Mommy, why?

Emma asked me "Why do we have bones and blood and stuff?"  I tell her with a chuckle, I don't know, we jsut do.  Then she says, "So we aren't all squishy?"  I reply laughing, Yes, I guess so.  Then she asks "So, why are Matt's cheeks all squishy?" I told her it was b/c he was a squishy little sweet baby and he's allowed to be squishy!

I just love how these little minds work.

I wish I could explain Matthew's expressions.  He is so funny.  He isn't talking, but his expressions are hilarious sometimes.  He makes the cutest faces!  I can't wait to hear what comes out of his mouth!

Dreams and Other Things

Emma always entertains me with her dreams.  This morning, she told me that she had a dream last night that she had holes in her hands and that her lambie came to life and wanted to put band-aids on them but she said no, they will grow in.  And that she was sticking her fingers in the holes and Nana told her not to put her fingers in the holes.  She was giggling as she shared this with me and I got a laugh out of it too!  She just makes me laugh all the time!  If only I knew what Matthew dreams about, can't wait to hear those tales! 

I was sitting at my computer and I heard a ting-ting sound coming from the living room and I glance up and see Matthew standing in the living room with one of the biggest knives out of the kitchen tapping it against a buckle on a shoe!!  My heart dropped to the floor and I calmly walked over to him (otherwise he would have started running or thrown the knife) and just casually took the knife away, fortunately no blood or stab wounds to be found!  All the knives are now in a high cabinet far from reach (for now!)  Emma NEVER messed with things in cabinets or drawers.  I fear Matthew will be the reason I have a visit to the ER in the future!

Days go by...

So quickly, Matt will be 19 months old tomorrow and Emma will be 5 years old on September 14.  I'm not ready for my baby girl to be 5, that is such a big milestone for me.  She will not start Kindergarten yet, though.  Must be 5 by Aug. 31 in NC.  I think she is ready academically, and she needs to go for social benefits.  Well, I can keep her a little girl for another year!

Play Time

Took the kids to my aunt Sandy's house. They live in the country with lots of room for play, a tree house, a go-cart, a trampoline, a huge garden, a tire swing... and lots of room to run! The kids loved it and we can't wait to go back for more! Matthew got to hold his new baby cousin, Kaylee. He thought he was a big boy and was really quite gentle with her. It was very sweet to see him interact with a small baby. Emma stayed with gram last night, she probably doesn't even miss me! That's okay, I have this one, Matthew, who won't let me out of his sight, so it balances out!

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Check out a neat blog here!
Cool giveaway for children today!

My kid has hair...

like that guy who was on American Idol.  The young cute guy that was recently axed.  In this picture, Matthew's hair looks like his!  See:

And the kid from American Idol:

Too cute!

"My momma did it"

Those beautiful words came out of my daughter's mouth today at her art class, blaming it on momma!  This was Emma's last day of her 4-week (once a week) watercolor art class.  Mother & child go together and mommy usually just sits and watches and can help when needed.  Well, the children painted a nice blue background and then traced out a vase and painted it another color and then added green stems coming out of the vase and were to paint flowers.  Emma decided to paint a blue flower, but against the blue background it didn't show up, so I offered assistance in getting the background back to blue and suggested she color a flower of a different color for it to show up.  Well, Emma kept playing around and the teacher came over and told Emma that her blue flower didn't show up against the background and to try again and those words, "My momma did it."  Blaming me for her non-flower!  It was really quite cute and the mother next to me just started laughing.  I just laughed b/c when she said it, she gave me an eye roll, like I got her in trouble and she made it clear that it was my fault her picture was a little messy.  But you know watercolors are wonderful and you can fix it really nice and make a very beautiful picture.  I think I will frame this one!

And another one Emma did (with no help from momma!)

