Slide Adventure

Daddy & Gracie waiting to go down the slide.

Bones waiting for Daddy & Gracie to come down the slide. He was waiting on his turn.....

Daddy and Bones waiting in line for the slide.

Daddy & Gracie coming down the slide.

Okay they have these new slides at Compass Cove, the resort we always stay at when visiting the beach. At first NOONE was going down the slides, then as the day went on Gracie & Bones decided they were going down the slides, well naturally Gracie went first being the oldest and all, and as Bones was waiting for his turn I was watching all of these bigger kids come down he slides looking flustered and trying to catch their breath, as you can see in the picture of Gracie coming down the slide, she looked waterlogged. At that moment I decided that Bones was not going down the slide even though we humored him by letting him wait in line, and it was his idea to come back down the steps, although he quickly wanted to start waiting in line again. Mommy told him that he wasn't old enough to go down the slide and he could either go to the lazy river or go take a nap and naturally knowing his GREAT dislike for naps, we traveled back to the lazy river.

Discovery Place

We have never taken Gracie and Bones to the Discovery Place so we went on an adventure there a few weeks ago.We had a lot of fun, we watched 2 3D movies, one about sea turtles which is Gracie's favorite and one about sharks that Bones didn't make it all of the way through but BDB told me "you didn't miss much". There was an exhibit "Them" which told about all of the bacteria in and on our body, needless to say I don't think Gracie and Bones have ever gotten a better bath than they did that night. Gracie made a shoe out of recycled materials. Bones found the NASCAR exhibit and spent most of his time there. They both had a great time at the KidScience center....we will definitely be going back.

Summer Fun!?!

SOOOoooooo, we decided not to venture out of the house today, but we did decide to play on the Buzz Lightyear slip & slide. This week we are getting ready for the opening day of Toy Story 3, we have successfully watched Toy Story, and are working on watching #2. The slip & slide was fun but not too adventureous, because I am a careful mommy and put it on flat ground instead of down the hill like the children wanted me to, I just don't find the ER as entertaining as my children apparently do.

On another note, "Big Daddy Bones" is in Virginia, after being in Maryland most of the day. He has an early delivery tomorrow and then who knows where he will be going. We certainly do miss him around here. Time for bed...Goodnight Friends!

New week...new adventure!

So "J" left for Virginia Beach, VA this evening. Not sure why it hit me harder this week than it did the last time he left...maybe because it seemed like he wasn't here for any time at all. He will stop at Emporia, VA and I will get to talk to him before I go to sleep. After he left I came and sat down at the desk where we keep our laptop...behind the computer I found the note that he leaves me every week...it says:

Can't wait until Friday, I miss ya'll already!!! See you soon....Love, Daddy (Jason)
Ya'll mean the world to me! I love you!
Sweetheart I appreciate all you do! You're doing a great job!! Thank you and I love you!

Although he isn't here through the week, there is no doubt that we are GREATLY LOVED, and GREATLY MISSED, when he is gone. Of course, we send him notes to, we just hide them so he gets "surprised" throughout the week.

Greensboro Children's Museum

This was our first trip to the museum, but definitely not our last. The children had such a good time, shopping in the market and being chefs at the Pizza resturant, they took a train ride and explored a police car, race car, and firetruck. Bones drove the mail jeep and Gracie delivered the mail, they played at nonnies house and weighed newborn babies, helped a Panda that had a tooth issue and performed an minor operation on a patient in the surgery center. Gracie played the drums and performed a one person one act play in the theater and then spent some time in the community center. Gracie of course made her way to the creativy center as well and painted a beautiful picture that she got to bring home. We all took advantage of the Ediable Schoolyard and brought home some lettuce from our adventure.

Reed Gold Mine

This past memorial day weekend we took the children to Reed Gold Mine in Midland NC. We toured the Gold Museum and then went on a tour of the Gold Mine, Gracie learned alot of history about gold and then we took them panning for gold, which was tricky with 2 young children, although we came out a little richer than when we went in, we found 2 small chips of gold. We tried to watch a movie about gold but by that time they were just about too tired. We had a ........BLAST!!

