Barker Four

It's In the Cards

2012-02-15T13:49:00.011-05:00

What started as a bedtime brainstorm, ended in 4 of the cutest Valentine designs you have ever seen. I asked each kiddo that night what they wanted their Valentines to look like. Each one had a theme in mind. Chapel wanted a puppy dog valentine and even came up with a catchy phrase to put on the design. Pooch Smooch. I found a great dog design to use and she worked meticulously adding embellishments to her little pup. Her finished POOCH SMOOCH card was a detailed delight! To pull the pooch and the smooch idea together, she suggested using Hershey kisses to fill her treat bags.

Conor wanted a butterfly theme. She also picked purple and pink as her primary design colors. What made the design really pop was the princess stickers and stamps she applied. She even took her butterfly princess theme a to a higher level when she chose princess fun dip as the candy to include in her bag. I give you the final product, BUTTERFLY KISSES.....

Jude's first choice was a lion theme. However, when we started looking at the book of animals we could cut using our Cricut, he saw a lizard - more like a gecko- that caught his eye. And speaking of eyes, he also decided is lizard would need googly eyes. How smart is he? They eyes were what MADE his valentine card. He was so cute making them, he kept laughing when he glued on an eye and commented how "funny" his lizards were. Here you have LEAPING LIZARDS....

I can't say Eli's was my favorite but I can say it was the one that challenged me the most and made me smile with delight when finished. Having chose an army theme, we began looking at army themed party favors. I found a picture of juice boxes wrapped to resemble walkie talkies and knew immediately that was our design inspiration. And boy did we go all out. OPERATION VALENTINE was a labor of love, adding little design elements here and there that made these little boxes transform into something much, much more impressive. We were so enamored, we invited Teague over to make them with us.

Here you have....OPERATION VALENTINE!

What did my kids learn during this nearly 3 week process? They learned to bring an idea to life. Chapel learned that the right font can really set a mood to your project. They all learned to improvise with materials we had to get results we needed. They learned to be patient and they learned the pride associated with making your own valentines and giving them to the people you care about.

When Kid & Camera Meet

2012-01-30T21:27:00.013-05:00

Today after school, Eli climbed a huge oak tree on the playground. It was so impressive I wanted to take a quick a photo with my phone. To my surprise, when I went to use the camera, there was a message saying that I was about to run out of disc space and needed to delete photographs or videos. I looked and indeed there were over 600 pictures on my phone. Now I admit I have not downloaded my pics in a few months, but 600! That seemed ridiculous. When I got home, I started looking through all of them and to my surprise found that my little tree climber had been behind the lens snapping LOTS of photos himself.

There were numerous shots taken in the car from his vantage point in the back seat.

Some, like the one below, show the world from his view, which is quite nice.

And then there were the family member shots. Who knows when all of these were captured. Here he gets a close up Conor.

And then moves on to Jude.

And even some of mom. Here is his shot of me a the Museum of Natural History.

And goofing off at Christmas.

And making faces.....

He had even found inspiration in dad standing in line at IKEA.

Let's not forget the numerous toy photo op's.

And the ones of SPROUT.....

My favorite were the 8 or so he took of the fake baby belly hanging on the wall in the dressing room.

While I may have missed the opportunity to capture my big man in the tree, I instead was pleasantly surprised to find all the self-portraits of Eli on my phone. And those, are much worth more!

My Latest Obsession

2012-01-26T00:08:00.009-05:00

Although not gifted with the ability to draw, I have always considered myself to be artsy. I like papers and pens and putting things together on a page. Blame on it my days as a graphic designer, but I like balance, proportion and above all, a clean, simple good design. Once upon a time, I was a scrapbooker. I would go over to a friend's house and spend hours cutting, gluing, stickering and writing until finally I produced the cutest baby book for Chapel. However, scrapbooking is time consuming for a busy mom and I found that as more children followed, I could not keep up.

Fast forward! I have found the perfect hobby that allows me to continue my obsession but in a fashion that time allows. Brett bought me a Cricut for our anniversary in November. A Cricut, pronounced Cricket, cuts shapes and letters of all varieties. The creative part comes when you choose your papers, embellishments, and projects. My very first project was my niece's birthday packaging. I LOVE packaging, pretty packages show you really care, right? And although this particular package showed a lot of beginner's immaturity, I was proud none the less.

Christmas provided another reason to put some creative ideas to the test. I love how vintage wrapping looks, so I took that as my theme for this year's gift wrap. (Yes, I have a different theme each year! - Remember last year was black and white?)

This year I used the cricut to make my own tags and I was so excited with the results!

As Valentine's Day approaches, the kids and I have been brainstorming on what to make and they have come up with some awesome ideas. I can't wait to share them with you all when completed. Until then, you can see how much work we've already done getting ready. Chapel and her two friends, Annie and Mallory, made their Valentine boxes this week. Compared to scrapbooking, this craft obsession is kid approved so not only am I filling my own need to be artsy, it is an activity that I can enjoy with the little ones.

Let The Holidays Begin

2011-12-18T20:41:00.005-05:00

With Christmas just around the corner, and me behind on my blogging, I decided to add this post before starting with the Christmas activities. This year we kicked off the beginning of the holidays by spending Thanksgiving with Brett's family in Conway. The first holiday without PaPa Ed was sad for all of us. Especially remembering how much he loved to be with his family and having all of us together. Eddie, Brett's older brother, made reservations for all of us at the Dunes Club for lunch. It was a beautiful day and the food was amazing (especially the desert table). Later that night, MaMa Anne cooked a huge meal and we gathered once again to eat!

Anne and Crystal at the Dunes Club.

After lunch we gathered outside and snapped a few pics.

Later that night, Robert and Brett and I decided to do a little midnight shopping. Actually it started at 9pm with Toys-R-Us. I seriously thought we'd be the only ones there. Was I wrong!

We stayed out until 2 in the morning bargain shopping and you would have thought it was early afternoon the way the roads, and even McDonald's, were hopping at that early hour.

The next day we shopped a little more, and the Wild West store had this interesting people pleaser out front. Of course, we could not resist. A camel at a Wild West store??? Only in Conway!

Holiday Performance Recap

2011-12-15T23:24:00.012-05:00

Each of the kids showed off their hard work at their holiday performances right before school ended for the holiday's. Eli's school had a holiday singing. Here he is pre-performance, hanging out with the boys in his class.

And as you can see, his class his ALL boys! Nine of them are wonderfully managed each day by the sweet and lovely, Ms. Haynie (pictured to the right). I am so happy that Eli enjoys his school and his friends.

The assembled performers, Eli is right in the middle.

And my heart just melted when I saw my big man sing at the top of his lungs and do all the hand movements that went along with the songs. I couldn't believe this was the same little boy who used to stand still and look very uninterested in group participation.

Chapel had her dance club performance and was absolutely beautiful as a star. She has the most poise and grace - did not get that from her mama.

