Karate Kid

Move over Ralph Machio - Chapel Barker is the new karate kid! One of my New Year resolutions was to get Chapel back in Mr. Reggie's karate class. We love this class because it is great for exercise, great for mental discipline, and great for meeting new friends. Chapel previously took the class through Ashley Hall's after school programs, but we have now stepped it up a notch and moved to his official karate studio where there is more room to learn the moves, and mirrors where the kids can watch themselves do the kicks and punches (all the kids love watching themselves!) And I must admit, I am such a pageant mom. Mr. Reggie holds a contest each week to see which child can stand on one foot the longest or keep their balance the longest - and so far Chapel has WON EVERY WEEK! Go, Chapel, Go! I love her competitive spirit.

Tourist In Our Own Town

Kiawah Island is very close to Charleston and Folly Beach. I can't believe I have never been there or that I did not know much about the neighboring island (other than the fact my friend Kelly Smith once waited on George Clooney there. And, yes, he was gorgeous!) This weekend, we had an incredible opportunity to explore the entire island.... The SC BAR convention was held there so we decided to make it a family excursion. Brett found an awesome 3 bedroom villa to rent and while he was away attending some classes, the babies and I took full advantage of the alligator tours and free time to relax. Once dad rejoined, we explored the beach and enjoyed walking around the pristine island. Brett and I even had the opportunity for some "adult time". His mom and dad joined us late Friday night and watched the kids so we could go to a reception and dinner. Here are highlights of us being tourists in our own town... so to speak!

Alligator Tour....I suspect I know more about alligators now than the average American. We had an excellent tour guide that explained the habitats and the lifestyles of the alligators on Kiawah. I loved going on this with the kids. All of them were completely mesmerized and enjoyed the 2 mile walk.

Can you find the gator in the photo?

And in this photo?

The next day, while taking a walk, we also ran across this awesome sight! How often do you spot an owl sitting in a tree????

And finally, Brett and I enjoyed a walk with our oldest, Miss Chapel, along the pristine beaches and picked up starfish and all sorts of awesome shells. As much as I love the entire family being together, I treasure the one on one time I get to spend with my babies! It is so neat to see their unique personalities shine through.

Chapel balancing on the boardwalk.

Beautiful Kiawah beachfront.

Some shells we collected on our walk.

"Parker Barker"

We love Parker. For those of you not familiar with her, she is the angel that helps me with the twins on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parker first joined our family the summer I was pregnant with the babies. Although not on bed rest, I was limited in what I could do, I was huge and generally uncomfortable so Parker came during that summer to help me with Chapel and Eli. The babies were born in the middle of the summer, so they officially met Parker then. Skip ahead and now Parker is back. And we are oh-so thankful that she is. Par-par, as she is affectionally called by Conor, is patient and easy-going and does lots of fun things with the little ones including trips to the playground, strolls around the block and bike rides. I use the time when she is here to work at the store, which makes concentrating on what needs to get done much easier. I am happy with our routine and I think the babies certainly are as well. They don't so much as blink, much less, cry when I walk out the door and leave them. They just shout "bye". Parker is one of the family - Parker Barker.

Here are the babies and Parker posing in the t-shirts she had made for them for Xmas. As much as I would like to believe Parker only has us to think about, she is also an artist, avid recycler, basket weaver, cyclist, and loves VW buses - she and her hubby drive a super cool one. Aren't these shirts the coolest???

SUN(day)

After a very cold and wet start to 2010, the sun finally came out and warmed us up today. Papa Ed also came for a visit. We took the kids on a long walk and Chapel and Eli rode their new bikes all around the block. I am so proud of Eli for learning to ride his bike so quickly. I did not get pics of that but will make sure I take the camera along next time. Papa Ed took us to the Folly Beach Crab Shack for lunch and it was delish. Eli ordered the kids snow crab leg - such a sophisticated palate for a young man. Conor and Jude, however, continue to eat 10x's as much as Chapel and Eli combined. Here are the kids with their Papa sitting out on the deck at the restaurant, just enjoying a sunny Sunday!

Peace and Love, Peace and Love

Wishing you PEACE & LOVE in 2010!

Auld Lang Syne - Part II

Our actual New Year's Eve Party took place in the lobby of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. We have chosen to celebrate here for the past several years because:

1. once we arrive, it requires no driving

2. it is kid friendly

3. there is a band and decorations and free party favors

4. moms and dads can order champagne and kids can order Shirley Temples

5. it is a great party environment - great fun and great people watching (or at least I like that part!!)

Part of the fun is wearing our NYE outfits. Everyone likes to get dressed up for the big party. This year, Chapel wore a dress sent by Aunt MiMi and Eli and Dad wore their new Polo sweaters. The little babies wore their matching black and white ensembles. Usually Eli is the kiddo that makes until midnight, but this year, only Chapel and her cousin Caroline made it until the ball dropped.

