To Sum Things Up

We had a fun December! We went to a couple of hockey games. We spent the Holidays in the Bay Area. Quite eventful! On the 27th we drove up and were at 501 just two hours before Kaylee got hurt. Her foot got stuck in the elliptical machine. Kyle pulled it out before I got there. Just as a precaution, we left in the rain at 7 and took her to Urgent Care. Sam dropped me off and took the boys to Shawn's house (where we were staying). The hospital took a couple of hours with x-rays and things but ended pretty well. No obvious fractures!! She left with two feet bandaged up! While I was there and Sam was driving, Kyle got his second bloody nose. So while driving Sam took off his shirt and gave it to Kyle. Blood was everywhere! Sam dropped off the boys and drove back to get me. We got back around 11, and were glad to put that day to bed! Despite many injuries this trip, we had a great time being with family and playing. The kids favorite thing to do when we are up there is go to Uncle Shawn's church building and play indoor sports. They had sooooo much fun!
On the 17th of January we celebrated Alex's 5th Birthday! He had a great party. He told me it was the best day of his life. We actually all had a ton of fun! We went to pump it up! We had 22 kids there and the parents. The kids got to bounce around and play for about 2 hours. Sam and I raced on an obstacle course (I won despite his cheating attempts)! He and one of his friends also had a boxing match which was really funny! I didn't really see the kids the whole time, even Kaylee. She is so independent!
Kyle got his report card, all great marks!! He is doing really well. His favorite thing to do at school is play football!
Alex loves going to school, he is definitely ready from Kindergarten! He loves being a super star he got a special crown on his birthday and wore it all day.
Kaylee just started he dance class. It is so cute. She has tap for 20 mins, ballet for 20 mins, and tumbling for 20 mins. On the first day she was so adorable. She heard the teacher say it was time to start class and she followed the group like she knew what she was doing, with her dance bag on her shoulder. All grown up. I was able to watch the whole class on tv, while they are in the studio. She did so well, not a hint of insecurity. Then she toddled out like she was HOT STUFF! It made me so happy to see her enjoy something, that was just for her! Alex was with me, he wasn't too happy! He is just going to have to get used to it. It is only 1 hour once a week!

Pictures will hopefully follow this posting! Our computer blew up this week. It is awful. I am just praying we can get our photos off. I made a mistake by not backing up my pictures! Best Buy is working on it now. Hopefully we find out soon if they were able to get all of our memories off the hard drive. I have the worst luck! I was prompted to down load this service pack 2 (thinking I wouldn't be promted unless I needed it). So, I did and it crashed! All of this was brought on because I was trying to load music on my Father in law's classic ipod for him. It seems to be a pattern, when I am trying to do something nice, it blows up in my face! On the bright side I am looking forward to getting a new computer! We're trying to decide right now. Fortunately Sam can bring his laptop home for me until we get our new one.

I almost forgot!! Kaylee has gone two weeks now without her Bubbi (pacifier). We are so proud of her! This was a big deal. We are working on the potty training. The poor thing has also had 3 ear infections in the last month and a half. Right now she is feeling good. I just hope it lasts.

November

Halloween night


pumpkin carving

November started with a bang! We had a wonderful Halloween. The kids had a wonderful time trick or treating with some of our friends! Kyle also participated in a jogathon, we all went to cheer him on.Following Halloween, on the 2nd we celebrated Kaylee's 2nd birthday!! It was a wonderful day. She really enjoyed all the attention! She wanted a Dora party so that is what she got. Sam's parents came down to celebrate with us, which was nice.

Kaylee got some make up and jewlery for her Birthday. She loves being a girl!

The next week we had two soccer parties, which the boys loved. Alex was really excited to get his very first trophy! After both of the boys last games this season, we went to High School Musical 2 on Ice. It was our very first Ice Show. The kids had a great time. Kaylee really got into the music! After the show we went out to one of our favorite restaurants (BJ's) with some friends.

