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Monday, November 2, 2009
Wyatt, the Soccer Stud and Oktoberfest
Halloween 2009
This was Wyatt's first year of carving pumpkins. It was lots of fun! He carved with daddy and mommy got her own! :)
Wyatt dressed as a ninja (but he kept calling himself an engine!) and Garett was a pirate, thanks to our neighbor Anna. She had a Jack Sparrow costume for her boy from a few years ago that she lent us. It worked wonderfully -- kept Garett warm during trick or treating! I dressed as a veterinarian -- a soldier would have been too easy! :) Jake stayed home and passed out candy with his friend Amos who was in town at the CRC getting ready to deploy to Africa.
Wyatt dressed as a ninja (but he kept calling himself an engine!) and Garett was a pirate, thanks to our neighbor Anna. She had a Jack Sparrow costume for her boy from a few years ago that she lent us. It worked wonderfully -- kept Garett warm during trick or treating! I dressed as a veterinarian -- a soldier would have been too easy! :) Jake stayed home and passed out candy with his friend Amos who was in town at the CRC getting ready to deploy to Africa.
Airborne Wings
Jake's good friend, Daine, pinning on the wings.
The wings are right above U.S. Army
Chris, another good friend, made it out just in time for graduation.
Jake graduated tonight from Airborne -- a 3 week course that trained him to jump out of airplanes! How fun! This is one of those times when I am so glad I can live vicariously through him... I loved him telling me all about it, the good, the bad, the ouchy, but never want to do it myself!! :)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Family Florida Fun
Over Labor Day weekend this year, we decided to head to the Florida coast and celebrate one of the last weekends of summer weather. Last year at this time I was close to delivering Garett so it was a relief to fit back into a two-piece and hit the sand for a one-year anniversary! :)
We had lots of great family fun! We ate at two of our favorite restaurants, an oyster bar (I'm blanking on the name) and Red Elephant, a fabulous pizza joint. We enjoyed a few days on the beach (followed by nap time of course), and plenty of football in the evenings!
Garett did a great job on the sand. Wyatt enjoyed the water and trying to boogie board in the wave-less ocean that we had. Jake and I enjoyed the short moments of freedom from the children so we could frolic in the waters together... more like tackle each other and dunk each other... more like Jake tackling and dunking ME!
Here's a video of our time spent in Florida.
We had lots of great family fun! We ate at two of our favorite restaurants, an oyster bar (I'm blanking on the name) and Red Elephant, a fabulous pizza joint. We enjoyed a few days on the beach (followed by nap time of course), and plenty of football in the evenings!
Garett did a great job on the sand. Wyatt enjoyed the water and trying to boogie board in the wave-less ocean that we had. Jake and I enjoyed the short moments of freedom from the children so we could frolic in the waters together... more like tackle each other and dunk each other... more like Jake tackling and dunking ME!
Here's a video of our time spent in Florida.
Garett is ONE!
September 2nd was Garett's one year birthday. We celebrated it a week or two later since we were out of town over his birthday... our family Florida trip! The weekend we ended up celebrating his birthday was the one my folks were in town so that was a fun experience for all of us! Thanks mom and dad for helping with the preparations and taking care of lots of behind-the-scenes issues: empty propane, a cake-covered baby, grilling, etc.!
**I will make his birthday movie tomorrow... I did the FL one first. Sorry!
**I will make his birthday movie tomorrow... I did the FL one first. Sorry!
WE ARE ALIVE!
Two kids, a full-time job, family time... somehow I have let my blog slip through the cracks! But Jake is on TDY right now so my Saturday night can be used to update the blog... living it up, I know! :)
This is how we clean Garett now.
He is one of the cutest dishwashers I know!!! :)
He is waving hi/good-bye now!
He dressed himself again... can't you tell?? Snowpants, really!?!? And the tie adds class.
Cheesin' it up for the cam!
This is how we clean Garett now.
He is one of the cutest dishwashers I know!!! :)
He is waving hi/good-bye now!
He dressed himself again... can't you tell?? Snowpants, really!?!? And the tie adds class.
Cheesin' it up for the cam!Sunday, August 30, 2009
Mrs. Barnoski's Class is In Session!!
This picture was taken the day I took a few pics of my students sitting around the smartboard about to do our reading lesson for the day. I have a few pics of the kiddos' faces but don't want to put them on until I know the parents gave consent.
Here's a picture of one of my first reading lessons using the Smartboard, an electronic white board that is great for interactive lessons.
Here's a matching activity that I did with the kiddos, matching pictures with the correct beginning sound.