Beach Day

Sunday morning, we got up and decided we needed a family day at the beach!  So, we headed to Atlantic Beach just us.  It was so nice to get away as a family.  This was Matthew's first day at the beach this year and really his first ever.  We went last year but he was too young to appreciate it.  And of course yesterday I forgot my camera.  So no pics to share!  Oh well, I will NOT forget it next time.
We stopped to use the bathroom at KFC in Morehead and Wright see's Mike & Heidi Pridgen at the light and so he calls him to let him know we saw them and they asked us to come to their condo.  So, we ate at El's Drive-in and then went to their place.  They have a really nice condo at a great place.  Beautiful pool area and right on the beach.  Emma loved to get to play with Lillie.
The beach was wonderful, not too hot and a nice breeze.  Matthew LOVED it.  He just played with buckets, sand and shells.  He was in heaven.  Heidi fished and caught a little stingray so the kids got to see it before Mike threw it back in the water.  We spent about 2 or 3 hours on the beach.  Then we had to head home, since it was a Sunday.  But we really enjoyed it.  It was one of the most relaxing days I've had in a long time.  And to make it all even better, Matthew slept all the way there and most of the way home!  You can't get better than that!!!

MIA

I know I have been missing in action yet again.  I'm here and the kids are doing great.  Matthew had his first ear infection.  Not bad for being 15 months old.  He was a miserable little guy, ran a fever for no less than 4 days straight.  Emma had a little cold around the same time, but fortunately I did not get sick.

We have a busy month coming up.  I'm excited to be busy though.  We are going to Busch Gardens next Friday.  I look forward to seeing Emma there.  It will be her first trip to a theme park.  We are planning leaving Matthew with Nana and Pawpaw.  Just too much for him right now (me really!)  I just can't see good things coming from him going with all the steps and hills and walking we will be doing!  Then the following weekend I might be taking them to visit a friend in Va. Beach for a princess party.  Then the next weekend, Christy, Emma, mom and I are going to Culpeper to visit my friend Amy and go to an Antique Fair in Lucketts, Va.  I really am looking forward to that.  Then the next weekend will be a break and then Emma's recital is June 5 and then we go to the beach June 15.

Lots of excitement to look forward to!

My new love...

Is my coffee grinder!  I have a Cuisinart coffee maker with a built-in grinder that gets stuck when I use it!  I have to use a screw driver to get it out to clean it.  So I just bought a separate grinder and I'm in love.  So easy to clean and use and I'm loving my home brewed Dunkin Donuts coffee...now if only I can make my own donuts!  How I love donuts!

I have 2 huge pussy willow bushes.  I love being able to go in my own yard and cut them and use in the house.  The bushes are so big, we had to cut them back this year.  I still have a ton of branches to give away in the garage.  Hopefully I will find them a nice home!  They are just too nice to throw away!  Here are some in the house I have...

Rough & Tumble Boys

Matthew had his first big injury today.  Big for me anyway.  He fell down the front steps, 5 brick steps!  He got a few scratches on his legs and a rather small goose egg on his forehead.  I know it could have been so much worse!  I just think of what could have happened and cringe.  Big sis Emma was brough into the house by Nana and Matthew and Emma decided to go back out and Matthew followed behind her and went right down the front steps!  I know Nana about had a heart attack!  But he's okay!

Not much going on.  The weather is crazy!  93 degrees today in April.  I want a period of 70s and 80s before heat like this!  We should get some rain and a cool front coming in Thursday night.

My sister and I are planning a trip in May.  Going to the Lucketts, Virginia Antique Fair.  Heard about it on one of the blogs I follow.  My sister and I just love things like that.  Our mom and my daughter will go too.  I used to live in Culpeper, Va., so I am hoping to stay with a friend there.  It will be great to see her again and she will probably want to go to the Antique fair too.  I am really looking forward to it!

Here is Emma with her hair straightened.  So strange to see it like this.  It's so curly:

Here is Matt with a doll I don't really like, but we ended up with somehow.  I just wish I knew what was going through his mind:

Still wish I could read that mind!

