saving money in 2010

So what are your plans for 2010?
For the Barnes home we plan to spend less and save more.

Last year we did the same- it's not really a resolution, just a good time to reevaluate. In '09 we-

• started to share a cell phone plan with John's parents
• share our garbage service and split the bill,
• we signed up for netflix to avoid all the Hollywood video late fees and unwatched movies.
• ate out about twice a month
• knock off the coffee shop stops
• cancelled magazine subs
• use no credit cards
• make birthday cakes- not buy

Now for 2010 we have in mind

• canceling netflix
• maybe sharing out garbage can with a third neighbor
• compost and grow more, longer
• cut out that 2x a month eating out {maybe 1x}
• drive less, carpool more = less gas
• maybe find a side job for me
• unplug and turn things off more
• drop our heat down by a degree or two, and hour earlier

So what are your ideas? What do you do that you would like to share? I'd love to know!

Shorecrest kicks Shorewood

Shorecrest posts video-104,938 views!
Shorewood copies- 5,530 views!
We kick butt! You tell me which school is better!
Check out Youtube- type in the schools name and watch the videos.
{And see if you can spot my daughter in it!}
How cool is this? Shorecrest is way more fun now then when John and I went there...
Go Shorecrest!

Lights, camera, happy holidays!

WARNING! YOU MIGHT NEED YOUR SHADES FOR THIS PICTURE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BARNES CLAN!

I think we put the Griswolds to shame... :)
What do you think?

the big 30

so it's coming...
there isn't a darn thing i can do about it...
what did you do for your 30th birthday?

help me by telling me what made your day special!
maybe you will be the one to make me laugh about the whole 'getting older thing'!
comment away!!!!

Holy Cow! I've been a parent for a whole DECADE!

singing cards, gift cards to cold stone, and barnes & noble, new church pants and a sweater

transformers from dad

a visit from a best friend {bringing $20!}

kitchen seat at Buca

making his first goal ever!
what can i say- i cried

OPRAH AND PAYLESS UNITE!

• today thru october 30th close time at a payless near you, ALL of your purchase is HALF off!!!!
• that is all shoes, bags and accessories!! to print your coupon go to www.oprah.com/payless, print your coupon and SHOP!
• but remember only till close tomorrow! so what are you waiting for? go print yours and enjoy!

Homecoming 09

Freshman homecoming...she was so excited and actually nervous as all of us parents and the boys, were waiting for her in the living room.

Funny thing is, all of these boys asked her to the dance, she said no to all.

{she can't date till 16} but her girlfriends ditched out on her so we decide she could carpool with them, so none of them had to show up by themselves.

{Her daddy bought her the corsage} and she and I had a wonderful time finding the perfect dress, having Crystal do her hair and eye makeup, and driving Crystals sports car to the dance! She is so grown up and we are so proud of her!

She had a wonderful time dancing around with her friends and playing guitar hero!

{yes they have that at school dances now!}

Now she is looking forward to Winter Ball.. time to dress shop again!

Shilos 6!

The morning started with balloons tied to her own box of Krispy Kremes

{chastin, vincent and I sung to her}

Presents before school are always the Gymboree dress/skirt from me, and this year included new ugg boots from great grandma

Brownie bites for her Kindergarten class

{class sung to her}

Lunch with mom

Funtasia where she tried the batting cages for the 1st time and did great! Ball pit and go carts included.

Special present from her daddy- he always brings our kids something home just from him. They love it! {missed a picture of this}

IHOP for dinner where she had chocolate chocolate chip pancakes. Something she would never get at home for dinner!{IHOP sung to her}

Home for a homemade cheesecake {thanks to her grandma}

{the family sung to her}

Presents after that and it was off to bed!

She had a long fun day full of feeling special.
{and hearing the happy birthday song}

Happy Birthday to the sweetest 6 year old I know!

{she is already counting down to 7!}

Kylee Ann

sweet

beautiful

lucky little girl

Zack and his girlfriend Jordyn were blessed with this little bundle of love

Lake Chelan and Idaho oh my!

We spent last week on a family vacay!

