A Rainy Day Off

Today wasn't freezing cold but it was definitely raining....our backyard is a pond! To break up the day we headed to Totter's Otterville. This is a private playground similar to a Children's Museum. They have a ball pit and indoor playground, a train room, animal hospital, dance studio, building block area, face painting station, water table, and much more. The kids had a blast. We can't wait to come back when it is warmer because they have a working outdoor train.

If the Shoe Fits

I don't know what got into their heads but the twins decided it would be fun to share shoes. They each put one of patrick's and one of Ethan's shoe on. They thought it was the greatest idea ever!

Barker Fun Day

Today we decided to have a fun day out. We started at the zoo. It was our first zoo visit of the year. The twins had a blast feeding the goats. I was a little jeebed out by the goat's eyes....they are weird and look a little alien like!

Both the twins and Patrick had a blast in the Insect House.

After the zoo we headed to the classic Clifton Skyline for lunch.

After lunch we decided to cruise downtown to the Findley Market. We got some great veggies and were beyond excited when we saw they sell Ohio City Pasta. (the guy even told us that it is cheaper down here than in Cleveland's West Market....definitely have to check that out next time we go to Cleveland) We grabbed two different flavors and headed home to make dinner and an appetizer with the ravioli.

Swim Lessons

Tonight the twins had their first swim lesson....well, Elaine had a swim lesson and Ethan cried. Ethan started the night super excited while Elaine looked very unhappy about the event.

Once their lesson started, Elaine got in the water (slowly) but Ethan would have NOTHING to do with it! I guess we'll just try again next week!

3 Years Old!

Today was the twins' 3rd birthday and birthday party. What a blast and definitely different from last year. The twins understood it was their birthday and were VERY excited. After the streamers and balloons were put up Ethan ran around screaming "It's Party Time"! Both sides of the family were able to make it and the weather was GREAT this year. Nobody got hurt minus a few head bangs. The twins got so many great presents, thank you to everyone for such great and thoughtful presents.

Dewey's For All

Tonight we met up with all the Barker's to have some dinner. Elaine had fun helping Grandma with her belated birthday gift since we couldn't make it up to Cleveland a few weeks ago.

All the kids have so much fun watching the pizza guys make the pizzas in the window. They even had some flour thrown at them which really made them laugh.

Old Habits

While trying to put the kitchen back together after the countertop/backsplash remodel, Elaine found her old binky. She thought it was hilarious to put it in her mouth. I remember how attached she was to that thing and was relieved that she gave it back to me to put in her memory box.

Young Picasso?

The twins couldn't stop talking about drawing on the way home from Bev's today. Of course I thought only the highest for both and imagined talent like Picasso but after the trapped talent was released I had to admit they might be more of a Pollock!

A Taste of Winter

We headed outside to work on the driveway after the snow fell. I think they both take after me and would rather spend their time at an indoor playground rather than freezing their butts off outside.

Playing and Planning for a Party

The kids have invented a new game called "Sleep". They pretend to sleep. That's the rules, so simple yet so much fun! (at least to them)

If they aren't passing the time with these highly complicated games, Elaine likes to pass time by thumbing through these birthday favor magazines that we keep getting in the mail. She could just sit there for an hour looking through the themes and talking about candles. It's pretty crazy!

Showing Off Our Toys

Grandma and Grandpa Barker stopped for the night on their way home from St. Louis. Ethan couldn't wait to show off how some of his new toys worked.

New Years Eve at Fort Rapids Water Park

This year we got everyone together for New Years at Fort Rapids water park in Columbus. the kids loved playing in the hotel. The kids were excited to get into the park and start playing.

Ethan loved playing "Basket" as he calls it in the water. He would have spent the enture time there if we would have let him. Elaine loved running through the waterfalls.

The Lobster Zone game. $2.00 a chance to win a live lobster. Ethan really wanted to give this a try!

The adults in the suite after the kids went to bed.

Pizza Time

5 kids under the age of 4 all at the same table, I guess you are bound to get pizza sauce all over you face and funny faces.

 

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's

Random pictures of the kids showing off their new toys to each other.

Trek to Grandma's and Grandpa's

After we opened gifts and the kids ate breakfast, we headed up to Grandma's and Grandpa's. The kids stayed occupied with some new drawing pads that Santa got them and Toy Story on the DVD player.

 

Christmas morning

Typically the kids, Elaine, get us up every morning. They both decided to sleep in on Christmas morning. We both got up, made breakfast and sat around for a couple minutes before we had to make a little extra noise to wake up the kids. As you can tell, Ethan is not a morning person.

Once we reminded them that Santa came last night, it was a mad rush to get down the stairs!

Elaine noticing the presents under the tree.

Woody and Buzz showed up at our house. The Toy Story movies are their favorite recently.

Christmas Eve

We have been explaining to the kids that tonight was Christmas Eve and that Santa was going to come and leave them some presents, but they had to be good. I think they actually bought it since they were great at church. Well, either that or the toys they had kept them busy.

Christmas Ever tradition in our house is that everyone gets one present on Christmas eve, Christmas PJ's!

Ethan thought he was going to open more presents and was not happy when we told him that he had to wait until tomorrow morning. Elaine on the other hand, was really excited about her new PJ's and slippers!

 

Phillip stops by for the day

Today we watched Phillip for the day. The kids has a blast playing with all the toys. Then they found the box of dress-up clothes that Elaine has. Sorry Timmy, I had to do it!

BEFORE

AFTER

Haircuts

We had to get Ethans haircut for the Christmas picture. He did great, all he really cared about was the baloon he got afterwards. Elaine got her haircut for the first time today aslo. She did perfect for her first time!

 

Winter Jackets