And finally, my babies showed off their hard work and talent at their Dance Moves recital. They go once a week and are always very eager to learn and show us what they've learned. Jude is the only boy in the class so of course he was a big ham during the recital.

October Catch-Up

2011-11-17T21:59:00.006-05:00

Here we are at the beginning of December, and I am catching you all up on October! Time flies and with four growing kids, we are busier than ever. I wanted to share how cute they were on Halloween.

Chapel was a Diva Witch. She "pieced" together her outfit and was most proud.

Eli was a white ninja. He went back and forth on white ninja, blue ninja and black ninja before making up his mind. He is a most particular little man when it comes to choices like these.

Here he is manning his class booth at the Charleston Collegiate Carnival.

Conor and Jude really took Halloween seriously this year. They both enjoyed dressing up and were excited to show off their costumes to friends.

As is our tradition, we attended the Folly Beach Halloween carnival. Aunt KiKi joined this year - so nice to have a friend who likes to dress up as much as I do.

Robert also tagged along - here is our group shot. We have one under this same entryway since the year Chapel was born!

And the kids favorite part of it all? Emptying their pumpkins and counting the loot at the end of the night. (I remember that being my favorite part when I was a kid too!)

Recent Stats

2011-11-16T05:06:00.003-05:00

Conor and Jude visited Dr. Hutton recently and showed off their comedic nature while getting the A-OK from the doc. They are both growing like little weeds.

Jude 291/2 pounds 25%
37 3/4 inched 50%

Conor
32 1/2 pounds 65%
38 1/2 inches 75%

One Venue, Two Very Different Shows

2011-11-10T04:42:00.004-05:00

The North Charleston Colesium and Performing Arts Center hosts a variety of events and shows throughout the year. From ice capades to concerts to Cirque De Soleil - we have seen incredible shows at this venue. Within a week, we took the kids to see two very different, but equally fascinating performances. First, Disney On Ice. This was especially planned for Miss Conor Barker who has talked about Princesses on Ice since seeing the show at the tender age of 18 months. Girl doesn't forget a thing.... Brett promised her as soon as Disney On Ice was back in town, she'd be there. And boy was she there. Dressed up like a Princess, front row, and with genuine excitement on her face when one of her favorites skated past.

Chapel and Eli watching the Eifel tower go by during the It's A Small World Segment.

Conor giving a shout out! She was so cute I could have squeezed her!

Up close and personal with a real princess. Check out the huge grin on my princess.

Hanging with her Disney twin, Cinderella.

Only one short week later we were back at the Colesium, only this time our show was held at the Performing Arts side of the center. And for this event, A Flaming Lips concert, Brett and I took Chapel and Eli - leaving the little ones with the grandparents. The show was awesome, the kids were fun, and because it was Halloween weekend, the costumes were outrageous.

Chapel and Eli walking to the show from our hotel room. Yes, we made an entire night of the fun.

Inside - rocking the headphones.

My super cool guys.

Very bright and spectacular show. Maybe I should have put sunglasses on the kids in addition to their headphones.

You're Going to Hollywood

2011-10-20T23:44:00.004-04:00

When Brett first suggested Chapel take Acting Lessons at the newly established Charleston Acting Studio, I was hesitant. Acting lessons? What will they teach her? Would she actually learn how to act? I took Chapel for a quick tour and immediately knew this was a great fit for my little girl who is always singing, dancing and putting on skits for us at home. What really convinced me was the fact that at the end of the 8 week session, she would actually be in a performance!

Once classes started, Chapel looked forward to it every week. She was cast as Boxcar Bill in The Buckaroo Banjo of Hamelin's Butte - a country/western version of the Pied Piper. The play took place yesterday and we were all surprised at how professional the kids were - their hard work was so evident and payed off! Chapel has already said she will return next week for the second session of classes. I can't wait until the next performance and who knows, one day we may see this little girl on the big screen!

There were several song and dance numbers.....

Chapel delivering her lines to "Dolly".

Another song and dance routine. The hat was too big and kept slipping, however Chapel just went with it and kept on singing and dancing!

A captive audience. Chapel insisted I bring along her two favorite cats, Snowflake and AJ to watch the performance!

....It's Just A Family Tradition.....

2011-10-10T21:02:00.004-04:00

Our road trip to Kentucky for the annual Fogle Family Reunion was a trip down memory lane for me and a chance to make some new memories with Brett and the kiddos. I can remember as a little girl making the 12 hour trek with my own parents - who usually chose to drive the entire 12 hours straight thought - almost every summer to visit my dad's family in Louisville. I haven't been back since I was in college and had not seen my much of my family since my wedding.

My aunts, cousins, uncles and extended family really only know my own little (or actually rather big) family through cards, pictures and well, I guess, this blog. My granddaddy Jake visits my dad yearly, so he is really the only exception. There is no excuse for it except to say it is a long way away and many of my cousins are busy raising their own families and my dad's sister all work and life is, as the cliche goes, busy. So it was with great excitement that we ventured off to the Bluegrass State.

Here we have arrived at the Kentucky Welcome Center (don't be fooled, still many hours of driving left to get to our destination).

Unlike my childhood trips to Kentuckya, as Eli calls it, when you travel with Brett you make lots of interesting stops along the route. Our first point of interest along the route, the Colonel Sanders KFC museum. This was the original KFC - at first a hotel with a little restaurant where he started cooking up the secret recipe.

Second stop - the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Wow!

They have encapsulated the cabin within this monument so that it will be forever protected at this National Park.

The cabin inside. Turns out carbon dating a few years back proved this was not the actual cabin he was born in but who REALLY wants to know that?? For all intents and purposes, it must have been a really similar cabin....

Chapel and Eli made us all so proud, answering questions, gathering info and earning their Jr. Ranger Badges.

So we finally make it the country where the reunion was held on my uncle JP's farm. And it is waaaayyy out in the country. Seriously, our only neighbors were Amish - my kids loved, loved, loved watching them going by in the horse and buggy. I was pretty amazed as well. Me and Brett and the kids stayed in this awesome A-frame my uncle built. Chapel kept referring to it as a dollhouse.

Enjoying the reunion festivities.

Daddy and his sisters with Jake.

Kids enjoying a hayride on the farm.

Eli took this pic of me and Brett walking around on the farm. I LOVE IT. It looks so Roswell and freaky with the wheat cut and the sky behind us. And our sunglasses totally add to that Men In Black vibe....

With my Grandpa Jake and Aunt Donna the morning we left to head to our next stop....Nashville.

And just as there were two stops of interest on the way in, there were two on the way out. Starting with our second National Park of the weekend, Mammoth Cave. And it was mammoth. And cold. And really kinda freaky to see and walk in. That whole spelunking thing is lost on me, I was perfectly happy to just see the entrance.

As you can see, Conor was not so happy to see the entrance.

And finally, Dinosaur World. I don't even know how to summarize except to say there was no lack of large putt-puttesque dinosaurs embedded in the woods in the middle of nowhere in KY. And we, of course, stopped. The kids loved it and ran around yelling "meat eater" and demanding photographs.

