Mother of the year?

NOT SO MUCH!

Do you see it? Just under Sarah's right eye? Yep it's true, she has a black eye. And just how did she get it? From yours truly. I swear it looks worse in person, but maybe it's because I was the cause of it and am guilt ridden so I notice more. Wednesday night we were down at the church for the Youth Activity. I got the stoller out, opened it up, put Sarah in it and put my bag in the basket underneath and BAM, there it went. The stroller folded up with Sarah in it! I thought I had gotten it locked open, but obviously I didn't and Sarah paid the price. Face first into the food tray. Let's just say I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not going to be in the running for mother of the year any time soon.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 12th Anniversary Jeff! I'm not much for the mushing stuff, especially writing it. But I do want to tell you thanks for being such a great husband and dad and thank you for all you do! Love you!

Barnes Bash 2008 - Steamboat Springs, CO

Each year Jeff's family takes a trip together which has become known as the "Barnes Bash". This tradition started before Jeff and I were married and now consists of 29 of us (28 this year because Nick is on his mission) getting together for a few days of fun.

Even though we go somewhere different every year, there are certain things that remain the same - the pajama parade (the grandkids choose a t-shirt that they decorate and model for everyone and then they go for a walk outside to parade them around - oh some of the looks we've had!), the unbirthday party (everyone is given a name and they have to make a gift for that person and we have a party to present the gifts) and most of all just spending time together and having A LOT of fun.

This year we went to Steamboat Springs, CO. We left Tuesday morning (the 8th) to drive over from Salt Lake. Emilie and Ada's cousin Eliza rode with us. I think she was taking advantage of having more girls around since she has 3 brothers!

Emilie, Eliza and Ada - Girls Rock!

Sarah looking forward to the fun!

We stopped in Vernal for lunch at Winger's. The funny part is when 21 of us walked in the three waitresses all looked at each other and shook their heads like "I'm not taking THAT group!" Needless to say lunch was a drawn out process, but we did finally get done and got back on the road. Thanks Marc for stepping in and being such a great waiter! We made it into Steamboat later that evening and the bash was ready to begin! Yeah we made it!

Wednesday was full of play time and a gondola ride up the mountain. Some chose to walk down and some chose to bike down. Others (most of the younger kids including mine) chose to ride up and down on the gondola. The view was amazing! (I could only determine that from pictures since I stayed with Sarah so she could nap because she was still not feeling 100% yet)

The Gondola

Getting started on pajama parade shirts

Thursday consisted, of course, of more playing, more fun and miniature golf and the alpine slide.

Miniature Golf

Thursday night we had our first annual BB cookoff. I wish I had taken pictures of all the food. Everything looked so good and tasted even better!

Nicolas sampling the brownie batter

After dinner we then played "Are you smarter than then grandchildren" with all the adults against the grandkids. Then it was on to karaoke. Thanks for a great evening Peter - it was a smashing success. I'm feeling a tradition with the cookoff and karaoke coming on!

Karaoke

Friday was time to finish pjp shirts and finish the unbirthday gifts and more fun! Some when rafting and others went swimming. That night we had the unbirthday party and then the pajama parade. The best news of the day was that Emilie lost her first tooth! We did find out that the tooth fairy does come to Steamboat!

The Unbirthday Party

The Pajama Parade

Saturday morning we woke up to see the hot air balloon rodeo from our front porch.



Sadly Saturday was the day to pack up and head for home.
Sarah and Aunt Heather

Nicholas with Uncle Jeff


Saying goodbye

Thanks everyone for a grand trip! It was so much fun - as always! Thanks to the Management - you know who you are - we couldn't have done it without you! You're the best!

These are a few pictures of the view as we headed out of Steamboat.

Absolutely a Rocky Mountain High

Our Annual Summer Trek West

We got home Sunday night from our annual summer trek west to visit family and friends. We didn't get to see everyone we wanted to this time - but hopefully we will next time! We had an absolutely great trip minus Sarah getting a stomach virus for a week. We are so happy to have her over it and to have her back to her usual happy self! Other than that it was non-stop fun for 2 1/2 weeks in Salt Lake and then 5 days in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with Jeff's family. It was hard to come home back to reality and responsibility, but it was made a little easier because Jeff's nephew Daniel came home with us to spend the week. The girls love having their older cousins come visit. We'll see if Daniel gets a makeover that the twins are so famous for!