We camped at Twenty five mile creek,

Spent time on the boat inter tubing,

Spent time at Lake Chelan State Park,

Indulged in the pleasures of 24 different kinds of soft serve,

Enjoyed Slidewater Park,

Something we do every year,

Packed up and headed to a favorite hotel of ours in Liberty Lake,

Stopped in at our favorite feed & pet store in Spokevegas {a.k.a Spokane},

Hit the floor running for Silverwood the next morning,

Rode all the rides,

Some twice.

Indulged in more giant ice cream none of us can ever finish,

left Idaho late at night after tons of fun,

John drove us the long five hours home,

arrived at 3 a.m,

safe and sound..

TREMORS Roller Coaster-

our all time Favorite!
The kids at Slide waters with their tubes.

The giant ice cream!
The girl serving us said Shilo was just adorable,
and practically gave us our ice cream for free!

The kids recreate High School Musical off the back of the boat!
We had a blast!
I think we all needed a little down time and some good old fashioned fun-
Oh and a tan!

Staying cool

We have been so lucky to have such great weather
Now normally I would be laying out giving myself some sort of color {maybe skin cancer- but at least I will be tan} just kidding.



But the baby is NOT liking this heat. So we are lucky to have been invited to our friends parents private pool yesterday. It was SO nice. In fact this family has 2 pools and 2 hot tubs so we were very excited to play at this beautiful Edmonds Woodway estate. We must have been well behaved last time to be invited back. Lucky us!

BLOCK SALE

We Are having a block sale on our block!
If you know me you know where I live.
Saturday 8am to 4ish.
So far I know there will be:

tons of baby clothes through size 4t {six giant bins to be exact!}
cribs, crib mattresses, baby equipment
furniture,
magic cards,
star wars,
house wares,
tons of princess house,
party lite candles,
toys,
kids clothes and I'm sure much more!
I put this block sale together every year and I never know how many neighbors will participate but I always hope for the best! So come by and see us!

A little girls words

{ in one of our strawberry patches}

Shilo says the cutest things....

"stop it mommy, your going to make my legs limp." this she told me during one of my laughing spells. the kids think that watching me crack up over stupid things with tears rolling down my face is sooooo hysterical!



this ones for Julie- a conversation Shilo had with Cody

Shilo- Cody, i think you're cute

Cody- cool

Shilo- i love you Cody

Cody - even cooler

then tonight she asks me-

"mommy? can i choose Cody to marry me?"

i guess anything is possible! john and i are 10 years apart, she and he would be 12 years apart!!!!!

a little girl with big dreams! what ever will we do when he goes on his mission?!

{and maybe Julie will finally leave a comment after reading this!}



a boy at the sock hop told Chastin- your sisters hot!

she tells me- you know mommy, as in beautiful!

boy am i in trouble!

Newest member of the family

I am officially Great Aunt Torrie! John is officially Great Uncle John!

Welcome to the world Donald Ryan Pollino!

We look forward to meeting you!

I think I'll take some pictures when he gets out of the ICU. He's in there for 48 hours, but he'll be just fine. He weighs 6 lbs 11oz 20 inches long. Born via C- Section @ 8:55 tonight. Mom and baby are recovering well and I can't wait to meet him! Congrats Jeremy and Tonya! Love you! Cheers!

Almost a Decade

Of Marriage that is...

Happy 9 years of marriage bliss!

The songs you're hearing are "our songs"

the first is a song that John said reminded him of me- of us when we were dating. We have been listing to this song for 11 years, it always makes us smile. Listen to the words- it says it all for us.

The second is the song we danced to at our wedding, we don't hear it all that often but it reminds us of our wedding day, standing on the dance floor, D.J playing loudly, us dancing with Chastin in our arms, and once again we remember...

And the last song is a new favorite that just makes my heart sing with love, and reminds me I am lucky to be in love with my best friend.

Happy Anniversary John! Here is to many more!