Next stop, Nashville......

Babies Got Back(packs)

2011-09-15T17:18:00.002-04:00

Conor & Jude are back in school! They returned to John Wesley only this time they go Monday thru Friday, which gives mom some time to catch up at work. Here they are on the first day showing off the book bags & lunch boxes they picked out all on their own.

Hilton Head Mini Vacay

2011-09-11T22:16:00.001-04:00

If you regularly read my blog, you might notice two things:

I have not been a good blogger of late - I am going to work really hard to turn that around as we have so many exciting things going on these days.
You will remember from previous years that we traditionally wrap up summer with a trip to Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort over labor day weekend.

This tradition has easily become one of my favorites. The rooms are spacious, the kids activities are outstanding and even adults can not help but enjoy the beauty of the area and the many offerings and choices of fun things to do. For the second year in a row, we were joined by MaMa Anne and Uncle Robert. This year our niece Bren also came. Here are the photo highlights of our 3 day mini vacay.

Me and Eli waiting on the campfire to start.

Singing songs, dancing and enjoying the campfire.

Making Smores.

Anne and Robert Chilling by the pool,

Me attempting to eat the Titanic Hog Dog that weighed 2lbs.

My picture on the wall of shame for not finishing.

Biking.

Fun at the beach club.

Serious game.

Robert thinking about what??

All 3 loved posing.

Meeting Shadow, the official Mascot.

Mickey Mouse Waffles.

Lots of fun on the slide at the pool for everyone. Except Conor - see below.

What are little girls made of?

2011-08-25T21:50:00.006-04:00

Sugar......

.......and spice......

and everything nice????

Well, for the past two days, Miss Sugar and Miss Spice has been caught red-handed with a pencil making her mark on the wall. Yesterday, it was the hallway upstairs....

And this morning, it was the wall in the living room. Although she claimed both were an accident, she was promptly sent to her room where she sat for a long, long time thinking about what she had done.

Before falling asleep tonight she told me she would never, ever, ever write on my walls again. We will see..... You never know what to expect from those little girls made of sugar & spice!

Back In Session!

2011-08-19T23:09:00.004-04:00

The first day of school for the older kids was Thursday and we could not have been more excited. Chapel started 2nd grade at her old stomping ground Ashley Hall - What!!! I have a 2nd grader?? - and Eli started Kindergarten at his new school, Charleston Collegiate.

Here Chapel poses in front of our lemon tree before heading out. Eli was in no mood to pose this early in the morning... And honestly, Chapel took a little cajoling as well. Getting back on schedule is tough!

But by the time we arrived at Chapel's school both kids had huge smiles on their faces and Chapel has this walk about her that just screamed she was glad to be back.

Chapel's teacher, Mrs. Kuenzel. She is so sweet and young and fun.

Next, we were off to Johns Island where Charleston Collegiate is located. I love this country drive in the morning and love the campus. It really has an outdoorsy and close knit community atmosphere. Eli finally agreed to pose.

And here is my big man with his teacher, Mrs. Jodie Haynie, who was a teacher of the year last year at the state level. I am so excited for him and his new class - a class of all nine boys!

So far, we survived our first short week and we are looking forward to an awesome year!

Growing, Growing, Grown!

2011-08-15T22:38:00.008-04:00

Chapel has had quite the monumental few weeks. Besides turning 7 on July 18th, she lost two teeth within two days. She was so excited to have the tooth fairy visit twice in one week. Here is my big girl showing off her toothless smile....

She also had her well check last week and was 48inches tall - exactly in the 50th percentile.

And weighed 44 lbs - also in the 50th percentile.....

All other vitals tested just fine, including heart rate & blood pressure.

And 7 is the definitely the age when sleepovers are a big deal. Here she and her friend Mallory enjoy a late night snack and toast their girls night with a big glass of milk.

Where, oh where, did this little 4 week old baby go?

Dear Robert...

2011-08-02T23:55:00.003-04:00

Dear Robert,

Forgive me for not posting this blog sooner - I promise I enjoyed the BBQ you hosted....

In all seriousness, we did have a great time cooking out and socializing with friends at the beginning of July. Robert has the perfect backyard for outdoor gatherings. The food, entertainment and company were all perfect - a special thanks to Darlynne and Harry who introduced us to this insanely large slide which kept all of our children occupied for hours.

Celeste testing out the waters....

....before everyone joined in the fun.

Zach and Jude v. 2.0

My handsome man enjoying running around in the yard.

Chapel bonding with Darlynne's new pup, Ginger.

Damien and Meredith - just like old times.

Chatting with Christopher.

Darlynne and baby Eden.

The host with the most chatting with the guests!

The Silver Linings

2011-07-26T06:30:00.006-04:00

Even though our trip home was not under the best circumstances, there were some silver linings. Conor & Jude turned 3 on July 8th and Chapel was 7 on July 18th and because all of our family was near, we were able to celebrate with them.

Here are Conor and Jude the day they turned 3 - they love playing at Aunt Crystal's house because she has cool toys, like this wagon...

We were supposed to travel to FL to see the shuttle launch on C & J's bday, so we watched it on the tele and were just as excited as if we had been there in person!

Then for Chapel's birthday, my wonderful mom and dad hosted a full on 36 people plus party at their home - cooking up some delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, blueberry cobbler, baked beans, potato salad..... and on and on. Perfect birthday party.

Our present to Chap was this enormous slide, which also provided hours of entertainment for all the kids.

Of course she received lots of other gifts as well.

Even Cousin Caroline enjoyed the Harry Potter festivities...

Seating was incredibly limited, so GiGi improvised.

Yummmm. Cake.....

So happy that my dear friend from Charleston came to the party with her sweet kids. It was nice to see someone from home....

And, of course, a party just isn't a party without a pinata.

And here is the oldest and youngest members of our family. Granny and sweet little John Redden.

As if you haven't seen enough.... The next day I took Chapel to the new Skywheel Ferris Wheel. It was amazing!

And then we wrapped up her birthday celebration with a trip to Ripley's Believe It or Not....

Where Eli was a little frightened....

So there are always silver linings - even in the darkest moments....Believe it or not.

The Passing of A Great Man

2011-07-20T09:02:00.007-04:00

Edward "Ed" Barker, age 66, of Timber Ridge Road, died Monday, July 11, 2011 at Conway Medical Center. Mr. Barker was born in Geneva, AL, a son of the late Lamar Barker and Verlie Mae Walker Barker. He was a graduate of Bay County High School and attended Gulf Coast College in Panama City, FL. Mr. Barker was the owner and operator of B&R Painting Contracting Inc. in Myrtle Beach. He enjoyed playing golf and was an avid fisherman. Mr. Barker was a member of the Conway Bassmasters. He was a US Army Veteran of Vietnam. Mr. Barker attended University Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Anne Benton Barker of Conway; two sons, Eddie Barker and wife Crystal of Conway and Brett Barker and wife Jodi of Folly Beach, SC; seven grandchildren, the love of his life, Caroline, Bren, and Cross of Conway, Chapel, Eli, Conor and Jude of Folly Beach; two brothers, Robert Barker and wife Debbie of Marianna, FL and Richard Barker and wife Barbara of Panama City, FL; and one sister, Frances Burchill and husband David of Madisonville, TN. Funeral services were held at 3:00 PM Thursday at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel with Rev. Douglas Newton and Rev. Jason Hoglund officiating. Burial followed in Hillcrest Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216, or the University Baptist Church, 1740 Hwy. 501 E., Conway, SC 29526.

