Ballet

Last night was Anna and Carly's ballet performance. Carly came out and started dancing during the wrong group and got shooed back behind the curtain. Then when it was her turn to dance she was too flustered to dance. It broke my heart for the poor gal because she was really excited to have her performance and hasn't been nervous about going at all. I am sure it will be something we will look back and laugh at one day!

Male Ego vs. Female Directions (used with permission)

I was helping the girls write in their journals (yet another "thing" I am trying to be better at) about their trip to the pumpkin patch. Both of them mentioned how silly Daddy was because he didn't know where he was going and Mommy did so I thought I would share the story.

I am sure we have all heard the jokes and stereotypes about men and their unwillingness to ask for directions. Driving to the pumpkin patch we lived the stigma. We decided to go the patch in Santa Paula because it was only 2 dollars, even though it would take like 25 minutes to get there. I checked the map before we left to make sure we knew where we were going. As we were driving we came to highway 126 and I told McKay to go east. He said 'east! We are not going east!' I told him that is what the map said to do. He started giving me lines like, 'I used to ride my bike out here, Santa Paula is not east' and 'I can't believe I am listening to you tell me to go east when I grew up here!' 'We are going west.' And so on... So we went west - and soon as we started going west he saw a sign behind him that said Santa Paula was east. We turned around. He let me harrass him for a few minutes and took the heat well. The best part was we had friends following us and one of the little boys said 'I thought McKay grew up here? Doesn't he know where this is?' It was hilarious and we shared a good laugh.

The Four Degrees of McKay Barlow

We went to a Halloween Party at the Bishop's house. We decided to go as Farmers (cheap and easy were key in our decision.) McKay had fun trying on everyone's wigs. The mullett looks especially natural on him.

Trying to explain a 72 hour kit to a 4-year-old

The recent fires in California finally made me get my buns in gear and make a 72 hour kit. We made our kit for FHE last night (tangent: for something I had procrastinated for such a long time it was relatively easy.) Anyway, this prompted an onslaught of questions from Anna. 'Where are we going when use this kit?' 'Why aren't we bringing all of our toys?' 'What are the firemen going to do to our house when we leave?' 'What if all of our stuff gets wet from the firemen?' 'When are leaving? Tomorrow?' 'Can we go visit Grandma Thompsen in Utah?' These are just a few among thousands. I tried to explain it to her the best I could without scaring her to death. It is a pretty scary thing to think about having to actually use your 72 hour kit. As part of our kit I put an extra outfit in for each of the girls. Anna chose a shirt of hers that is green that she doesn't wear a lot. Well tonight (Tuesday) after Anna had gone to bed she came running in to my room a little upset and worried proclaiming that now she had nothing to wear for St. Patrick's Day!!! Trying not to laugh, I told her that we could get her another green shirt for St. Patrick's Day - not to worry.

If anyone has a good way to explain EBAY to kids let me know. I tried to explain it to Anna when I was bidding on her Halloween costume - only to have her burst into tears when we were outbid in the final seconds. I think I will wait for a few years before I try that one again.

The Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch at Faulkner farms in Santa Paula. We went with our friends the Sampsons. The kids had a great time running around, going on a hayride, and running through the sunflower maze. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was fantastic! All in all it was a great day.

Mac and McKay enjoying the hayride.

My kids didn't even know what a wheelbarrow was! (This country girl is raising city slickers! - tear, tear :)) They had a blast on their first ever wheelbarrow ride.

Carly kept trying to lift the biggest pumpkins. She would say 'everybody watch how strong I am.' The only problem was she would then drop the pumpkin - luckily none broke. :)

Anna thought the white pumpkins were the coolest.

Anna, MacKade, Mitchell and Carly in the Sunflower maze.

First Day of School

Dance

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!We wanted to share some dance moves with you.

Third Child

Mac decorated by his sisters.

Riding Bikes

Mr. Mac

Mac pondering Einstein's Theory of Relativity...

Blankets

Corrine made the blankets for the kids. Anna definitely has Barlow blood in her as she is the one that suggested we take a picture with everyone on the couch with their blanket on.

Mac's Blessing

Mac was blessed on September 30. It was a very special day! He was great and slept through the whole blessing. Corrine was AMAZING and made his blessing outfit. We got a lot of compliments! Thanks to all those who came!