep, I knew better than that!

Lagoon Passports

Lynn and I decided that we would use my "educational reimbursement money" to buy season passes to Lagoon. We felt we wouldn't we going on any big vacations this year so we would go to Lagoon as often as we could.

The first trip was in May and I went with the kids. They thought they should start out in Kiddie Land on the small rides. For example they rode the kiddie roller coaster Puff. I rolled my eyes cajoling and begging them to ride roller coasters. I am a roller coaster NUT! I could ride them all day long, over and over.... Do you think my kids would give in to their mom's passion for fast cars? Uh, NO! I had to wait for a few trips later....

The twins have surpassed my expectations. Abby is a roller coaster riding fool. AND because she doesn't want to be out done, Elise will ride what Abby rides. She might sob when the ride is finished, but she goes.

Abby really wanted to ride Wicked. I was a bit concerned, I mean it goes straight up and straight down. It's propelled by magnets and "wicked fast". We took her on it. She sat right in-between Lynn and me. I looked over and she had her eyes WIDE open. She was making these noises making Lynn think she was crying. NOPE!!!! Laughing! She absolutely LOVED the ride. We got off and were walking down the queue and she says, "Can we go again?" You bet little one!

I'm hoping, and bribing Brayden. He said today, "Maybe we can start with the White roller coaster..." A mom can hope can't she?

Here Goes...

For a year now I've been sending out almost weekly e-mails about our Barton Life. My cousins, friends and many others have been after me to create a blog. So here goes. I'm now a blogger. More Later!