Bye-Bye Mullet

So after numerous comments from family and friends we decided Mac's mullet had to go. The curls in the back were cute but it was time. Doesn't every kid have the classic stick your finger up your nose picture?

Mac and McKay, both just days before they got haircuts.

Mac was super good for his haircut.

He didn't love it but he hung in there.

Here is Mac - all grown up now!

Welcome Home Brock!

We made it back from Utah the day before Brock came home from his mission in El Salvador. A Barlow homecoming at the airport is not something to be missed (nor can it be missed if you happen to be in the airport.) It was lots of fun and we are so happy to have him back. Way to go B-Rock!

Here are the new babies that were born while he was gone.

McKay was so proud of his long hair and beard. Brock says he isn't jealous at all but McKay knows he secretly is. :)

Waiting for the big arrival.

Carly starting crying when he came through the gate. I think she was a little overwhelmed by the whole situation. She says she remembers Brock but we are pretty sure she doesn't since she hadn't seen him since she was just over 2. But now they are BFF. :)

Mac's new best friend

Mac made a new friend in Utah, Sadie! Mac loves her! Anna and Carly were both scared of her when they were little but not Mac. He followed her around all day. It was hard to get him to look up for a picture. Sadie was super great and let Mac lay on her, ride her like a horse and poke her. Mac was in heaven!

We tried to get Mac to leave her alone while she ate but it was pretty impossible.

Party at Grandma Thompsen's

We had so much fun in Utah! McKay got to go to the BYU Utah game (sad ending but he still had fun.) He got to golf a bunch too. The kids got to play with their cousins everyday and loved every minute of it.

Anna and Greg both have November birthday's so we had a party for both of them. Greg let Anna steal the show. :)

Anna opening presents. Yes, she has her birthday crown on again from school. Thanks everyone for making it a fun trip and for all of Anna's presents!

Playing at Toad's

Now that Anna is in Kindergarten and getting invited to other kid's birthday parties, she really wanted one of her own. But me, being slightly anti-birthday-party, convinced her to just have a party with her cousins. We decided to go to Toad's and play games. When I first drove up I was a little nervous it was closed but then I realized we were just the only ones there! It was kind of like a private party in the arcade. The kids had a lot of fun. I almost never give my kids money for arcades at stores and at the mall so the fact they got to do it for real was pretty cool. Uncle Ryan had to give us a few tips on the motorcycles.

We smashed all three kids on this simulated roller coaster ride.

The merry-go-ground never gets old!

Carly got a little scared on this ride and hopped off, but Anna and Sydney hung in there for the whole time.

Luckily Tate helped us get lots of tickets so everyone could get a piece of candy for forty tickets each (these places are a total rip-off but I justified it because it was her birthday.)

Birthday Morning!

Here she is opening up her presents on the morning of her birthday! She got a Lite Bright, Guess Who? extra, clothes, and a polly pocket.

After a great breakfast of Barbie cereal, her birthday morning was complete! Happy Birthday Anna! We love you!

Party at Melinda's!

We drove up to Utah for a little vacation and stopped at Melinda's the night before Anna's birthday and she threw her a princess party! Here is Melinda with BYU ice cream! Perfect for a princess party in Cougar Country.

Anna and Garrett share the same birthday; he kindly agreed to a princess party. Aren't the cupcakes adorable!? And the stand... so cute!

Kate brought the fun balloons. Thanks Kate!

Here she is with her birthday crown from school that she brought over 700 miles to wear on her real birthday. She was a little upset she wasn't going to be at school, but her teacher was nice enough to celebrate her birthday early. Anna gave her class a book as a birthday gift. She chose to give them "A Very Marley Christmas".

Prop 8

The campaign to pass prop 8 is definitely something I will remember for a long time! So many people worked so hard and were so dedicated to get this thing passed. It was really a blessing to be able to be a part of this huge effort. I now know what it is like to be persecuted for righteousness sake. McKay put in a lot time on the computer organizing calling and walking sheets. We also went and did a lot of 'waves' on street corners. I have thankfully never had a job as a telemarketer but I now know how it would feel having people hang up on you and yell at you. Needless to say, we were so thankful it passed. It was a huge blessing from the Lord. The kids even got in the spirit of things and would get excited and yell when they saw Yes on 8 signs around town. Here we are at the last wave on Monday night before the election. We had hundreds of people there.

Yup even Mac got in the spirit of things!

My parents were in town so they were kind enough to come and wave signs with us. My dad even went out in the pouring rain the Saturday before this to help hang door hangers. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Here is Anna and Carly with Marli Hodges waving their signs. They were troopers!

The Performance

Grandpa and Grandma Thompsen were able to stay for the girl's performance. (Note: Anna is very adamant that it is not a recital it is a performance.) There were no tears this time! Anna was a licorice and Carly was a lollipop. They did a great job!

Carly was in a tap class with Avie and Lucy Garrett and Marissa Palma. Anna was in ballet class with Avie Garrett and Shailey Boman.

The two cuties!

Halloween!

The three kids posing before trick-or-treating. Mac didn't want anything to do with pictures or his costume!

Well it was another fun Halloween! This year we got to celebrate it with Grandma and Grandpa Thompsen! Here is Anna as Mulan, strutting her stuff at her Halloween Parade at school.

Lining up with the rest of her class before the parade.

Here is our other Mulan, Carly. She had a great time at her preschool party. They got to go trick-or-treating around the school and pick out pumpkins at the 'pumpkin patch.'

Our two Super Men! Mac would leave the costume on outside but wanted it off when we were inside.

Anna was a bride and Carly was a clown for Halloween night.

Anna playing a game at her class Halloween party. They got to make spiders and decorate cookies.

Her Kindergarten class.

After about an hour of trick-or-treating they were pooped and satisfied with the amount of candy they got. Here is the final loot!