Reese's 3rd Birthday!

I could spend about an hour ranting about how much I'm over the winter and all the sickness that comes with it, but I'll just delve right into our baby girl's 3rd birthday!  Even though sickness stole the celebration from her haha.

The first two weeks of December were brutal for our family.  Lots of sickness, no fun.  Well the week before Reese's birthday, she was starting to act more like herself and finally seemed to come out of the funk!  So we pulled together a last minute princess party with her cousins.  She wore her favorite princess dress at the time, Rapunzel, and we were off to celebrate! But lo and behold as soon as we finished dinner, poor Reese was completely out of it.  It was like all the excitement and locomotion was just too much too soon!  She was snuggling her daddy most of the night, while I did some princess games with the cousins.  I felt so horrible she couldn't enjoy her birthday and felt even worse like it was maybe too much too soon!  Her cousins were just the sweetest to her, as well as her aunts and uncles.  They love their Reese, and I'm so grateful for how much they do.

Thankfully, after coming home and going right to bed, getting a good sleep, she woke up, the morning of her actual birthday, feeling much better! The best birthday gift ever!  We had her eat her birthday pancakes and open a couple presents, and she was happy as could be.  She's just a happy, easy-going girl lately.  The littlest things brighten her day, and she's a constant reminder to us to live simply and enjoy each moment.  She's a ray of sunshine in our home, and there would be such a hole in our hearts without her here with us! 

Later in the evening, we had her open up some gifts from the party the night before that we didn't get to because she was feeling so sick, and I think she about had a heart attack with all the princess swag. LOL.  She was struttin' around in her Elsa outfit like she was the talk of the town. 

Grandma and Grandpa Barrett also came down to wish her a happy birthday and open some presents.  We sure love having a set of grandparents close by, but we sure miss her other grandparents too!  She is loved so much by all her grandparents.  You are one lucky lady Roni!

Bottom line is we couldn't be more lucky to be your parents Reesey.  You have a contagious, bubbly personality that has lightened our life and brought us so much joy.  Every morning you greet us with the sweetest, "Hi mom!" and it melts my heart every morning.  You run up to us randomly to give us big squeezes, and you've always been such a good listener.  You already watch out for your baby bro Riggs and are always making sure he's part of whatever you're doing.  You love to include him in all your adventures and pretending.  We love you angel!  Don't you ever change!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Holidays Are Here...Say WHAT.

Things have seemed pretty chill here lately.  But oh so great.  This chick has been keeping us laughing at how cute she's been, and Riggs is starting to be a little cray cray running everywhere.  Today he's just been running from the bedroom to the front room, back and forth back and forth.  Reese is potty trained now which is awesome.  I wasn't sure if she was ready or not, especially after the first couple weeks, but she is handling it like a champ now.  Hallelujah!

I can't believe it's fall.  November.  It's flipping November 7th.  Reese's birthday is in a month and a week.  What on earth!?  She'll be 3.  Thanksgiving will be here soon and then Christmas, and it's just madness.  I'm so excited for the holidays.  I'm sad because I won't get to see my parents and some of my family, but I'm grateful to have the family close by that we do have.  

I'll be whipping up a holiday fun list soon that I'll share.  Maybe we'll get a third of it checked off this year. MAYBE. Lol.  It's just fun to have something to look forward to even if it doesn't all get checked off.  I'm trying to embrace the flow of life more lately.  Quit making so many to-do lists and savor more of the moments.  I'm trying to slow down.  I'm a fast-paced chick in a lot of ways, but need my down time.  Holidays bring out the down time in me.  I know it's the busiest time of year too, but man oh man, I love me some chillaxin'.  Especially some holiday chillaxin' Christmas music,  stuffed Turkey Day bellies, family galore, Hallmark movies (don't even hate...I blame my momma!), baking, parties, crafts, giving.

