Family Pics by Michael Lloyd Photography

I am really excited to present to you the 2011 Barnard Family pics - these were taken by one of our bestest friends ever - Michael Lloyd.  You totally need to check out his work at www.michaellloydphotography.com because he is the bomb dot com.  We had never, ever gotten family photos professionally and he made it wonderfully fun and got me through some rough picture stage freight. :) We love him to the moon and back.  So here goes nothing....some of my absolute favs!

The fav-fav hanging large and proud on our wall.

I love the fall colors here!

Andrew

Andrew

Colton

Colton

 Cannon

Cannon

Cali

Cali

Aidan

Aidan

Right before sunset

The Girls

The boys

When I said it was on like Donkey Kong...I meant it.

So blogging hasn't really worked out for me that well.  I don't know if I just have consistency issues or what.  Ok, I totally have consistency issues, let's be honest.  ;) BUT it is a new year and a new adventure and I don't want to miss out on everything that we are experiencing.  I think that it would be horrible of me not to document some of these great memories - so here goes the blog again....

Guest house

This is the original house on our property. I personally can't see anyone ever living here and liking it!

The Winds of Change

March and April have always brought the wind, here to Blythe...somehow this time it has brought with it changes for our family as well.  Last month Adam left his job at Desert Security Farms.  It was a bittersweet change - there are so many things about the job that we will miss - and some that we will not. 

Adam is currently looking for a new job.  The funny thing is that I have been really calm through the whole process.  I hope that everything works out - I might have to get a J-O-B if something doesn't pan out soon for a new career for Adam.  The not knowing is the hardest part.  Not knowing if we will live here in Blythe or somewhere else.  Not knowing what Adam will do next and if he will like it.  Not knowing what school the kids will go to.  Not knowing what house we may live in or if we will rent.  The dark mist of not knowing is definately the hardest part.

At the same time I am also going to school.  I am taking 12 units - the helpful part is that my classes are online and right up my alley.  Mostly computer stuff with some education stuff mixed in.  My major is Vocational Education aka Career and Technical Education.  My area of "expertise" is computers.  I hope to someday teach a class or two at a community college.  In the meantime it is a difficult process to be out of work, going to school, packing - but to where - only the Lord knows. 

This month's VT message is on personal revelation and I feel like it was just meant for me...I could really use a boost of confidence, reassurance and revelation about the next chapter in our lives.  I know that the Lord is looking out for us and have seen his hand in this whole process already.  I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father that knows us personally and guides us to the places and people that we need to meet in our journey.  I have been sooooo grateful for the opportunity to come to Blythe.  It may not be a perfect place but it has been the perfect chapter in the Barnard Family legacy.  I don't know if our next chapter has us continuing here or moving on - but wherever we end up we will be blooming together...It has been nice to bloom as a desert rose for a while!

12 Days of Christmas Adventure - Day 2

This morning, while waiting for the bus, Cannon happened upon Tom leaving for work and innocently asked...."Did you get anything at your door last night?"

ummmmm.......surprise and mystery has now been 100% kyboshed!  Good thing our neighbors are sweet enough to let our kids follow through with the original plan.  I hope that they will improve on their sneakiness through the years.

We brought them a finding nemo puzzle that had a turtle and a dove chocolate bar....all neighbors are playing the game and no one was "caught" tonight.  hehehehe - such good sports!

The Twelve Days of Christmas Adventure: Day 1

The twelve days of Christmas could start today (if you want it to end on Christmas Eve) or tomorrow (if you want it to end Christmas Day)....

we choose today.
Our victims:  two neighbors
The plan: ding-dong ditch a gift for each day of the twelve days of Christmas
The first gift - an ornament for your Christmas Tree

The first neighbor has about 18 (ok 4) dogs....needless to say, as the boys got closer to the house the dogs went crazy and the family swung the door open and Andrew shyly said...."um, this was supposed to be a surprise"...lol, ok, so they know who we are at day one - not optimal...but still fun.

The second neighbor....this time the kids had an elaborate plan - they mapped out how it would work, divided the labor and had a lookout!  Andrew laid in the grass and called the neighbors dog over - she knows us, so no barking. :)  Cali crept up to the door and left the gift and card.  She went and laid in the lookout spot with Andrew.  Colton then crept up, rang the bell and ran around the corner of the house.  The neighbor opened the door, saw the gift, looked around, picked it up and went inside!  SUCCESS!

Check us out for day two of the Barnard's Twelve Days of Christmas Adventure!

Cannon on the Front Page of the Newspaper.

Cannon had fun playing hopscotch at the new Appleby school.  See the cute crocks?  Later that day he called me to come and bring him new shoes...he had gotten a blister.  Darn crocks!  Hope he enjoys hop scotch cuz that's all the new "playground" has.  Hopefully not forever!