Papa Ed - you will be greatly missed by your family, especially your seven grandchildren who thought you hung the moon. Your unexpected passing has made all of us realize how precious life is and that we should make the most of each day - just as you always did. You loved life and you lived your life with zest and candor. We have many great memories of you and we hold those memories close to our hearts..... One of the cards we received from a family friend held a quote from Dr. Suess that, as simple as it may sound, was touching and rang true.... "Don't cry because it is over, smile becuase it happened..." We will all smile a little bigger when we think of you and the fun times we had at the beach house, the lake, the arcade, trips to Disney, family reuntions, Atlanta and Asheville. And every other moment we spent together making memories.

Like A Good Neighbor....

2011-07-16T18:02:00.001-04:00

I am so thankful for Ms. Pam. She has been so sweet to me and the kids during our stay in Conway. Because we needed to stick close by the hospital & Anne's house over the past two weeks we have had to find activities close to home. Pam is Eddie (Brett's brother) & Crystal's neighbor and lives down the street from Brett's parents home and she has an awesome pool in her backyard. Pam has been so kind to let me & the kids invade her home & backyard for some much needed swim time. She even has a super cool slide that I haven't seen at a pool in years.....

Cousins in the Country

2011-07-11T23:21:00.001-04:00

When you grow up in the country, you learn that you have to be resourceful to entertain yourself. My sister & I channeled our inner child yesterday & put together a backyard waterpark at papa & gigi's. The kids loved it - from their big smiles, you would assume they were at Wild Water & Wheels. Got to love resourceful moms!

You're A Grand Old Flag....

2011-07-06T01:08:00.002-04:00

It seems everyone was in a festive mood for July 4th this year. Every store you perused offered red, white and blue food or clothing or some type of color appropriate accessory. Finding myself getting in the spirit of the day, I purchased (and persuaded my sister to purchase) patriotic clothing, flags and a few other items to make our holiday a success. We even decorated our golf cart and drove all over the island feeling prouder than peacocks. It didn't hurt that we overheard lots of ooohh's and ahhhhh's for both our matching outfits and mode of transportation. Hope your holiday was as patriotic as ours.

Summer Loving - It Has Happened So Fast!

2011-07-03T21:48:00.010-04:00

Is it just me or does the summer with the kids seem to be flying by at lightening speed? Here we are into July and I can hardly remember where June has gone.... This past week was spent with family, including my sister and Reese. It's so nice to have my whole family together and it so weird to see how my childhood family of four has expanded to the size it is today.

The week of fun was kicked off with PaPa and GiGi's visit to Folly. Where we took the kids to the playground.....

Then treated them all to snow cones....

We golf carted to the beach and relaxed....

And Reese, well, she was really relaxed....

Chapel and Eli packed their bags and went to Camp Grandparents for a couple of days....

And were joined by the rest of us mid-week......

Mom and dad kept the kids so Meredith and I could have a girls night out for pedicures and shopping.

And when we got home, the kids were worn out!

We ended the week by heading over to the beach house and meeting up with PaPa Ed and MaMa Anne. We celebrated the twins 3rd birthday a few days early with a Scooby Doo party!

My How You've Grown

2011-06-28T22:29:00.012-04:00

Eli had his 5 year well-check last week and my how he has grown! He measured 43 inches tall and weighed in at 36 pounds.

Eli is a fun loving, silly little man. He can't sit still for longer than a few minutes, he and Conor and Jude are always hunting for vampires and ghosts around the house. He loves to use flashlights for this purpose. He also loves a water hose, I never have to wonder if my plants and dogs have been watered. Eli dislikes blood (I mean really dislikes it) and needle shots. My big man still manages to creep into my bed every single night and somehow positions himself between me and Brett and then turns horizontal. Chapel is his best friend. Angry Birds on the iPad is his current favorite game and he really likes the songs "Ghostbusters" and "Werewolves of London." And of course, his final favorites - anything super-hero related and a McDonald's Happy Meal. It's even better when these two are combined!

Through the years....

Eli was born on his actual due date, April 18th. Not many can boast that fact!

First Christmas card photo - a Folly Jolly Christmas.

Turning 1.

One of my all time favorite pics of Brett and Eli.

I was about 7 months pregnant with the twins in this picture and Eli had just turned 2.

Ringing in the New Year

at the Grove Park Inn.

Showing his softer side.....

Sweet but a bit mischievous - personality captured perfectly here.

Eli really looks forward to planning his outfit for halloween every year.

This kid does not mind chilly water temperatures. No suit, no problem. Many of our walks turn into polar bear plunges.

Goofing off on a field trip.

And finally, at circus camp last week. Which he alternately loved and hated, depending on the day.

Indoor Camping

2011-06-21T19:01:00.006-04:00

We have spent all day in the sun! Between marsh camp, our neighbor's pool and a trip to the beach my kids needed an indoor activity that did not include 105 degree temperatures. Enter mom's resourcefulness and we are having a campout indoors. What better movie to watch than a spooky camp scare Scooby Doo?

Eli must think this is a nudist camp - he refuses to put on his pj's.

Conor and Jude hanging on to the thermos of (can you guess)???

....chocolate milk! The kids are having a blast - and no longer suffering from heat exhaustion is pretty cool too!

And even cooler - flashlights in the tent. Kids think there is something magical about a flashlight.

A Good Reason for Cake

2011-06-20T22:08:00.003-04:00

While shopping at Whole Foods yesterday and eyeing the delicious cakes, Chapel reminded me that today, June 20th, was none other than Franklin's 11th birthday. A dog that old deserves a cake, right? Franklin was my first baby and before I had kids, I would send out handmade invitations and have birthday parties for him - he even has his own scrapbook! Some days, I think Franklin is on his last leg, he's not as quick as he once was, his eyes are a little cloudy, and he seems grouchy now and again, but then'll he see a squirrel or small niblet of food and that old familiar spryness returns. Our kids love him, and he really is an excellent pet. So G.H. Franklin Barker, we wish you a very happy birthday. Hope you enjoyed the cake!

The kids getting ready for the much anticipated party. Notice Reese has arrived!

Singing Franklin his birthday song.

And letting him lick the icing. Note to my mother and Brett's mom, Franklin DID NOT eat his cake at the table. He went out on the front porch... This was just a great photo op!

