A Good Example

My Grandma passed away this summer on July 26, it was a sad yet peaceful time. Sad because we knew we would miss her but peaceful because she was not suffering anymore, and she was able to be reunited with two of her sons and her sweet heart my Grandpa. Not to mention all the other family and friends that had passed on before her.

My Grandma lived to be 101, in her life time she went from horse and buggy to cars and planes.  My Grandma was a good example of dedication and hard work. Her testimony and her family were very important to her.

On of my favorite memories of my Grandma is when she had a stroke she came and lived with my parents for awhile. I got the privilege of coming down from Rexburg everyday and taking care of here while everyone else was in school or working. She loved Karson! He would try and comb her hair even though she didn't have much. (the medicine she was on made it fall out) I would make sandwiches for lunch, and she would say I made the best sandwiches.  Then we would end the day by me putting my kids down for a nap, and Grandma and I would watch an old classical movie. Grandma loved the old movies. 

(girls playing ring around the rosie's)

(No, we did plan all of the kids to match but it sure looked cute.)

Grandma's surving sons.

I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have of Eternal families. How lucky we are.

When I am Baptized

 "I like to look for rainbows, when ever there is rain.

And ponder on the beauty
 of an earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as
 clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I

can, and live with God again.

 

I know when I am baptized my

wrongs are washed away.

and I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.



I want my life to be as clean as earth

 right after rain.

I want to be the best I can, and live with God again!"

-Nita Dale Miner

Barber Family Reunion

Welcome to the Barber Family Reunion.

(Beware lots of pictures because it was a week full of fun and many adventures.)

We have started a new thing on Todd's side of the family that is every two years there is going to be a week long reunion somewhere in the US. I remember having reunions growing up at Lake Powell with my moms side and camping with my dads side and they were always fun and full of memories! So, I was very excited when Todd's family decided to do this.

This years reunion was held at Wolfe Creek Resort in Eden. It could not have been a more beautiful location the week was full of activities, ice cream cones, and LATE night games.

We started our week with Fathers Day, but as I am writing this I realize that I have no pictures of it.(sad) However, it was a nice day to honor the Fathers in our lives and all that they do for us.

Monday, we all went to Cherry Hill for the day where we had fun swimming and going down water slides. In fact we had so much fun that no one thought to reapply the sunscreen and that night when we gathered for family prayer EVERYONE looked like nice red lobsters. (Great way to start a week where swimming would be involved everyday.)

 Tuesday, we relaxed and let our sunburns heal, while making friendship bracelets thanks to Aunt Carol.

Wednesday we decided to take everyone on a nature hike by the Lake. So we could weed out the weak hikers for the real hike the next day. (We are so funny)

Thursday, the "real" hike I don't remember the name but when we got to the top it was beautiful we could see both the Salt Lake Valley and the Eden Valley. Did I mention it was beautiful.

This was our families first "Real" Hike it couldn't have been better lots of switch backs (so it was easy for the kids) and a great view the entire time. Plus  I think it took a total of two hours up and back (my kinda hike).

One funny event on the hike was this crazy man in the above picture(Todd) wanted to scare these crazy kids in the picture below. So he took off with Chad and I ahead, while the other adults took them straight down the hill singing "We're going on a bear Hunt." We then hid in the bushes along the path they would be coming down. When the children walked past us Todd jumped out and scared them. It was so funny Camryn practically jumped on Uncle Matt's back and the other kids I'm pretty sure just about wet their pants. (hee hee hee)

Friday, We rode the train from Ogden to Salt Lake. First time riding a train for me and my little family.(it was very exciting)

Temple Square, was a little stressful trying to keep track of all the children, but in all a good experience for adults and children.

That was our week, However on top of all that fun the resort had this amazing pool that we swam in every chance we had.

Having fun with the (free) underwater camera. Totally worth waiting in line for 3 hours at Old Navy after Thanksgiving.

Todd was totally exhausted after our vacation that he literally slept for just about 24 hours after.

I have never seen him sleep more in our 9 years of marriage. (and he is going to hate me for telling that)

Rainbow Party

So we are going to play a little game. Look at the two pictures and see how many things you can find that are different.

Did you find them all? This game was a result of Bailey wanting a rainbow party and me making the the cake upside down but not noticing it until dinner. It was driving me crazy so I had to fix it before she blew out her candles.

 She is so excited to be four. She got her first party with friends and loved every minute of it. They decorated tutus and rode the horse.

In the past year Bailey started preschool and can now write her own name.

She took gymnastics

 became a big sister.

  started riding a bike (this one took a lot of encouragement and a new bike from Grandma and Grandpa McFadden. but she finally did it. We will now work on taking the training wheels off.)

And she got her first goldfish from her teacher in sunbeams.(yeah) I told her that it probably wouldn't live long and that it might die before she turned four. I know a great thing for a mom to say. I was just full of excitement and love when she brought this home from church. (thank you primary teacher) Anyway after that every time Bailey said a prayer she would bless her fish to live until her birthday, and yep that's right we still have them three months later.

I just love this girl and she is such a joy to have in our family.

Stable Star

 Todd came home from work last week and got all the kids out of bed to look at how bright and beautiful the planets where in the sky. The kids thought they were amaizing, especially Bailey who when she saw them started jumping up and down and stating "its a Stable Star, It's a Stable Star" Todd I both gave each other the look. You konw the one all parents give each other when their kids say things and you have no idea what they mean, but you hope the other one does. Then we hear Bailey start singing "Picture a baby in Judea, Picture a sacred silent night..." and then she asked if baby Jesus was somewhere. It was the sweetest moment. It was one of those times where you realize that she really is paying attention, and that she is gaining her own testimony of the Savior. I will always remember that moment everytime I look up at the sky and see a bright star. Thank you Bailey.

(If you look close these were the plantes we saw that night,)

Happy Birthday Karson

I wanted to wait and post this with pictures of his baptism, but because of some family things we have changed his baptism to July. So with that said...

Karson is now EIGHT I can't believe it! We surprised him with tickets to a Jazz game with his dad. They went to the Jazz vs Kings so he got to see Jimmer play. When we surprised him we literally gave him the tickets 5 minutes before they were supposed to leave. He knew his dad was going to this game,  he just didn't know he was going , and his face was priceless. I just Love this Kid.

I also let Karson have a birthday party with his friends. He was so excited that right after Christmas he made all his invitation, and wanted to pass them out right then. It was very hard for him to wait three months. And yes these were the invitation. He came up with it all on his own one night when I thought he was asleep, and as a Mom trying to encourage his creativity and thinking on his own I just had to smile and say "OKAY, good job, these are great! They sat in his room until April, and by then (Thank goodness) he decided on some different invitations.   

He wanted to play basketball for his party so we took all his friends to a  gym and played A BUNCH of different basketball games. Then brought them back and had pizza and cake. It all ended up being so much fun I don't think I will be able to top this party.