No More Single Digits

Tomorrow is another transition in our lives, Brad and I will no longer have any kids in the single digits. Jackson will be 10! I know it's in my head, but all week he has seemed older and changing daily. 

We celebrated his birthday this weekend. He wanted Jarom up here so he could spend time with him. Grandma Arrington came down for a girls night and brought Jarom down. All the boys went to "A Quiet Place" while us girls went to dinner and "Cruela". Both movies were good and worth a watch. When we got home, Jackson opened up his gifts. He is still fun to shop for. He got headphones, Stick bots and a big King Kong Pop.

Instead of a birthday dinner ,we did breakfast at Black Bear. It was a good change from dinner food. 

After breakfast the kids went swimming. The pool in our neighborhood opened yesterday and the kids couldn't wait to go. It was only about 70, but it felt nice and they said the water was warm. They were there for about an hour and a half. 

Although Jackson was a hard baby, he is a very easy child (not sure what you call this age). He still spends hours in his room playing with toys alone. And toys don't have to be an actual toy. He plays with paper cut out, pencils, boxes, really whatever he touches is something else in his mind and a toy to play with. It is fun to watch him play. As long as he doesn't see you, he will keep going making sound effects to what he is doing. He got Stick Bots for his birthday, which are used to make stop motion movies. He loves to do that and how us all the movie he made. He is able to make them on a phone or tablet.  He has found a friend Luke here. It is so good to see him have someone he looks forward to seeing at school and can hang out with other times. Luke's mom said Jacks was an answer to a prayer for them, and I told her Luke was ours. Moving isn't easy, moving in a pandemic is harder and making friends when you can only see them 6 feet apart and half their face adds to that. They are funny together and love to hang out. While Jackson is very easy going, he gets offended very easily. He doesn't like to feel like he's being made fun of or doesn't like someone thinking something about him that isn't true. He doesn't cry often, but you can see it in his eyes his feelings. He still will come and lay next to me and give me hugs. Even though they didn't get to hang out face to face very long, he is close to his cousin Jarom and they have a great friendship. Too many nights not talking on hangouts, they both start to show they miss the other. Emery gets mad when Jackson doesn't want to hang out with her. More and more he does this, however the times they do play together, they will for a long time and both have a blast. Usually has something to do with stuffed animal all over the house. He still refuses to ride a bike. He'll do the scooter but has no desire to ride a bike. Not that you have to, I just figured it would pass when he got older. Thankfully he is still an angel and quiet at school, while at home he is loud and all over. I love seeing him like that. Even walking down the stairs is a game to him. While he still loves things like IT, Chucky and all things scary, right now he is really into Godzilla and King Kong. Jackson's favorite subject is Math. His favorite toy/game Roblox and Stick bots and his favorite food are French Fries. 

Cam's Hair

The kids each day have to spend an hour doing something to better themselves. They can draw, read, learn a skill, cook, were pretty open. Camden wants to learn to cut his hair. Brad is teaching him how to cut his hair. His first turned out well, but was a little awkward. He is only 15, so give it time, and he will be a pro. 

One good looking boy. 

15 Years Later

Fifteen seems like such a big number. Fifteen years ago I feel like I was still in Jr. High, not having twins. Now one of them is hoping to start divers ed. 

One really good thing about being in Boise area is the relationship that the boys have created with cousins here. Family is everything, and I love seeing those relationships grow. For their birthday we had the boys cousins over for pizza, cheesecake and Nurf Wars. They all seemed to have a good time. 

Zander is super excited to see the gifts. 

They all react like Brad- no reaction, but then you mention that and they over do the reactions. 

At the Nurf place, they could use any gun they wanted and had unlimited time. They stayed for a few hours. There were 2 teams and if you got hit you were out for the round. 

Creed was trying to be sneaky, then a kid came up and shot him. 

It really was a place that a lot of kids could go and have fun. I think we'll go back someday. 

We did a cheesecake bar. You chose which toppings you wanted, if any. Some of the creations were interesting. 

 Camden has changed a lot and in so many ways since we moved. He still likes to bug everyone, I'm not sure that will ever go away, but he is trying to figure out what he likes. Both him and Beck have done the same things together since day 1. This move and change has made it so both of them have to figure out things that they like, that may not be together. They still do a lot together and still are each others best friend, but changing as well. Camden has been obsessed with Rubix cubes. He has a few different ones and has figured them all out as well. He still likes magic and doing tricks, although not as much lately. Camden also likes to bake. He has made a few interesting things and a few good ones. He is always first in line to help Brad grill now and wants to learn how to do that more. Camden also wants to learn how to cut his own hair like Brad. While sleepovers still aren't his thing, he does try and do more and more things to make him independent. One thing Camden has started doing (and I hope it never ends) is every day, after school he comes and tells me about his day. And pretty much a play by play. I just love that he wants to share his day with me. Camden still wants to be a surgeon when he is older. He is defiantly smart enough and he is slowly realizing how much time he'll have to be in school for that. When Cam puts his mind to something, and it's something HE wants, he can move mountains. He saved for the Oculus and worked hard on a few side chores to get the money. He did his cubes, and magic and making things. He also got into a game and learned a lot of tips and tricks to do better. It was a game he and I played together for a few months. Cam has taken a small break from the piano. He wants a different teacher (and he needs one), so once school stars up after summer, we'll find him one. While Beck wanted to take drivers ED, Camden did not, which I'm not going to complain, cheaper insurance for a little bit. He has applied for a few jobs. He was trying to figure out the exact percentage of taxes that would be take from his check. While Cam has had a little hard time moving, he does tell me about all the kids he talks to at school. He hasn't made any friends he wants to hang out with outside of school yet, but hopefully when he gets a job, he will make some more that way. Or when COVID calms down more.  Camden's favorite subject is ASL. His favorite food is fried rice and his favorite game/toy is the Oculus.