She Tries

Maybe this will be a short post maybe it will end up being a long one, I'm not sure haha.  I have no plan for this post other than to hopefully express something that's been on my mind and in my heart so much lately.  The other day my sweet sister Courtney posted a picture on her Instagram of 4 of her beautiful children playing at a kitchen table.  She is getting prepared to move her family from Japan back to United States.  She's not new to the process at all, as her husband is an Air Force pilot.  In getting prepared to move they move their furniture a month before they move themselves, so in the meantime they are given loaner furniture.  The picture she posted had her kids playing a game together at this new loaner table.  What she wrote on the picture left me in absolute tears. Not even going to try and sugar coat it and say "tear up".  Folks...I was a hot, sobbing mess.

"The other day, our things were packed away and loaner furniture was brought it.  I was sitting there in this strange new house feeling a bit sad and unhappy about having to go through so much change all the time when my kids ran though the door from school.  They took one look around the house that was making me so sad and yelled as they ran through the rooms, 'This is the best day ever!  Look at our new house!  Look at my new room!' My kids teach me a lot, but perhaps the best thing they teach me is how to be happy no matter what."

Lately I've really been trying to tune into my babes.  Especially my Reese.  She is so strong-willed and knows exactly what she wants.  But she is also a sweet, sensitive lil' thing.  I feel like I identify with her so much.  Which if any of y'all have kids that you see similarities in your behavior and their behavior it can be the most tender thing and also make you a little nervy aka nervous.  Lol.  Thoughts like oooohh dear, I don't want her to have this part of my personality!  Spare her please!  Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this way from time to time? 

You worry about what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong.  You want your babes to have the world at their finger tips, but you don't want to spoil them.  You want to teach them their ABCs and 123s so they are ready for that first day of school that's forever away but not really because time flies ya know.  But you mostly want them to embrace childhood.  Jump in puddles, get messy, build forts, play pretend, chase them over and over again, watch movies, slurp up a melting ice cream cone.  You don't want to come down too hard on them or criticize.  But you want to teach them things don't always go the way they want them to.  You want them to be resilient. For them to be polite and pleasant.  To get along with others.  You worry you're keeping them from certain experiences.  You worry you're depriving them of fun.  But you want them to live simply and learn to find joy in the little things.

But then I read..."Perhaps the best thing [my kids] teach me is how to be happy no matter what."  If you take a step back and look at the big picture, your babies just want you.  They want your love and your happiness.  They are easy to please y'all.  They forgive quickly, love easily, and have the biggest imaginations.  They don't need things or lesson plans, they need time.  It's hard to remember that sometimes because it's so important to refuel yourself and have you time.  But it's a balancing act.  One I don't know if I'll ever figure out, but I'm so okay with that!  I'm okay with messy.  I'm okay with taking things day by day.  I'm feel like I'm being molded closer and closer to the kind of mother I want to be.  That mother isn't perfect nor will she ever be.  But she tries.

On Growth

“One of a mother’s greatest gifts is to teach her child that to grow is not to timidly sit on some safe shore at water’s edge and clumsily grab whatever happens to float by. Rather, it is to deliberately step into waters both calm and turbulent in order to wrestle great things to shore. And that lesson can be best taught by a mother who stands before her child dripping wet.” 

(Craig D. Loundsbrough in "Flecks of Gold on a Path of Stone: Simple Truths for Profound Living")

A few videos from the last couple months:

Ooooh Handsome Bubba!

In the morning when the kids wake up, I usually hear them chatting and playing for 15 minutes while I get their breakfasts ready.  This morning I heard Reese coo "Oooooh handsome bubba".  I say that to him when I come in to get them in the morning! It's so funny the things they catch on to!  It was also such a crazy reminder of how much your children are watching you and looking up to you.  It was a reminder for me to be kinder, more loving, speak more positively about myself and others, and just show greater love to peeps in my life.

 

I came across this picture when thumbing through some folders on our computer, and I was overwhelmed with #alltheemotions when I saw this picture!!!  Look at that sweet baby girl!  How is she so big already?  I can't handle it!  This picture was taken in December right around her birthday.  Her first birthday.  I remember SO vividly I asked Buns to take a picture before church because I never wanted to forget those special days when it was just me and Reese.  I was (and still am) such a brand new momma, and I was learning all sorts of crazy things about myself as a woman!! I was so happy in this picture.  Reese was all smiles and laughing like crazy that day.  Just looking at this picture, I swear I remember how I felt like I was glowing from the inside out!!  Which was saying something, because I was in the early stages of being preggers with Riggs.  And so far, the beginnings of my pregnancies do NOT go over well with me.  SO SICK ALL THE TIME.  But this day.  This was a good day.  A great day.  And I remember feeling so blessed for my sweet, happy Roni and to have another nugget on the way.  Could life be any crazier how things pan out!?

