The Barker Bunch

Birthday's & Obama's....

2009-01-20T21:22:00.002-06:00

It's official....WE HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD! On Sunday, our little Colton Quinn turned 2!! It's so hard to believe that he's already 2 years old, I mean, it seems like he was JUST born. Parents always say that the years go by so quickly, and as everyday goes by, I can't believe just how quickly it really does. He is getting so big. He says so many words and phrases, I mean, he is my kid, so of course I think he's perfect, but seriously, this kid is amazing!! We had a great party for him on Sunday too. I was actually very humbled by all of the friends and family that came by to say happy birthday to my big boy, that brought gifts, food, and fun! Our little house was almost bursting at the seams with people, but it was a BLAST. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone to came out to be with us on Colton's birthday. I was also amazed at how supportive his big brother was during his birthday. Brady was so excited to go out with his Dad and find a gift for Colton, and play with his friends at his party. He helped with gifts for a while, but I have a few great friends that helped me out and got a few things for Brady to open as well, so he had his own gifts to show off!!! As I reflect on the past two years, I couldn't thank God enough for all of the blessings. My kids, my family, my friends. I am one lucky lady, and I only have God to thank for that. Happy Birthday Colton Quinn Barker...we love you!!!!
My second thought of the night...PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!!!! The journey, the inspiration, the drive...Americans coming together. It's all been so amazing. Today, watching a black man, taking the oath of office, in front of almost 2 million people, and millions more watching in their schools, communities, and in my case, my living room, was something I'm certain I will never forget. He stood so tall, spoke so clearly, so eloquently, and so proud. I don't know what it is, but there is something about this man that gives me confidence in his ability to help the 3 million Americans that are out of a job (including my father), work to find peace throughout the 2 wars we have going on, and put a stop on this sucky economy. The funny thing is, is that after he was elected, I would get so defensive when someone would say something negative about him, but over the past few weeks, I've found myself letting go, and trusting that his actions and policies will prove themselves. I'm so proud of this country for coming together, and am looking forward to this passion for the country to continue throughout the years.

Farewell to 2008...

2008-12-29T21:12:00.005-06:00

As we get ready to say "Farewell" to 2008, I though I would update you all on Christmas, 2008 at the Barkers. It defiantly was a great success. Brady and Colton were very excited in the days leading up to the big day, however, Christmas morning it took them a few minutes to warm up to the fact that FINALLY all of those gifts could be open, plus all the new ones that Santa brought. We set out all sorts of things for Santa on Christmas Eve, like DOTS, cookies, cupcakes, pickles, and gummy bears. Brady got a kick out of that and checked out the plate first thing in the morning to make sure Santa got all the good stuff! Of course, the got everything they wanted, plus more (Brady was very unimpressed by the ScoobyDoo underwear from Mom and Dad). To my COMPLETE shock, my wonderful husband surprised me on Christmas morning with a Nintendo Wii!!! I had no idea and have played EVERYday since Thursday!! Its been a blast. We spent the morning as a family before NaNa and PaPa (my parents) came over for breakfast, followed by Aunt Debbie and Jim. It was SO much fun. We bowled on the Wii, ate breakfast, and Jim put together toys for the boys. We picked up Justin's Grandma about Noon and headed to his parents for most of the day. More gifts, food and laughs. It was a great time. Our last stop was at my sisters house. More food and gifts...and we were WIPED! Friday was a GREAT recovery day...followed by the rest of the weekend!

Brady after opening Tidmouth Sheds
Colton after getting his hockey hat

The tree after Santa left

Christmas morning...they wanted to sleep in!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Before I go, I wanted to reflect back on 2008. So many things went on in our lives, but it seems like nothing has changed. Justin started going to school in February, it's so hard to believe that it's been almost a year. He's doing great and we are so proud of him. It's really tough to work full time and go to school, and still be a good Dad and husband, but he pulls it off. He got a major promotion when he was named Program Director of JACK 102.3FM. He was able to flip the station to a format, and did a great job. We went from having "babies", to have toddlers that basically run the house. Colton talks more and more everyday, and he and Brady are best friends. It's so much fun to watch them interact play. We were very fortunate to be blessed with family and friends, and thankfully no tragedies. Thank goodness that the National economic crisis did not effect of directly, although gas prices this summer and our grocery bills were something everyone had to deal with. Thank God those gas prices are down!!! We were very sad to learn that my Dad lost his job in early November, and continue to pray that he finds work SOON!!! As stated in an earlier blog, I was so humbled on election night when Barack Obama was elected into office. I am so much looking forward to the change that he is going to bring to this country, and the fresh start that will come along with his presidency. I learned a lot about myself this year too. I learned that I'm very blessed to have amazing friends as well. Friends that will do things for you and WITH you, even if they aren't that interested, but pretend to be interested because she knows how much it means to you. I learned that I would so much rather have a few close friends, than a large quantity that I need to not be myself around. I learned that starting new traditions is generally more fun that always sticking to old ones. I learned that I can take time for myself and not feel bad about it.

