Movie For the Wee Ones

Conor and Jude have now officially gone to the movies! We watch movies at home quite often and even though their attention span gives out at times, we decided we would take them on a major motion picture adventure. Chapel and Eli have been avid theater attendees FOREVER - but usually one parent or a grandparent takes them so someone can sit home with the twins. For all of you looking for some entertainment on this cold January weekend, I totally recommend going to see TANGLED. All 4 of my kids sat still the entire time and the babies were entranced! Even if you don't have a kiddo to take with you, adults can just as easily enjoy this movie. I have seen many, many G rated movies and this is definitely one of my favorites to date. It feels awesome to have this new activity that the entire family can enjoy together.

Hanging on to the tickets!

Got Keys?

It's not always fun and games! Last week while visiting Biltmore Estate on the very first night of our trip to Asheville, we had a major snafu! Somewhere between here (snow covered parking lot)

and here (Deerpark Restaurant)

we lost our car keys.

And by we, I mean my husband (sorry Brett but I need to blame someone)! He had them in his hand when we got out of the car and placed them on the table in the restaurant, but they were never to be recovered again. Three hours of searching in the restaurant and snow proved no success. And FYI, when you drive a car with this "intelligent key" as they call it, don't expect a quick and easy solution . Especially when you are traveling with 4 kiddos and all luggage and diapers are locked in the car. Unable to have a locksmith make a new key, we had to have our Infiniti car towed THE NEXT MORNING to its sister Nissan dealership and a new key made that would sometimes crank and sometimes not crank our poor car. Upon my return home, I ordered 2 new keys - for the low, low price of $300, and am hoping that we do not run into this problem again. Because let me tell you guys, it is a huge hassle!~

Resolutions Resolved!

After first explaining to my two oldest kids what New Year Resolutions are and why we make them, Eli was the first to declare his 2011 resolution. Can you guess what kind of resolution a 4 year old makes? Eli has decided he will brush his teeth everyday! I think this new Firefly Spiderman toothbrush he found in his stocking was an incentive. You push the little red button and the toothbrush blinks for one minute. Lights quit blinking, kid quits brushing. Great invention!

Chapel's resolution is to learn to play guitar in 2011. When she arrived home from Germany, her daddy had this little Fender Starcaster waiting on her and she has been wanting to start lessons for months now. So when I told her a resolution could be wanting to do or learn something new, she immediately new what she wanted to learn!

As for the twins, well, Disney Cruise lines made their resolutions for them by requiring that all toddlers be potty trained or no pool time or free playroom time. So, with our cruise coming in March, guess what these two have to accomplish in 3 months time?

And Franklin and Eleanor have let it be known that they wish to walk a little more by constantly standing under my feet every time I turn around. So their wants are also taken into consideration.

And today, when Chapel asked, "Mom, what is your resolution?" I almost said I did not have one until I realized my resolution was to help everyone accomplish their resolutions! Which so far, Eli has brushed his teeth everyday. The dogs were walked and I did ask my neighbor about her son's guitar lessons. Now, if only this potty training could happen overnight....

Oh, What A Night....

Talk about ringing in the New Year in style, the Barker kids were without a doubt the cutest revelers in Asheville. As part of our tradition, each kiddo dresses up in a party outfit and this year was their most fashionable to date. Actually, all of the adult Barkers cleaned up pretty well, too. Just judge for yourself.....

MaMa Anne and Papa Ed with all the grandkids.

Miss Chapel putting on her best party face.

I was the last to get ready so we snapped this one as we were on our way out to dinner.

Got dad to join in for the group photo.

Jude was so proud of his little outfit and let me tell you, he turned heads EVERY where he went. He was very serious and kept stopping and asking me to take his picture.

And once Conor noticed Jude asking to have his picture taken, Miss Sugar & Spice was not far behind.

Ah, the sleigh. Lots of play time here.

Ed enjoying the party in the Great Hall.

Anne watching the band and taking in all the party goers.

And can you guess which two of my four managed to make it all the way until the midnight hour????

Here is one.....

And the other? None other than little Jude. He was not going to miss a minute of the action.

He even sipped a big Shirley Temple to celebrate.

Happy New Year. Hope 2011 brings you all wonderful happiness.

Ringing It In

Twelve Barker's have invaded the Grove Park Inn to continue our annual tradition of ringing in the New Year in Asheville, North Carolina. The hotel is lovely and when we arrived there was still SNOW on the ground from the White Christmas.

We are staying in the Arts & Crafts themed suite. When the GPI opened in 1913 the Arts & Crafts movement was at its height. The suite features a lot of quarter-sewn oak and hammered-coppered detailing.

Each year the hotel hosts a National Gingerbread Competition and this is the Grand Prize Winner from this year. I have heard many mumbles from guests that is not a true "gingerbread house" but whatever it is, it is made from completely edible materials and is amazing!

Tonight all the kids will dress up in their fancy frocks and we will head to the Great Hall where there are fireplaces, food, drinks and a band to help us ring in 2011. The kids especially love the big tree and sleigh found in this grandiose lobby.

And tomorrow morning, this mama is going to start her New Year off right with a trip to the awesome spa located at the hotel. Ranked #13 in the world, the spa is more than 43,000 square feet in size and hosts mineral pools, waterfall pools, steam rooms, contrast pools and even just quite rooms with fireplaces to sit near and soak it all in!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Three Christmases

Well we don't have Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, the stars of Four Christmases, but we do celebrate Three Christmases that I think are movie worthy! The first is our family Christmas on Folly Beach where Santa comes a little early and we enjoy a day of sitting in our PJ's playing with all the toys the big man in the red suit put under the tree.

Christmas One - Folly Beach!

Chapel - American Girl Dolls, books and games.....

Eli - Boat to sail in water, Kapla blocks, and Ghostbusters action figures...

Jude - big truck, kitchen supplies, books, and toy story video game....

Conor - kitchen, accessories, books and art supplies....

Enjoying the new goods!

Christmas Two - Papa Dan Dan and GiGi host a party in the building behind their house on Christmas Eve with aunts, uncles, cousins, granny, Robert, Jennifer and lots of fireworks and presents!

Tina and John Redden.

GiGi with her biggest fans...

Eli very happy with his tent...

Guess who did not like fireworks?

PaPa helping the kids assemble all the new goods!

Christmas Three - Papa Ed's and MaMa Annes house Christmas Day where we open even MORE presents and hang out with Brett's brother Eddie and all of his kids. This year Conor and Jude got ride on cars (a big hit) and Chapel got a karaoke machine and Eli got an ipad! They were all thrilled....

Waiting to open presents....

Finally....