Favorite Things

Lots of snuggling goes on in the corner of this couch.  And climbing.  And wrestling.  And snacking.  And hitting.  And jumping.  And laughing.  And crying. Today I'm grateful for this couch that creates a platform for those memories.  Reese has been into Lilo & Stitch lately, so we usually watch half of it in the morning together when Riggs is taking his morning nap.  Then Riggs wakes up, and we get kicked off the couch because he's been claiming his territory in the corner of it lately. Seriously.  He hangs out in that corner all the time.  It's hilarious.

Favorite things of my babes lately:

//Reese// Lilo & Stitch, climbing to the top of playgrounds, racing Daddy, wrestling Riggs, strawberries, greek yogurt, coloring in her princess coloring book, counting everything, the number 8, sorting shapes, the song from Aladdin that the genie sings, Tiana from Princess and the frog, Lionhart children's book, and fish.

//Riggs// Super Simple Songs from youtube, dancing, jumping, wrestling Reese, climbing into Reese's bed, tickle time, peaches, oatmeal with peanut butter, building blocks, digging in the dirt, jumping on the couch, reading books, animal sounds (lion is his specialty), and chasing Reese.

Man Cakes

A little shout-out/love letter to bae today.  I feel like God couldn't have placed a more perfect-for-me man in my life.  I am constantly amazed at how our relationship continues to grow stronger and stronger despite challenges we go through and overcome.  He has been a strength and support to me when I've needed it most and heck, even when I don't need it most, he is there!  After the kids go to bed, we get to chill the freak out.  And we are typically both so exhausted after our days, so we either play games (currently: Ticket to Ride, yes we're dorks), watch our shows (on a Parks & Rec and Arrested Development kick right now), watch funny instagram and youtube videos, and just talk about our days.  It is seriously my favorite part of the day.  

My second favorite part of the day is when we put the kiddos down for bed together.  I mean isn't that everyone's favorite part of the day?? HAHA.  I promise I love my babies, but when that clock strikes 7:30pm, it's go time!!!

But back to Buns.  I love you.  I pray that Reese finds herself a man like you.  Someone who tells her she's hilarious, kind, big-hearted, and beautiful.  Someone who hones in on her strengths, not her weaknesses.  Someone who applauds her everyday for being the woman she is.  Never am I ever all of those qualities all at once, but you should have a man that tells you those things anyways because he believes them even when you don't!

You were the best choice I ever made Buns.  Love you so much!!!

This was on our date night a couple weeks ago.  We went to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls.  Buns taught me how to swing and even wrapped his arms around me to show me how it's done.  SWOON and EYE-ROLL. (Or if you're reading this, you're probably gagging not swooning) Then we grabbed a drive-through Wendy's burger on the way to the movies because we were going to be late, and ain't nobody wants to miss the previews!!  We saw Bourne Legacy, and it was so good. Rest assured, Jason is still a BadA.  Then afterwards we topped off the night with some Provo Beach Resort ice cream.  I got pralines & cream and blueberry pie.  Buns got something different, so we shared.  We laughed so hard that night.  So freaking hard, and I was in 7th heaven.

I'm obsessed with my man cakes.

#sorrynotsorry

♥, Ashton

And for your entertainment, here's Reese at her favorite indoor playground.  She's a hoot.

Ready, Set, Go! from Ashton Barrett on Vimeo.

Juicy & Sloppy

The uncertainty of where we'll be in a year is a little unsettling sometimes, but we're over here just trying to keep it real in the present.  Sometimes I can't believe I have two kids right now.  Two kids while Buns was going to school.  What were we thinking?  And then almost immediately I'm like, we weren't thinking!  But good thing we weren't thinking because then we wouldn't have these two beautiful babies at our fingertips.  These two precious little humans that make us laugh so hard.  These two crazy tinies that keep us on our toes and let us give them juicy, sloppy kisses.  Riggs especially is down for the juicy, sloppy kisses.  I'll take 'em while I can get 'em! Before long he'll be turning the other cheek to my big, fat momma kisses.  Or maybe he won't.  I hope he never stop letting me give him kisses.

