Christmas 2009

We had a very memorable Christmas this year. We had a new added tradition put in motion this year. I know that we will do it again. We had what I call "Mom's Dirty Rotten Christmas"! There was a lot of gifts under the tree with no names on them big ones, small ones, hard ones and soft squishy ones! Everyone took turns opening one gift of their choice. The catch was that you could either choose from the pile or steal from someone else and then they choose from the pile. It was hilarious! Donovan continually opened little girl pink stuff and Audrey continually opened boy things! Shauna, Audry and Donovan all stole from each other and laughed until everyone's sides hurt.
Christmas Dinner was wonderful too! I worked hard the day before as to not have to work too hard on Christmas day yet was able to enjoy eating as if I had. Shauna made origami flowers for each place setting and the table was very beautiful. We had set one extra place setting and we told the kids that we were having Christ dine with us and we all took turns talking about that beautiful day when the Christ child was born.

Thanksgiving Parade

Shauna is in a Environmental Club at school and does a lot of great things with them. This activity was pure fun. The city of Deltona had a parade and the club got to participate and walk in it. Audrey and I had the joy of waiting curb side anxiously awaiting to see big sister in the parade.

Halloween

Jeff and Ashley were so sweet with Audrey and Shauna. They bought pumpkin pans and made and decorated cake with them. It was so cute! The girls really got into it and did a very good job with there cakes! Shauna went as a Indian belly dancer and Audrey went as the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio. The girls and I went out on Halloween to our usual neighborhood with the Mixon's and Jensen's. They had so much fun running from house to house collecting treasures of candy. When we arrived home Ashley and Vanessa helped sort the loot and the Uncles help eat it! LOL!!!!

October Visit with Family

October was a great month! I was a very lucky sister to have two of my four brothers come to visit me. What's wonderful about it is they even brought their beautiful ladies with them and it made for a great time getting to feel like I have sisters. We really enjoyed everything about the visit. We played at Disney for a day, went to the beach, even were able to share a little of our crazy lives with them and take them to a swim meet. Everyone was able to get a haircut from the talented Vanessa and Ashley. Well all who have hair... LOL! Shauna and Audrey were all over their Uncles. And adored their Aunt and Aunt to soon be. Visiting family always seems to go to fast, but we really enjoyed it while it last.

Gearing up for Halloween

Donovan did not go trick or treating this year. However the youth had a costume ball and Donovan went as a jewel thief. One of his good friends went as a police officer. So naturally she made an arrest. The cultural hall at the church was very well decorated. I only stayed for a minute though as not to embarrass Donovan that his mom tagged along. But I was able to get a few pictures before I left.

Lake Brentley Invatational (Spruce Creek)

Donovan looks great and he was in the fastest heat of the 100 free. This was a very fast meet. This is him getting ready for the race.On your mark..... BEEP!He swam very hard. I was so proud of him.
Even though he came in 7th he was racing with state champs(Bolles Prep School) in this event. He still did a 100 free under a minute. That Rocks! Junior Olympic time is 56.79. Not Bad. Getting close.
He also was involved with a 200 free relay in which he was the only freshmen to be on a relay team that day! Go Donovan! GO HAWKS!

After the meet we stopped at BK to get Donovan's Favorite bk double bacon cheese burger. And we saw on a poll the Harry Potter (H) we took a picture and both grinned and said "Harry Potter does exist".

Sorry the pictures are backwards!

First School Team Practice Swim Meet

I guess Donovan is just taller but his entry was a good one!

As you can see Donovan is helping out a fellow freshman and is quite a bit taller. Leave it to the Barnes genes to pull one out for the team! GO HAWKS! (Spruce Creek High School)

Just whisle while you work!

During the rainy season our grass grows super fast! Like you mow twice a week. And the times you only mow once well... someone has to rake up the extra grass off the lawn so as not to kill it. This time it was the girls turn.
Also, Donovan got a job to pay for all his odd needs such as swim meet entries, Gatorade after practice, etc. He mows our Bishop's lawn. The bishop has acres and acres of grass. So one day it will be the front section the next time the side and every time Donovan does it, it takes a couple hours. But it sure does make him feel good to get a few things on his own.

The week before School starts we tried to get to universal one last time before our passes are toast. The kids and I had a great time. Here are the photo's to prove it. The firtst photo is of us wishing they had finished the Harry Potter part of the park before our passes were dead.The second playing with all the stuff as we walk by.The third through fifth is of Audrey and Shauna talking with a talking fountain that would squirt you and talk with you and bring a lot of rain. The sixth photo is of Thing 1 and Thing 2. Last photo is the three of them spinning so quick it made me sick looking at them. LOL! We all were worn out after the fun day at the park.

Shauna's Dance Recital was a great one this year Shauna in the top photo is giving jazz hands in her Jazz routine called " Opposites Attract" also in that costume she did a tap routine to" Cod Fish Ball". In the bottom photo she did her ballet performance to "When you wish upon a star".
She performed for 2 day's and each recital was over 3 hours long. She also received a certificate on stage this year for completing 2 years with the studio. Only 2 years get to receive one on stage, the first years get there's in class. She felt very proud of this accomplishment and Randy and I could not be more proud to have such a specially talented daughter like Shauna.

Donovan's Birthday

We were able to celebrate a day late with him because he had arrived home in the evening on his birthday from scout camp. Donovan is a pie guy! No Birthday cake for him!!! Well he is now 14. Able to go to Church dances and entering High School . He sure is turning out to be a GREAT kid. We are so proud of his accomplishments that he has achieved over the summer and look forward to witness the great things he is able to accomplish in the future. Happy Birthday Donovan!

Shauna and Audrey kept me entertained while I was healing from surgery. In this particular show that they put on for me Shauna was the choreographer and Audrey was the performer.
It was a great show Shauna showed Audrey Dance moves from her Dance class and all morning they made up a routine. By afternoon the show was ready to be seen. I think I will miss my shows when they outgrow putting them on for me.