Saturday, December 31, 2016

October, Part 2: Time with Friends and Family and Crazy!

Daddy was knee deep in coaching 4th and 5th grade football on Saturdays, so the littles and mama headed to Fort Worth to support our favorite Type I Diabetes hero, Eli, and his sweet family in the 5K walk. Of course, Felicity had an accident and wouldn't walk, Mommy had an accident because there was no bathroom nearby, and it was just a crazy morning, so we didn't make it far before turning around and heading back toward our car! We stopped on the bridge for a picture though! It was a beautiful day!
I became a book lady for Usborne in September, and I jumped in with both feet. It was a very busy few months. My October was full of book parties. I loved this graphic that I found! ;)
After the walk, we headed back home, and waited for Daddy to get home. Then, the girls and I headed out to Wylie for Lauren's Sip and See for Baby Beckham! It took us about an hour and ten minutes to get there, and Felicity fell asleep on the way there, but the girls really enjoyed playing with all of the kids, and I loved catching up with my precious friends!
The girls all helped Lauren open everything! :) I got to sit by Jamie, and we got some Baby Beckham time!

Beautiful friend!

Beckham Luke and I in Lauren's beautiful new home!
Sweet little pumpkin!
My precious friend and her littlest baby boy!

We got home later than we thought we would, and it was a busy day! I found Felicity asleep by her dollhouse the next morning. She was all wrapped up in this blanket. I couldn't find her anywhere, so I was so thankful when I saw her cuddled on the floor! I guess she had gotten up early but just couldn't hang!
That next week, mama went to a very long training for Destination Imagination in Birdville, and it was the longest agenda that I've ever seen! My pink pen did make it better though! ;)
Sister had a hard time during the pick up line that day.

Bubs loves to go outside and ride on his horsie in his jammies in the mornings! ha!
Avaree needed a haircut, too, so after dance on Thursday, I got her home, gave her a quick bath, and ran her up to Aunt Tess! Thank you, Aunt Tess!!!!!!

That Friday, we got Avaree early from school and headed toward Fredricksburg for Brandon's cousin's wedding. Brandt was super upset, and he would only calm down when I held his hand. I thought it was so precious.
On our way out of town, my brother called and told me that my Dad had been in a terrible accident with a logging truck a few hours earlier, and that he was being life flighted by helicopter to a hospital in Southeast Texas. I had no other information at the time, and I was in a car with my family. I could feel myself begging to hyperventilate. I was terrified and distraught. After lots of waiting and a very long day, my brother took this for me at the hospital and sent it. It's hard to even write about this because it was really hard to live through, and I wasn't even in the wreck. It was just so very emotional for me for lots of reasons, but Praise Him that my Dad survived!

Meanwhile, Brandon had a wedding to perform, and Martha and Eric, and Uncle D and Aunt J all kept our little people during the rehearsal dinner. I felt terrible that I went with swollen eyes and was distracted, but it was beautiful and good to visit with family that we don't get to see very often.
When we got back to the hotel, the kids were all reading and having fun cousin time!

The next morning, G-Pops went up and down the hallway approximately 37333 times with the littles!
My three first...
Then, it was a cousin party! The front desk staff were so great!
Five little bodies...
I took the girls back to the room with me to get dressed and call to check on my Dad, and when I got off the phone, they were both cuddled up reading! :)
Uncle B came up and read, too!
4/5 of the cousins piled up on Gigi!
Avaree started texting me for G-Pops phone. It was so precious. I just had to save it. I sure hope she always loves me like this.
Meanwhile, the girls went to the park to get some energy out, while I took Brandt back to the hotel for a nap!



I just love this picture of the girlies!

When Brandt woke up, we went downstairs where everyone was waiting for the Aggie game to start! Brandt cuddled with G-Pops for a bit!
The wedding was beautiful. B did a great job, but I didn't get any pictures because I was holding a sleeping Felicity. She was snoring so loudly during the ceremony that others could hear her. She woke up as the bride and groom were walking out!

So, we headed to the reception. Avaree was thrilled with the pickle bar! ;)
I loved getting to catch up with Jamie!
The sky out there was just amazing. Felicity and G-Pops had a little dancing time.
Precious.
Little man was in the best mood!
The Big Five! ;)
Love these sweet cousins!
Gigi and G-Pops with their grands!

Mommy and Daddy with their babies who are all of a sudden grumpy!

Goofball Darrin had my phone! So, guess what, DB. Everyone should get to enjoy this gem!!! ;)
Mommy and Daddy!

Barton Cousin Picture, Circa 2003 and 2016! Brock wasn't even born yet in the first one!

Once we left on Sunday, our kiddos were all out within ten minutes...
We drove six hour home, and then I went inside to unpack, start a load of laundry, and get Avaree ready for school the next day. Then, I hopped in Brandon's car and drove six more hours to my Aunt's house in Bridge City, so that I could see my Dad in the hospital the next morning. I just really needed to see him. Right when I woke up the next morning, I got a text that he was being discharged, so I threw on my clothes, and jumped in my car. My Uncle carried my bag, my sweet Aunt poured me a cup of coffee to go, and I jumped in the car to head to Beaumont, so I could see him before they discharged him. I did get to sit with him for about an hour and walk with him to their car. I was very thankful to see him, even though it wasn't for very long. I got back in the car, and drove another six hours home. I was home in time to get Avaree from school and let Brandon go back to work.
My sweet friend, Kim, picked up Avaree for school and took a picture of her and Ave with their first dioramas for school. Avaree's was LABC, and she did it completely on her own. She was so proud.
When I got Avaree that afternoon, she showed me the card that she had written for Papa at school. It was so precious.