Beckham does not look 15. He has shot up the past year and loves being tall. He is even more happy now that he is taller than Brad. One thing I would love to change is his hair. We tell them as long as they clean it and style it, we really don't care what they do with it. Beck is growing his out, and I hate it. The fact I hate it is why he's keeping it going. Beckham has gotten into playing the guitar this year. He has yet to let any of us hear him play. I think moving has been the hardest on Beck. He doesn't talk much about kids at school and says we can go back to Twin any time. He still talks to some of the friends from Twin as well. He is looking for a job too and I am hoping that getting a job will help him get out of his shell more. Both boys also applied and got into a charter school next year, so maybe smaller classes will help them find friends as well. Beckham is still a pleaser. He is the most helpful around the house, always asks if I need help with anything. He does not like confrontation at all and never sees anything. Which gets really old when he is one of the few who could help the Cam/Jacks fights. He however has found a super fun teenage boys sarcasm side to himself. It's something I have told him to cool it a few times and it's also being picked up by the other kids as well. Beckham is really excited to drive. He wants to be an adult so bad, yes he is that teen. Then when the real world hits, I'm sure he'll be wanting to go back. Beck is finally getting over the kid eating and trying new things. Most of the kids are picky eaters, their dad is Brad, but he is trying new things when we tell him they're good. Which has helped him find a few new foods he likes. He is thinking about making one of his special nights to be Barbacoa. It's a fancy steak restaurant, but it is $$, so we told him that would  be all his special night. (totally worth it). He does the same with TV shows, movies and music. He is trying to listen to things we suggest and try them out. Let hope that attitude stays the whole time he is a teen.  Beck is a lot like me in the fact that he likes to be alone at times. I used to sit in my room listening to music to relax and he does the same thing as well. Beck still talks about being an actor when he grows up, but since COVID, he hasn't done many acting things. Beckham does love his family, even if he won't always admit it. A while ago he was talking with my parents about Grandma and Grandpa Camp. They were asking how long they think the kids would still come to it. Beck said forever, his wife can stay home with the kids while he goes to camp. Beckham's favorite subject is Film Research. His favorite food is Joe's Italian Ice (in California) and his favorite game/toy is Contest of Champions.

Mother's Day

This past weekend was not only another birthday in the family, but it was Mother's day as well. I've never been a huge fan of Mother's day but it was fun this year. The kids made things at mutual. I got 3 non-scented candles from the older three. They're cute at least. 

Emery also made a card with hers. 

The boys fill out a survey and you have to love the teenage answers. 

Jackson gave me a flower. He colored the pot as well. It goes perfect with my other plants I am somehow actually keeping alive.  

I love being a mom and really do have some amazing kids. They keep me on my toes, but I do love that.  

Brad's Old-er

It is May so that means it's Barnes Boys Birthday month. Brad is first. He is 39 this year, one last year for this decade. He likes a mellow quiet birthday. We made a meal of his choice, opened presents and had cupcakes. Even the dogs had pupcakes. 

Brad loved socks so I usually get him some. He also loves Rage Against the Machine rock band. I found some on his favorite site, Stance, and got them. He didn't know. We got the boys one last gift, socks and from the same site. We messaged on TEAMS when we are working but not in the same room. He said he was looking at other socks so he could get free shipping. I asked which he was looking at, to be interested and I just got him socks. Next thing I see is an email from Stance saying thanks for your purchase... your purchase of the same socks I just got in the mail the day before. It really is funny and just means I did well on getting him something he likes and now he has 2 of the same socks. 

Another Surgery

 It was finally time for Camden to get his last baby tooth pulled. The biggest reason he has braces is due to an adult tooth coming in sideways. This past Monday, after getting in late from my fight, I took Camden to his oral surgery. He was super nervous for it. It is only his 6th surgery. They took him back and about 5 to 10 minutes later the hygienist came out and said that Camden asked if he has to be put asleep. She told him he didn't and they could just numb him. He chose that and did it the whole time. They had to pull a tooth, cut the gums and lift  the gums to find the adult tooth, add a bracket to that tooth and put in 2 stitches in the gums. If you ask me, sleeping would be much better. The last kicker, the shots went into his gums... while awake. I will give him that he was much stronger that I would have been, but he left super happy.  He did stay home the next day due to pain, but now is doing great. 

Texas! And Twin!

Last weekend I took a long weekend and went to Texas. I went to visit my friend Lea again. We both wanted a weekend away to go on walks, shop and talk. It was a great weekend for that. 

Emery was not happy I didn't take her, so to try and help a little, we went and got our nails done beforehand. She got little flowers on her thumbs; they look so cute. 

We went for a long hike one day by a lake. It was cloudy, pretty humid and half way through it started to rain, but it made it perfect. It's so green in Texas and beautiful. The pictures don't do it justice.

We got a little muddy. Apparently I just kick my legs as I walk. 

After the walk I noticed that I must have hit a few low bushed. I felt a few hit my leg and ankle but didn't think much of it. 

One of the other walks we went on, there is a path of rocks. It was started when COVID started. People would paint rock and leave them to raise others spirits. Now a year later, it is getting full and has so many cool rocks. 

Lea, her kids and a few neighbor kids painted rocks and added to it. We may have to send some to Texas to add to the path. 

When we were at my parents the weekend before, my mom mentioned that Emery could spend the weekend with her. On Friday, Grandma and Grandpa took Emery and Jacks to twin for a fun weekend there. Getting nails done, shopping, swimming, eating and movies. The kids had a blast as well. 

They each got a few dollars and shopped for dinner. The kids love doing that, so they were in heaven. 

Emery's dessert pick.