Garden City Vacay

2011-06-13T06:12:00.009-04:00

Spending five days of vacation in your hometown may sound boring to most, but when you grow up 15 miles outside of Myrtle Beach, going home is never dull. The great part about visiting for us is that we have access to a family beach house in Garden City free of charge and can spend our money on the awesome tourist activities that attract thousand of visitors to the Grand Strand summer after summer. The kids always have a blast with their grandparents and cousins and the family attractions.

We took our kayak and used Ed's dock to spend some quiet paddling time on the inlet. Both beautiful and peaceful, the kids loved being out on the water.

Captain Hook's was a favorite for putt putt when we lived at the beach and did not disappoint the kiddos.

Jude was deemed the winner, his determination and concentration won him first place, despite not keeping score.

Dining is always fun on the Grand Strand. Where else do you see a large crab atop a van? Only at Crabby Mike's.

Although the wait for a table was an hour (!) it seemed to whizz by as the party in the parking lot took our full attention. Live DJ, hula hooping, dancing.....

I showed Eli the basics of hula hooping and he was a natural.

Temporary tattoos were also on hand to keep the kids busy. Conor sporting her pink butterfly.

And Jude showing off his pirate body art.

Once inside the kids enjoyed making their plates and especially were fond of the dessert bar.

PaPa Dan Dan surprised us with tickets to the new dinner theater show, Pirates Voyage. It was awesome, we had front row seats and the kids were beyond excited to see a real pirate show.

Chapel and I were chosen to participate in the show! Both nervous, we listened carefully to our instructions and helped our team defeat the opponents. Because dinner theater is all about you vs. them.

Eli showing his support for the blue pirate team.

I had not visited Brookgreen Gardens in years and forgot how great it is for kids. The zoo was our favorite and most of the animals were out and about despite the heat.

Famous for their statues, Conor took the opportunity to stand in front of each one she came across and demand a photograph.

Needing a break from the heat, we hit the Coastal Grand mall where we found this cool ride. Do I need to tell you the importance of finding a real Mystery Machine when you are 3 years old?

And finally, we won big at both the arcade and Guess Your Age booth. Chapel had seen one of these booths on an Olivia cartoon and insisted on visiting. She was so very proud of her pink dolphin and red I LOVE YOU pillow.

And there you have our vacation in your (home) town! It is so nice to go back and visit and share it with your kids.....

2011-06-13T06:12:00.001-04:00

Piers & Pirates

2011-06-06T18:09:00.009-04:00

The annual Take A Kid Fishing Day was again a hit with the Barker Family. It was incredibly hot but the kids were not deterred, they were determined to catch a fish. The cool thing about this sponsored event is that the Fishing Club members provide bait, get your pole ready to fish, and give away prizes that include gear and a bicycle!

Jude started the tournament optimistic that he would catch a big fish.

But he was soon distracted by just about everything else on the pier so he handing over his tiny fishing pole to PaPa Ed - who just knew he was going to catch something on this little rod.

But as fate would have it, the fish were not biting and Chapel reeled in the lone fish we caught all day! We were all so proud of that fish...

....you would have never known it only weighed 3oz's by the smiles on our faces.

Conor and Jude needed a break after all the fish catching action.

And finally, we attended the awards and the kids were photographed with the group of participants and sponsors. Jude chose not to be photographed.

However, Miss Conor Barker took her place front and center, despite not having participated in the slightest.

And you may be asking yourself why Eli is not pictured above. Well, he had a much more important affair to attend - a pirate themed party for his friend Jack. The party boarded at the marina and sailed around the harbor. The boys sang pirate songs, ate cupcakes and got some awesome treasure to bring home.

Seriously, who would not have fun at a party with this overly realistic Captain Jack Sparrow. Is that not a cool pirate?

Wrapping It All Up

2011-06-04T23:48:00.006-04:00

It's summer! The school year officially came to a close with two tremendous ceremonies starring none other than Chapel & Eli Barker.

Chapel joined dance club in January and worked very hard on her part as a flower. Chapel has this to say about dance club: "It was hard work, but fun when the day of the performance finally comes. I was nervous because my class was there too and the principal!"

Molly, Annie's mom, putting Chapel's hair in a bun. All dancers had to wear the same make-up and hairstyle.

Chapel making her entrance on the big stage.

Here she is making the bridge.

Chapel after the performance with her flowers and big sister Abbie who was also in the dance.

Abbie was a bird....

Doesn't she have the stature of a ballerina?

Following that performance, we walked across Campus where Eli's Pre-K performance was about to get underway. This performance was bittersweet, as it was Eli's last day at Ashley Hall. Next year he will move to Kindergarten at Charleston Collegiate.

Watching mom to make sure she is watching!

Pledge.

Rainbow Ribbons.

Singing with his class.

FREEDOM!

Serious Swimmers

2011-06-01T23:00:00.004-04:00

Conor and Jude visited their friend Carson today at the pool. Boy, do I have some high maintenance, serious swimmers on my hands. Floaties, goggles, boogey boards - just to name a few of their demands before getting in the water. They enjoyed "swimming" for hours, just jumping over and over and pulling themselves along the bottom. So far, summer is looking pretty promising - the older the kids get, the easier they are to entertain. Tomorrow is Eli's last day and Friday is Chapel's so we will be in full blown summer mode by next week.

Conor told me she was "enjoying her life" at the pool.

Jude was a big daredevil, jumping and jumping.

Sporting the goggles.

Carson and his float.

Which was later taken over by his mama!

Little Graduates

2011-06-01T08:20:00.003-04:00

So very proud of my babies. They have successfully finished their first year of pre-school. Both can sing their ABC's, name colors and shapes, and they can even recite the pledge! We loved having Ms. Becky as a teacher and will miss her this summer but look forward to returning in the fall with a new group of friends to love.

Ms. Conor Barker - Graduate:

Mr. Jude Barker - Graduate:

Sweet note from Ms. Becky:

An Open Letter

2011-05-28T22:23:00.003-04:00

Dear Chapel, Eli, Conor & Jude -

Last week, we lost a huge part of our family. Parker, your beloved friend, passed away. I want you guys to always remember that in the 3 years we knew her, she never once disappointed us. She was a dependable, loyal, honest and gentle soul. Parker was so very patient with each one of you, always encouraging and always finding ways to entertain you. To me, Parker was irreplaceable. She was my friend that greeted me at the beginning and end of the day with a smile. She never had a harsh word and always put a positive spin on the events of each day. As you grow older and time fades and you think back and remember Ms. Parker, I hope you remember the times she spent with you and the wonderful things she taught you and know how much she loved you. Little things, like strolling you around the block, playing in the back yard, taking you to the Children's Museum, letting you walk the dogs and water the plants, making cupcakes with you, taking you to karate and the library and the sandy playground. And when you do, I hope these memories bring a smile to your faces as big as the smiles you brought to hers.