Schiele Museum

We visitied the Schiele Museum in Gaston County, it just so happened to be the day that the Pirates arrived....coincidence? I don't think so, everyone knows we love all things Pirate around here.

Our New Adventure.....

So many of you know that Big Daddy Bones started his CDL schooling and training in March of this year. WELL....he got a job with a good company (so far) and this week was his first week out on the road by himself. It has been a rough few weeks at home to get adjusted to him being gone (leaving out on Monday and coming in on Friday), and it feels slightly overwhelming with him being at home on the weekend trying to fit EVERYTHING we want to do with him in 2 days. I think we tire him out easily. Gracie was talking to me one day and she said, "Why does Daddy leave a shirt for you to smell while he is gone?" I told her it was because he knew that mommy missed him a whole lot and he wanted me to have something to feel close to him when I couldn't be. It appears that the Barbee family is starting out on an adventure that will set us upon a path to a new way of life, in many more ways than one. We trust GOD that HE has put us on this path and we are going to take it and run with it.

I will be posting more on here as I have a few more hours just to myself at night now, can't wait to update you on others new adventures we have as a family!

Worth the Wait.....

On April 10, 2010, our son Levi turned "2". I can remember the day he was born so well, almost like it was yesterday. I spent the day putting safety plugs into all of the outlets, even the one's that no child could reach, I was walking around the house and I all of a sudden got a horrible headache, so I naturally called the Dr.'s office, because it wasn't going away. I had talked to my mama earlier in the day and she told me that she was going to the tax office to have their taxes filled out, so if I could hold off labor that would be...AWESOME. I know, only my mama right? LOL So after I called the dr. I called Jason's mom so she could come and watch Millie Grace, just in case the dr. wanted to see me. Then I called J who immediately headed home, he just "knew" that this was the day. The dr. decided that he wanted me to go to the hospital just for observation, when I got there my blood pressure was through the roof, normally my pressure is 104 over 65, this day it was in the 160's over the 90's so they start to help me along with my labor...I was admitted to the hospital and in a room at 5:45 dilated to 1cm...at 6:57, by the grace of GOD we welcomed into this world and into our family a 7lb. 13oz. 20 inch long...son, Levi Everett Barbee. I can remember his daddy crying tears of joy and I was saying "he looks just like Millie Grace", and the dr. was saying "can I get a towel he is peeing on me" LOL
I have no doubt in my mind that both of our children know how precious they are to me and their daddy, and one day I am sure we will get to the story of him having brothers in heaven, but right now it suffices to say to him, "Bones you were WELL WORTH the wait. We praise GOD for such an awesome little boy, and Mommy and Daddy Love You...HIGH AS THE SKY TO THE MOON AND BACK"

The Rest of the Day!

Looking at an inch worm with Papaw.

Our beautiful little girl!!!

A gift from Mamaw and Papaw, no he has still not willingly riden it yet..but that day will come.

Drinking Mommy's Frappe from McD's this is why he didn't go to bed until 9:00pm, that night!

Party Time

These are some pics from the party. We had a surprise guest, Miss Alivia. This was the first time we had gotten to meet her and she is absolutely beautiful, spunky and we love her..LOTS!! Tucker was there, which was all that BONES talked about, Miss Sawyer was there and she is absolutely adorable, a sweet pretty little girl. Chase, who is Bones newest cool best friend was there and so was little Josiah, he had just woke up from a nap. WE had a great time, with grandparents and friends and everyone that we just love to pieces.

Happy 2nd Birthday...BONES!!

This is a collage picture from before the party started. The poster is a card that his Mamaw made him for everyone who attended the party to sign, she makes one for each birthday. The gift table had a train on it, which most of the children were fascinated by, of course Papaw was the Train Guardian. :o) We had a train pinata, a pull string one so no one got knocked out....LOL

Levi Everett Barbee (BONES)

This is my baby, who just turned 2 years old. What a little man he has become in such a short time. I am so proud of him he is AWESOME & AMAZING!!