I defiantly had a great 2008. My family really evolved, and I'm so thankful for everything that we accomplished and learned over the past year. I'm excited to see what 2009 brings, and wish the best for all of you and your families in 2009. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas is coming!!!

2008-12-17T15:36:00.003-06:00

Okay so it's been a while since I last blogged, so I figured that it was time for an entry! We are all getting really excited around here for Chirstmas, and with only a week before the big day, we are finishing up our shopping and sealing the last of our Christmas cards to perpare for the final week. Brady and Colton are getting excited too. They know that they need to be on thier best behavor in order for Santa to bring what they want. Colton is looking forward to Elmo (in several different compasitites) and Brady has a movie and train station in mind. I'm not sure what I'm going to do after the Holidays, and how I'm going to "bribe" the boys into being good! We have watched a whole bunch of Christmas movies lately too, the most recent was Polar Express which they seemed to enjoy. I'm looking forward to the next week for sure. Hopefully if the weather stays OK we will be getting a visit from Ette, then celebrate my Mom's side of the family on Sunday. Sunday night, we will enjoy the annual Tonic Sol Fa Christmas Show which is absolutly one of my FAVORITE traditions. I'm really looking forward to all of it.
The weather here has been SOO cold, and we've had a lot of snow too, so we have been hanging out a lot inside and eating yummy warm homemade meals. Thank goodness we love to be home!
So as the Holiday season presses on, I'm getting so excited to wake up Christmas morning with my family and for once, have them understand what's going on. It seems like they just aren't "babies" anymore, and I'm so thrilled that they will be waiting for Santa and not be able to fall asleep. I can't wait!
I have to share this one thought before I go. I have a client who is in Kindergarten that I meet with 3-4 times a week. He is so sweet and one of my favorite little boys ever! So as we were talking about Christmas, he said this to me... "Stacia, if Santa is from the North Pole, where do you think Jesus is from?" I asked where he thought Jesus was from and he replied "I betcha Jesus is from LA, because that's where all the other famous people are from!" I thought that it was so cute, and so innocent. I will have a few more posts before Christmas and a few pics as well!
love
Stacia

Thanksgiving update...

2008-11-30T20:35:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving dinner at the Barkers was officially a success!!! However, it didn't come without a few issues along the way. My Mom and I figured out first thing in the morning that my oven was too small to fit both the ham and the turkey, so my Mom took the ham back home to cook. Since I had never cooked a turkey before (I realize it's not terribly difficult, but Justin and I don't eat turkey, so no need to make it!), my Mom told me to cook it at 500 degrees for 35 minutes, then turn it down to 350 for the rest of the 4 hours. So I did. I called her less than 5 minutes after she left, because the bird was "sizzling" so much I could hear it on the other side of the house. She said it was normal. Less than 5 minutes after that, Justin said to me "Stacia, I think the turkey might be burning!". Sure enough, it was! I turned down the oven right away, only to have the smoke alarm go off shortly after that. The good news...it doesn't take much for the alarm to sound!!!! After that things were going smoothly...or so I thought. I went to check on the bird a few hours later, only to find that my oven quit working. It was nearly room temperature in my oven! Okay so the oven is old, it came with the house and was old then, but I didn't think it would just STOP working...but I did. I thought for sure the turkey would never be done on time, but it was...and it was great! Justin's brother, Blake, joined my parents, my sister, her twins and her step daughter. I had so much fun hosting everyone and then going through adds to "map out" our black Friday extravaganza. We are still eating leftovers, and for those of you who know me well, I don't like them...but I have SO much I'm making do!
We got the Christmas tree up and are all looking forward to the Christmas season. We love the Santa is always watching the boys' behaviors!!! That's all for now, enjoy the last month of 2008!!!
lovelovelove
Stacia

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-26T23:27:00.005-06:00

Colton pointing to the final product.

Brady after he figured out that flour does not taste very good.

Colton rolling out the dough.