The following week Sam was in Houston. He got back Thursday night. Friday we all went to a Condors Hockey game. It was quite an exciting game. In the first couple minutes two guys went at it. They threw their gloves off and started pounding on each other. That pretty much set the tone for the evening. It was really fun to watch!

Kyle started his Club soccer team a couple of weeks ago. He really loves it. His coach just seems like a really nice guy and a great teacher. Kyle's best friend was also recruited on the team which makes things even more fun for Kyle.

Both the boys had their Thanksgiving parties. It was Alex's first one, so he was pretty excited about it. Both boys came home with pilgrim and Indian crafts they made!

We spent Thanksgiving in Danville with his parents. We were able to enjoy some really nice wood fires. The kids love them. Alex is obsessed with making fires, which he was constantly told to stay away from!

October

This month has been pretty eventful! Sam's mema passed away, we attended her funeral in Utah. It was beautiful! We were able to visit my two sisters and hang out with Sam's family which was really nice. Sam and Shawn enjoyed a game of tennis.

The cousins have a great time together. It was really nice for me to see Ashley and Nicole! They watched Alex and Kaylee during the funeral. Big Help. I also was able to see my two nieces. They are so cute! It was a pretty quick visit but I was glad to even have it. The kids did amazing on the drive. It took about 10 hours and they barely gave us any trouble. Thank goodness for Tv's!! When we got back home Sam had to leave the next morning for Houston. He was there until Thursday.

Since he has been back it has just been go, go, go! We look forward to they boys playing soccer every weekend. It is just so exciting. I get really into it. This last Saturday was awesome. Both boys played great. Kyle had a couple of amazing break aways, one of which he scored on. He had the ball before center field and kept it with him the whole time, while some pretty fast boys were on his tail! It was thrilling to watch and beautiful. After the game the coach from the other team came up to us told us our boys are great plyers. He said he actually coaches for a living and is looking for some good players to be on his club team. So, Kyle has been recruited! We don't know what will evolve from this but is was a nice complement. Kyle was pretty excited!

Sam was able to have a little fun too. He went to the Lakers game!! LUCKY. He was five rows up from the floor. He also went to a Condors game with Kyle and some friends which was a lot of fun.

The kids are really excited to go trick or treating this year with their friends! We had a great time carving pumpkins. Alex had his Halloween parade today. It was soooooo cute.

Alex is doing great at preschool, Kaylee is still a doll. Her birthday is on the 2nd of November. I am really excited! Probably more than she is. It is hard to think my baby is going to be 2 and not be a baby much longer!

The last bit of news we have is that our ward has had some changes to it. Our stake realigned the boundaries. We initially thought we would be able to go to a closer chapel but no such luck. The only effect it had on us was we lost some families. We were told that our Nov. stake conference we won't want to miss. So we are kind of hoping for the stake boundaries to be changed!!

A sad day for Sam

The family spent some time supporting our 49'ers! Talk about team spirit!

September

This month we have kept very busy with the boys' soccer games! Sam is coaching both of their teams. The games are quite exciting. Kyle takes the game very seriously and Alex just follows the ball. Super cute!



Both Kyle and Alex are enjoying school. Kyle says he has the best 1st grade teacher. He is also a very hard worker and doing very well. I am able to volunteer in his class every other Friday, and it is so fun to watch him learn!



Alex was pretty nervous to start pre-school, but each day he became more and more comfortable. His teacher just think he is adorable. I was able to get him into a great school!



Kaylee is growing up so fast. She loves to be my helper and keep her brothers in line. I love having a daughter. She already enjoys babies, dressing up, doing her hair, and pretending to do her makeup. She is also quite the scrapper. She can definitely defend herself. Although she likes many girly things she also loves dirt and playing with the boys.



Sam is keeping very busy with work. He will get the opportunity to stay on the Titanic's sister ship Oct. 5th in L.A. Very cool. He has to dress in a tux and top hat (everyone is going to be in etire from that time). Spouses are invited too. If we can find a babysitter I will join him. Then on the 8th he'll be heading to Houston for a few days!