Choo, Choo.....Bones is turning "2"!!

Resurrection Cookies

Joes Crab Shack

I think it is pretty obvious that we like eating at Joe's Crab Shack, we go there everytime we are at the beach...AWESOME FOOD, AWESOME TIME!!

Beach Trip 2010

We decided we needed a family vacation, so we called and made reservations for a weekend getaway at Myrtle Beach last weekend. We happened to pick a weekend that they were hosting the car show, but the trip turned out great. We stayed At Compass Cove Resort, as always, it is so family friendly and the rooms are always so nice. The kids love all of the activites they have to do there and we just really had a blast.

Blessings.....

Dinner with my parents is a blessing....

Bones helping me unload the dishwasher is a blessing (even though he did drop a ceramic plate on my foot and bruised my baby toe).....

Millie Grace coloring us LOTS AND LOTS of pictures is a blessing....

J and my dad in law putting railing on our front porch is a blessing....

J and my dad in law rewiring our well pump so we could have water is a blessing....

There are so many things that happen on a daily basis that are true blessings that I just don't take the time to be grateful and thankful for. As a mommy I get very wrapped up in toys being picked up and floors being cleaned and and laundry being done, to recognize most of these blessings until they have gone well past. J is always telling me I need to slow down and take my time. I am beginning to see that he is right, so from now on when the playroom is a mess and the laundry needs to be folded, I will be found enjoying my blessings, smelling the roses, taking time to enjoy the little things, because when it comes right down to it, the little things are the most important things.

Christmas 2009

This is A.G and Bones Christmas picture from last year. J gave in a let him wear knee socks which simply thrilled me and his Nanny. The photographer loved this picture she said it was just "simply natural". We love it too!!

Snow Much Fun, AGAIN in 2010!

We woke up and there was snow on the ground and our bowl was full of snow, we started out with snow cream for breakfast and then moved on to homemade waffles. Then it was time to play in the snow. Can't wait until it does it again!

Sledding.....and away they go!!!

So the first big snow we didn't have a sled, not a true sled, I mean we could have used cookie pans, or car hoods, or whatever people use these days instead of the good old fashioned plastic sleds. So as soon as Bed, Bath & Beyond got their newest shipment of sleds in "J" and Bones went and bought a sled, and man was Bones happy about it. I thought just as soon as we bought a sled it wouldn't snow again this year, but that little boy used the sled as a fishing boat in the middle of the playroom floor for days, he would sit in it and eat his snack, he would watch cartoons, it was so funny to see him with the sled.
When it snowed over Valentine's Day weekend the first thing we did was get the sled out, and if you know Millie Grace, you know she is not afraid of anything, so she was the first to go down our driveway on the sled, now I took the job of standing at the bottom and taking pictures and of course to make sure they stopped and didn't run into any trees. Our driveway doesn't look that steep until their is a 4 year old barreling down at you going about 20 mph. ( I am sure I am exaggerating here but you get my point) So then we let Bones go down and he did a great job I got him stopped successfully before smashing into the firewood pile. Then we let them go down together, oh how sweet you say? Not so much, I can tell you from experience with 2 children in the sled it goes faster, picks up speed quicker and is definitely more difficult to stop. Now this is the part where Millie Grace started screaming and Bones learned that if you don't want to be on the sled the snow is soft and it's okay to just roll off of the thing. Needless to say every time Bones got back on the sled he would roll off, because you know that is the most fun part....and Millie Grace didn't get back on it with her brother.
We had a blast and no one came out any worse for the wear, no black eyes or broken bones, definitely thankful that day for the many, many, guardian angels we have watching out for our babies!!! LOL

More Snow 2010

These are pictures I took of the snow that fell before the Valentine's Day weekend.

What's New?

