2008...a year in review

What did we do this year...we all went to Lake Powell and the Sand Dunes...Jenner turned 1, got a new car seat, ate her first cheeseburger, learned to crawl and walk, said Mama and I love you...Grady turned 6, started 1st grade and actually likes it, he got to go deer hunting with Chris and Byron and Tyler, got to pick a nut cracker from grandpas collection to keep someday, got a snake for Christmas, learned some new breakdance moves, lost a ton of teeth...Rhett turned 8 and was baptized, got glasses, lost glasses, found glasses and lost again and found again, got to pick a nut cracker from Grandpa collection to get one day, started 2nd grade, started reading chapter books and can't stop, started scouts...Taylor turned 10, started 4th grade, got Mia for her birthday, grew about 2 feet, got to pick a porcelain doll off of Grandma's tree to keep on the tree every year until Grandma says she can take it home (see picture below) got really sassy, started making money babysitting (for us), threw multiple temper tantrums, surprised me many times while babysitting by cleaning the house, broke her wrist and didn't cry (WHAT?)...Chris turned 38, started kindergarten again, took the elk down and put it in storage only to have it completely ruined by a leak in the roof...sucks...broke his wrist and cried, went all sorts of hunting, went on several fishing trips and caught some great fish, one of them was a human that we like to call Hook Face...see below, he took me to Bret Michaels concert, put house up for sale, broke down in car several times on freeway...Amy turned 29 again, started working for Tick Tock Collection, became a mom of a toddler again, won the Hawaiin Tropic bikini contest for the 3rd time in a row, started this blog, became obsessed with this blog, bought a big Nutcracker on clearance after Christmas to start our own collection with the kids...won a food network baking contest and made millions, painfully put house up for sale...all in all it was an exciting year and we can't wait to see what's in store for 2009...okay, I already know because I'm physic...yes, I'm gifted in many ways.

Merry Christmas...

I thought this day would never come...and I think Grady suffered even more. Yes, that is a snake he got today and he couldn't be happier...neither could I...there is nothing like seeing your child be so excited over something that they start to cry (a little, Grady says his eyes hurt) and so I did the same...I cried. It was by far one of the most memorable moments thus far...I loved it! I remember when I cried when I got my first Cabbage Patch doll...I was soooo embarassed I ran into the other room...I think Grady was embarassed too but he used his allergies as an excuse...

Mmmmmm...

Today was a special day...today was a day for blogging and journaling...today will documented properly...Today, I decided to do my children a favor and NOT make lunch for them...I decided to get them coveted Happy Meals instead, hold the applause...and today Jenner got her very first, very own Happy Meal...I know, I know...GINORMOUS MOMENTOUS Occasion for her! And, she loved every bite of her cheeseburger and french fries with a rootbeer on the side...now you can applause! (I know I did)

Dear Clark and Jana...

Dear Clark and Jana...I would like to thank you for your generous gift of Christmas Songs, burned just for us onto our very own CD...However, we would like to express our need to hear ALL of the songs that are on the CD...our darling Taylor seems to have the player stuck on WHAM's Last Christmas...therefore, I might have to shoot myself.

Love, The Bartons

On another note:

It's pretty sad when you have to force your small child (Rhett) to go outside and play in the snow with his friends or else you will have to ground him...what's with that?

My baby said "I love you" back to me! How Wonderful!

Oops...I did it again!

Again I am a self proclaimed Klutz...

This morning was ever so interesting...I proceeded to trip UP the stairs again (AGAIN) all while holding my dear sweet Jenner...good thing I am experienced in the Klutziness field because I was able to catch myself and her without injury to her...I however have very achy knees and a sore palm...par for the course. Oh, and there wasn't even any snow or ice on the stairs...just some good ol'fashioned Klutziness at it's finest! Go ahead, tell me how cool I am! If you don't want to...don't worry, Chris will. When I called him to relive my experience...all he could do was laugh...I mean, after all of these years, not much has changed. I am still a Klutz. And, my husband thinks it's funny! Relish in it...

Oh Grady...

Grady is definitely my comedian child...he just got home from church and this was our conversation...

Me: "Was Morgan in class today?"
Grady: "No. But Nephi was."
Then he clarified..."Not the Jesus Nephi but the kid Nephi..."