Monday, Monday

Do you ever feel defeated?
I sat in the sun to do something for myself and got burned-
didn't get to eat dinner-
thought my husband was cool enough to be invited somewhere fun but wasn't I guess- my feeling are hurt, not his.
thought I was cool enough to be invited somewhere but wasn't-
cried in Costco because my 4 month thought it poor judgement to be shopping during his morning nap. he was right, it was a bad idea on my part. a nice lady helped me- this made me cry more.
my house is a mess because I had to let my cleaning lady go-
because i lost my job....
to top it all off i yelled at my daughter tonight because she wouldn't stay in bed. { i don't yell}
i feel just terrible about it. so i think i will teach her to make Italian sodas tomorrow. they are her favorite drink.
I'm sure this will all look better after some sleep. if i can sleep.
who knows.
and i just have to add - i miss my friend Mindy.

lovin' my new camera

i think i have a camera obsession!

hate to admit it but i think it comes from working for the camera shop- seeing all the new stuff

getting a discount and all that...

and then there was my grandpa who stopped to take pictures constantly.

he was the only one to ever take pictures of me.

when we traveled i was in the back with all our stuff because the camera equipment needed all the space in the trunk. i kinda liked being piled in with all our stuff, it oddly made me comfortable.

back to the subject- i have been using jordan's point and shoot for 2+ years and not that she minds- but i think she would like to have it when she wants it, and not always have to hunt it down wherever i last used it. i am glad she shares, so i'm sharing my new point and shoot.

i am a loyal canon user but a coupon came up in the costco add for this camera and another one, and i wasn't about to buy the crappy other one they advertised.

so i went with this one. i bought it on a whim sort of. and thankfully did, because a few days later the economy hit my house and i lost the majority of my job. {but this post isn't about that}

so the fact is that i love this camera! i call it my diaper bag camera { also something i just bought. finally..}


to share a few.

my True

my house

my wonderful father in law

My big Family

We had this picture taken a few weeks ago. I didn't really see how big of a family I really had till the photographer handed me the picture. And I said "Wow! There are a lot of us!" There is much to be said for having a big family.

I make a Costco run every week, people always look at me these days- baby hanging over one arm, pushing my full cart one handed, Shilo trailing along.

A family of this size takes organization. Who needs to be where when. How much attention does each child need.
Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.

Some times we joke when people stare " do we have something hanging out our noses?"

Or when we take up a row at the play and everyone needs to comment on how many seats we have. I always tell my kids- better to have positive attention than negative, so smile, say thank you for the compliment and enjoy the fact that you will always have someone to do something with.

So maybe I have to work so we can do some fun things- like eat at the Salty's Buffet, take week long camping trips in Montana, go out to dinner for our kids Birthdays... but we feel like it makes the outing that much more special.

We enjoy the chaos of our big family and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

So for your enjoyment- a list, a few stats if you will, of what it takes to run this 'gig'

• one loaf of bread each night when making lunches


• 7 gallons of milk a week


• 3 rolls of t.p a week


• 2 Netflix movies a week


• 3-4 bags of popcorn a week on average


• one box each of ziploc snack/sandwich bags a month


• 2 dozen eggs a week


• 4 Costco size bags of chips a week


• 2 dozen cookies for lunches a week


• 3 gallons of juice a week


• 50-100 photos taken every week {try staying organized with that!}


• 12 lbs of fruit a week just in lunches


• 5 lbs veggies a week


• 50 lbs potatoes a month


• 10-15 lbs of meat a week


• 2- one gallon size liquid hand soap a month
• one pack of wipes a week
• a dozen diapers a day

Some might be planning their next cool trip, buying their next nice car, buying designer clothes, as for me, I have chosen to have a big family over those things for now. And sometimes my eyes turn green, and I wish I had it all...

Then I stop and thank heaven for the choices I have made. Play with my kids instead of buying them something, take a walk with them and just breath in their love. When I wish they were all in bed quiet, I try to remember that they won't always need me, won't always want to talk to me about their day, that I only get to have them all home for really a short period of time in the whole scheme of things, and I am grateful they chose me as their mom. That I chose to share my love, energy, patience, {income} and home with these 5 kids.

I guess this is just more of a journal entry than anything...

I just want to remember this time in my life.

A plug for my friends at Ballard Camera

Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale!!!



Ballard Camera is having a giant sale this Saturday!
All scrapbook stuff is 50% off! Now they are not an over priced store so you really are getting a good deal. They have all sorts of albums, tons of stickers, crop-a-dials, and lots of other goodies!
More paper choices than anyone needs and cute add ons.
Frames and albums are also 50% off. So if you have any projects you would like to get working on, maybe now is the time to start! I know I will be stocking up on adhesive!
Just thought I would share the deals!