Well I don't have any new pics to post but I just wanted to update everyone about what has been going on in the family as of late.
First of all, I am pleased to say that through diligent temperature checks, Bones has gone over a month without a febrile seizure. Every time we think he feels hot or he gets overly cranky we check his temp. All I have to say to him is temp. time and he raises his little arm, so he knows the drill. We are working on potty training and he does well, most of the time, he certainly likes his "big boy pants". He got a hold of a permanent black marker today (thanks to his big sister) and wrote all over his face, it wasn't a BIC marker so the baby wipes didn't get it off completely. We are seriously thinking of changing his nickname from "Bones" to "Blackjack". :o) He has learned that he is "ME" and he is on the fast track to learning the word "MINE" (again thanks to big sister) He will pat his chest and say "Baby" then he will say "Daddy" so he knows he is Daddy's Baby. Unfortunately he has moved from telling me "uh-uh" to the full fledged word of "NO" which does not make me happy in the least bit. I can't believe in April he will be turning "2"

Next, I am saddened to report that Millie Grace has 2 loose teeth, I know that means she is getting bigger, but I just thought it would be a little later when she got loose teeth, I don't know like 6. Anyway I have made the decision to start homeschooling her this year, as she is not technically old enough to start "public school" anyway, but honestly after hearing Rod Parsley talk about what they are teaching children in school, I am not sure I want her in public school anyway. She is writing her name and signing her own cards, I am just really pleased with what a good student she is, she is very eager to learn and of course arts and crafts is one of her favorite things to do. She is a great big sister and she watches out for Bones like a big sister should. I am very very proud of the little girl she is right now.


That is all for now, I am going to try and post some valentines day pics up as soon as I get them taken. Have a great February!!

Much Love
The Barbee's

Happy Anniversary

Recently J and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary, we had a big night all planned out, we had gotten the grandparents to watch Millie Grace & Bones, we had reservations at a quaint little restaurant in downtown Concord called Union Street Bistro. We had planned a nice romantic trip afterwards to one of our favorite coffee houses, Dilworth. Then......the blizzard of 2010 hit, no romantic dinner for just us on our anniversary, we were snowed in, well not really because if you know J he will drive anywhere in any kind of weather, and we did go eat at our fave Mexican restaurant El Vallarta for lunch on the 30th. But due to the refreezing possibilities we opted not the drive after dark. As I was saying, we were snowed in on our anniversary, and I cooked fillet of beef with steamed veggies and baby potatoes and we had a cheesecake sampler for dessert, we snuggled and cuddled with our babies and just had a nice time at home.
However tonight we did get our romantic dinner out, not at the quaint restaurant in downtown Concord, (which was my decision) J and I went to Longhorn and it was delicious, we had steak and potatoes and the biggest piece of chocolate cake with ice cream that I had ever seen. They put us in a round booth and I realized that the past 9 years have been wonderful because I am blessed to have marrried my very best friend, who with the birth of our daughter has become the very best daddy, the man who still makes my heart flutter and makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room. It was so much fun and more romantic than the candlelit dinner we had planned......even if I did eat sitting under a bull. HaHaHaHa

Snow 2010

Millie Grace loves the snow and she had a blast playing in it this year. She loves throwing snow balls at her Daddy and of course he throws them back at her. She really watched out for Bones and was very protective. A great Big Sister.

Bones

This was the first time Bones really got to go out and play in the snow, HE LOVED IT!!!!! He threw a major fit when it was time to come back inside, but he had a blast.

SNOW 2010

SNOW DAY!!!!!! We were very excited to see the snow come these last few days. It has been so much fun, and Bones got to go out this year and play, they even got Mommy out there too. (pictures are soon to follow) We got bundled up and traveled out to the front yard, far away I know, and Bones loved it, Millie Grace was talking about sledding and skiing and fortunately she is much more graceful than her mommy ever dreams of being. These are pictures of the 5 1/2 acres we live on, and J even went and took some out in the woods (our backyard) you can see our house through the woods in one of the pictures. We still have a few inches on the ground here, we think it is waiting for more.......

Ready to go Hunting....