I love technology, especially when it works! :) I'm thinking about getting my PhD in technology integration in education... that's not for a while though.
Here's a picture of one of my first reading lessons using the Smartboard, an electronic white board that is great for interactive lessons.
Here's a matching activity that I did with the kiddos, matching pictures with the correct beginning sound.
I love technology, especially when it works! :) I'm thinking about getting my PhD in technology integration in education... that's not for a while though.My Artist
What I love about this latest piece of art by Wyatt is that you can actually see that he is making an effort at drawing people! That's more than I can say about a few of my students. Can you pick out the people in his picture? The early stage of drawing people is usually a big circle, some facial features, and then arms/legs protruding out of the circle. There's no body or neck, just the circle and appendages. And the letter up in the right corner, neither Jake or I wrote that! :) Way to go, Wywy!
Head Banger
tOne night, after Wyatt and Garett had laid down for the night, Wyatt comes out of his room screaming his head off. Turns out he had tried to get out of his bed some backwards way and hit his head on one of the dressers. The knot left on his head was quite the goose egg!
Getting Ready for Soccer Season
Our family (well, not really including Jake) are gearing up for our first season of soccer. I say that about Jake because he's not a fan of the sport... but he was willing to let Wyatt play this year! :) Thanks, honey! Anyhow, we went out and got Wyatt some cleats, socks, shinguards, a ball, and cones to practice with. He's in love with the stuff! Here's a few pics of him gearing up to play outside. Practices start in a few weeks. One practice a week, games on Saturdays.
Wyatt is working on his goalie/throw-in skills! Notice where his aim is.
Dribbling like a stud.
Wyatt is working on his goalie/throw-in skills! Notice where his aim is.
Dribbling like a stud.New Shoes... Kinda
Garett is growing so fast! Tonight, I figured out that only one or two pairs of shoes fits him, his feet have grown so fast. So I dug in a few bins of Wyatt's old clothes and found these... the first pair on Converse that Wyatt had. I think Gramma and Papa Wheeler bought them for him. Now Garett fits into them which is good since he needs to wear shoes more now since he is motoring everywhere!!!
Notice mommy's new do?! I asked for a little off my neck. Well, atleast I will definitely stay cooler now!
I had to switch the side Garett was on so he wouldn't suck his thumb... kinda worked!
Flying baby!!!!!!!
Notice mommy's new do?! I asked for a little off my neck. Well, atleast I will definitely stay cooler now!
I had to switch the side Garett was on so he wouldn't suck his thumb... kinda worked!
Flying baby!!!!!!!Monday, August 17, 2009
School Has Begun
A few quick notes (because I'm tired and my 3 year old has yet to fall asleep next to me in bed -- daddy is out of town)...
School started off well. I am at 16 students, mostly girls. Their personalities and characters are so interesting and I can't wait to get to know each one of them more and more this year.
Lunch time is not as crazy and stressful as I imagined. We took a whole morning practicing it, though!
One of my new boys managed to grab his backpack and bolt out of my room last week. I am not as fast as I used to be but I can still catch up with a sprinting child. I didn't think my class was that bad anyways!!! :) Actually, it's nothing personal -- he's just adjusting and has A LOT going on in his life right now.
I think sometimes my outgoing character in the classroom is too much for my quiet kiddos. They look at me with blank stares and I wonder if anything is getting in their heads. Or is it my crazy mid-west accent?!?!?!
Today I was talking with a young boy and I wanted to know what his parents do for a living. Conversation: Me- What's your dad do? Boy- Hits. Me (shocked) - What's your mom do? Boy - Cries. W-O-W!!! Not at all what I expected to hear... maybe something like "Works at McD's and mom is at home." Instead a red flag comes up in my head and I think, "Keep my eyes on this boy." Life is different here.
Some kiddos asked me the other day for hugs. So as I passed them papers, they came and gave me a hug. Today, the class asked again if we could do that same thing: grab a paper, get a hug! :)
I have 16 on a good day. Today I ended the day with 9! There must be a flu bug going around. I have lost my voice a bit today -- and not because I yell at the kids! ;)
But above all of this, I am still adjusting to waking up early! I hate the sound of an alarm clock. And if possible, I shower with the lights off... I am NOT a morning person!!!!!!
School started off well. I am at 16 students, mostly girls. Their personalities and characters are so interesting and I can't wait to get to know each one of them more and more this year.
Lunch time is not as crazy and stressful as I imagined. We took a whole morning practicing it, though!