East vs. West (Playgrounds, of course)

2011-05-24T08:11:00.005-04:00

For those of you who know Folly, you know there is an East Side and a West Side. Those of us who live on the east side are much cooler (just kidding). But we east side dwellers do have some new bragging rights. Just in time for summer, Folly Beach has added a new public playground that is two short blocks from our home. Previously, we always played on the west side playground, which is also nice but at times crowded. Having said that, we have been to the new play area three times so far, and each time we are the only ones there. I kinda feel like it's our little secret right now, as it has not been highly publicized that it is open. The bright colors and structure make it completely Folly - I already envision us making good use of this over the next few months!

SUGAR, SUGAR, & more SUGAR

2011-05-19T13:47:00.005-04:00

Chapel celebrated her July 18th birthday at school yesterday, on May 18th, because with a mid-summer birthday, she gets the short end of the stick when it comes to class parties. She requested I send in cupcakes. Remember when I made cupcakes for Eli's class party in April? I had these two handy helpers....

Not having time to this week for the homemade variety , I relied on something much less labor intensive, and honestly much more delicious than I have ever whipped up. Sugar.

Located downtown, this old fashioned bakery was as much fun to hang out after school as it was to enjoy the delicious treats they had to offer.

Eli with his chocolate chip cookie.

Conor and Jude in the courtyard enjoying mini cupcakes.

Carefully escorting the goods home.

And here the dozen for class.

Followed by Chapel carrying the box with the additional 3 needed to round it up to 15.

Everyone LOVED the delicious treats - and mom, well she enjoyed getting out of making them and the outing that went along with picking them up. Sugar did not disappoint!

Summer Styles

2011-05-15T21:34:00.007-04:00

Chapel has been begging to get her hair cut for ages now but I always insisted she get a trim, not wanting to go any shorter than shoulder length. Brett has been insisting Chapel is old enough now to make this decision without me so that combined with her telling all of her friends at school she was indeed going to cut her hair left me no choice. So we Googled short hairstyles and these were her top two fav's....

Can you guess the style to which I agreed?

Getting started....

The final result! Is it not AWESOME???

Of course my big man also decided to go short....

And was so pleased with his results he even went so far to add Joel's glasses for his his photo op. Love his sense of style.

I'm actually lovin' how much easier the upkeep of these shorter styles. With summer and the beach and pools around the corner, I am thinking I am going to appreciate short hair even more!

Weekend Round Up

2011-05-09T08:05:00.019-04:00

What an epic weekend! It would take at least 5 blog posts to give all the details. Unforutnately, as you can tell from my sparse posts of late, time is not on my side. So I will break it down and share the highlights of our great weekend with our friends and my great Mother's Day with my family.

Part One - Headin' To a Country Weddin'

One of my best friends from Clemson, Mary, was married this weekend on a hunting plantation in Clinton, SC. Brett and another dear friend Kelly Smith, officiated. What a reunion of old friends - we stayed up late every night laughing, talking, reminisicing and exploring this extremly unique wedding venue. Getting together with old friends reminds you of being young and makes you feel better about getting old.

Working hard after the rehearsal dinner to get the venue decorated.

And working the next day to tie the bows.

Brett & Kelly showed no signs of wedding jitters.

Mary and Andrew say I Do.

Mary and the girls.

Brett and Robert.

Part Two - The Barker 4 On Their Own

Well, they were not exactly on their own but they were so excited to be going to Papa and Gigi's for the weekend WITHOUT mom and dad! Can you believe that??? Chapel and Eli, especially, always ask to visit without us. Now, I know exactly how much they are catered to and spoiled when I am there, so I can only imagine what goes on when I am not! Whatever magic Papa and Gigi have, it works. All four came home exhausted and asking when they could go again. And mom and dad really enjoyed having them there - they called me last night and were missing them already.....

Lots of land and places to explore on the 4 Wheeler.

Ladybugs to catch.

Outdoor picnics.

Tuckered at the end of the day.

Getting dressed.

Headed to church.

Part Three - A Perfect Reunion

We all met back home on Sunday - Mother's Day. I was ready to squeeze my babies and my own mama by then. The kids came home with their arms full of presents the made at school variety and the ones Gigi helped them pick out. Each kiddo presented me with a little bag when they arrived home. Chocolates, a card, candles and body scrub. All my fav's.

Chapel gave me the sweetest little note. She's so thoughtful!

Conor and Jude gave me these handprints they made at school.

Eli's school project was this painted pot with flower.

Papa and GiGi gave me this beautiful rose bush, which we planted that afternoon.

Part 4 - Behind Every Good Mom.....

There is a great dad. I am so thankful Brett is my partner in life and that he works so hard for our family. Spending this weekend with him at the wedding was so nice, we seldom get time to ourselves and it when we do I realize exactly how much I appreciate him.

He told me to pick a new swimsuit for Mother's Day (guess I've been very vocal about my need for swimwear) and I am currently trying to pick between these two.

Brett likes this one....

But I am partial to this one.....

Easter Pictures - The Big Reveal

2011-05-02T17:54:00.007-04:00

I have been dying to post these photographs but wanted to wait until I mailed all of my (late) Easter cards featuring them before I revealed them on the blog. In my mind, if you guys see them here before checking your mail, then it ruins the whole surprise when you go to the mailbox! So by now, most of you should have received your pictures and because I printed several shots and mailed them to different folks, here are the best of the best so you can enjoy them all.

Just so you know, these were taken by the talented Kayla Jones with Kayla Jones Photography. The location was actually SPROUT (can you believe it?) and we had so many customers take advantage of our Easter Portrait Sessions that Kayla was able to book the whole day! The thought process behind these were based on capturing kids in their new Easter clothes - just like my mom used to do when I was little. I just love them and love the fact that the kids were all so well behaved for their mini photo session!

Easter Weekend = Family Fun

2011-04-29T22:16:00.011-04:00

We had an incredible Easter Weekend - for the first time in several years we went home to Conway and Myrtle Beach and were surrounded by all of our family. Papa Ed invited us to stay the weekend at his new beach house in Garden City. We often stay in Garden City often, but this new house had a swimming pool and dock so the kids were able to enjoy all of these new activities in a familiar place. We kicked off the weekend with a one night stay at Papa and Gigi's where the kids enjoyed coloring eggs and hiding them over and over.

Jude getting in the spirit.

Working hard on coloring the eggs.

Waiting to go find the eggs Chapel and Eli hid.

Papa and his brood in front of Gigi's lovely spring flowers.

Once in Garden City, we spent most of our time by the pool and enjoying time with all the grandparents. We grilled, swam, walked to the arcade and chased the ice cream truck. Having everyone together made for the best (and easiest) holiday we have had in a long time!

Ice Cream!!

Conor loves this ride at the Garden City Arcade.

Jude showing Papa Ed goodies from the Easter Bunny.

MaMa Anne giving Conor a few pointers.

Wonder what these two think they will catch in the pool?

My little fish....

Eli crabbing on the dock.

I hope you guys had a wonderful Easter too!

Very Cool Party!

