Emery's Special Day

Since every boy in the family has a birthday in May, we try and have Emery's special night be in May and this Saturday was her day. It's really nice because she wants Jackson to come with her, at least for right now she does, but she still chooses everything. She chose Golden Corral for lunch. I'm not a fan of buffets but the kids love that they can pick what they want. 

 For dessert there was a chocolate fountain you could dip things in. Needless to say the kids loved it. 

 Then she wanted to go to Lazer Mania to play games. I think she chose it because the boys went to Big Als. She did really well and they ended up with a lot of tickets. 

 Jacks wanted the snake and he was happy. Emery got stuff for herself and something small for the boys. It was a fun day for both of the kids. 

Dentist

Jackson had his first dentist appointment this past week. I love the office we go to because they don't force the kids at all and work with them until they are OK with getting an exam. Last time Jacks wouldn't go near the chair but this time he was really excited and was a great patient. He looks happier that I do anytime I go to the dentist. 

Boy's Birthday

Our babies are 9! Nine years ago I gave birth to these two cute, tiny twins and in a blink of an eye they have grown up.  The are both getting too smart and too independent. 

Beckham is a fun kid. He's so kind to everyone and will do what he can to help.There is more than one time when he has asked if there is anything else he can do to help. He gets fixated on stuff really easy. Right now he is really into Nerd Block and Jurassic Park. Each night when we talk to him is about one or the other. The kids have a Nerd Block coming in a few weeks and he can't wait to open it, he even wants to record while he does it so he can show it off to other people. He does really well in school and his teach loves him. She says he helps out with other kids whenever he can. Beck is really excited to move. He is already trying to plan out his new room and how he wants it to look. He's like me and he loves to make lists. Beck makes lists for money he wants to save for what, what he wants to do to his room, the next toys or things that he wants to get, whatever he can do. Beck is still really calm. He rarely gets mad or upset, which makes his the easiest going kid we have. Beck's favorite subject is science, his favorite food is pizza and his favorite toy or game is Jurassic Park Builders(which is the toy he got at Toys R us.)

Camden is an interesting boys. He is really really fun and sweet, then really really confusing and I don't understand him. We recently found out that he loves to climb and hike and do things outside. If he is playing nice with Emery and Jacks I leave them alone because it doesn't happen often, but it he is really sweet when it does happen. Camden is really smart, but is like his dad and knows he smart and so he doesn't try his hardest each time. He can learn something fast and remember it for a test so he wont practice much and forgets it soon after. He loves to perform. The boys love hip hop and do really well with that and he has done so well with piano. It's not always easy to teach him, but it has been so fun watching him grow and learn all he can. This weekend he played the opening song for the baptism and did awesome. Camden can he.... moody-ish. He doesn't like to be wrong and doesn't just get over things fast. He is stubborn, who knows where he gets that from....and that is why me teaching him piano can be hard. He thinks he knows it all and tired to tell me that I'm wrong (you can guess how well that goes over)I think he wants it to be perfect the first time but can't realize that not every things is first try perfect. I worry about him the most for some reason. We argue the most and maybe that's why I worry about him. Camden does really well in school too. He got 3rd place in his class spelling bee and loved showing that off. He won't admit it but he loves having Beck around. He isn't sure about movie as much, but has made sure that Beck will be in his class when we do move. Camden's favorite food is pizza,favorite subject is math,favorite toy or game is Mortal Kombat 10.  

This year we just had fun with them in Boise. We were already there for a baptism and blessing, so it was perfect timing. The younger two went with Grandma and Grandpa home and we kept the boys. We went to see "Avengers Age of Ultron." The boys loved it. 

Next we went to eat at Big Al's and play some games. The boys got some money for their b-day, so they used it there. Beck played a game where you have to hit this button the perfect weight, not too hard, not too light and if you do you get 1000 tickets. Beck did it twice! The didn't use all of their money because they had a lot of good wins. 

Camden loves this game and won a lot on it. 

They used all their tickets for some fun stuff. The were really tired the whole way home and slept well that night. 

