Camden turns 3!

 This cute little guy turned 3 on December 16th. We just love our boy. He is so fun, crazy, messy, happy, crazy, master destroyer, tower builder, car and train lover, crazy, and all boy! He definitely gives me a run for my money. He is fearless when it comes to jumping off of things, or doing slides, or climbing or anything that little boys do. Yet, he is so scared of dogs, loud noises, new things and anything that has to do with change. He is a complete momma's boy and homebody. He loves to be home and really doesn't last very long if we go out and about, especially to other's peoples houses. We are lucky if we can stay somewhere longer than 2 hours without him crying to go home. He gives the best hugs and kisses and is the BEST brother (when he isn't destroying). He has such a love for Brynlee and their relationship is really one of my favorite things to watch. We love our boy and can't imagine life without him.

 Here he is opening is first present. I love this picture!!! He just saw what was inside and he is soooo happy. It is a Thomas the Train dvd.

 And here he is showing me his new show.  (don't mind the undies...this is how this kid rolls and we are just at home, so I don't care)

 A t-ball game to play outside. He loves it.

 A Thomas the Train play set. He is so excited!! He has been asking for trains for a long time!

 trying to get it open and check it out.

 Checking out his cupcakes and candles. He has been singing happy birthday to you all day and practicing blowing out his candles. It was pretty fun hearing him all day.

When it came time to blow out his candles, he covered his mouth and said, "no, I can't. It's to scawee." And he absolutely refused to do it. So, the girls blew them out for him. Funny kid. Happy birthday to our sweet little man! Love you buddy.

Ugly Leggings Party

For the last few years, I have been wanting to host an Ugly Leggings Party. This year, I decided that it was going to happen, so I made sure to plan ahead. It was a blast. The rule was that EVERYONE had to wear a pair of ugly leggings. Guys and gals. The guys were allowed to wear shorts over theirs. It was a super fun night, full of talking, games, food, and laughs. It is going to become a yearly tradition. Can't wait to host it again next year!!

 All of the guys and their ugly leggings.

 All of the girls and their ugly leggings.

A close up of Geoff and I's ugly leggings this year. If you look closely at Geoff's his has pictures of women's faces on them. SO funny. And mine are from the little girl section at Target and have ugly looking man ponies on them flying in clouds.

Decorating the tree

I LOVE Christmas time. It usually can't start soon enough. And this year was no different. It was still the week before Thanksgiving and I had already starting decorating. The kids were super excited as well, so the tree didn't take to long to go up after I had started some of the other décor. All of the kids were really wanting to help this year, which was great. The twins did great helping and the older girls did great letting them help. We only had ornament casualty while decorating so I will call it a win!!

 Here is Camden handing Addie an ornament.

 Addie putting it on the tree. (She had just gotten home from dance class, hence the leotard)

 Me trying to find Camden an ornament that wouldn't break to put on the tree.

 Brynlee putting her ornament from Grandpa Bradley on the tree.

 Macie putting her ornament from Grandpa Bradley on the tree.

 Camden putting his on the tree

 And Showing dad what his looks like.

Say cheese. Love love these kids and all of the fun memories that we get to make with them. Life is great.

Brynlee turns 2!

This little girl is so cute, happy, spunky, sassy, funny, sweet and cuddly, and a whole lot of stuff in between. We are so grateful for her in ours lives. She brings us so much joy and happiness. I just can't even believe that she is 2!! Where has the time gone? She and Camden are bff's. Addie has claimed her as "her" baby and puppy. I continually hear, "come on puppy" as Brynlee follows her, crawling on the ground and barking. She knows how to get her way, but gives the BEST hugs and snuggles it is hard to ever stay mad. She has the best stank face ever and uses it all of the time. But also knows how to charm her way into anyone's heart. We just love this girl and know that she was meant to be ours.

 Whenever you tell her she looks cute, she sticks out her tummy really far like this....as if that is cuter or something??

 Me trying to get a cute pic of her. Pose!

 Those eyes. How they grasp all of my attention.

 She is just so very cute. Love her to pieces.

 Getting ready to open her presents. I am pretty sure the other kids are more excited than she is. haha

 Say cheese Bryn Bryn.

 Opening her gifts.

 "OHHH" a  purse and makeup and dress up shoes.

She is such a girly girl. Trying on her cute new shoes. Happy Birthday baby girl.

Haloween 2014

Halloween this year was fun. The kids were all old enough to actually enjoy it and we didn't have to use a stroller. It was great. A few days before Halloween, we carved our pumpkins. The girls did one together and the twins did one together.

 

 Here is Macie telling Camden how you carve a pumpkin.

Dad cutting the top off so the kids could dive in and clean it out.

 Brynlee being cute and staying out of trouble.

 Camden showing me his "awesome" pumpkin.

 The twins pumpkin consisted of us putting in a bunch of "Mr. Potatoe head type" faces. THey had fun with it and told me where to place them all. It also kept them busy for some time, which is always a plus.

 "Gutting" the pumpkin. This is perhaps my favorite part of pumpkin carving. The looks on the kids faces are hilarious. And they always seem to forget how gooey it is. Makes me laugh every single time.