2011-04-22T09:03:00.004-04:00

My friend Mariah celebrated her son Gavin's 3rd birthday this past week. I loved this party because it was at 10:30 on a Tuesday morning (all of our little ones were on "Spring Break") and it was on Folly Beach. The older kids were at school so I biked over with the babies in tow and had the chance to catch up with some of my closest gal pals: Mariah, Caycee, Darlynne and Amy. Our kiddos are all about the same age. So much fun to watch them have an extended play date with homemade cupcakes and a Chic-Fil-A nugget tray.

Mariah and the birthday boy.

Conor and her BFF, Celeste.

Looking for gold.

Being all boy.

Eli Turns 5 - A Retrospective

2011-04-19T09:48:00.001-04:00

The day Eli was born - April 18th, his exact due date!

Turning 1 at home with family.

Turning 2 with a birthday party at the Pirate Playground on Folly Beach.

The Big "3" with a pirate party at the Children's Museum....

And a little gathering at school.....

His 4th birthday was a week long celebration in Disney World. He had the best time!

And turning 5, has it really gone by so fast? He had lots of celebrations this weekend as well.

Papa Dan Dan got him a cupcake.

Papa and Gigi got him superhero comics and bookbag.

Conor and Jude helped me bake cupcakes for his class party.

Mama Anne and Uncle Robert helped us celebrate at Chuck-E-Cheese.

And Brett and I must be gluttons for punishment because we gave him his own drum set. He looks so cute sitting behind these and playing and singing. I will have to get some pics of that to share with you.

And, of course, we also gave him more superhero dress up outfits - what more could a healthy, happy 5 year old want??

Bahama Mama

2011-04-07T21:19:00.005-04:00

The first sign of land after leaving FL was our arrival in the Bahamas. My first impression of Nassau was a great one. Colorful, expressive, bright and sunny. We chose to do the Atlantis port excursion which for a (high) fee included the water parks, aquarium, beach area and a free lunch. Atlantis, which I had always thought was for the rich and famous (remember Whitney Houston's reality show) did not impress me. I found it to be a little dirty, un-stroller friendly and the highly acclaimed water park reminded me of the little old Splash Zone here on James Island. None-the-less, the beach area was gorgeous, the kids had a great time and we were in a new country on vacation - not too shabby.

Arrival!

Taking in the sun at Atlantis.

What is it about a fountain that gets kids so excited?

Trying to catch a minnow with some friends they made.

Our next port adventure was the following day at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. Now, this was my favorite part of the whole trip? Why.....

I went snorkeling for the first time ever. We all rented the gear but Eli and Brett stayed closer to land while Chapel and I held hands and snorkeled around. That's us on the left of the picture below.

My big man enjoying the island.

Spring Break - Part 1

2011-04-05T18:35:00.012-04:00

Wow! I can't tell you all how much fun we had on our vacation. It was one of the best family vacations I can ever remember. We spent two days in Florida before getting on the new Disney Dream Cruise Boat but I am going to skip those for now because I am so excited to share some of our cruise photo's and memories first. And I know that's what you all are waiting to see. So here we go.

The Disney Dream in all her glory! Check out all that luggage being loaded on board.

Waiting to board. Captain Mickey came out and my kids ran across the room to be first in line for a picture.

Boarding the boat, the first thing you is see this awesome chandelier.

Chillin'.

Mom and Dad so happy to be on vacay!

Enjoying some snacks.

My little princess.

At the theater. We saw three broadway-esque performances while out at sea.

Kids loved these big thrones on board. So glam.

Pirate night. Even the grown ups got in the spirit.

Swimming on the lido deck and watching Toy Story on the big screen. Heaven for the kids!

Eating dinner with Crush the talking turtle.

One of our two staterooms. Kids had their own space which was very nice.

Nothing beats a chocolate M-I-C-K-E-Y.

Dad being silly.

Mom and Conor eating dinner!

Can you guess which awesome family won BINGO???

These are just some highlights from the big adventure. Next up, Bahama Mama.

Luggage Overload!

2011-03-24T09:02:00.004-04:00

Oh my! I have spent most of this week packing for our upcoming vacation and it has been a test of both my organizational skills and my patience! The luggage for this upcoming week is insane. Let me explain.

The first leg of our trip will be to NASA's Space Center. We will have two days before we get on the cruise boat, so here is the bag for those two days. PJ's for each kid, two changes of clothes, mom and dad's clothes. I think we did a great job getting it all in this one bag!

Next, we will board the boat but each child and adult has to carry a bag on that contains the items they may need on board that first day. This is due to the fact your luggage does not arrive to your stateroom until late evening. So here we have a packed Trunki for each of the kids containing swimsuits, coverups, sunglasses, change of clothes (for dinner) and pj's (just in case it's really late when the luggage arrives).

On to mom's new luggage. I am loving my new luggage - Brett bought this for me and it's just my style. How can you go wrong with vintage Pan Am luggage in baby blue? The large suitcase contains all of the kids clothing for the cruise, the smaller one has mine and then the carry bag has all my essentials for day one on the boat. And of course it also has magazines, make-up, hair products, sunscreen, kids activity books......

And finally we have Brett's new Patagonia luggage. The blue bag is his carry on and then this awesome duffle that rolls has his clothes and the kids pirate costumes because there is a pirate party on board the ship!

And the final bag - the best of all, the SNACK BAG! I love this bag, I purchased it in Germany and it is so stylish and fun.

The Luck of the Irish....

2011-03-21T10:04:00.005-04:00

Or in this case, the luck of the kids who were standing close to Eli's mom (as they call me) when I showed up to AH's after school soccer program on St. Patty's Day. I could not resist picking up these cute and tasty Krispy Kreme donuts as an after school treat. We only had six but the kids were thoughtful enough to share them with their friends. Here are some of my favorite pics of them enjoying their sweet treats!

Eli was excited to call his friends over to share.

Julianna is so cute and sassy - I imagine this is what Conor will be like in a few years.

Chapel and her touch of green headband. She would not get out of the bed until she put on her headband for fear the leprechaun would pinch her.

Nana and Owen. I just love both of these people. Nana is so very good to us and always helps me manage my big brood at karate, soccer and swim! Thanks goodness we have the same after school activities as our friends Mallory and Owen.

Happy 60th Papa Dan Dan

2011-03-15T20:15:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet dad who turned 60 today. Me and my kiddos love some Papa Dan Dan time! For the past year, he has helped me immensely from everything like housework to carpool to dinners. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives. My kids especially love all the stories and time he shares with them. As you can tell from the picture below, there is never a dull moment when Papa is around!

For the Heart

2011-03-15T07:02:00.003-04:00

Ashley Hall held its annual Jump Rope For Heart Fundraiser and I was so proud of my Chapel for raising $135 and for participating. The event was held in the gym, music blaring and girls from 1st grade to 6th grade divided into teams of 5. Each person jumped rope in 2 minute intervals before passing the rope to the next person. When the girls were not jumping, there was a huge dance party on the gym floor.