Today we went swimming.  Even if we just go for a half hour, it's a great way for us to get out of the house and for them to get some energy out.  Reese especially loves the pool.  She's so independent these days.  She'll go down the slide over and over and over again.  Absolutely giddy about it each time.  I love that the littlest things make her so happy.  She also likes the buckets that fall from the top of the playground.  She'll watch them, waiting anxiously for them to splash on her head.  Cracks her up when she gets hit by the water!  Speaking of water, she also has been interested in the potty lately.  She's always telling me when she's going pee-pee and poo-poo.  And she's constantly irritated by her diapers.  What does this mean you ask?  Oh I think you know.

And this momma is NOT ready for it.

Rapunzel and Neglectful Parenting

Reese has been super into brushing my hair and her hair lately, and I LOVE IT.  Today she did it for like 10 minutes.  I feel like I'm cheating the system somehow.  This morning we watched our friends' kiddos while they went to the temple, and they have the sweetest little newborn baby girl.  It always blows my mind how little they start out!  Time flies by so fast!

Riggs was diggin' the animals at the library the other day.  That's about the only thing that keeps him at bay when we go.  All he wants to do is pull the books off shelves.  Honestly this age is the worst for the library.  I would avoid it at all costs.  Lol.  I try to get in and out when we go.  Grab some news books and out the door!  I actually lost Riggs in the library the day I took these pics.  I was all casually looking around at first, then I could feel the panic attack coming, then I starting running, then I told the librarian I lost my son, then she told the security guards, then like 5 moms starting helping me look, then I starting yelling RIGGS...in the library, then I was ugly crying, then 3 minutes later he comes waddling out of one of the children's library aisles, then I hugged him, then I darted out of the library, then I cursed all the Blue Bloods I'd been watching, and then we went home and all took a loooong nap. #momfail #neglectfulparenting #imstillrecoveringfromit 

One Animated Girlfriend

You can't really hear it in the video below, but after she's done counting, she is leaning on her hands behind her, and she says "Yay" under her breath very quietly.  Lol.  Our time together during Rigg's morning nap will always be so special to me.  She's just kind of been my little best friend lately, and it's been so fun!  She's been soaking up new words which is a new step for her because new words and trying to expand her vocabulary was always frustrating for her because she just wanted to do her own thing! Haha.  Like mother like daughter!! But she has been talking like a champ!  She even grabs books that she knows really well and reads them to herself with her blanket in tow.  Oh my gosh, it's a phase I hope never ends. You light up our life Reesey!!

I was so glad I caught the moment when Riggs wakes up and how Reese reacts EVERY time!  It's so cute, and I love the great friends they're becoming.  Sidenote: She is such a stubborn punk when on camera, I ruined her for good! Haha.

Jump Gym Fun {More 2nd Bday Celebrations}

More birthday celebrations at the jump gym with her cousins Rio and Tegan and aunties Megan and Gabe!  Reese loves her jump gym, but she loves her cousins and aunties more.

Reese turns 2!

Reese's second birthday was such a special day.  December 19, 2015.  I was nostalgic for her teeny tiny baby toes and her Michelin tire rolls.  I missed her squawk when she first found her voice.  I missed when she had 4 teeth in the front and the grin that she repped them with.  I couldn't believe 2 years had passed since our beautiful girl had come into our life.  

We woke up and celebrated with some birthday pancakes.  Reese loves her some "cake-cakes"!  Always said at high volume.  We had her open her birthday present, which was a princess book with princess figurines.  She was wide-eyed and stoked out of her mind!  She immediately lined them up in front of her plate of cake-cakes.  She made us go through the line up over and over again saying each of their names.  She was so excited!  Buns and I were smitten.  As always.  We love our girl.

We took our baby girl to her favorite place, the jump gym.  I forgot my camera there, but she had a blast.  She loves when daddy gets to come.  She had the place practically all to herself!  We jumped, played, and wore that chica out.  

