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. 

Busy Few Weeks, the Start

The weekend of April 24, we went on a road trip. We spent Friday in Twin with some of my family to celebrate my mom's birthday. We had a family dinner at Garibaldi's, S'mores and caramel apples at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was fun to spend the evening together and the kids loved the time with grandparents and cousins. 

They even sang to Grandma.

After about 2 years of treatments, Seaonna finished cancer treatments. The next day, we went to Utah to celebrate with the family. There was a parade and it was so nice to see how many people showed up to make Seaonna feel extra special. The kids loved to decorate the car and make posters. 

She had an amazing cake.

We are all so impressed with her strength throughout these past two years. 

That night we went shopping and stayed in a hotel. The kids swam for a little bit. It's always fun as a kid to stay in a hotel. I remember loving it as a kid, and now I don't know why. We drove home the next day and I got ready for the next weekend. 

My Boys

For a while Camden has been saving his money. It seemed to changed each week what it was for. He was able to sell a few of his more pricy Pops last summer and didn't spend most of it. Earlier this year, one of his cousins got an Oculus. After trying that out, he was hooked, he was now saving for that. For a kid who doesn't have a job, it took a while to get all of the money. After months and months and months of begging for us to put two more of his higher dollar Pops up. I caved and put them up on a site and he got the last half of the money from that. I went to Target to get it and put it on his bed for him to see after school. This was after talking to him a few times to make sure that he really wants to spend this much money on one thing. All of the kids love it and it is played quite often. So far he loves it, and hopefully he stays that way. 

Beck on the other hand has spent most of the money that he has made the last year. All except a chunk. He really wanted to finally open a bank account and we finally did that. He loved leaving the bank with his own debit card and his own money. We showed him how to check his balance and told him he is responsible now for all of his money. We did go to Target so he could buy something. He got a candy and said the off brand was just as good and only $1 so it's better. Now that it's his money he wants to show bargains. 

Few Updates

This past weekend Emery and Jackson went to Twin to stay with cousins. I was also on call, so we decided to have a lazy day at home with the boys. We picked a few movies, got some movie snacks and food and watched movies all day. It was perfect. I can't say the last time that I just relaxed for a whole day. 

We picked up the kids in Mountain Home. They had a blast in Twin but were also ready to be home. 

They didn't make it the whole way home. 

The kids are finally back in school. Monday is still an at home day for the older three, but the rest in all in-person. The dogs are not loving it. They have been used to someone home all day for over a year. Someone to sleep next to and pet them all day. Now it's just Brad and I at home, but we are working. They have a blanket that I will put on our bed so they can lay on it. I hate dog hair on the bed and this is the only way they are allowed to lay on our bed.