Brady rolling out the dough.

The mess we made...well...some of it!

So here we are once again...Thanksgiving! It seems like the year always go by so fast, and it's winter before ya know it! We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Brady and Colton are happy and healthy, and we couldn't ask for anything more. They play, laugh, fight, and miss each other. I love it. Justin is doing well with school as he continues his journey, Accounting isn't proving to be his most favorite, but he does what he can and works through it. I continue to admire is effort. Our jobs are going great, and we have a lot of great family and friends that support us and are there when we need us. Financially, Justin and I are in a completely different place than we ever have been. By no means are we rich (still waiting for that...LOL), but finally money is not a stress that weighs down and keeps us from having a good relationship. I'm confident that after going through difficult and humiliating financial issues, how marriage is now stronger than ever. Again, I couldn't be more thankful for that during this Holiday season. Having said that, I continue to admire my parents strength and courage as my Dad continues to struggle on a daily basis to find work, almost a month after he was laid off. I think about him all the time and wish I could just pay him to sit at home. He has good spirits, and his ability to fight the urge to give up, and continue to put himself out there. Keep your prayers coming!

This year Justin and I decided that we wanted to try something new. We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner! This year its small yet, we will have my parents, my sister and her new family over for the big day. I'm really excited and am looking forward to starting a new tradition at home with my family. So with this new "tradition", I wanted to start some of our one little things with the kids, but keep some of the things that I loved to do as a kid. I always made homemade cinnamon rolls with my Mom growing up. I'd sit at the table, spread brown sugar and help roll our the dough and put the rolls in the pan. I was so excited because this year, I did it with my boys. They loved it! Colton is becoming quite our little cook, and he was by my side nearly the entire time. He rolled with the rolling pin, played in the flour, and set the rolls in the pan. Brady, Colton and I learned a few lessons. Here they are:

1. Brady learned that flour doesn't taste as good as it looks.

2. I learned that brown sugar goes on the bottom of the pan, not cinnamon.

3. Colton learned that he can throw flour in the air, and it comes down much slower, and a lot messier!

4. Flour makes a hardwood kitchen floor very slippery.

5. So does brown sugar.

6. Brady learned sticking your fingers in the butter than in your hair, makes it feel "icky!"

7. Sitting on the counter is way easier than standing on the chair.

8. Emma will eat almost anything, but not dough.

9. She won't even lick it off baby fingers.

10. You can't always use your mixer, and you need to get dough off the wall quickly, otherwise it gets hard and icky.

I'm so excited to wake up tomorrow and make the rolls, and watch the parade with the boys. I'm very confident that dinner will turn out ok (well, my Mom is doing most of it!), but I'm still pumped! I'll let you all know how it goes!!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Roller coaster Ride...

2008-11-06T23:59:00.003-06:00

To say that the last few days have been a "roller coaster ride" would be putting it lightly. I was so humbled, excited, anxious, and thrilled to see Barack Obama elected president on Tuesday night. And I still have all those feelings. To see the racial barrier broken in the country is amazing. To watch Barack, his wife and little girls walk out onto that stage on Tuesday night in Grant Park, to watch him speak so soundly, stand tall, and walk proud was incredible.
I still can't get over all of the people who can't get over not only the fact that he's black, but honestly think that he's a terrorist. Haven't we gotten over this? This is a smart, honest, and charismatic man. He WILL lead this country, and I think be amazing at it. I'm so excited for January 20, the day that President Bush is FINALLY out of office, and a new, "breath of fresh air" will start his new job. Even today, 3 days later, I see highlights on TV, see the speeches again, and see the pure emotion come out of the people of the United States, I feel totally ecstatic. I can't wait to see what happens.
As I sit and watch the highlights of Tuesday night, I get a gut wrenching phone call from my Dad. He let me know that he lost his job, effective immediately. No severance, and he would be left with only 2 weeks of his vacation. He poured his heart and soul for almost 15 years into this company...and for what? For 30 minutes to pack up his things? To end up a 55 year old men left looking for a job in a society that will only hire young and cheap "kids". What is my Dad, a 55 year old man that didn't ever have the opportunity to get a college education, supposed to do now? Left with 2 weeks...2 weeks to find, and start a job, that will be comparable to what he had? I know it's wrong, but I now hate CEO's, greedy, wealthy, heartless jerks that only care about making money, and not concerned about anyone that knock down on the way to the bank. You can't tell me this company didn't know they were going "under" months ago. Why did they not prepare their workers? Let them know their job would be lost. Pay them their severance, and let them move on. I hate them for what they've done to the company, and too my Dad. It's not fair that he had to wake up this morning and not have anywhere to go. It's not fair that he has to sacrifice so many things to make ends meet. It's not fair that he has to go through all of this, and he did nothing wrong. He had no control. At his age, he should be enjoying himself, and living stress free. Something has to be done to these company's that have put so many men and women out of jobs, so they can ship their work to Mexico just to save money. You greedy jerks. I hope karma bites you in the ass, and that it bites hard. You deserve it.
I want my roller coaster to go back up. I want my Dad to call me and tell me he's found an amazing job. I believe that God has a plan; but I'm anxious. I want it to happen soon for him. I him to go to work, come home, coach softball, drive his Harley, and be happy.
I'm still so excited about Barack Obama taking office, I wish I could call him and ask him to help. I would if I could, trust me. I can only pray that he puts a stop to these companies shipping off work to foreign countries. This is...however, how all of this started in the first place. I hate our economy...

