here's to us

ten years ago today
stacey and i walked down the aisle ...
the new
mr. and mrs. barnett.

since then we have
been pregnant 6 times
had 3 kids
1 guinea pig
and
1 dog



we rented 1 apartment
and
have built 2 houses

we have traveled often
including
disney 6 times
and
hawaii twice



we have seen
the wiggles
sesame street live
and
go fish
more times than i can count

we've had ten years that haven't always been easy ...
and have DEFINITELY not been calm ...
BUT have been a lot of fun.

we have learned a lot about each other
and
a lot about what being in love really means

today we celebrate us ...
how far we've come in the past 10 years
and
how far we have yet to go

i love you, stacey
and am SO thankful that as crazy as life gets
i had you by my side 10 years ago ...
and i still have you by my side today.

farm fieldtrip fun

today we got to go on alex's first field trip ...
to a 'punkin farm'

we got to ride the bus
which is the part i am pretty sure alex was MOST excited for



we went on a hayride
i LOVE just watching alex
sit and laugh with his friends -
it makes me realize how old he really is getting!

took a class shot
pretty sure alex doesn't quite have the height
required for back row status ... but oh well ;)



got to meet and pet
a donkey named twinkles,
a goat named martha,
a creepy looking llama,
and all i could think was llama llama where's your mama
and a pot bellied pig named lacey
that wanted nothing to do with us and really just wanted a nap
but was still my favorite animal out there.

AND
we got to pick a pumpkin



a fantastic fall day
for
a first fieldtrip
to
a fun farm
-:-
fabulous!

state of confusion, maybe?!

see that kid ...



the football player ...
the one wearing the BASEBALL glove?
... the ONE baseball glove?
... the one ADULT baseball glove?

yep ...
he's mine.

and i love him.
even if he is a little confused on which sport he's playing.

it won't be long ...

PRESENTING ...



2 of the cutest members of
the blaine bengals
class of 2024!!

could you boys just stay this cute (and innocent) forever ...
please ;)

here's to bekah ... to bekah ... to bekah

this weekend was all about the soon-to-be
MRS. KALITA!

i spent the weekend in chicago
with bekah and hannah



we spent saturday afternoon shopping
and in a VERY short time i decided that if i could get paid
for each time someone thought i was with a set of twins
i would be a rich woman ;)

we spent saturday evening with a group of friends
learning a few new tricks ...



and practicing them on each other ;)

and then ...
we spent the rest of the night dancing,
trying to embarass bekah
and
getting to know many of chicago's finest cabbies ;)

BUT...
because this is a family blog
there are no other details
AND
no other pictures ;)

all i'll say is ...
there was a lot of fun to be had
THERE ARE ONLY THREE WEEKS LEFT until the REAL fun
AND ...
it's funny how all it took was a short time of being out on the town
to make me appreciate
the "boring" life i have at home with 3 kids ;)

a perfect adventure for a perfect day

today we were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL fall day!

it was the perfect day to meet up with some friends



and head to pinehaven farm.

we spent the afternoon
feeding the animals ...

watching pumpkins get launched
and convincing alex that they weren't going to hit us

riding in a fun little tractor train

launching out of chute slides



AND
sucking on fences
ok ... maybe we didn't all do that ;)

BUT ...
we had fun enjoying all of the fun little things that were new at the farm
they've added a LOT in 2 years!



we enjoyed the warm sunshine
and
we had a fun day with our friends!

NOW ...
if we could just get the weather to stay like this!

a peek into our nite

because i know you are SO curious ...
i thought i'd give you a sneak peek into a typical late night at the barnett house

typically ...
we put the boys to bed
come downstairs
stacey goes to one computer and works plays farkle for a bit ;)
and i go to the other and edit pictures, blog, work, etc
i know i know ...
such exciting lives we lead

THEN ...
before going to bed we catch up on a little tv

and typically ...
this is how it ends up



and in case there is any question -
that's me 'watching' CSI miami ;)

just plain ordinary

it was just another ordinary sunday around here ...

you know where we cut frozen cheese blocks
with a power saw ...



and send the kids outside to fill a rubbermaid bin with leaves ...

;)

everyday math

today brought us:

ONE very intense 2nd/3rd grade football game
which ended in a tie



ONE chilly morning
the PERFECT excuse for a warm drink ;)



ONE fourth grade team STILL undefeated



AND ...

ONE little brother patient enough to make it through TWO games



ONE beautiful fall day
+
TWO exciting football games
----------------------
THREE very happy AND very tired boys

we've got spirit yes we do

tonight was blaine's homecoming game!!

we met up with some bengal friends
and
did our part in cheering the boys on!

the 'big boys' LOVED it.



they ended up sitting with us for about 1/2
and
spent the other 1/2 down by the field with their friends

they inhaled WAY too much sugar
and
their official recap:
"the game was fun
and
the homecoming queen was hot"


then we also had
alex and amigos ;)

we didn't leave until after the 3rd quarter ...
so they lasted MUCH longer than we thought they would

or ...
most of them did, anyway;)

alex crashed part way into the 1st quarter
and was OUT!

SO ...
we made him a little 'nest' on the bleachers
and let him sleep away.



with the exception of one loud play
where he sat up and briefly clapped before laying back down
he spent the next 2 quarters like this ...

can't really complain about that!

PLUS ...
we never really got 'too' cold
the boys got to see their NICE bus driver from last year
who we SERIOUSLY miss
AND
blaine was up 42-7 when we left!

way to go, bengals!!