Dancing Elfs

If you want a good laugh check us out as dancing elfs! I laugh everytime I watch it. More importantly you can make your own. http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1208600484

Why we Love December!

It is only the 8th day of the month and we have already been to a Barker family party, a ward party, a Polar Express party at the Library, and we have had two big snow storms. It's great I love this month! Drew loves the snow!! I took this picture today as I was looking out the window at them, it was so cute they were just laying there. A lot of people around here went skiing today but we had a great time in our front yard building a snowman!

Here are a few pictures from this month so far.

Not thrilled with Santa but not crying.

This is at the Library party, notice the car pj's that he loves. Now it may look like he is preforming as if he was suppose to. Well he is preforming but most of the other kids our on the floor doing the actions with their moms but a few like to go up on stage and do the actions of course Drew was one of them. It was really funny he did everything that the storyteller was doing clapping, stomping, dancing, and singing.

This is the poor very pregnant storyteller and Drew is right in there, again the kids are suppose to be sitting with their moms, he wasn't the only one and he was having fun so I just took pictures.

There were a lot of cute activities to do but he just wanted his cookie and milk, so we sat on the floor and did that.

His snow gear that we have put on at least once a day since last Saturday.

The tractor doesn't really do snow, but he tries pretty hard to make it work.

Our snowman!

Thanksgiving Weekend

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It is such a great holiday the only thing you really have to do is help cook, eat, relax, and maybe clean up a little. I unfortunately forgot my camera, but don't worry I had the batteries... but I did steel a few photos off Andrea's blog.

We went to Evanston and had dinner at Randy and Janet's beautiful new house, with Dean's parents, cousins, and Janet's parents it was fun and great food.

Then Drew and I went to Layton so I could arise early to shop with my sisters. Some people think we are crazy but we are not die hards and its so much fun we were gone for 9 hours starting at 6am! but I have most of my shopping done, and I got a few good deals for myself, now that's a great day! Dean was working on the ranch with his dad and brother I guess that's fun?? Drew played all day at grandma's in his Jammie's and couldn't have been happier, then back to Evanston for more family fun.

On Saturday we didn't do much of anything which is always great, we did watch the Utah/BYU game then drove to Salt Lake to meet my family again and see the lights at Temple Square then eat at Crown Burger. All good things! Our plan was then to go home to Heber but we were persuaded to drive back to Layton for a few rounds of Cranium, we stayed up till 1:30AM then had to be out the door at 7:30 so Dean could make it to a meeting. It was a lot of driving but we wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way!

Down below are Drew's Christmas pictures I had taken, they are good for a laugh. We did get one pretty good one. I really did not want to be in them so when I put that shirt on I thought good it won't go and they won't want me to be in them but they did anyway because he would not stay in one place.

Drew's christmas photos

Pictures from the last few months

Drew and Bee Movie

Dean thought it would be fun tonight to take Drew to Bee Movie. I had second thoughts about that kind of activity with him because he is very naughty lately and cannot sit still in church for even one second. Obviously church is a lot different then a movie but you never know it could be fun or it could be a waste of time and 6.50 (Heber theater). We have not taken Drew to a movie since last Christmas when we each spent some time in the hall. Anyway we went and it was great! This was our first visit to the Heber theater its small, but pretty nice for a small town. He wasn't sure what was going on at the first with all people and the big TV but once the previews started he was intrigued and then when the actual movie started he loved it. He just sat and watched it and laughed and got all excited, it was so cute. He got a little tired towards the end but he sat and watched it the whole time going from my lap to Dean's lap to his own chair. The movie is cute, not too long, and has some adult humor. He is getting so big... I guess we will go to more kid movies now.

Yoda and Halloween!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween! Drew started to really figure out this holiday by last night, we have had several parties so he knows when he gets that costume on and his kunckin (as he calls it) that he will get cany. We went to a few houses trick or treating and he would go right up to the door and say treat! Then for some reason just go right in their house... they were all friends in our ward so I guess he felt comfortable. We also had a party last week with some friends where everyone dressed up so here a couple of pictures of us.

September ??

So as some of you may have noticed I completely missed the month of September. I am not sure where it went but it flew by for me. In mid August I was asked to help with this event that Meridian (the magazine i work for) was putting on, the ladies that asked me were so nice and in desperate need of some help so I agreed. I had no idea what I was getting myself into... so that is pretty much what I did the month of September but it turned out fine and I decided the day before to go to Alaska where the event was taking place and be apart of it. I met some great people and despite it all I was glad I could help out. We did do a few fun things so when I have a little more time I will update.
Here are a couple funny pictures of Drew

Is that not the saddest face you have seen in the world??
I don't even know what he was sad about.

So.... this was the day before I left for Alaska you can get a little glimpse of how well I was taking care of him and what the rest of my house probably looked liked just judging by all the junk in the photo. To point out the high points that is Melly's necklace that he got off the top of the piano, his water shoes he insisted that I put on him, and that shirt is inside out because he wore it the day before and it had stuff on it. This was early in the day.... I did get him dressed later, but still.

Top of Utah Half Marathon and weekend fun!

This past weekend Spencer and I decided we were going to run the Top of Utah Half Marathon in Logan. I was wanting to do one more race before it got cold and Spenc joined me... its always better to at least start with a friend. He had not ran since he competed in the Spudman triathlon like a month ago but he didn't think it would matter much. I on the other hand had to really pick up the running in the last month. The most I had ran was 9 miles in quite a long time so I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but thought it would be okay!

Drew and I left on Friday to go to Ogden and pick my Dad up he had to have his knee scoped so we stayed with him until my mom got home. He is doing pretty well and should be able to go to work on Tuesday. The bad news is he cannot run anymore, which is a bummer for someone who has always enjoyed running and done it a lot! We are glad he was able to do the marathon with us last October although maybe that is what did his knee in. Now he is getting into biking so maybe we can do relay triathlons now.

