The Barton Family Blog

Announcing Barton Baby #5... A word of explanation... Today at our ultrasound we asked the u/s tech not to tell us the gender. She wrote it in an envelope and sent us off. We dropped the envelope at a local party store and left while they filled the box with the surprise balloons.  We picked up the sealed box, wrapped it and waited for family and friends to arrive. The girls gathered around and helped us open the box to release the balloons. Hollie's reaction: if it's pink it's a girl. if it's blue, it's a girl. (SORRY HOLLIE!) Shy's reaction: I'm sure Kenzie captured it best in a picture, but she was the MOST excited.... wide mouth and eyes... thrilled. Natalee's reaction: cautious, hesitant as always. I'm pretty sure I saw a little smile somewhere in there tho! Johnny & my reaction: thrilled!! Thrilled for Brock and thrilled for us! (: Now we desperately need to find a name.  It's going to be TOUGH. It was so fun having frien...

Instagram has replaced blogging in some ways... and I don't like that. Instagram is fun in the moment! Sharing your day with all your friends... capturing cute moments just for the purpose of posting them on Instagram... BUT... they kinda go away... I mean i have them in my photo album on my phone, but often I don't post them to my blog because I already posted them on Instagram... and sometimes, that means I miss documenting the fun parts of our lives, that I really really should have blogged about! (Date day at Papa's Pizza - with 6 kids! - Hey, I'll take it!) Other times, the pictures are kinda random... they don't capture a day, or an event, or an outing... but they're still part of our days... and I kinda want to have them to look back on - in a way I won't ever look back on Instagram.   (waiting for the bus)   (cutest shoes in Kindergarten!) (he fed Lily ice cream - newest best friend!) So bear with me.  Sometimes the pic...

We are FINALLY getting some Beaver action in this house! How we've lived in Corvallis this long and gone to so FEW games is a mystery to me! I bought Johnny tickets to three games this season for his birthday back in July. One for him, and one for each girl.  He had told me that he has the most fun taking the kiddos to the games... so I knew it would be a great gift! Hollie was supposed to go to the first game in September (OSU v. Nichols State) but the game was cancelled due to the hurricane.  She was SUPER excited when October rolled around and it was finally her turn to go to her FIRST Beaver game!! We waited and waited and waited for the bus... thinking to avoid the nightmare of traffic...   but it never came. They had some serious public transportation problems that day. Finally, at about 10 minutes till game time, I walked home from the bus stop & grabbed the van.  Good thing I did.  On the whole drive there, we never once saw a ...

 Hollie started preschool this Monday (3 days a week) at a Preschool co-op that meets at the big girls' primary school (how easy!)  This was kinda a last minute minute decision on my part, after a couple flopped home school attempts!  I really wanted Hollie to have some sort of school-ization before Kindergarten to work on listening skills, sitting still skills, following directions skills etc... and when I realized I don't have what it takes to make it work... I hurriedly made the commitment to this preschool co-op. My commitment level MUST decrease as my belly increases this winter... that's for sure... but lucky for me, Hollie can enroll in just one term, or two if I'm feeling up to it... and bow out just before Barton baby #5 arrives.  I have to work in the classroom 5 times in the 10 week term - so approx once every other week - which I thin k, I can manage (fingers crossed)! I'm glad she is loving it - because it does require a bit of flexibility i...

Ok... slight exaggeration there... nothing too extravagant... but sweet just the same. I love having my family near - and thats what my birthday entailed! Sunday morning started out with breakfast with the inlaws... my Mom-in-law, Dad-in-law, and Sis-in-law Autumn!  It was sooo nice... we had a big breakfast nook/room to ourselves and we were able to linger and chat. No pictures... ): but good memories!! After church Sunday afternoon, my parents & Jen made the drive down to spend the afternoon with us. I was so bummed when the day was over and I thought I had only taken ONE pic (last pic of my parents w/ the grand babies) but I was PLEASANTLY surprised when I uploaded my camera, to realize that I had taken a bunch at the park before my parents arrived.  YEAH ME!!! Brock & his FAVORITE person, Daddy:  Natalee begged for a shot of her on the rocky thingy:  Auntie Jen snuggling Koa Bears. Snuggle bug! I need a snuggly baby!! This last pi...

Naomi and I have share birthdays (we're two days apart) for the last 24 years... :). She's finally starting to be glad that she's 8 years younger as she spent most of her life wishing she was older (ha ha age does that to you!) My sweet Momma (who we don't see enough of...) came down to spend part of Thursday and Friday with us for our birthdays this year! It was so nice!!! She paid a babysitter and we went out to dinner and shopping (I have almost no maternity clothes believe it or not!!) and it was just so so so nice. Did I mention it was nice? Cause it was!! Naomi insisted that we get our pic taken in front of a wild VW bug at the gas station... So here we are... And then at dinner! Happy Birthday Sis! I'm so glad you live here!!!

n case you don't follow me on Instagram (dnbarton), here's a glimpse of my last few weeks! Brocky & Koa doing what they do best: CUTE... Brocky learning to keep his little hat ON Brocky experiencing the tub all to himself. I think he liked it! I sent my oldest two off to Kindergarten... I went on a date with one of my besties! Brocky got to ride in a germ ladened  really cool shopping car We went for walks with Daddy (iphone launch loneliness (: he he) Went on more walks with one of my other besties! Well.... that about sums it up!