We let Emery pick out a present for them and she was excited to give it to them. 

She chose a Walking Dead necklace for Camden. 

She got Beckham the Imagine Dragon CD. Beck loves this group so much.

It's crazy to think that next year they will be in the double numbers! I have loved having twins. I know that I couldn't have had it any other way. They are 100% different and so much fun to watch learn and grow. Until next year when they turn a decade old!

The House

It's been about 2.5 weeks since we put our house on the market. I have noticed that I am not patient. The first day it was on the market we had someone come and look. We have had a decent amount of people come and look through the house. Two people have come twice. Now we just need a purchase! It's not super fun to have to make sure the house is clean, or decently clean all the time. Each am I try and make sure the house is nice looking, just to the point that I can be ready to show in a short time. I like to think I keep a clean house, but not this clean. Here's to hoping it gets sold fast. 

Balanced Rock

It was another beautiful Sunday so we took the kids to Balanced Rock. I personally never have been, so it was a first for a lot of us. We first went to a side place close by that had picnic tables and places to hike. The kids loved this area and have asked already to go back. 

The way Cam climbs would give anyone a heart attack.

We stopped to wish Grandma Barnes a Happy Mother's Day first and she gave us Oreos. Obviously Jacks loved them. 

And Balanced Rock. While it's cool and impressive, I thought there was more to it... but still it's a fun thing to look at. 

Up there is Camden and Brad. No way I was climbing all the way up there, so the other three and I only went up half way. 

I think we'll make this a normal thing to do while it's warmer weather. It's a fun way to spend Sunday afternoon. 

Nice Weather

We are finally having some constant days of nice weather. After church we went for a Sunday drive up to the South Hills for a hike and picnic. The kids had a blast and it was good to get out of the house. Jackson really loved it, he enjoyed all the climbing he could do. The kids asked if there were snakes in the hills and we told them yes. I had been to this spot before and saw... well heard a rattlesnake. Once they heard that they were scared and walked really cautious. We didn't see one thankfully. 

 I realized this day that I couldn't be a scout leader and will probably be nervous to send the boys to scout camp. They have no fear and love to test it too much. 

 While the water wasn't deep there was a good current. Thankfully Emery isn't as adventurous as the boys, so I had a little break watching her. 

 This past week my friend went on a vacation, so we watched her two kids. Emery loves their little girl so much and all week she had to match her. Emery changed her earrings even to match. After I took the picture she went into her room to find a grey shirt. 

Cam's Night

This past weekend Camden had his special night. He wanted to go to Dick's, since Beck did. He got this sweet shirt and has only taken it off so I could wash it last night. 

 Then he wanted to go bowling and eat there. He actually did really well with bowling. There was a group of teens close to us and he kept looking at their score to make sure how well he was doing.  

 This is the final score of the first game. Camden is on top! He had a lot of fun and I'm sure he'll want to go bowling more. 

Easter

This weekend we had our annual Barnes Easter Party. The kids look forward to it each year and were really happy for it to finally be here. The kids got lots of candy and had a lot of fun. 

 Jacks got some sweet glasses and wore them most of the day. 

New Friends

We have 2 friends at our house right now. The first one was here last year. The salamander survived the winter and is back. The kids love going outside to check on him and see how he's doing. They hope to bring him when we move... we'll see. 

 We also have a frog. Brad was working on the sprinklers and saw something move. So now we have Finn the frog. He's about the size of a quarter but has a very loud croak. I have to say frog are boring pets, they don't do anything, but they do make a lot less of a mess than a dog did. 

Golfing

Friday Brad had the day off and since it was nice outside and we only had one kid in the afternoon we went golfing. I am really really REALLY bad, but I figured it's about time I learn so we have something fun we both like to do together after the kids are all gone. Jacks had a blast on the cart we  rented. Brad let him drive a little (with help) and he thought it was so cool. By the 7th hole he was over it, and just played on my phone for the last 2 holes. He did really well and had to brag to the other kids about what he was able to do while they were at school.