Happy Thanksgiving

We're just getting ready for the big dinner at 2 so I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving really quick. Here are a few pics from our Turkey Day last year, which was Connor's first. Looking back at these pictures, seeing him crawling, and all that fuzzy hair seems like time is just going way, way too fast! ok, i'll end this before i become a crying mess:) Have a great holiday!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Here are a few shots from Robert's birthday last weekend. I was going to post them last week, but had already way, way overdone it with all the pics from the art festival.

now that's how you eat a cupcake!

like i can resist that...

happy birthday roberto!!

...burning a hole in my pocket(book)

I have always been a hoarder. I hoard gift cards. I honestly still have some from our wedding…nearly 5 years ago. It’s ridiculous. I don’t know why I do it…saving for a rainy day, being far too practical…who knows? Well, I do it with credit card reward points too. I’m about to close a credit card that I don’t need and I have over 26,000 points to spend.

I’ve considered a few options with what to do with my points.
I could get myself this cute Owl charm, this necklace or this new camera…

I’m thinking about maybe getting connor a play thingy for the backyard or a toybox…

I’m sure Jeffrey would love this new golf bag or this great new portable bbq grill…

But, more than likely I will end up getting this self-cleaning litterbox. Excitement for the entire family.

i.am.lame.

What I’m thankful for today…

Even though the economy is extremely painful and turbulent and I very well may work in the most volatile industry for these times, I am thankful for my company for making the rest of this year Jeans Days!! No one here finds this nearly as exciting as I do, but my old company allowed jeans never, so to work for a company that follows the mainstream Casual Friday concept is a thing of beauty. Also, my company wins an award from FORTUNE mag every year, being named one of the top 100 companies to work for so every month we get an entire Jeans Week. But starting today, we can wear jeans the rest of the year. I think they are trying to make up for the paralyzing fear that we're all going to lose our jobs. So, today I sit here-in jeans-on a Monday…Merry Christmas Everyone!

Friday's Dose of Brilliance

Bookswim is like Netflix for books. You pay a monthly fee and you get books in the mail. You read, return and then get more books in the mail. I know what you are thinking, doesn’t the library do something awfully similar? Yes, it does. BUT, you can keep books from Bookswim as long as you need them, and last time I checked my library had 364 people waiting for one book in particular that was awesome. Thanks Keiko for the great site!

I can has cheezburger-because funny pictures of animals (mostly cats) just don’t stop being funny!! I check this site numerous times a day. We’re talking ‘laugh out loud’ here people. Trust.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday came and went without me remembering to upload all of our pics from the weekend, so I'm doing Nearly Wordless Wednesday on Thursday. These are from the Fountain Hills art festival this past weekend. And, yeah there are a ton.

cheeeeese!

calling the shots of course!

coloring a square of fabric for a charity that provides blankets to homeless youth

Thank You Erin!

Erin,
Thank you so much for Connor's adorable shirt! We love it. Today I gave him the choice between wearing his Spain shirt and some other shirt--he chose this one of course! I think it's because he values the rich culture and tradition of Spain-Jeffrey thinks it's because it's red. Regardless, thank you again...you are amazing to think of us during your travels!! :)
Love,
The Barnes Fam

Weekend Update

So, few things going on right now. First of all, very sad news…Lipstick Jungle was cancelled. I loooooved this show. I think they are still showing tonight’s episode which is strange…kinda like going to prom with someone you already broke up with just cause you already bought the dress. Maybe it’s not like that, but still awkward. Why do tv shows have such an impact on my life? I have no idea.

Well, last night I was elected to my 4th term as HOA president. Woo for me. I know most people hate the HOA, but I don’t. if you choose to live in a neighborhood with an HOA than follow the rules, geez. houses are an investment and i want my neighborhood looking nice-i think it's a fair trade-off :)

so this weekend is crazy as usual. After that Connor and I are meeting Carly at the mall for coffee and play area time. Saturday we have swim lessons in the morning and then we’re going to try and get to the Fountain Hills Art Fair in the late morning/early afternoon. I love just walking around and checking out all the random stuff people are peddling! Then it’s bunco Saturday night at Angela’s. (fingers crossed that I win, since I’ve been losing consecutively for 4 years and it’s getting old). I might think of a way to cheat in bunco. Is it worth losing 12 or so friends to score $40? You tell me. Anyway, Sunday we’ve got a birthday party for our kinda-nephew Robert in the morning. It’s at a park…so that means expect a shameful amount of photos next week. Then we’ll probably head to the vine-or somewhere-to watch football with the fam (currently tied for 1st place with my sis for our fantasy league thank you). That evening we’ve got another bday party for our nephew jalen. this pic is of four of the boys. jalen is the older one, robert is on the left in the i heart ny shirt. this is a horrible photo, absolutely dreadful. i thought making it sepia and softening it may help, but no-look at connor's belly roll sticking out-ha. still just a bad pic of all four. well, happy birthday jalen and robert.