One of my new boys managed to grab his backpack and bolt out of my room last week. I am not as fast as I used to be but I can still catch up with a sprinting child. I didn't think my class was that bad anyways!!! :) Actually, it's nothing personal -- he's just adjusting and has A LOT going on in his life right now.
I think sometimes my outgoing character in the classroom is too much for my quiet kiddos. They look at me with blank stares and I wonder if anything is getting in their heads. Or is it my crazy mid-west accent?!?!?!
Today I was talking with a young boy and I wanted to know what his parents do for a living. Conversation: Me- What's your dad do? Boy- Hits. Me (shocked) - What's your mom do? Boy - Cries. W-O-W!!! Not at all what I expected to hear... maybe something like "Works at McD's and mom is at home." Instead a red flag comes up in my head and I think, "Keep my eyes on this boy." Life is different here.
Some kiddos asked me the other day for hugs. So as I passed them papers, they came and gave me a hug. Today, the class asked again if we could do that same thing: grab a paper, get a hug! :)
I have 16 on a good day. Today I ended the day with 9! There must be a flu bug going around. I have lost my voice a bit today -- and not because I yell at the kids! ;)
But above all of this, I am still adjusting to waking up early! I hate the sound of an alarm clock. And if possible, I shower with the lights off... I am NOT a morning person!!!!!!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
It's Go Time!
School starts tomorrow. I am super excited to meet all of my students... only five families came to Open House. I'm not going to say much tonight... Jake wants to go to bed now (so do I!). Wish me luck, say a little prayer, and I'll try and post about it tomorrow night.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Garett Feeding Himself
This morning, Garett was determined to feed himself some yogurt. I wanted to see how well he did so I loaded up the spoon and handed it over!
So proud of himself! Also, he managed to work on waving goodbye to Wyatt this morning. It looks more like the Hitler salute but he's still working on it! :)
So proud of himself! Also, he managed to work on waving goodbye to Wyatt this morning. It looks more like the Hitler salute but he's still working on it! :)The Thinker... Performed by the Stinker
I found this template online for a Thinking Cap earlier in the summer. I finally put it together last night. It's a little small still for a kid's head but Wyatt was eager to be my model -- we all know my noggin would be WAY too big for this hat!
Pondering a deep thought... chocolate milk or chocolate milk? Hmmmm...
Pondering a deep thought... chocolate milk or chocolate milk? Hmmmm...Ready to Go Play
My wonderful son this morning asked me during breakfast (which, first let me say he let us sleep in! He played in his toy room and then around 8:30 told me so sweetly that he was hungry!! Of course I'll feed you sweetie!) if he could go play with Jude and Irie, our neighbor kiddos. I said yes but he needed to get dressed. He scarffed down his food (which rarely happens) and he ran to his room. He came out looking like this. His explanation: Mommy, my shirt is so I don't get cold (honey, we are in Georgia and it's summer time!); My hat -- no explanation needed; My shoes have baseballs on them so I can play; My shoes help me not to slip! LOVE IT! :)
By the way, those are swim trunks! He has his mommy's fashion sense... ZERO!
By the way, those are swim trunks! He has his mommy's fashion sense... ZERO!Water Time!
The boys LOVE bath time! Wyatt tries to swim in the tub while Garett splashes like crazy!!
The boys enjoy playing in the pool in the backyard. Wyatt mostly uses the water to fill up his noodle so he can shoot the water out. Garett does a lot of splashing. Notice a pattern? :)
The boys enjoy playing in the pool in the backyard. Wyatt mostly uses the water to fill up his noodle so he can shoot the water out. Garett does a lot of splashing. Notice a pattern? :)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Classroom Catch-up and Tea Pot Song
I have considered starting a blog about my teaching experiences, kind of keeping that seperate from the family blog. But we'll see... haven't made my mind up yet.
I'm getting more and more excited to start school. One week from today is Open House and then one week from tomorrow is the first day of school! Most all of my room is ready. My desk and kidney table area are still a mess. I just have to finish filing and sorting through office supplies. I had two days of Orientation last week. The first day was long and boring. But day two was full of some great ideas. Those great ideas got my brain going...
Last time I taught kinders, I had a chant that we said as we lined up (a fellow teacher from Kruse Elem in Fort Collins, CO made it up and passed it on:
I'm giving myself a great big hug, I'm standing straight and tall,
I'm looking right in front of me, I'm ready for the hall. *Put a bubble in your mouth!
Well, at Westview last year they adopted specific hallway procedures: hips and lips for K-2 and hands behind backs for 3-5. Still wanting a chant/tune to help us line up, I came up with this:
(to the tune of I'm a Little Tea Pot)
We are lining up to go into the hall,
Our eyes are to the front and we're standing straight and tall.
