Right On Target

Some 70 odd days or so after turning 4, Eli finally had his 4 year well-check yesterday. With our trip in April, school ending in May, and then the doctor's schedule filled it took us a little longer than usual. Not to worry, Eli is healthy as a horse. He weighs 38 lbs and is 41 inches tall. That is the 50th percentile for both height and weight! Couldn't be more perfect. He took his appointment seriously, and hardly cracked a smile the whole time. And of course, he cried and cried when the needle shots as he calls them made their way into the check-up. All in all, one healthy boy who is growing up right on target.

July Birthdays

July is right around the corner and 3 out of 4 Barker Babies will be celebrating birthdays. Plans for parties are in the works. Conor and Jude have decided they want their party at Chuck-E-Cheese while Chapel is still trying to decide exactly what she wants. So far slumber party and a beach house party in Garden City are the forerunners. I decided to take a look back at some previous celebration and the old cliche is true, time goes by so fast!

The original birthday - July 18, 2004.

Turning 1 in Conway with family and friends.

Backyard Curious George party to celebrate turning 2.

Another jump castle and Wizard of Oz themed party for the big three.

A small dinosaur party at home and a Build-A-Bear party in Myrtle Beach with cousins for her 4th.

And last year we celebrated at the beach house in Garden City with a pig themed party for number 5.

Conor and Jude's original birthday - July 8, 2008.

And last year celebrating their 1st at home!

Turtle Watch

Do you see this big check?

Okay, look at it a little more closely!

For an entire school year, the Kindergarden class at Ashley Hall studied sea turtles, took field trips to the sea turtle hospital, visited sea turtle nesting sites. Chapel became a sea turtle expert of sorts - filling us all in on their habitats, habits, predators, sizes, types.... and so on. So this past spring Chapel joined the folly beach sea turtle walk program on Folly. She is actually a substitute walker if someone is unable to walk their assigned section one morning (and you gotta go early because that's when the turtles come on shore to nest). Well, we have walked a couple of times and it is a close-knit community, these walkers. Yesterday our neighbor, who is also the first lady of Folly Beach and an experienced turtle walker, called to tell Chapel a turtle was at 9th St. East laying her eggs. So out the door we went. At 6:45. In our pajama's. And here is what we saw - the most amazing thing I have seen on Folly, and their are a lot of sights to be seen on Folly!

And since this beautiful creature nested her 115 or so eggs in a tidal zone, volunteers had to carefully dig up the nest, remove each egg and place in a safe, new nest in the dunes. Where it will be protected and watched until it hatches in about 55 days. So exciting. Can't wait to see these little ones!

And here is my little one, experiencing first hand what she learned about all year.

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

.....HERE! (on Folly Beach.....)

.....THERE. (modeling our new outfits from Paris that PaPa and GiGi gave us!)

.....and EVERYWHERE (art camp at the Gibbes Museum).

So far summer has been busy! Hope you all are enjoying the summer, too!

Karate Kid Part 2

Now that he is officially 4 years old, Eli has started taking Mr. Reggie's karate class. He is sooo cute in his little karate uniform. It took him a few times of running out of class and being called back in to make it a whole hour but he is a fast learner. And it helps that his friend Owen is there to keep him company!

If You Build It, They Will Come!

World famous for their hot dogs, Jack's Cosmic Dog has opened a new location not more than 5 minutes from our home. Before this convenient location arrived we had to drive about 30 minutes into Mt. Pleasant. We are so exited to have them on our side of the world! On a different note Brett feels as if they "stole" his idea. For years he has said he should open a hot dog restaurant on Folly Rd I told him they did not steal his idea, they simply expanded. on their own original idea. Either way, we have been there twice in the one week since it has been opened. And we look really cool posing by all the rockets in front!

Gone Fishin'

Yesterday was the 2nd Annual Take a Kid Fishing Day on the Folly Beach pier. Brett, along with MaMa Anne and PaPa Ed, stayed out there with all 4 kids from 9am to 3pm. Impressive. And even more impressive, they actually caught several fish, stingrays, and sharks. The kids had a blast and came back absolutely exhausted! (And a little sunburned!)

In their own words:

Chapel: I caught six fish. I caught four sharks and my brother caught one. I caught three stingrays. One was by itself and the other was two at the same time. My biggest fish I caught was 4 ounces and then we had a drawing to see who won at the end of everything. It was fun.

Eli: I catched one shark, one stingray, and one fish. And then I had some gatorade.

Flying Monkey's

This Spring we signed Chapel up for her first team sport - soccer. It was great fun getting to meet some new friends and watch these 5 and 6 year olds get serious about their sport. We are not too sure how serious Chapel was about actually making a goal - she never really pushed her way to the ball. But she did have a couple of great moments and she did learn a lot about the game and teamwork. Next year Eli will be old enough to join the fun and I am thinking with two Barker's on the field, some magic will have to happen!

An action shot....

Standing around....

Some instructions from Coach Jack...

Half-time break...

Getting her trophy after the final game of the season...