Chapel during one of her many 2 minute intervals. The girls jumped for one whole hour!

Working out the dance moves in between intervals.

Hanging At the Mall

2011-03-10T14:39:00.004-05:00

I don't go the mall very often. Actually, I hardly go at all. But on Saturday when mom was here, we left the kids with Brett and my dad and had a little girl's night. It was so much fun. We were trying to remember the last time we had gone shopping together and it has been, believe it or not, YEARS. On my shopping list were flip flops for our upcoming cruise. I found some really cute ones for the kids but without them there had to guess at the sizes. Everyone's foot must have grown over the winter because Jude's and Chapel's were too little. I decided to return them yesterday and go up a size. Well, this trip, I had Conor and Jude with me. And were they ever excited to go to the mall. Probably because the last time we went, this is what we did:

Of course, they remembered and insisted we ride the train again. Short on time, I convinced them we should ride the little rides right in front of the store we needed to go to. It does not take much to make these two happy. They loved the little rides and $5 later I was dragging them off kicking and screaming. Ah....shopping!

Barbie and Ken

2011-03-07T21:12:00.005-05:00

Today, I am excited to introduce you to my first guest blogger, Miss Chapel Barker. This weekend we held a much anticipated wedding for Barbie and Ken. We have been planning it for weeks. It turned out great and we had a wonderful audience. GiGi was the wedding photographer, Eli was the caterer, Papa Dan Dan officiated, Conor and Jude (with some help from Brett) provided musical entertainment. Chapel and I set up the wedding scene, dressed the guests, and took care of the rest.

Chapel, I turn it over to you.

Do you remember when you got married? And played with your Barbie dolls?

A man and wife standing together. The man in pink is the preacher.

You may kiss the bride. They are finally married.

They ride to the reception on a beautiful horse where Chef has set up a beautiful reception.

Delicious foods like bananas and carrots and of course, cake!

There were plenty of people there.

Music is the best part about it.

They smoothly make their way to the dance floor.

She's a Star!

2011-03-04T22:22:00.008-05:00

I always knew Chapel embraced that "it" quality. That star quality. If you have read my blog you know Chapel has a big place in her heart for sea turtles - and it all started with her study of them in Kindergarten. Last year, parents were asked by Planet Bonehead to sign a release that their child could appear in an educational video and guess what?? She made the cut! She is featured as one of the Ashley Hall Kindergarten girls at the Sea Turtle Hospital, explaining cool facts about turtle knowledge.

The much anticipated video was released today! Planet Bonehead’s video, Saving Sea Turtles discusses the interconnectedness of life on Earth and the importance of sea turtles to the ocean food web. Below is the website, just click on the link and you will see my movie star toward the end!

http://www.planetbonehead.com/dvd/savingtheseaturtles

Plague On the House of Barker & Folly Gras

2011-02-27T21:43:00.007-05:00

The Barker Four Blog came to a screeching halt for nearly two weeks due to sickness, sickness, sickness. Chapel had pneumonia, Eli had a stomach bug (twice) and Jude ran a 104 fever for 6 days courtsey of a bacterial infection that did not respond to the first round of antibiotics. Arrggh, having sick kids is the worst. You feel so sorry for them and everything just stops until they are better. Conor, who I think is just too busy to get sick, was the only kiddo that avoided the plague (knock on wood). So thank goodness everyone is now feeling A-OK and we had the chance to enjoy a beautiful weekend on Folly Beach.

FB hosted its annual Folly Gras parade this weekend and in typical Folly fashion, it was packed full of rowdy islanders, a parade that showcased golf carts and drag queens and some good old fashioned family fun. We invited some friends of ours to join us and the kids all had a grand old time. Being well again is -----well, it's pretty awesome.

Some parade spectacles....

Eli with his doubloon.

And my favorite photo op in a long time. All of the kids sitting are mine and my friend Jen's. She also has twins. How crazy that between 2 women, we have all these kids???? People were walking by and taking pictures of this cute group. Sno Cones were the only thing that kept them still.

Valentines - It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

2011-02-14T19:41:00.007-05:00

Today was Valentines Day and there is a little good news and some bad news as well. The good news is Chapel, Conor and Jude all got to take their creations to school to share with friends. The bad news is Eli was sick and I had to drop his off. And then the other bad news is that Chapel got sick at school and had to come home early. And the final bit of bad news is that I forgot to take pictures of Chapel and Eli's valentines before they were given out (probably due to the crazy morning). But the good news is that I did get pictures of Conor and Jude's valentine, and I also took some pictures of all the goodies they brought home. And fortunately Chapel was able to exchange cards with her classmates before she came home. Happy V-Day everyone - hope your day was awesome.

Conor and Jude's Vday Card.

Conor decorated Princess Valentines and Jude decorated Scooby Doo cards before putting them in ziploc with hershey kisses. Then we stapled this little collage across the top.

Eli and Chapel's were the same. Except Eli put Tron cards in his ziploc and Chapel put sparkly hearts and stickers in her. Here is the collage of each that was stapled on top. I am really disappointed I did not get a picture of the finished product. :(

Chapel decorated this box and took it to school for the valentines she received. So very cute and creative.

And here is Conor and Jude's loot. They were so excited when I picked them up from school today. It was their first time exchanging valentines.

Can You Guess?

2011-02-09T23:09:00.007-05:00

What these itms could possibly have in common???

That's right, Valentine's Day is right around the corner and the kids and I have been busy for over a week working on the awesome cards they plan to hand out at school on Monday. I will post the finished product on V-Day itself. Until then, did these pictures give you an idea?

Do You Remember?

2011-02-07T19:50:00.006-05:00

When you went to school?

And you played in centers?

And you made cute arts and crafts for your parents?

And PE was very much a part of your day?

And you got to present class projects?

And you got to go on field trips with your parents as chaperones?

And maybe you did not have dance but perhaps music that allowed you to express your artistic side?

And of course, science lab, where cool experiments taught you how the world works?

Maybe you do remember some of these, maybe these pictures jog some memories. With my kids, I get to relive school everyday. And I remember how exciting it was to learn, see my friends, and how much I loved my teachers. And these days, I am remembering what it was like to have homework every night - no pictures of that because no one really likes homework!

The Infamous Words of CoCo Chanel...

2011-02-02T21:46:00.005-05:00

... are lost upon these two. "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off" does not even register. As a matter of fact, Conor and Jude just seem to pile on the accessories - and somehow manage to be super cute while doing it. This morning's attire for school (and they are very serious about their presentation) was borderline "campy" according to Robert. Whatever, they were soooo cute.

Jude:

Skinny grey jeans, chunky sweater, cowboy boots, button down white shirt, grey scarf and parasol that says Chapel.

Conor:

Sparkly Hello Kitty earrings, pink cowgirl boots, jumper with turtle neck, pink scarf and a hello kitty umbrella.

I can already predict that these two will be drama club members in high school. Check out how serious they are about working the look while walking to the car.