 Camden and Bryn having a turn at the guts. They didn't like it to much and once or twice in the pumpkin was enough for them both.

 The girls carving the big pumpkin. Looks like we forgot to take a picture of the finished products this year. Oops.

Happy Halloween, from the Barnum kids. Addie was a witch this year, Brynlee was the bumblebee, Camden we were lucky to even get an outfit on, and he is a basketball player, and Macie is a Volleyball Player.

On the field

Geoff's company sponsors the Ranger's Baseball Team here in Texas. As apart of that sponsoring, we often get free tickets to go. We usually get to go 2-3 times a season for free. It is so fun and something we really enjoy. Each year, his company chooses someone to go out on the field and present the company check to the Rangers on the field.

This year, Geoff was chosen. We were able to go as a whole family to the game. When we got there they took us down under the stadium where all of the reporters get to go. The kids thought that it was pretty awesome. (All except Camden who cried the entire time, until I finally told him if he didn't stop that I wouldn't hold him anymore, and then he stopped. Thank Heavens!) We picked up the check about half way down to the field.

They were so nice and let Macie carry it the whole rest of the way. She loved it. We went down on the field and got to hang out for a bit. It was pretty cool.

The girls loved it and couldn't get enough.

 They had a few people handing out checks. Geoff was the last one to go. He did a great job and looked pretty good standing out there. 

 Here he is on the jumbo screen. Pretty cool!

After he handed the check over, we were able to stay and watch the rest of the game. It was such a fun night and in the end, everyone was happy and enjoying the game and no one wanted to leave!

Brynlee

This little girl is almost 2 years old. It is so crazy to me that we have survived 2 years of 2 kids under the age of 2. It feels like I just had her yesterday. I can still remember how terrified I was to have her and how unsure I was of how life would be with 2 kids under the age of 1. I am not going to say it has been, but it definitely hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be either. The Lord has definitely blessed me with the energy and strength that I needed to do this.

 

 

Brynlee is currently obsessed with babies. She loves them. She constantly has a doll with her, or a blanket and doll where she asks me to wrap her little baby up. She will go around bouncing her baby while saying "shh, shh". It is the cutest thing ever.  I don't know where she learned to do that, but it makes me smile every time.

She also has an obsession with shoes. She is always trying on any pair of shoes she sees and then walks around the house in them telling everyone she sees: "see my shoes?"

She is talking so much and is growing so quickly. She and Camden look like they are twins. I get asked on a daily basis if they are. Her hair is long enough for a ponytail, she jumps and runs and dances. She is the sassiest little thing ever and can throw one of the best fits I have ever seen, but she is also one of the happiest little girls who can make anyone smile and lights up my heart all of the time. I just can't even believe that my baby will be 2 in a couple of months. Where has the time gone?!

The Simple Things

Lately I have been really trying to Love life. To really appreciate all that I have. To be in the moment and not on my phone. To be truly happy and enjoy each day. As I have been trying to do these things, I have found myself really enjoying the little things a lot more than I have ever paid attention to. These little things have been bringing me such happiness and joy. Joy that I have not truly felt in a long time due to the "business" of life. How I love my little munchkins and am so thankful they are in my life and are continually teaching me.

 My little man is obsessed with cars. He loves lining them up and driving them around . This morning he was driving them into the pet carrier and carrying his cars around the house.

 What a cute little boy. Love him

 From cars we went to the kitchen and he started cooking me some dinner. He kept telling me, "it's hot mom, be careful", and "blow it mom, it's hot". Then I would pretend to blow on it and take a bite and tell him how good his food was. He was so proud of himself and having so much fun. In the middle of our dinner he heard a train...

Where he quickly ran over to the window, knocked on it and exclaimed: "a train mom, a train!!!!"

I am so in love with life and with these beautiful kids. It really is the simple things bring us so much joy.

Back to School 2014

It is completely crazy that summer is already over and school is starting. I guess that is what happens when you spend your summer away with cousins.

The girls are ready fro school and are very excited. They are both going to new schools. Addie is going to the school Macie was at last year. It is called TeSA. It is a fine arts school and she is very excited to be able to do dance and theatre at school.

Macie got into a fine art school called FWAFA. She had to try out back in January and found out in March that she got in. There were over 75 kids that tried out for 3rd grade and only 32 of them got in. We are so proud of her and are so happy she is able to go to a school that we know she will love and that she will be happy at. This girl knows what she loves already and that is music. She has such a natural gift for it and is so excited she got into this wonderful school. She will be at this school until she graduates.

 Here we are getting ready to leave the house. Addie will be in 1st grade and Macie will be in 3rd.

 Addie and her large backpack

 Macie and her backpack

 All of the cute kiddos ready to jump in the car for the long drive. We are in the car for an hour each morning and again each afternoon taking them both to school. The twins do great though so it is no big deal. Thankfully.

 Macie outside of her school getting ready to go in. She was a little bit nervous, but had a few friends in her class from her old school so she was ok.

Addie outside of her classroom getting ready to go in. She was so excited, but a little nervous as well. She did great though.
I just can't believe that we have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader. It is so crazy. They are growing up so fast and the house is so quiet without them. It will definitely take some getting used to them being gone all day again.