Ballard Camera is located on the corner of 20th and Market.
206-783-1121

Maybe I'll see you there!

A little barnes update

I feel really far behind.
I've taken well over 1,500 pictures in the last 3 months
Yet have no idea where to start with my blog.
So here goes nothing.







Our cub Scouts bettering our planet. We collected 20lbs of trash!
{John and I are the leaders}




















We met up with Shilos friend Rachel at the Children's Museum on Friday. Boy did they have fun.

True seemed a little bored, but fell fast asleep shortly...






Shilos five year old check up yesterday went well, she is all ready to start school in the fall!


















True at the cardiologist, he was so happy to begin with.
And all is going to be alright.












I feel like the Doctors are getting to keep much more of my pay check than I am, but I have decided to be grateful that we have insurance, and not complain.

new clothes for an old body

Well True is 10 weeks old and I have been able to wear my old clothes since he was 3 weeks.
Now this is not amazing to me because I wasn't tiny to begin with, and I worked real hard to not gain much weight. I gained 18 pounds and lost another 8 by the time he was 3 weeks. So I thought it was time to get some new shirts because I was able to wear most of my regular clothes {shirts,leggings and skirts} right up till the end.
People have been all a buzz about this H&M store, so we took a little trip down there last night.
Yes it was inexpensive- I bought a zip up hoodie and 4 shirts for about $60 bucks.
Yes it was crazy clothes - some things that I'm sure must have been left over from the 80s.
No it wasn't any Ann Taylor Loft- which really is my all time favorite.
But most of all it was scary in the dressing room. Not because I just had a baby- which is scary all in it's self, but because I felt like I was in the 360* mirror from what not to wear. I couldn't get done fast enough!
And another thing- you must not wear a bra size bigger than say a double D.... because the shirts only go up to size 12, and if you want to actually read any of the words on the shirt your trying on you might need a 14 or 16. But overall, it was o.k. And I came home with a cute shirt that has a big heart made out of words that says True Love, at first I thought it said 'I love True' and that's what made me try it on. So it wasn't bad. I can't complain, I went looking for shirts to cover my ' Oprah' arms as I call them, and I found 5 items to do the job! And all for a good price!

btw- I would post pictures, but my card reader is broken, and I'm waiting for my new one to come in from Ballard Camera. :)

it's like a scene from Hitch

So just imagine that scene from HITCH where he is allergic to the food and swells up like a puffer fish.
Well that's me.
I have a MRSA staph infection- which they have been treating for 6 days with a mixture of two sulfur based drugs, well it took six days but i finally had an allergic reaction to them. saturday night my skin got spotty like a heat rash that itched. the consulting nurse said to stop the drugs, and come in in the morning if it was worse.
well fine and dandy. can't take anything for the itch, because i'm nursing. cold baking soda bath was about it.
sunday i woke up covered in blotchy red patches, swollen lips and ears and a fever. time to hit the hospital again. joy.
pretty bad when one of the hospital workers recognizes you.
a shot in the hip started the process of relief.

i'm trying to be optimistic but it's tough when the list of problems continues.
so far i've had to deal with-
1 missed staple,
my incision opening,
true getting MRSA,
uterus infection,
me getting MRSA,
one extra week of bed rest,
one more week of no driving,
allergic reaction to drugs that shouldn't be prescribed together under any circumstance.

all i can say is pray for me. the dr said that if my staph infection comes back we will likely do ivs every 12 hours for how ever long. at least it will be gone.
wish me luck, i'm signing out.

precious moments

john made me this coat holder sometime ago.
nothing fancy- just something that fits perfectly in the space.
made of an old window from Paige's house, and old miss matched glass door knobs i rummaged for at Bernie's antiques.
I just noticed this morning how cute chastins zinger sweatshirt is hanging next to a sweet princess sweater, and a baby coat.
it's surreal to me. i have 3 kids. that are all mine.

Here's what happens when mom's not paying attention...

The little girl plays with the big girls make up....

Giant Gummy Grin

per my hubby's request....{so he can show off how cute true is!}

taken at six weeks old

the wise cracks start

So my 30 something nephew came over yesterday for the first time
says to Chastin "so when is false coming?"
hardy har har...