Spring at last

I think spring may be here to stay.  I love this weather.  I could do without the wind, but the temperature is perfect.  I like summer, but it is just too hot.  I'm sure Matt will enjoy getting outside every day but I'm not looking forward to putting on sunscreen.  I only have to give baths every other night, but in the summer, it will probably be a bath every night. 

Next Saturday is our trip to take Emma to see Disney Road Show at Durham Performing Arts Center.  We are supposed to meet up with Nadine, John and Madison.  I hope they still make it.  Emma will love playing with her friend, maybe even more than the show. 

My cousin was in bad motorcycle accident and may lose his leg.  I hope he makes it through, it is still touch and go.

Not too much to blog about.  I mainly get on here to check out all the home decor blogs I am following.  I love them!  I get so inspired, even though I still don't know where to begin.  I love to have everything organized and clean and neat and that is what I spend most of my decorating time at.  If my house is clean, I feel so much better!

Baby Niece

Hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning, my new little niece will be born.  My brother and his wife are expecting, a first for them together and this will be 3 girls for them all together.  Hope she is healthy!  I'll post pics when I get them.

We took some great pictures of the kids at the Daffodil field.  I just love them!  Matthew is such a boy, all he wanted to do was pick up sticks and run and play. He fell down alot and his legs looked like he had gotten in a fight with a cat, but he didn't care and never cried.  I love my tough little man.

Matthew is very attached to me right now.  All he wants is mommy.  Emma never really went through a stage like this, she always seemed to be okay with or without me (even though I know she loves her mommy!).  It's sweet Matt is so attached, but it can be tiring and I feel so bad when I have to leave him.

Warmer weather

This weather has been so nice.  High 60s, low 70s and getting the kids outside recently.  Matthew loves to play outside.  He just wonders around, picking up leaves, rocks, dirt.  Throws a ball here and there, not really interested in the swingset.  I took him to the park and he didn't really want to get on the swing or the slide.  He preferred picking up the mulch and throwing it in the air.  He wanted to just walk around.  Emma made a friend at the park, as usual.  She likes to find someone to play with and then they play some imaginary game they come up with.  It's fun to watch.
Mom and dad's 40th anniversary just passed.  We had a nice dinner at Christy's for them.   Christy had a beautiful cake made, which Emma could not wait to eat!  She loved it, she just likes pretty cakes.  I have to get her one just because.  Something pink with a princess theme.  She will love it!  Here are all the grandkids and the beautiful cake:

Too Long

I started this blog to keep track of the kids' development, milestones and remember day to day achievements and funny things...oh well, I've missed a month already!
Emma has strep right now.  That was a surprise Thursday overnight to wake up to her vomiting in our bed.  Nothing quite like cleaning up vomit at 1:00 in the morning!  She kept a high temp all the next morning and took her to the doc and she was positive for strep.  She got a shot (instead of 10 days of oral antibiotics which would have been a huge fight to get her to take).  I highly recommend the shot for anyone in this situation, even though it hurts the shot was definitely the right choice for us.
Matt is growing, he is 13 months old, babbling alot, no real words yet, but thats okay, babbling is pretty cute!  He is very whiny though, and that is annoying, but I try to ignore it so hopefully he'll learn that whining is not going to get him what he wants.  He is still taking 2 naps a day and going to bed at 7pm.  I look forward to my time at night so much when he and Emma go to bed to relax, watch TV or read magazines and sometimes work.  It's nice to reboot a little!
Time for laundry! 

The Quiet Before the Storm

We might get some snow this weekend.  I have mixed emotions about it.  I want snow.  I want to see my kids play in it, but my sister & her husband are hosting an anniversary party for her in-laws and I don't want the weather to ruin it.  So many are coming in from out of town and some from the areas where they are supposed to get quite a bit of snow.  Well, I will definitely be there, snow, rain, ice, sleet!  Come what may, I plan to eat my portion of the buffet and I'll be glad to eat someone else's too!  I'm wearing a pretty black dress, and fixing my hair up.  It's a date night for my husband and I and I'm going! 

