Random Cuteness

She always has been good about accessorizing. 

 

Tutus are always appropriate.

 

 

Yesterday she asked me to put "bones" in her hair.  Those would be bobby pins.

 

When cleaning the living room, these glasses are necessary.

 

They're super cute.

 

Daddy came up with a cute idea for the kids.  They paint rocks and make animals out of them.  I'll have to post the picture of Andrew's completed chameleon.  It's really adorable.  Emily and Charlie just painted the rocks, but they had such a fun time doing it.

 

They just can't help being adorable, okay?

making it worth it...

I remember being so excited when Emily was born for the kids to start playing together.  And then they did, and it was great.  And then...the fighting began.  Normally, they are good about sharing and playing nicely, etc but when they aren't, it's enough to make me want to hide in the bathroom and make them fight it to the death.

So this week, they have (for the most part) been playing so happily together.  And it's been so great!

One day this week was 60 degrees!  We took advantage of it by going out and playing in the backyard.  It felt so nice to have the windows open and get some fresh air after I had the flu last week.

 

 

This was the best picture in my attempt to get a cute one of the three of them.

 

Last night, I heard Emily say, "Oh, right, Charlie!  That will be a PERFECT game!"  I turned around to this scene... 

and my heart just about melted right out of my body.  Then they explained that they were playing a hugging game.  The rules were simple.  You hug each other and say 'awwwwww!'  Needless to say, I encouraged this behavior.

 

This was another game the littlest ones came up with.  They called it "Sleeping."  These rules are very simple.  You lay down next to each other on Andrew's bed and laugh while Andrew cleans his room.

 

They are all so cute and sweet.  It really does make it all worth it!!

Over the Moon

  For the past four and a half years, these sweet little kiddos have been in limbo.  My sister and brother-in-law have taken care of them since the day they came home from the hospital.  Their parents have worked so hard to get their lives in order to get these sweeties back.  In the end, they made a heartbreaking decision that is a huge blessing in our family's lives. 

  These wonderful, happy, amazing kids are now up for adoption.  And they will officially be members of our family.  We are over the moon.  It will still take awhile for all this to get sorted out and all, but what an amazing thing!  We've loved them for so long, and worried about their future for so long. 

  A few months ago, I asked my friends and family to participate in a day of fasting and prayer that what was right would happen, and soon.  I know that God heard and has answered these prayers.  Thank you so much!

  We are so happy!!!!!!!!!!

Being a Hero

When you think of a hero, there are many characteristics that come to mind.  And I can say, when my kids think of their hero, I'm sure they think of their daddy.

 

I got Charlie dressed for church the other day and was going to put a little sweater on him that he normally loves.  He ran away and refused to put it on.  Then I realized what he was saying. 

 "I Daddy.  I Daddy." 

He was saying this while patting his tie. 

Yeah, my heart melted just a bit.

 

People have asked me if I'm disappointed that this baby isn't a girl.  HOW could I be disappointed?  My boys have the best role model of all time.  We're lucky to be having another one.

Holiday Celebrations - The FINALE!

I had to make the title exciting so you'd read it.  :)  The last part of our journey was New Year's!  We had so much fun thinking of things to do with the kids.

Grandma read stories to the kids.

 

A lot.

 

Daddy=horse

 

Grandma had a bag of bracelets she got at a yard sale.  Emily played with them for days.  :)

 

Grandma and Grandpa got a new dryer while we were visiting, so all the kids had fun playing with the box.

 

Cute little Beasley boys

 

We decorated the dining room and got fun snacks for the kids.

 

They were super excited, even though it was hard to get a good picture of that.

 

We cut up some large confetti and gave them all a little baggie full of it.  They were so cute throwing it in the air saying, "Happy New Year!"

 

 

 

 

Some of them thought it would be good to make confetti angels.

 

Then we played games.  When the Barnard clan stays up past 8:30, things can get a little crazy.  We laughed so hard!!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!!!!

Holiday Celebrations Part 3

We went to Amy's house for more Christmas!    It was great to spend time with my family, to watch all the cousins play together, and eat yummy food.

Me with my brothers, sisters, parents, and a tiny spider monkey.

 

Yes this IS the cutest picture of all time.  Thanks for asking.

 

Andrew even joined in on the fun.

 

Emily spent the majority of the day playing with the cute play kitchen.  She even fed the baby doll.

 

Andrew has decided he wants to eat vegetables!  He will voluntarily pick up cucumbers, carrots, and celery.  He even ate broccoli, but didn't like the florets, just the stem.  That was kind of weird, but HE ATE IT!  This means so much, because this kid has been SO picky for SO long.

 

Me with 5 of my absolute favorite people.

 

Why am I always making my own row in front?!  I even specifically  made sure I wasn't this time!  Haha, oh well.  Love these people.

 

Arts and crafts time

 

Uncle Aaron being bossed around by Emily

 

 

 

What a sweet daddy!

 

 

 

 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Holiday Celebrations Part 2

Christmas!  I loooooooooooove Christmas.  I get so excited for it to get here, have so much fun, and then am so glad when it's over.  Am I the only one here?  So if you don't want to see all the fun we had...too bad!  Here it is.

Mike and I made a calendar so the kids could see what they had to look forward to.  Some of my drawings were a little funky, and we had to reschedule some of the stuff, but it really worked well and I think we'll do it again next year.

 

Charlie decided the tree needed some trimming, apparently.  (The blade has a cover on it, grandmas.)

Decorating the tree

Dance party by the lighted tree.  And a very sweet, wonderful daddy.

Little Ceasar's pizza picnic in the living room

Andrew got Legos!  He was so excited and happy to have them, and we love seeing all the creative stuff the kids have been making with them.

It's sideways.  Oops.  But here we are with the Legos, or as Charlie calls them, "Puzzles."

Andrew got me a kitty calendar and was very proud.

We had some friends and the missionaries over for Christmas Eve breakfast and that was pretty darn fun.

And then we went...everywhere!!!  Salem, St. Louis, back to Salem....we had a ton of fun, but were glad to be back home!

 

The kids are obsessed with my parent's cat, Pakamer.  They wished her a merry Christmas over and over and over........and over and over and over......

One of the cutest sister-in-laws ever!!

Silly little girl

Doing her "crazy eyes"

"Helping" Grandma Peat with lunch

 

More to come...