Anyway after my mom got home Drew and I headed to Logan, Dean left just ahead of us from Heber to meet Robb and Spencer in Brigham to golf. Drew and I went to Melly's where we had dinner and Drew played with Olivia and I got to talk to Carlie for awhile, which was fun since we don't get to see them very often. Drew and Livi were both a little tired but I think still took quite a liking to each other.

Spencer finishing with his glasses, he is such a nerd, they are not even real he just wanted to wear them. He wore them the entire race...

That is quite an action shot.... nice work melly

Spencer and I had to leave at 5:30 to go to Providence and pick up our packets for the race then get on a bus that took us up to the start which was somewhere in Blacksmith Fork Canyon I believe (I didn't know where I was the entire race). It seemed like a very long way on the bus and it was freezing up there, they said it was 48 when we started at 7:00. Spenc ditched his warm clothes but I kept a long sleeve shirt. We got in the pack of people and I said see you at the end. The first 7 miles are pretty much all down hill so that part was great. Come mile 9 or 10 I was getting tired but I by then it had warmed up and it was a flat road so I just took my time. I was really tired come mile 12 but there is only one more to go and it went downhill just enough to make the end enjoyable! Spencer finished in 1:46 and I came in at 1:51. I look a little too excited in my photo but I was surprised at the time. I thought it would take me longer then that, but I think all the downhill helped. It was a good time I was glad I did it and I was glad when I was done. Drew, Dean, and Melly were there to cheer us on. After we all took a little rest then went to A&W. Dean had to leave to go to his baseball game and Spenc had to rest up so he could work at 5 so Mel and I and Drew did a little shopping watched a some Friends on DVD and relaxed. After stopping by my parents we didn't get home till 10:00 it was a long weekend but a lot of fun! Thanks to Melly and Spenc for letting us stay at their place and for cooking me dinner on Friday (melly cooked).

Drew wearing Spencer's funny glasses

The fruits of our labors

Our yard has been our summer project but like all "projects" it still has a long way to go. However, we did decide to do a garden. We had a spot in our yard that was just weeds thanks to the people who lived here first. So Dean and I spent an entire Saturday at the end of May getting it ready to plant clearing tons of weeds and hauling A LOT of top soil. We didn't really know what to do next so my Dad came up one Friday and helped us plant: Tomatoes, (which he started for us in his green house) peppers, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow zucchini, (which we thought was yellow squash... apparently its different) and beans. He told us to water every other day or when needed, like we know when that was. We have decided along with our other yard projects that we have somewhat of a brown thumb instead of green. But little by little things started popping up, even though sometimes we wouldn't water for days due to our forgetfulness, but then I made up for it one night when I watered for 12 hours oops! Two weeks ago I went out to do some weeding that was way over due and we had a few red cherry tomatoes and a few beans showing up. I was shocked, it had actually worked we grew something. The next Friday I decided to weed a little more to stay on top of it and I picked the tomatoes and beans shown above, I couldn't believe all those beans! Dean didn't believe me that they were from our little garden. Today I decided to take another look and picked probably double the beans and tomatoes and I got last week. Now we are not sure what to do with them all but we are quite proud of ourselves for producing anything! Hopefully we will get a least a little bit of everything else. I better go snap those beans....

County Fair

We went to the county fair last week, which tends to bring out some of Heber's finest :- but we had a good time anyway. They have a dutch oven cook off, then the carnival of course then they show an outdoor movie. We went with our friends the Reed's who took us last year for our first time so I think it is a tradition now. Drew stayed awake till 11:30 watching Night at the Museum.

Brenden and Drew on the car ride

Camping at the Ranch

Dean has every other Friday off now so we decided to go out to their ranch and stay overnight in our tent. We did hot dogs and smors over the fire and chicken, potatoes, and carrots in our dutchoven. We took Drew for a ride on a horse which he loved and kept clicking and bouncing up and down like the horse. He also learned what a sheep says because they were so loud in the morning he finally stood up and yelled baah back at them. We also went fishing again because Dean loves to fish but we are yet to catch anything.

Drew and Jenn on Pebbles


Drew loves the kitties he gets right in their faces and stares at them

This Deer wasn't scared of us at all she liked to hang out a little too close to our tent.

Drew on Grandpa's tractor... I think he likes those better then anything else at the ranch

Drew trying to fish with Dean. He is not happy to just sit there he likes to pull the rod out of the water and then back in and then out and back in... you get my point... making it hard to actually catch something.

Family photo after a cold night in the tent

Eating a healthy breakfast.... a donut

The Bee's Game

We went to the Bee's game at the end July for Kenzee's birthday. Drew loves to play ball and play with his cousins so he had a great time!

4th of July

I am a little behind on posting our summer events, so here are a few pictures from the 4th of July. We went out to Dean's families ranch and went fishing and had a BBQ.


That is Drew with his cousin Jesse... Drew is his mini me.

Lake Powell

At the end of June we went to Lake Powell with my family. We stayed on a houseboat for 5 days and had a great time! We were a little nervous with the little ones but they did great. It is one of our favorite vacation spots, but it had been 9 years since we had been on a houseboat, so we enjoyed every minutes of it. The weather was wonderful and the water was perfect! Drew didn't like, what he thought was cold water, but he loved playing with Bailey and Ellie on the beach and riding in the ski boat.

Ellie, Bailey, and Drew on the boat in their pj's to watch the morning skiers.

Drew with his crazy Daddy

A pool on a boat, and an Otter Pop... can it get any better?

Family photo