Matthew had his first ride in the wagon today.  It was nice out so we spent some time outside.  He loved riding in the wagon!  Here are some pics to prove it.

Sickness

Well, it finally hit.  We have avoided any real sickness this winter and now we all have a cold.  Fortunately, Matt & Emma's are pretty mild, considering what I know it could be like.  Mine on the other hand is horrible.  Head cold, bad headaches and congested, which makes sleep even difficult.  I usually look forward to going to bed, but I can't lie down and breathe at the same time.  Hope it passes soon!  I have a talk on Thursday at the KHall and I may have to bow out.  I have a feeling I will be coughing up a lung by then when all this moves into my chest.  That is my week so far.

Raleigh for the afternoon

Emma and I spent the afternoon shopping in Raleigh/Durham with Aunt Christy.  I wasn't sure I wanted to go, but decided not to be lazy.  Emma had a fever on the way there and was a little grouchy, so we stopped at Target and got her some "Grape stuff" otherwise known as ibuprofen, her wonder drug!  She was feeling better in 30 minutes, but slow moving, which actually worked in our favor!  She was a great little shopping partner.  We tried on lots of dresses and she enjoyed watching and giving her opinion.  Everything was "gorgeous!"  I bought a dress at Belk's for $30.00 that was originally $130.00.  Very pretty, black with sparkly design at the bottom.  Then I bought another dress at Nordstrom's.  Another black one, but lacy with a pinkish red underneath.  Very pretty also, I liked it the most.  Also on sale!  We walked around Southpoint a little, Emma played at the kids play area for 30 minutes while I drank coffee, very relaxing!  Then we had pizza at Tomato Jake's and came home.  Now she is asleep and hoping she won't get too sick.  We did alot of hand washing!  Maybe I'll post pics of my new dresses tomorrow!
I'm tired and ready to veg out in front of the TV before bed!

Here is a picture of my children. This is about 1 and a half months ago, so Matt was 11 months just learned to walk. He's so cute! We just got his hair cut too, so I will be posting a picture of that soon.

Today, we took the kids to a neat toy store in town, they have some toys out for the kids to play with and this was the first time we have taken Matt to a toy store since he has learned to walk. He was so cute, very interested in balls. He was not interested in much else. Does not have an interest in books, he would rather eat them! He did like the big stuffed animals, the oversized ones. But quickly tired of those and went back to the balls. He is all boy! Emma on the other hand loves books. She is girly, loves all things pink, princess, tea parties, etc. I love that she loves all that! She likes to shop with me, too and that's fun. Tomorrow, we are supposed to go to Raleigh with Aunt Christy to find a dress for Nanny & Poppy's anniversary party next weekend. It is their 50th and this will be the first dressy party I have been to in a very, very long time! I'm looking forward to it! We are going to be one of the couple's who play The Not-So-Newlywed Game on stage! This should be fun!

Well, my kids go to bed at 7:00 p.m. and they are getting fussy! So, it's time to start the bedtime routine. They already have pajamas on and Matt is walking around with his little lambie & pacifier, he's ready!

New

This is my attempt at blogging. I'm on facebook but I want something better and more personal. I am a mother of 2, hence the blog name: Barbour Shop Quartet. We are the Barbour's and there are 4 of us. We have created another neat idea with our name, we sometimes have Barbour-Q's, just a cute use of our last name.

I have 2 children, Matthew & Emma. Matthew is 1, on Jan. 20, and Emma is 4. They are a handful, but a fun handful. I never knew how hard raising children was until now. But it is rewarding! I am married to Wright, and we have been married for 8 years.

I decided to start this blog to keep track of all the kid's milestones (a little late I know!). I want to remember all the good times & the not so good ones too. For anyone who reads this and is a good blogger, tips are always appreciated and I want to know how to make my blog look it's best!