Oh how we laughed...

Another conversation with Taylor...

Taylor: "Mom, we played this game today where we picked stuff out of the stocking and it was from the Nactivity Set (yes, the Nactivity Set)..." We laughed again.

Randomness...

We had a good day today...Chris took Taylor and Grady to the ward Christmas Breakfast, I am told the pancakes were huge. I on the other hand would have rather slept in for awhile...but couldn't because we were having an Open House today. BTW, if you know anyone wanting a way gorgeous home in Syracuse...let me know! During the open house we did a little shopping...or wait, browsing...their was no actual exchange of monies that was made. When we got home, Taylor and I made some Christmas Candy...my favorite thing to do this time of year. We made Nougat, Caramels and maybe some Fudge tomorrow...Thanks to Carrie for the Nougat recipe...Yummy Goodness! Now we are just chillen watching a little UFC...Have I told you how obsessed I am with this sport...by far the most entertaining and nail biting, white knuckle sport I have ever watched. Love it...Especially love Forrest Griffin and Rampage Jackson...see below! I don't understand this obsession but I don't care...I love to watch...I get so nervous sometimes that I pull out my hair and curl up into a tight ball...SUSPENSE at is finest!

Forrest and Rampage...

Nougat...tastes just like a Big Hunk candy bar...

Caramels...

Jenner has a new trick...she can climb in this box and almost go in it completely...I want 2 of them please...wrap them for Christmas!

Look what I can do...Da Da Da Da Da Da (circus music)
This picture cracks me up...she loves to draw and she's only 16 months old...crazy!

I also have this weird thing with smells...well, I have this awesome invention called a Candle Breeze and I absolutely love it...it makes my house smell so nice. You can get them here...and no I don't get anything for it...just the satisfaction of knowing I am spreading the word...

I taught a clock party the other night that was way fun...Thanks Audra for the pictures...hope you don't mind. I just wanted everyone to see how it's done...

Holiday Garbage...

So my adorable neighbor from when we lived in Kaysville used to make this Yummy Goodness that she called Garbage...I love it and I miss getting it every year so I sought out the recipe via the internet and this is what I came up with.

Garbage (White Chocolate Party Mix)

1 bag White chocolate chips
1 cup peanuts
2 cups Cap'n Crunch cereal
2 cups Multi Grain Cheerious cereal
2 cups mini Pretzel rods
1/2 bag M&M's

Mix together all ingredients except chocolate chips. You may need more cereal after you melt the chocolate and mix it in. Melt white chocolate chips in microwave, stirring every minute...this usually only takes 2-3 minutes. Pour over cereal mixture and mix well. Pour out onto waxed paper and let the chocolate set up. Enjoy! Watch out...my husband says it's addicting!


And here are some more pictures for your viewing...hope you like~Remember to leave a comment here on Kendra's blog if you want her to take yours...Don't you just love them? Cuz I do!

Grasshopper Rice Krispie Treats...

Oh how my camera really bites...hopefully Santa will bring me a new one!

You know those rice krispie treats at all of the wasatch front gas stations, and they cost a small fortune (I think they're like $2.79)...well they are Chris' favorite treat and I think I figured out a copycat recipe...and it will make an entire pan for probably the same amount of money...well almost.

1 bag mini marshmallows

Rice Krispies (the trick is to put in equal amounts of rice krispies as marshmallows)

1/2 cube butter

Peppermint extract

Green food coloring

Chopped grasshopper cookies

Melt butter on stove and add marshmallows. Mix until all melted and add 1 capful peppermint extract and some green food coloring. Add rice krispies and mix well. Add chopped cookies and mix until evenly distributed. Pour out into a 9x13, buttered pan and press down with wet hands. The water will prevent them from sticking to you. Enjoy...I mean it!

Family Pictures...by Kendra E.

So my AWESOME neighbor and friend, Kendra, took these AMAZING pictures on Saturday and I am loving them so much...she took over 300 pictures and edited 179...my job of picking which ones I want is going to be a hard one...these are just a few, literally. Hope you like! Also, you can contact Kendra by clicking here... or here...

I would love to know what you think of them...and don't forget to contact Kendra if you want some awesome photos of your family too...