The rest of the day was all about Reese.  We watched princess movies, read books on books on books, and enjoyed our baby girl.  That evening we went up to Salt Lake City Temple Square to look at the Christmas lights.  We stopped for some Five Guys burgers and fries on the way.  That girl loves her fries.  We went with some of our good friends, the Woolfs, and Reese got to hang with her little bestie Drue.  It was seriously such a great night.  We had a blast celebrating our little beauty.  The apple of our eyes.  You are so special Reese, and we are grateful for you every day!

♥, Momma

Goals for the New Year {2016 Edition}

I've been trying to set a time to write this post for a while, but every time I think about doing it, I hadn't really known what to write yet!  Usually I feel like I'm right on the bandwagon with all sorts of New Years Resolutions, and jump right into it.  This year felt a little different/  I had so many freaking things swimming around in my brain that I wanted to improve on, work on, and change, but I couldn't decide what was most important or what the best use of my time was.  I have a tendency to overload myself with a bunch of ideas and then only a select few remain on the bandwagon.  I always think of how much more time I could've focused on those select few goals if I would've taken the time to seriously think about what I wanted to focus on.  SO...

This year, I decided I wouldn't set my resolutions until I had thought through what I wanted to improve on personally.  What spaces needed to be filled in my heart and mind.

I wouldn't say this is a solid list or that I spent hours upon hours deciding on it haha, but when I thought about it this morning, it just felt so right!  Like I was finally able to put into words what I wanted to improve and focus on.  Our family theme for this year plays a huge role in my goals and our family goals, "Put Loving Arms Around Them." (Mosiah 18:21)

Buns and I both feel like we could do a little bit better to think of others before thinking of ourselves.  The "Me, Myself, and I" ship has docked too long in this household.  Especially with the last couple of weeks with very sick kiddos, tempers were quick and patience was nowhere to be found.  That's honestly what sparked the theme, but once we thought about it more, we decided it genuinely was something we wanted to improve on not just in our home, but in our relationships with friends and family.  We love our friends and family so much, but feel like we don't show just how much sometimes!  Just an overall effort to think more outside ourselves.  And then there's the more personal goals for me...

Goals as a Momma for Reese:

//Routine.//

//Get on the floor more to interact.//

//Smile, encourage, love, empower, and TEACH. Lots more of all these things.//

//ACT instead of REACT.//

//Never turn down when she reaches out to spend time together.  Whether that's reading, playing with her princesses, or playing hide and seek.//

Goals as a Momma for Riggs:

//Hold my lil boyfren more. #secondbabyprobs//

//Eye contact and laughter.//

//Baths.//

//Be in the moment.//

Goals as a Wifey for Buns:

//Think before you speak.//

//Small acts of love everyday.//

//Listen without thinking of what I want to say.  TRULY listen.//

//Weekly date nights. At least two of those weeks getting out of the house to do something fun!//

Goals as Ashton:

//Commitment.  To self.  To family.  To God.  To friends.//

//Things will not go perfectly.  That is OK.  Live and let be.//

//SERVICE. Put loving arms around them.//

♥, Me

Thanksgiving 2015

Oh my goodness gracious.  Where to begin.  I've actually been trying to find the time to write this post for a while.  I've had the pictures in a draft but kept wanting to find an adequate chunk of time with no interruptions to write down just all the little things that made Thanksgiving this year so wonderful.  But alas that perfect time has not come, so here I am just writing a quick little tidbit of what comes to mind, so that I can get this bizz done!  

This year my parents flew in from Tennessee to spend Thanksgiving here in Utah!  I was counting down the days for quite some time.  We spent a lot of the time up in Salt Lake City at Megan's place, and it was so fun.  The place was decorated for Christmas, and it was just magical.  Cozy.  Surrounded by people I love so much.  

We ate lots of good food, relaxed, snuggled, watched Christmas movies, drank hot chocolate, ate leftovers like 5 times, hanging, talking, and just enjoying everyone's company.  Todd and I really enjoyed ourselves, and we were grateful for a relaxing, beautiful Thanksgiving break.  

I am so grateful for family.  I take them for granted, but I truly have a wonderful family.  Nothing like it.