5 weeks in

So True is 5 weeks {Wow how time flies!!!}
and as you might guess I am really tired
yet REALLY happy!
I've waited for this little man for a few years
and I am really glad he is here

So Alex has my card reader so I can't upload any new pictures, but I didn't want you all to think I had fallen off the face of the earth.

Kelly had a beautiful over the top shower for True and me on Saturday and I wanted to thank everyone who came. Some of you drove from really far away to meet True and show us your love. I came home with 10 big packs of diapers! Some really cute outfits, a cute book and a picture frame with True's picture already in it! Kelly made me a diaper cake that I still have sitting on a cake stand in my living room, she also gave me his name in block letters that I have displayed in my living room. She decorated so much, it was crazy cute! All Valentines Day- to celebrate TRUE love, how perfect was that! I'll post pictures as soon as possible. { who really knows how long that will be with a new born} I have however been writing in my journal every chance I get. I am hoping not to miss a single detail of this time.
I have been reassured many times over the last few weeks that people love me, and I should listen to those wise ones. I was 'crying' to John the night before my shower that maybe all of Kelly's work would be in vain, that maybe no would would show up for my shower... but as the shower rolled on more and more friends and family showed up, and the friends that were already there said 'see how many people love you', so shame on me for doubting. My apologies.
So many friends have been so helpful to me and my family, and not only helpful, but friendly.
Knowing that I can't drive for another 2 weeks, friends have taken me to the mall to walk around and pick up some things I needed. Friends and family have picked me up lunch, diet cokes, brought me lunch to sit and share with them, taken my kids to do all sorts of fun activities, held my baby so I could fold laundry & shower, let me come sit at their house so I can just get out for a little while, called me to chat and see how I was. Thank you to all of you. You have taught me to be more compassionate. I have learned that I need to help my friends more when they have just had a baby, more than just bringing dinner.
So anyhow, True smiles now when we click our tongue at him- it is super cute.
He knows the difference between day and night, {more so when to sleep},
and loves to sleep on anyone who will hold him. {he's sleeping on daddy right now}
He is such a joy to have in our family, and the kids are always asking to hold him. I love that they love him that much. Thanks for reading my ramblings.

p.s- does anyone have a sling i can borrow? i go back to work tuesday and think it would be helpful for some nursing times.

True is here, and I'm in love!

The newest member of the Barnes Family

IT'S A BOY!

He was born: January 12, 2009

Time he was born: 9:28 a.m.

Weight: 8 pounds 14 ounces

And now.. you've all been waiting to hear the secret name of the newest member of our Wonderful family!!

His name is: True Torrence Barnes

memories captured

as promised, here are a few of my pregnancy pictures my girlfriend took for me.
they aren't edited to look all fake like in a magazine,
just my real belly.

my girl and me

this one is my favorite

just me and my sweet boy

10 days to go

so i only have 10 days till this baby is here, and i'm kinda excited if you know what i'm saying!
i had a dr. appt. this morning and they threatened to send me upstairs for monitoring if i couldn't get my blood pressure down. 150 over80. i've never had blood pressure problems so i asked that they take it again in a few min. low and behold i was right. 118/80 something if i remember right.
another funny thing is that she guessed my baby to weigh about 8 pounds! maybe even 8.5! that will be the biggest baby i ever had! especially since i've only gained 13 lbs this time! {don't worry, i had the o.k from my dr to stay in the 10-15 range}.
i'm getting my prego pictures taken sat. -done by one of my best friends, she did them for me when i was pregnant with shilo and i love them!
just a few nights ago as john and i were going to bed i sprung on him that i wanted to change our girls middle name to something shorter. so no i'm not going to tell what the name is, but if anyone has a cool girl name that is one syllable that they would like to share, feel free. that your not going to use! remember my kids names are chastin zaine, and shilo mae, so we can't use anything even close. plus we have decided that we can't use anything with a B- like blu- because 'something blu barnes' doesn't sound good:)
thanks for reading, i'll post pictures soon of our life:)

btw: does anyone else notice that that baby in the side bar is getting really cramped! i did!
hehe!