Well, whatever you do this weekend have a great one!

ipod shuffle game

Put a shuffle playlist on and go through the songs one by one to answer the questions. Don't cheat!! Go ahead and copy and paste and do it in your own blog!

How am I feeling today?
"Grace" by Jeff Buckley

Will I get far in life?
"Running on Sunshine" by Jesus Jackson

How do my friends see me?
“Haunt you Every Day” by Weezer

What song will play when I get Married?
“John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt” of #1 all time favorite toddler songs. (Super)

What is my best friend's theme song?
“Son's Gonna Rise" by Citizen Cope

What is the story of my life?
“Best of You” by Foo Fighters

What was high school like?
“Sometimes it Be That Way” by Jewel

How am I going to get ahead in life?
“A Cold Wind Blows Through Your Door” by Bill Ricchini (I really heart this song)

What is the best thing about me?
“Slow and Low” by the Beastie Boys

How is today going to be?
“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

What is in store for this weekend?
“Jerk it Out” by Caesars (there is no way to think about that that doesn’t sound dirty. Sorry)

What song describes my parents?
“God of Wine” by Third Eye Blind (if the God of Wine comes in a box with a spout, than yes, this is correct!)

My grandparents?
“Haunted” by Evanescence (creepy)

How is my life going?
“Blue Eyes” by Cary Brothers

What song will play at my funeral?
“Star Mile” by Joshua Radin (not sure if this is the song I’d select, but I love it)

How does the world see me?
“Anyone Else But You” from Juno (one of my top 10 fav songs!)

Will I have a happy life?
“Boat Drinks” by Jimmy Buffett

What do my friends really think of me?
“Eastern Glow” by The Album Leaf

Do people secretly lust after me?
“Say Goodnight and Go” by Imogen Heap

How can I make myself happy?
“Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake

What should I do with my life?
“Summer Skin” by Death Cab

Will I ever have children?
“Til Kingdom Come” by Coldplay

What is some good advice for me?
“Check yo self” by Ice Cube (awesome)

What is my signature dancing song?
“Shadow” by Britney Spears

What do I think my current theme song is?
“They Bring Me to You” by Joshua Radin (this works)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
“Missing You” by Tyler Hilton

What type of men/women do you like?
“The World at Large” by Modest Mouse

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

please, please let me out of this thing to terrorize the other Ikea patrons

I love that at this age, we can have him try out his Christmas presents and it doesn't at all ruin the surprise!

Displaying amazing table manners

10 days and counting!

it's finally close enough to start an official countdown and i am annoyingly excited! i did nothing but read these books for about two weeks this summer and now, the movie is finally almost here. I'm seeing it with some girls from my alum group on sunday--figuring the mormon crowd will not be out in full force that day to catch the movie.

also, i'd heard rumors (from connor's 18 y.o. teacher) that Stephenie Meyer was writing another version of Twilight from Edward's perspective-same story, totally different POV. I guess the draft of the manuscript got leaked online somehow (sucks for her) and so Meyer just decided to post the rough cut online-or atleast the first 250+ pages of the book. Click here for the draft of Midnight Sun. I'm really loving it-didn't think I would since I loved the original so much, but i was wrong!

i really heart edward. these books turn me into a 15 year old girl and i'm ok with that. i honestly don't know a single person who read these (biased or otherwise) and didn't love the books. and why are people purposefully trying not to enjoy these books? I didn't do the whole Harry Potter thing, so i'm new to the book phenominon that totally obsesses over a title. but fortunately i'm usually about 6 months behind trends so when my bookclub suggested it, I had no notion of what I was about to read.

Happy Halloween 2008

Trick or treating was a blast this year. We took Connor last year, but he wasn’t yet walking and really had no idea what was going on. This year, he was stoked!! He had a little pumpkin he carried around for all of his goodies and he really raked it in. We went around with family. There were probably 12 of us that went around and it was really nice. Connor had an amzing time. He would climb out of the wagon, grab his pumpkin and run up to the door. He would then walk right through their door when it was opened and stroll on in. At one point, he managed to find someone’s golden retriever inside and was sitting next to it lovin on the dog. Crazy kid. He had lots of fun and collected lots of candy. Too bad connor can’t have PB yet…score for mom and dad!
He went as Clark Kent and his teachers at school said he won best costume. I’m not really sold that there even was an actual contest, but I’ll take it!

Here is the entire album of our Halloween pics from trick or treating!

These people weren't wtih us, but I snapped a pic since their costumes were amazing!!