Sunny Saturday in January

Wow! What an incredible day!!! The weather was perfect and the Barner Bunch didn't waste any time indoors (except for Barrett's nap time).

Making time to work on the car...and daddy's truck...

I love his eyes in this picture, although he isn't smiling at me. My little brown-eyed boy!!!

We're even adding a "Part 2" to our day, tonight (outdoor grilling and patio time near the warm firepit).

Check-In

Just checking in to wish everyone a wonderful weekend and week to come. It was super chilly this week and I felt as though Barrett didn't get much playtime. Thankfully, Friday warmed up enough by the afternoon that we made it the park...and again on Saturday. I'm so thankful for SUNSHINE! It's amazing how it can change my mood (and everyone else's). I love the snow, but I'm ready for spring and summer to arrive. Enough of this gloom.

Here are some sweet pictures of Barrett. Hopefully they'll spread a little sunshine to your day!!!

Mom...with a Teaching Moment

Just the other day, I started teaching Barrett about the days of the week. Then, by coincidence, they must have started a little unit on days of the week at school.
Barrett came home today singing a song, "Popcorn, Popcorn, Every Day...". The next thing you know, he's rattling off the days of the week. I'm impressed!
We've been learning some different Bible stories too. Barrett's favorite is the story of David and Goliath!
Listen to his song...along with his warning to me about dropping the camera in the tub!

He can tell you how many weeks a caterpillar stays in the cocoon., the days of the week (almost all of them), and we've mastered spelling our name!

We have two huge tubs full of books, along with an entire shelf of them in Barrett's room. He has his favorites, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar (hence learning about the days of the week) has become one of choice.
Uncle Corey had given Barrett a fishing lure, in which Barrett called a caterpillar. He'd been playing with it in the living room, when I reminded him that the caterpillar would soon crawl into his cocoon.
Barrett knew exactly what I was talking about.
So, that night, I snuck into his room after he fell asleep and replaced the caterpillar with two white cotton balls wrapped up in tape. (Okay, so it was the closest thing I could think of that resembled a cocoon with supplies on hand at home).
The next morning, Barrett saw the cocoon and realized the caterpillar was gone!!!! You should have seen the excitment on his face (that's really what I should have video taped)! We agreed not to touch the cocoon, but instead wait for 2 weeks (I loved hearing him say that every day) until the caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly.
Two weeks later (not exactly, but enough to teach my lesson), I replace the cocoon with a beautiful, purple butterfly (decorative one I bought at Hobby Lobby).
Barrett thinks it's real and wants to keep it in his room!!! He talks to it and makes sure that "she" is well taken care of before he goes to school or sleep at night.
Kind of silly...but it was fun seeing his little face light up for each stage of the caterpillar's growth!! Plus, he learned a lot!!!! Those are the fun memories that I love creating!!!!

Challenges

I feel ashamed to say that I haven't blogged in a while. I know being busy is a frequent excuse, but really...I have "good one".

I took on the position of being a Math teacher for 3 fourth grade sections. Well, as it turns out, in January, I took on two more Writing classes in addition to the 3 Math. Yes...let me repeat that...WRITING!!!!! Those of you familiar with TAKS, will know that the test is soon approaching, March 1st. Yikes! Time to get busy!!!

I am excited though. Writing has, and will always be, a passion of mine. It's also been a way for me to get to know my students a little better. You wouldn't believe what a student will write about, verses tell you about. Some students that are quiet, have so much to say in their writings.

When I teach just Math classes, I don't get to know my students on a personal level. They all have their personalities in class, but reading their Writing compositions makes me know them on a completely different level.

On top of that...I've volunteered to do the yearbook for the school. Wow! I had no idea it was going to be just me and another lady on the committee. I thought a committee insisted of more than 3 or 4. Ha!

Doing the yearbook is a lot like making a blog book on Blurb. The first couple of pages are fun, but then, they become tedious. Each page seems to take me forever to work on, and knowing that people are paying for it's completion, adds a whole new level of pressure / stress.

Doing your own personal blog book...you really don't care if there are mistakes because ultimately, you'll the one reading it (or your child), and they forgive you for overlooking errors...right? haha

With that being said...I have a lot of work cut-out for me.

Oh, and this is the BEST part....my deadlines (for the yearbook and Writing TAKS test)...SAME DAY! Let me repeat that...S A M E D A Y! March 1st!

House is still on the market...and no bites! I'm bummed. People warned me, but I'm not giving up hope. It will happen when it is suppose to.

Last challenge (that I have been successful with), getting up in the mornings to exercise and not drinking sodas (regular or diet). My friend Megan warned me that it would be hard the first few days...and it wasn't too bad until day 3. I didn't necessarily crave Dr. Pepper, but I did feel very tired and had horrible headaches. I was like an addict to Diet Dr. Pepper. Not any more! Hooray for me!

BARRETT

Barrett on the other hand is fabulous! We're dealing with a few little tantrum issues and trying to find a happy "medium". I want him to love me and be his friend....but at the same time, he needs to know that Matt and I are his parents. We went through a phase of saying, "No" and then that phase passed. Well, now it is coming back. It's yet another challenge for me to be stern with him (those of you that I've taught with probably don't believe that), but I have to do it. Hopefully, he'll thank me later in life (and turn out to be a good boy).

• He's mastered spelling his name perfectly.
• Favorite phrase, "Wow, this is amazing!"
• Has been doing a great job saying his nightly prayers! I'm so proud of him.
• Is obsessed with the CARS movie again, and all the little metal CARS characters.
• Into a new cartoon called, "The Adventures of Chuck and Friends".
• Still loves school. He's been in the 3's class and I'm shocked every time I go to pick him up with the new things he is learning.
• Thinks that toothpaste (the kind with fluoride) is soap. He begs to me saying, "Mommy, please don't make me brush with soap". haha No more baby toothpaste. It's time to upgrade to the Kid version.
• Sings all the time...and likes to replace the real words with silly ones. His newly invented songs crack me up.
• He can almost spell his last name attached to his first without stopping (but gets the b's mixed up).
  

Welcome 2011

Life has been great around the Barner household lately. Matt is recovering well from his knee surgery and I find Barrett to be growing up so quickly.

I've absolutely enjoyed every waking moment of this Christmas break. From spending time with my family and friends, to catching up on projects, and realizing how incredibaly blessed I am.
I'm looking forward to 2011, as I start my revolution (not resolution...but a revolution) to be the person God created me to be! I thank the Lord for the fresh starts and new beginnings that he has given me.
Happy New Year to all of you out there!

Here are a few snapshots of the fun we've had.

Testing out the four-wheeler! He's such a good driver! He loves it!

This one reminds me of a little boy looking for trouble (or about to get into trouble). If he takes after his daddy, I'm sure he will.

Barrett acting like he was in the parade (guess we've seen a few on t.v. lately, so B is acting like one of the members).

B finding different uses for his drum. If placed on the head...he's an astronaut! Good thinking!!

A is for Amy!

And finally, I cannot allow myself to ever forget Barrett's nightly request of having his cars in bed with him. Yes, I'll admit, it has gotten a little out of hand at times...but who's counting, right? Unable to settle for just one car, Barrett accumulated several of his favorites in bed with him. I guarantee that if I would have let him...he would have put his new bike, car, four-wheeler, etc. in there too! hahaha

Once he falls asleep, I usually sneak in his room to "clean out" his bed. I didn't realize how big the pile was, until after I lined them all up! Now don't forget, there is two actually missing in the picture. Add on the cars in each of his hands that I can't seem to PRY out!