I am still keeping plenty busy with all the mom stuff. We have had a few families over for dinner and swimming, which is always fun! And I love girls night out. A bunch of us mom's get together and go out to dinner and chat. We seem to be able to talk a lot because most of the time the restaurants have to kick us out.

Here is a link to see a slide show for september: http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb147/christabarlow/?action=view&current=9e0e3751.pbr

Our Vacation

Shannon and me on the tube!! We had a blast. We laughed so hard my face hurt!

July was a fun month for us. We were able to spend a week with Shannon and her family (Sam's sister) in Oregon!

We had the best time!! Here are some pictures of our trip!!

Kaylee loved buddy!! She spent most of her time with him. She read him books and put jewlery on him. And supplied him with a lot of Cheez-its!!

During our trip we saw the Spruce Goose. That plane is huge. Sam could have spent hours there. One of his favorite war planes was there as well.

We also had a nice surprise. Ashley and Josh were in Oregon at the same time as were were. We got to hang out together at Shannon's house it was a lot of fun!!

Sam took all the kids to Safari Sam's!!

Shannon gave Kaylee her bath! Isn't she cute!!

I just thought this was a

cute picture!

Camping trip

The boys also went on a camping trip with their dad. It was Alex's first time they have a lot of fun.

Photobucket Album

JULY

We have had a great July. We have spent a lot of time visiting with Sam's family. The kids have been able to play with their cousins, which they love.

The fourth was great. We were able to have a huge space all to ourselves at Chevron park in San Ramon. The kids were able to play while we waited for the firework show. When the show began we had an amzing view. It was wonderful.

We also went to the beach. It was nice, but pretty cold. Kyle had a blast. He spent all of his time running in and out of the ocean.

Sam and I went into the city ALONE!! Very nice. We went on a bay cruise (something I had never done) It was so neat, a man did spill his beer on me though!! It was a bumpy ride!

After we got home from our vacation Shannon's family (Sam's sister) visited us for the day. It was so great. We had a great time with them. For the kids it is never enough though. They could play for days straight! Sam and Derek had a lot of fun in the pool. I think we lost half of the water!!

Right now we are home for about another week and half and then we are planning to go to Oregon!

Kyle, Alex, and Kaylee

Alex and Kaylee also enjoying the party!!

Kyle's last day of Kindergarten!!

May

This month has been really fun. Sam and I celebrated our 7th anniversary and will be celebrating his birthday on the 24th. We also went to our very first concert together. We saw Jack ingram, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift (who we loved), and Brad Paisley. It was so much fun, and free. Chevron got tickets for everyone in Sam's group, so I was able to meet some people Sam works with.

Kyle will be done with Kindergarten on the 31st. I can't believe I am going to have a First grader. He as done so well. He also had is last baseball game on the 21st and will be getting his trophy at the Team Party on the 5th. At his last game is slid to first base, it was so cute. It was his first slide.
Alex is hopefully going to start Preschool this fall, I am just waiting to hear if he got in. He is so ready to learn. He met the head lady there when we signed him up. He was such a charmer. I could tell she just thought he was adorable. He had such manners and was so mature.
Both boys are going to start swim lessons on the 5th.

Kaylee is now in Nursery. It is not going as good as I had hoped. Of course they called me as a nursery worker the very first week she could go. She get so mad when other kids come to me. So she may end up spending time with Sam so I can help out in the nursery. Boo!!
She is quite the little mommy. We got her a new doll that makes noises, which she loves. When it cries she gives it the pacifier or bottle and pats her baby. She is such a natural. She is very affectionate.
Sam is keeping very busy at work and doing a great job. He was told he was going to be getting a recognition award, which is nice. He is the new ward mission leader (tyring to get used to that).
In my kind of spare time, I have been painting our pool fence black. It was white and rusted. The black makes such a difference. I am only about half done though.
The weather has been in the 90's lately, I am told that is nothing compared to what lies ahead. Hopefully we will manage!!