March Madness

 It's been March Madness here at the Barker house.  And I'm not talking basketball.  I've been sick pretty much every single day this month and have finally resigned myself to some down time so I can hopefully get better.  Other than that, here is the rest of our maddening month.  It's never dull.

 One afternoon I found Moses asleep wrapped up in a blanket outside of his door.  He said it was comfortable.

 Sutton is obsessed with shoes.  He wants you to wear them and he wants to wear them.  He likes to mix it up during the day so my floor always looks like this.

 Sutton and his new use for a Happy Meal box.  He loves it.

 I survived another consignment sale.  I'm telling you it was extremely hard to crawl out of bed early in the morning and leave these two.  Sutton is a snuggle baby for sure.

 We painted!  No more yellow and red.  I do admit I kind of miss the red, but I am totally in love with the grey......goes great with our view!

 Anytime the weather swings in our favor we go outside.  It has been few and far between but boy does it make these boys happy.

 But, mostly it has been rainy and cool lately.  Really hard while the interior was being painted so we had a few movie afternoons.  Sutton is OBSESSED with the minions on Despicable Me.  He calls them "bababa" because of the preview that is currently out for the second installment.

 This is my builder boy.  He can sit forever and make towers.  He's actually really good at if for his age.

 Moses put together this "disguise" so I couldn't find him.   Who dat?

 Another new thing for this little boy?  No diapers/no clothes and loving sitting on the potty.  Let me just say this is not my idea AT ALL.  I have no idea why he wants to do it.  He will sit on the potty, wipe, giggle, and jump off.  Then was his hands and brush his teeth.  Then repeat fifty times.

 Moses decided to see what Sutton would do if he dangled his favorite toy just out of reach.  Part of being a big brother is torturing I guess.

Sutton has been super snuggly lately.  Loving to sleep with us and nap in my arms if he can.  He cuddles right up and holds on tight.  Treasuring this time with him...he will be TWO in one week!

Snow Day!

 North Carolina winters can be crazy and unpredictable.  You just never know if it will be 70 degrees and sunny or will wake up to some snow!  We got lucky with a quick snow day this year.  It was great because the roads were fine and the snow was just enough to make everyone happy.

 Sutton did not care too much for the snow because he kept taking his mittens off.  He was happy to watch it from the inside and eat some lunch.

Moses and Brett toughed it out and made a cute snowman.  We are so lucky to have a daddy who will tough out weather conditions to make a snow day fun!

An Evolution of a Master Bath

This is what you saw when you walked
into our Master Bath.  I would say blah

So we have a nice physical set up.  Our problem being, we don't like the tile, not in love with the shell shaped vanities.  Now I will bring in the word hate when it comes to the shower.  The brass, noway I wanted frameless, the size and the decorative border.  These are thing that were being changed or are on the list

 Now is where you see where we are so very lucky.  His and her areas.  Sinks and closets.  Makes for much better morning for everyone!

 This is what it looked like at the end of the first day....the day In early November I began using the bathroom up stairs and let the men use the one down stairs.  Way too Dexter looking for me.

 Progress People! I can see how this thing is going to work out!

 Can you see the love here!  That was before the free standing glass was delivered.  That's entirely new almost Christmas day exciting day!

But until it did?  This boy and another little one enjoyed playing there for at least 30 minutes at a time!

Renovations can be fun too right!

Our Silly Stinker

 It's all about the accessories folks.  Sutton, or as we refer to him Sutty Bug, insists on shoes and a hat at nearly all times.  His shoes are usually on with his pjs until bed time.  When he wakes up if you haven't gotten him dressed, he wants his shoes on immediately after breakfast.

 This day I was too slow.  I got him undressed and went to find something to dress him in.  Before I could coordinate the clothing he helped himself to boots and a helmet and of course a pacifier.

This actually made things easier because lately he loves his white church shoes and wants to wear them with jeans and t-shirt.  I'm used to it but the other parents may be a bit concerned.  One thing about little bug is he has style and personality!

Year End Superlatives!

Here we go.  Some memorable, favorite, crazy, and I can't believe it moments from 2012.

 Creepiest goes to Brett for sporting this look for 24 hours.  It was a Saturday.  We had errands to run.  I made him go to Garner so we would not run into anyone we knew.  I honestly would gag when I looked at him.  It was a terrible, awful, no good look for him.  He on the other hand, though it was hilarious.

 Scariest goes to Sutton Bug.  He literally woke up one morning barely able to breathe and gagging.  I am not an anxious mommy, but this kid scared me to death.  A few weeks later we were at Rex Hospital for a chest  x-ray to confirm he did in fact have asthma.  We've coped really well with it now and we have had no more scary moments to date.

 Best new addition to the family our beautiful new couch.  Seriously, I still love it.  As recently as three weeks ago someone asked me if it was new.  It's awesome.  It has survived markers, crayons, vomit, lipstick, and unknown smudges and washed clean every time.  I wish I could say the same about the rest of us.

 Most Dramatic....That would be Sutton.  Every.Single.Time.  He will lay on the floor and cry sometimes because things are quite right.  Sometimes I'll take a photo just because I don't know what else to do.  Sweetie, I hope you win an academy award one day because your audition process has been slightly painful.

 Most stylish is Moses.  He got his first tie and sports coat this year and I thought he looked nice!  He is growing up so fast!

 Teacher of the year is Moses' beloved Miss Trisha.  I hug her every time I pick him up.  She loves Moses so much and has gotten him to learn more this year than I could possibly imagine.  He is writing his name and talking about Bible stories all the time.

 Did I mention that Sutton was most dramatic?  He's still not talking much, and I'm not so sure I want to know what he has to say.

And lastly, Creepiest goes to Cookie the Elf.  He's been endearing but I'm not going to lie, when I would walk through the house and he was hanging out somewhere unexpected staring at me I would jump a little.  I was not sad to put him up Christmas Eve for 11 more months.  However, he is currently in my nightstand drawer and he scared me to death just yesterday.  Darn you Cookie!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

 After the craziness of pre Christmas, I was not ready for the influx of the real deal.  Fatigue was already setting in but no worries we had reinforcements.  After lots of munchies, steak, seafood and other yummy things we tried to start settling the boys down.  HA.

 "Mom, Are you serious...We are going to be crazy, crazy, CRAZY."

 We had a dance party, hoping it would get out the sillies.

 Seriously the best photo we could get with both of them.  Moses trying to keep Sutton sitting with him by putting him in a head lock.  Lovely.

 Here is there Santa loot.  No offense Santa, but the grandparents have you beat by a mile.  Although, Moses was especially thrilled by his new rescue bots and transformers since they were already out of the box for him.  Sutton eventually "got" it and warmed up to toys.

****Side note.  Sutton had been waking anytime between 5:30 - 6:30 AM for the last few weeks and we could not figure out how we were going to handle it.  So I got up really early and got myself ready. Those stinkers did not wake up till 7am.  Unheard of!

They had lots of special gifts and memories to go with that day.  It was beautiful and warms so they got the chance to spend sometime outdoors with new toys.  This mama is still worn out from all of the crazy and is already trying to think of a plan B to give herself some more energy next year at this time!