Eli gearing up for the celebration.
'

Cousin Bren dressed to the nine's....

Chapel with her Shirley Temple and sparkly dress.

Conor posing in front of the grand tree in the main hall.

Conor and Jude on the sleigh.

And grinning for the camera.....

One funny story, Chapel and her cousin Cross had been talking about dancing at the party all night. Eli got a jealous and when I was dressing him to go downstairs he said to me, "Mom - Cross told me he is not going to marry me. He is going to marry Chapel." So I said, "Oh, well, that is okay if he wants to marry Chapel instead of you. " And Eli replied, "But mom, I've got a plan. I'm gonna punch him in the face and then he will marry me!" I laughed so hard. I said, "Eli, you can not punch someone in the face and make them marry you. That's not the way it works..." Eli replied, "Why not??" I don't really know why not, but usually it just does not work that way.....

Chapel and Cross dancing....

Midnight arrives and Eli is O-U-T.

Caroline and Chapel made it to the countdown. True Party Girls...

The second best part of our New Year was the unexpected snow storm we woke up to on Saturday morning. Several hours and several inches later, we were downstairs at the hotel having a true snowball fight and making snow angels.

Cousins Bren, Cross and Caroline looking cool.

Chapel and dad.

PaPa Ed - love this pic.

Eli and Chapel making snow angels.

Me and MaMa Anne and two cold babies.

And finally, Auld Lang Syne, is basically a song about days gone past and not forgetting friends. So it with much symbolism that my great and dear BFF, Tammy, came for a second year in a row to hang with us during our trip. She lives only one hour away and I cherish every minute of our time together. She loves my babies, understands my husbands humor, and tolerates all of my neurotic tendencies. Oh how I wish she lived closer! Cheers....

Auld Lang Syne - Part I

Christmas may have its traditions but for the Barker family, we keep the party and traditions going well on into the New Year. This year we celebrated our sixth annual trip to Asheville, NC - more specifically the Grove Park Inn - to ring in 2010. I love this part of our holiday tradition. I like that the GPI is still decorated for the holidays and that they host a national gingerbread house competition. I like that we do the candlelight tour of Biltmore Estate and that the house is decorated in all of its holiday grandeur. I like that the hotel hosts a first class child-friendly party on New Year's Eve in the lobby complete with party favors and a band. All of this combines to delay getting back to the post-Christmas real world a few days longer.

This year, as we drove up in the mountains, there was snow covering the sides of the road from an earlier snow storm. When we got to our destination, Chapel and Eli played in this icy, frozen snow with great excitement. It was not fluffy at all, it had been there for a week and kept melting and refreezing so it was very hard. They did make this cute snowman. It was all we could put together with the snow that was available, but it was really cute to see them enjoy making a "real" snowman.

Our annual visit to Biltmore Estate is always one of my favorite parts of the trip. I think the house is so beautiful at night and decorated for Christmas. And the candlelight tour boasts singers or ballroom dancer or ballerinas in the great hall for entertainment. I always feel like I am taken back to a much earlier time of grand parties and opulence. Biltmore was first opened to friends of the Vanderbilts on Christmas Eve in 1895 which inspires the family to keep this magnificent tradition alive. This year, they also had opened 4 new rooms to the public so I was extra excited.

Here we are outside the house, it was fr-fr-freezing this night. Seriously, it was like 14 degrees and windy!

You are not supposed to take pictures in the house so here is a picture of the picture they took of our family. I love it. Each year we have one made and it is awesome to see how much the kiddies grow from year to year. Last year those little babies couldn't even sit up on their own and this year they are climbing and running all over the house!

And here is my contraband picture of the ballroom dancers. I had to take it very quickly - sorry it is blurry!

We toured the winery and farm portion of the estate during the day. Chapel and Eli and the babies really enjoy this more than the house - a finely decorated house can not compete with live chickens and cows and tractors to climb on!

Stayed tuned for Auld Lang Syne - Part II for unexpected snow storms and great NYE festivities.

Christmas Photo's Part II

So I was wondering what happened to all my Christmas photographs when posting my blog last night and tonight I found them. Here are a few more of our wonderful Christmas Eve at PaPa and GiGi's house.

Joey showing the babies the deer in the little house behind PaPa and GiGi's house. It is a place where the family gathers to eat and fellowship.

PaPa and GiGi looking good.

Tina and Robert watching the cousins open presents.

Back in the main house after the festivities and fireworks and in our Xmas pajamas. Uncle RaRa is on hand to witness the present opening. Notice all my babies in their matching red PJ's.