Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011, we spent at the Gaylord Texas! At first, I wasn't real crazy about the idea of changing "tradition" and not having the usual family dinner that my mom and dad's house. However, it turned out to be so much fun and a very memorable event!
The Gaylord is amazing! It was decorated very festive and always has the best entertainment. There was Ginger Bread Houses, ice sculptors, ice tubing (if you can imagine that), Puss and Boots movie/red carpet event, and more! It was so neat.
Our family loved it, and this actually might be the NEW and improved tradition!!!! Time away from cooking and washing dishes wasn't too bad either! haha

The guys had an extra perk! They were able to attend the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day at the new Dallas Cowboy stadium (Jerry World). Good times were definitely had by all!!!!

News Flash

News Flash! We are having BABY #2!!!
We found out we were pregnant right after the Thanksgiving holiday. Barrett is thrilled that he is going to be a BIG brother. He's already promised to change diapers, feed her a bottle, and keep her quiet if she wakes up in the night! haha
Yep, you heard me right...HER! It's a GIRL!!!!
As much as I love being a mommy of a boy, I cannot wait to have a precious little girl!!! I'm anxious to see who she favors in looks, acts like, and most of all, to see what a wonderful young woman she will become. It's going to be an amazing journey.

Pumpkin Patch

I can't tell you how much I love the area we live in!!! Right up the street there was the cutest little pumpkin patch full of hay mazes, farm animals, bounce houses, ponies, haystacks to climb, and tons of pumpkins! It was the perfect end to our week!!!

Career Day

Barrett had his first Career Day at Primrose. He had a hard time deciding between a policeman or a fire fighter.

In the end, we chose a policeman.

For the past two weeks at school, they've been studying people in the community that help to keep us safe. The Allen Fire Dept. showed up in their big, red firetruck for all the kids to see. Barrett was up close and personal with all the gadgets and I'm sure he was full of questions. He told me all about the big ladder, fire hose, and lights on the fire truck!

The Allen Police Department also came up to Primrose and allowed the kids to look inside their police car, listen to the sirens, and overlook their fancy uniforms.

So much fun and so much learning! I love it!!!!

**Little, sweet piece of info...Barrett is wearing the same name badge that my daddy wore on his police uniform. My dad (Jim Barrett) is a retired police officer and wore his name badge, BARRETT, every day. As a child, I can remember him putting it on his uniform, snapping on his belt and all of his "police gear". Pinning the name badge onto Barrett brought back some sweet memories.

The name badge was also part of B's Show and Tell today at school. He was so excited to show everyone and tell them the story about how it use to be Papa Barrett's!!!!

Primrose Parade

We had a fun parade at preschool! For the past two weeks, the students have been learning about different cultures around the world. Pre-K2 dressed up as different animals around the world. Barrett was a giraffe...and a GREAT one at that. They were all adorable in their costumes. Mrs. Phillips and Ms. Braswell did a fantastic job!!!!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

We're studying LIFE CYCLES at school. Barrett wanted to read to my class a very informational book!!! There is a small break between videos. I (the director/camera lady) got into trouble for talking too much. Barrett reminded me that during story time...we are NOT allowed to talk. Yikes!!!

Barners Lately...

Wow! School is back in session, and I've gone from being busy with decorating the house and laying out by the pool / (summer time), to grading papers, catching up on laundry, cleaning house, conferences with parents, and trying to avoid all the "first week of school" germs! ha

We're doing spectacular. God has blessed us in so many ways and I must take the opportunity to say what a great start to my school year has been. I'm working with an exceptional group of ladies, a great new principal, and I have a wonderful group of students...teaching Math and Science to.

We couldn't be happier with the decision we made in Barrett's new school. He loves his teachers (I really think he has a secret crush on Mrs. Phillips), has already made some sweet, new friends (although we'll never forget our old ones....Wyatt Martin), and I'm impressed with the knowleged he has gained in such a short amount of time.

As far as the house goes...I'm LOVING it! Little by little, I'm decorating rooms or adding on. We put the brakes on getting landscaping done this summer. It became way too hot and we knew if we spent the money buying beautiful new flowers, etc. that we would want to water a lot more. With the restrictions and fear of a really expensive water bill...we decided to postpone landscaping until midyear or even the spring. Something to look forward to, right?

No worries, I have plenty of other things I plan to accomplish within the next few month. Matt thinks my "To Do" list (or really "Wish List") is never-ending. He's RIGHT! hahaha That's a woman for ya!

Item up next..............shutters!!!! Who wants to help?!

So proud of Matt! Really!!! He's always been great with working on cars, but assembling a playground...we have YET to do! Well, Matt decided to take the bull by the horns this weekend an put together a little swing set for Barrett. He did a great job! He finished up Sunday after church, and by the time Barrett woke up from his nap...his daddy had it all put together and ready to go!

Let's keep that cooler weather around so we can hang out in the backyard a little more!!!!