This is a picture of my Dad's truck. It's a total miracle that he lived.


I am thankful for the Great Physician, and for everyone who helped me those couple of weeks. After I got back from seeing my Dad, I went into a UC flare and had a kidney infection. I have the best support group ever, though, and we made it to the other side without a hospital visit.  

Update: My Dad is so much better. He has been released from the wound care specialist, and he is back to work and almost completely back to normal. God is good. 

Thursday, December 22, 2016

October, Part One

To say I am behind is the understatement of the year. In fact, this is the furthest behind that I have been since I started this blog in 2008. However, these last few months have been so crazy for me that something just had to give. I do vow to catch up though, and I'm working on building a little bit more margin in my life. I don't ever want to be too busy to remember my babies milestones. These last few months have brought many changes in my life. I have been given a couple of new opportunities to help provide for our family, and by adding those to my already busy life, margin is hard to come by. Between cleaning an office, being a consultant for Usborne, photography, and being the team leader for Avaree's Destination Imagination team at school, my plate is full. Of course, I also have three kids, two that are with me full time, a house to manage, and lots of church commitments that I love. I have asked God to help me manage all of this better in the coming year. I am very thankful for all the ways that He has provided for us, but this mama is T-I-R-E-D! ;)
 
So...let's get to the pictures and updates of the three munchkins that I love so much! I only have three months to catch up on! ;)

Let's start with the beginning of October!
 
 This big sister went for her 7 year well check! She was PERFECT! :) Then, all five Bartons got their flu shot! Imagine mass chaos and screaming (from the three littles), and mama and daddy not having enough arms to hold people, getting our own shots while we were holding people, and extra nurses coming in to hold certain little people down, and you may have a glimpse of those few minutes! ;) It was crrraaaaazy!
 
Obviously, this was pre-shot! Also, this was the first time that Avaree has ever been grown up enough to put on this garmet, instead of just being nakey with panties! She's growing up! 
Per our normal, we always have extra kiddos around. :) We had to extra friends on this particular day! Brandt loves having boys around!
I kept counting heads when we were outside! :)
Sweet Ava was helping Ave with her big girl bike!









My three crazies love to dress up!!!
I often find selfies of this one and her sister on my phone! ;)
The staff kids went to the Moxons for a couple of hours one night way back in early October, and I loved getting this picture! :) I love these people!
This one turned seven, and all of a sudden I just couldn't get over how grown up she looked!
She loves to pose!
I've been able to be in her classroom fairly often this year, thanks to Fridays! I love this of her and her best guy friend, Travis!
Gigi and G-Pops sent glow bracelets, so we had a dance party!

Our resident architect is always building something. If you look closely, you can see animals and princesses in there.
I can't wait to see what God does with this one!
Waaay back in early October, we made an appointment with Aunt Tess, and I wisely asked Daddy to meet us there! Someone had a hard time with it until her Daddy got there!
This boy got his first haircut! He was so still and so good, but he cried the whole time!

Sweet little buddy! His first hair cut!

Felicity was saying, "Go Brandt, go Brandt!" :)
Everything upset him!!! ha!!! Aunt Tess was SOOOO good and patient!
She and Felicity were BFF by the end of our appointment! :) She asked me to send this to Gigi! I can't remember if I did or not! Here you go, Gigi!
Avaree's teachers have facebook pages and sometimes post pictures! I grabbed this one one day! They were outside learning about different types of clouds!
Brother always loves the bath!



I found this little gem on my phone, too! :)


Again, she just looked like a beautiful grown girl!!!! Ready for school!

Later that week, I dropped Felicity off at work with Daddy (because of space), and I picked up Ave and Chloe from school and took them to dance! :) We treasure our Thursdays with the Browns! :)
Sorry, babe, but he was just too cute. I had to take a picture! :) Brandt loves going to dance!
We were invited to a super fun dinner party with the staff, and our amazing hostess sent this thank you card to us for coming! I just loved it!
Now that I have a mantle, I get so excited about the seasons! :) It's not much, but it made me happy!
I had a photo shoot, and I thought the Aggie game was over, but I came home to double overtime, and Daddy sitting on the wall by the toys. hahaha!
The kids were all destroying the living room! ;)

Holly kept my littles for me one day, so I could go to the store and post office, and she sent me this precious picture of Wesley and Brandt. They are nine months apart, and they play really well together! :)

Well, that's a start! Much more to come! :) Thanks for hanging with me. And, to myself in 20 years, can you even believe how fast time has flown?? In 20 years, my kids will be 27, 23, and 21. May I always love and treasure each moment--even when we are all sick!!!!! The snuggles are the best! :)