the first 4th of July where Natalee "got it"

Of course this wasn't Natalee's 1st 4th of July.

It wasn't even her 2nd fourth of July...
but it was the first year she "got" the whole fire works thing!

We started the 4th off with a picnic @ Discovery Park in Mac.

We met Johnny's family there plus a few friends from church

who walked over (they live near-by) & we invited to stay.

Love this shot!

Then we headed back to town for a huge outreach our church had planned at the skate park.

We had over 60 visitors and aprox. 8 saved! It was GLORIOUS!

After the concert... Johnny and I just found a spot on the side of the road and parked to watch the fireworks.

We sat & admired the moon... Natalee's favorite thing in the whole world.... while we waited for the fireworks to start...

Needless to say, Natalee passed out on my shoulder just as the fireworks got underway!

Happy Birthday Tay & Cam!!

Taylor & Cameron shared a birthday party this year!

(back in June!)

Before lunch... Natalee & Tay lounged in the pool!

I love how in a couple of these pictures, Natalee is looking at Tay adoringly...
What I have is a random bunch of pictures and almost none of the present opening...
NOR... the yummy yummy smorgasbord of food they provided! It was heaven on earth!

Jesse & Amber know how to throw a party!!

(Here's one of Cam's presents...)
What a love bug!! Isn't he so cute?!?!

Happy Birthday to both of you!!!!

Otter Beach

In the midst of all the insanity mentioned in the previous post...

We decided to go to Otter Beach.
(Otter Beach is an outdoor wave pool here in town)

Allison and I had promised the Rice kids we'd take them

and we knew they would love it if we could make it happen.

(Besides... Natalee LOVES it there...

so I knew she be thrilled and I thought S would really like it too.)

(Jackson really did have fun... He was just grumpy by the end!)

Bea & HJacson munchin on snacks My sweet little Natalee

There are no pictures of the older Rice kids because they were off having a blast! I just grabbed my camera the last few minutes were were there so I didn't capture everyone.... but you can see that they had a lot of fun!

just a couple pictures to add...

To the few pictures Sara sent me...

I'm glad I got at least one of sara! Would have been nice if she and I got one together!

I love this one of Eli & Nalataee! Talk about characters!

Adjusting Period

Each day seems to be getting a little bit better here.

First of all.... theres my little Natalee.

She is such a joy!

She is kinds and gentle and sweet and forgiving...

I appreciate her sweet gentle spirit a little more these days!

Then there's these two...

The first night was rough rough rough. to put it lightly.

Days are much better. These two are super sweet in the daytime. I've got this ones sleep pattern mostly figured out... she's a breeze! Look at that angelic face! This little one is a spitfire at nap and bed time. It's sad and frustrating all at the same time. Each night has gotten a little better, Today was the first day I attempted nap time without driving and getting them to sleep. It was a battle... but at least I won it! For a smal window of 15 minutes I had 4 kids (Jackson included) asleep!! Natalee & Jackson woke up about 15 minutes after I got S & H to sleep.... but I was thrilled at that progress!

Ok. That's all for now. I have several Natalee posts (pre-foster-kids) that I've got to get around to do sometime soon!

What's going on in the Barton household?

Perhaps the question should be.... what isn't going on in the Barton household??!?!

Here's the latest 2 little "things" going on...

Little Miss "H"

Natalee & Little Miss "S"

Two new additions to our family!

In the midst of their transition,

• I've also been a single mom as Johnny is in Prescott, Arizona....
• I've been helping watch 4 little ones all under the age of 3 for a friend who had to take her baby to the doctor (We had those kids Tuesday night thru Wed evening
• I babysat Kyah 2 afternoons (she was a sweet little breeze tho!)
• I was suppose to take the Rice kids on an outing each day that their parents were gone to Arizona... but that went QUITE out the window
• I've had my dad, mom & Jennifer staying in my tiny 2 bedroom apt (Thank goodness for my mom tho! She was a help during our first night with these two little sweeties! It was a rough rough night and I wouldn't have made it without her!)
• Last night at dinner time, Allison, my mom and I fed 10 hungry kids (6 under the age of 3!) It was slightly insane!
• Today I met a church friend in Monmouth and their daughter came to stay with me these last 2 days that I'm alone and help! Praise God for Bea!