Election Eve....

2008-11-03T23:41:00.002-06:00

So here I am, just hours before November 4, a day I thought perhaps might not ever get here. As I sit and watch endless hours of news anchors talk about what "might" happen tomorrow as America finally heads to the polls in this historic election. I know who I'm voting for, and I couldn't care less what he says about the "other guy". So why are all of you pressuring me to vote for someone different? Seriously, I had someone call me today. A John McCain supporter. He asked if I would vote for him tomorrow, and I said "NO"!!! Don't bother me. I have a TV, and I have the ability to do the research on my own, and I'll make my own, educated decision.
So it takes me back to this terrible frame of mind. If, in fact, Barack Obama is elected tomorrow (and he WILL have my vote, not doubt), can I count on other people leaving him alone? I can't believe that in 2008, we would have to worry about protecting him because of some punk that thinks we shouldn't have a black president. Get over it people!
I'm so excited for tomorrow and plan on staying up until a new man is crowned! Trust me, I understand that not one of these men can do everything that he's planning on, but I do know what works for me!!!! VOTE TOMORROW! Please go to the polls, and do your thing. I know I can't wait, and I'm so ready to have the most awful president out of the white house!! The good news is...I'm not sure it can get any worse!!!

Pumpkins!

2008-10-28T20:28:00.003-05:00

Playing with seeds

Digging in (He didn't go too far in!)

The finished product

Brady and Daddy pretending to eat the pumpkin

So tonight was tagged as "pumpkin carving night". Brady and Colton started out great, but only lasted a few minutes! Brady tried to eat the pumpkins, and Colton wasn't too sure. They left Mommy, as did Daddy, and played for an hour and a half while I finished. They LOVE the finished product though!

2008-10-23T15:46:00.002-05:00

Brady giving me a cheesy smile ;)

Lizette and I before leaving for NYC

Colton posing in the second choice costume

I know, he's scary!!!

A rare photo opp of my sister, myself, and my parent and her wedding

2008-10-23T14:23:00.001-05:00

So here we are, finally in the blogging world! I've had so many friends and family encourage me to start, but honsetly never thought OUR life was that interesting! That is...until I was lying in bed last night and reflecting on the past few months in this house. It's been crazy!! Justin continues to go to school and work full time, and he's doing play by play for High School football here in Sioux City, so Friday nights he works and Saturday morning he's got school...he stays very busy!

I was very fortunate to be able to go to New York City through the end of September. Thanks so much to my wonderful friend, Lizette, we spent 3 days and 2 nights in the big apple! We were able to see a LIVE taping of THE VIEW (my all time favorite show), tour times square, look ever Manhattan from atop Rockefeller Center, visit ground zero and see the statue of liberty. It all was amazing!

After returing, I was in all out wedding mode. My sister married her long time boyfriend on October 4. The wedding went beautifully and I'm so happy for her. She deserved an awesome wedding and got just that.

Last weekend was Homcoming for Briar Cliff, and since I serve on the Alumni/Homecoming board, I was at nearly every event. I was able to catch up with some old friends and reflect on my life since my college days. I realized how much fun college was, but how thankful I am that it's over and that I am at a totally different place in my life with my husband and my boys.

Justin and I are totally ready for things to just be "calm" again. It seems like every weekend from 2 months ago on has been busy. Brady and Colton are enjoying hockey season, both at the Events Center and in our living room! I will keep this updated at much as I can...please keep up with me as I learn this "blog" idea! Thats all for now...