Before we left we were lucky enough to have Harmoni and Parker come visit for a week. We had so much fun with them here. We're pretty sure they had fun too - Parker I'll keep looking for cubs stuff, I'm not sure you have enough yet. Thanks Harm and Parker for coming out - I'm thinking it should definitely be an annual thing! Also, thank you so much for your friendship and for being able to deal with all us women in the car for 2 days - especially you Parker!

XO XO XO

So here are some pictures and a run down of all we did in Salt Lake:

Days 1 & 2: Drove and drove and drove and drove and drove. Stopped in Laramie, WY to sleep. Drove and drove and drove until we made it to Salt Lake. I am soooooooooooo happy that I wasn't a pioneer. I am so grateful for a car with airconditioning and portable dvd players (a must for a long trip!). Thanks again for coming on our road trip Harm and Parker - we had a blast!

Days 3-16: The first four days we stayed at my sister Laura's house. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for letting us stay with you! You are truly the hostest with the mostest! I'm not sure my nephew Parker knew what to do since he was out numered by girls.

The rest of the time we stayed at my parents house. Many, many thanks to my mom and dad for putting up with us and for letting us stay with you as well. The kids love time with grandma and grandpa! Thanks for all you do!

Our activites included: Lots of time with grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins (from both sides), playing on the playground in Aunt Laura's backyard, playing baseball, swimming, playing High School Musical on the Wii, (Mayhem broke out every time they got an A+ and unlocked something new. A few times Laura and I thought someone had been hurt or the house was on fire!) rides in dad's falcon, visiting friends, playing water hopscotch at grandma Fankhauser's house, reading with grandpa Fank, helping grandpa Fank in the yard, minature golfing, bowling, Wheeler Farm, shopping, decorating the float, the 4th of July parade (see previous post), hiking with grandma Barnes and Richard and cousins, shoe shopping with grandma Barnes and the girl cousins, family pictures with my family (unfortunately I could have taken better photos than the photographer), lots of Training Table, Shivers and Hires and Fry Sauce! I'm sure I've forgotten something, but needless to say we had a grand time!

Day 17: We left for Steamboat Springs, CO. Post to come.

Happy Birthday America!

For the love of a Parade!

Each year the Hinckley family does a float for the East Millcreek Parade. This year we are in Utah (Utah trip post is to come) for the 4th therefore we got to participate in the festivities. The theme for the parade was "Our Legacy". So the theme for our float was "Bee...cause he loved East Millcreek" in honor of Grandpa Hinckley. I didn't know it until now, but he started the parade in East Millcreek, but more than that he left the family with an amazing legacy with the life he led. The float was decorated with bees and everyone was dressed up like bees with yellow t-shirts (with the theme on it), black shorts, black hats with antennas and socks with black stripes. It turned out very cute! Best of all, we took the Grand Prize! Thanks to Angela and Katie for getting everything coordinated.

The banner

Grand Prize Ribbon

Emilie

Ada

Jeff and Sarah

Pedo Pedo

Pedo Pedo with Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady)
What was I thinking not getting my picture taken with him too? DUH!

How cute is she?

The parade was lots of fun, as was taking part in the festivities and games after. We got to see and chat with lots of friends that we haven't see for a while. Thanks to Mark, Kelly, Jake, Mike, Laura, Lindsay and Parker for coming out to see us!

Later we went to my brother Matt's house for dinner and video games with the cousins.

Then in was off to watch fireworks with the other cousins

The girls had to do the armchair with their cousins, of course everyone had to have their turn!

Ada

Emilie

Eliza

Heidi

The best part of the day was Pedo Pedo making and serving up the homemade ice cream. Mint chocolate brownie, does it get any better than that?

Happy 4th!