Needless to say, H & S are two little gems!

I know this transition time will smooth out as the days go by...

Thank goodness for the power of PRAYER! (:

Oso oso o-o-o

Although Natalee has acquired a decent Spanish vocabulary up to this point, sometimes it is hard to tell if she is soaking it all up when Allison talks to her. Today, when she was at Allison's house she was reading the "oso book" (her all-time favorite at tia's house) and as she finished the last page she said, "the end...el fin," with this little giggle and then proceeded to turn to the front of the book where there is a bear and say, "Oh look, that's a polar bear....oso polar" (pronouncing it in Spanish!). Apparently she is listening more than we think. :)

My sweet friend

My dear friend Sara came to town this last week and we had a heck of a time trying to get together! She finally came down to Corvallis on Monday and we had a great time with the kids. It was too short of course, but we had a good time! We took the kids to Avery Park first and Ethan LOVED the train!

After Avery park, we headed to the fountain down town. The kids loved it! and Sara got some good shots of them interacting. Here they're eating fruit snacks.. Here's Natalee but the pix is sideways and I can't change it on the dumb computer I'm using. Here's sweet little Eli. What a sweet tempermant this little boy has!

Thank you Sara for coming and making the day so fun!! You're a trooper to drive all that way to come see us! We love you guys! Natalee has been asking about Ethan & Eli every day since you left!!

Papa & Nonnie

Papa has been living down in Corvallis for the last month - working about a half-hour outside our town on a huge construction job. My mom came down Thursday to stay till Saturday so we had dinner at their campsite last night. Papa got a new hard hat so I got some cute shots!

After dinner we went for a walk around the fairgrounds. I never quite realized how high we swing Natalee when she says "1-2-3" until I looked at this picture! Scary!!!

Aunt Jennifer

Aunt Jennifer came to stay with us last weekend!

We were adventurous and took the city bus downtown to Farmer's Market.

It was a lot of walking but a lot of fun and we had a nice time!

Here's Jen and Natalee at Great Harvest Bread Company!

(Coffee is the magic in Jen's world... gotta get her that treat!)

Pretty Girl!

oooooooo I love her more and more each day!
She fills my heart with joy!

Being a mom is such a precious gift!

Chicken Pox!!

I called to Johnny from the other room....

Johnny....
Now I know why Natalee had that fever the other day...

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She has CHICKEN POX!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny sounded worried as he jumped up in the living room and headed toward me and Natalee...

I sent Natalee out to show him....

heheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh

The good-bye...

I didn't realize that I had already posted pix of this trip.. the ones of crazy-haired Natalee were taken on Gramp's patio... They have a wealth of toys and play-things because they babysit their great grand daughter quite often. Natalee had a blast!

(saying good-bye to Bree)

The weird coloring is me trying to "pull" the orange in her shirt... and ending up pulling all shades of orange... red and brown...

Love this look after the doggy kiss! (: The good-bye was sweet as well. After 2 1/2 days there... Natalee was sad to leave, but still willing to pose for some sweet shots!

She was one tired girl on the way home!

She was so so so good in the car tho!

I was so impressed!

A long awaited trip to Washington...

We have been needing to go to Washington for quite some times now. With all my grandparents health problems, we need to seem them as much as we can! So mom, Johnny, Natalee and I finally planned a quick get-away to go see Granny & Gramps! We surprised them... just walked up on their porch and knocked on their door! It was a very sweet trip! They were blessed and so were we!

Stay tuned for more pixs of our trip! (:

Crazy Hair!

I know I'm her mom...

but she's just so dang cute!

I can't hardly stand it!

These bad hair days crack me up!