Our hands are to ourselves with the left one on our hips,
Our smiling mouths are quiet with a finger to our lips.
I might switch it to "I"-focused: I am lining up to go into the hall, My eyes are to the front and I'm standing straight and tall. My hands are to myself with the left one on my hip, My smiling mouth is quiet with a finger to my lips.
Which one do you like better???
I'm getting more and more excited to start school. One week from today is Open House and then one week from tomorrow is the first day of school! Most all of my room is ready. My desk and kidney table area are still a mess. I just have to finish filing and sorting through office supplies. I had two days of Orientation last week. The first day was long and boring. But day two was full of some great ideas. Those great ideas got my brain going...
Last time I taught kinders, I had a chant that we said as we lined up (a fellow teacher from Kruse Elem in Fort Collins, CO made it up and passed it on:
I'm giving myself a great big hug, I'm standing straight and tall,
I'm looking right in front of me, I'm ready for the hall. *Put a bubble in your mouth!
Well, at Westview last year they adopted specific hallway procedures: hips and lips for K-2 and hands behind backs for 3-5. Still wanting a chant/tune to help us line up, I came up with this:
(to the tune of I'm a Little Tea Pot)
We are lining up to go into the hall,
Our eyes are to the front and we're standing straight and tall.
Our hands are to ourselves with the left one on our hips,
Our smiling mouths are quiet with a finger to our lips.
I might switch it to "I"-focused: I am lining up to go into the hall, My eyes are to the front and I'm standing straight and tall. My hands are to myself with the left one on my hip, My smiling mouth is quiet with a finger to my lips.
Which one do you like better???
Monday, July 27, 2009
Walking
Garett is walking! Hip hip hooray! He takes about 5-6 steps max right now. He's a pro at standing. I have yet to get a good video of it but will put one up as soon as I can shoot a decent few seconds. Also, we have weened him of his mid-night and early morning bottles. He got into a habit of "requesting" a bottle at 5:30 or sooner and then somehow midnight or 1 came in to play. We decided he was just taking advantage of us!! :) So we worked on weening him from that habit and he is a full night sleeper now. YAY!
On a personal note, I tried on two prom dresses from high school and was able to zip them up! I was so excited! I have slowed down on the working out since my anxiety crept back in... which is backwards I know. But I've been watching my caloric intake and eating lots of small meals each day. OH, and the water! Can't go without water. But I'm proud of myself, as Jake is too! I am definitely back to pre-baby form but now I want to focus more on the toning. Once school starts up, I will have a scheduled day so planning my workouts will be much easier.
On a personal note, I tried on two prom dresses from high school and was able to zip them up! I was so excited! I have slowed down on the working out since my anxiety crept back in... which is backwards I know. But I've been watching my caloric intake and eating lots of small meals each day. OH, and the water! Can't go without water. But I'm proud of myself, as Jake is too! I am definitely back to pre-baby form but now I want to focus more on the toning. Once school starts up, I will have a scheduled day so planning my workouts will be much easier.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Bouncing Around
On Saturday, the boys were invited to a birthday party at Monkey Joe's, an inflatable play place. Garett is at the age where he is old enough to play around on a few of the inflatables... and he LOVED it! I forgot my camera but was able toborrow a friend's camera and snap a few shots of Garett trying out an inflatable for the first time.
He did a great job! He would crawl around, falling on everything, but was smiling the whole time. Him and Wyatt wrestled a little bit too. That's what caused the scratch on his face as well as a little black eye on his left eye. Battle marks!
He did a great job! He would crawl around, falling on everything, but was smiling the whole time. Him and Wyatt wrestled a little bit too. That's what caused the scratch on his face as well as a little black eye on his left eye. Battle marks!Garett even went down a few of the slides with mommy and daddy!
Passed out after lots of playing! (on the left is Max, Jessica's baby boy just a few weeks younger than Garett). I love how the bottles have found their spots on the ledges!!
Passed out after lots of playing! (on the left is Max, Jessica's baby boy just a few weeks younger than Garett). I love how the bottles have found their spots on the ledges!!Friday, July 24, 2009
A Quick Praise!!
Dear God,
Thank you for reminding me today that You are in control. As we prayed last night for our home in Colorado and the issues with the leaks in the water lines, we prayed for You to hear our prayers and guide us in the decisions about what to do with the water -- wait on the community (which would require us to have patience and trust that this selling process wouldn't be halted and give You the driver's seat) or move forward with our own repair man, taking on the costs ourselves (which Lord, You knew the sacrifice we were willing to make). Thank you for sending an answer so quickly. I praise You for answering our prayers.
Thank you for reminding me that you DO answer prayers, something I tend to forget especially when it's not answered the way I wanted it to go. Lord, we continue to pray for our house and the selling process, that things continue to work themselves out. Thank you, God!
Amen
Thank you for reminding me today that You are in control. As we prayed last night for our home in Colorado and the issues with the leaks in the water lines, we prayed for You to hear our prayers and guide us in the decisions about what to do with the water -- wait on the community (which would require us to have patience and trust that this selling process wouldn't be halted and give You the driver's seat) or move forward with our own repair man, taking on the costs ourselves (which Lord, You knew the sacrifice we were willing to make). Thank you for sending an answer so quickly. I praise You for answering our prayers.
Thank you for reminding me that you DO answer prayers, something I tend to forget especially when it's not answered the way I wanted it to go. Lord, we continue to pray for our house and the selling process, that things continue to work themselves out. Thank you, God!
Amen
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A Quick Prayer
God,
Thank you for sending a family to buy our home from us back in Colorado. Lord, we have prayed for almost three years about selling this house. Thank you for hearing our prayers and also teaching us about your timing.
Lord, as we deal with these water leaks that have recently been discovered and become frustrated at this situation, I pray we remember what we have been praying for and how you work in all situations. .. that we don't let our frustrations and anger take over from praising you for sending this family. Lord, we pray for all things to work out with the closing date.
We know this is just a bump in our long road. Thank you for the lessons we have learned along the way. Thank you for guiding us to finish what we have started and fulfill our responsibilities.
Thank you for our many blessings, both big and small.
Amen.
Thank you for sending a family to buy our home from us back in Colorado. Lord, we have prayed for almost three years about selling this house. Thank you for hearing our prayers and also teaching us about your timing.
Lord, as we deal with these water leaks that have recently been discovered and become frustrated at this situation, I pray we remember what we have been praying for and how you work in all situations. .. that we don't let our frustrations and anger take over from praising you for sending this family. Lord, we pray for all things to work out with the closing date.
We know this is just a bump in our long road. Thank you for the lessons we have learned along the way. Thank you for guiding us to finish what we have started and fulfill our responsibilities.
Thank you for our many blessings, both big and small.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Organized Chaos
Now that my hubby as entered the work force, he gets to finally experience first-hand organized chaos at work. He has seen my teacher desk and given me plenty of grief in the past. Now, I get to do it to him!
This pile of papers was pointed out to me so I could see how he quickly solved the situation of having a clean work area in no time flat! Not bad, Jake, not bad at all! I usually use a copy paper box under my desk to hide my stash... something a pro would know to do! :)
**By the way, the blankets and baby toy are left over from a day that Jake offered to watch Garett for me... something he reminds me often that he will never do again!!!! :)
This is his desk the day after his new commander came for a visit. Not too bad! Better than normal, that's for sure.
This pile of papers was pointed out to me so I could see how he quickly solved the situation of having a clean work area in no time flat! Not bad, Jake, not bad at all! I usually use a copy paper box under my desk to hide my stash... something a pro would know to do! :)
**By the way, the blankets and baby toy are left over from a day that Jake offered to watch Garett for me... something he reminds me often that he will never do again!!!! :)Our Fishing Date
We were supposed to go to a water park (without our kids) on Sunday, but due to Jake's ER visit we were unable to get away. I don't think we've been on a date for a month or so now and we really needed to have some one-on-one time. When we start not seeing eye to eye, a date is WAY past due!
Anyhow, we got a sitter last minute to watch the boys while we headed to a pond on post to do some fishing. We didn't have any luck reeling anything in but we both had a few bites, Jake landed one but it jumped off the line before it got to land, and I paid the price of wearing Crocs fishing and was attacked by fire ants. But all in all, it was a great date/time away from the boys that we both needed. I love doing activities that Jake enjoys... the saying "If mama ain't happy..." is the same for daddies! :)
Anyhow, we got a sitter last minute to watch the boys while we headed to a pond on post to do some fishing. We didn't have any luck reeling anything in but we both had a few bites, Jake landed one but it jumped off the line before it got to land, and I paid the price of wearing Crocs fishing and was attacked by fire ants. But all in all, it was a great date/time away from the boys that we both needed. I love doing activities that Jake enjoys... the saying "If mama ain't happy..." is the same for daddies! :)
Getting the poles rigged up!
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