Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Where I Come From- Barrow Cousins

So let me paint a little picture for you right now. Tomorrow morning I will be getting up at 4:30 to get ready for our flight home. Nothing is packed yet and I'm watching the Olympics trying to forget about all the things I've got to do. Yuck. Packing is the worst.
 Then I realized I haven't done my "Where I Come From" post for the month so here we go... (anything that means I can put off packing just a little bit longer! haha!)

I've been visiting my amazing Aunt Tricia for the past two and half weeks! It's been a dream, but I'll be getting to that a little bit later. 
During my stay I found these pictures... 
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The Barrow kids... Look how little we are!
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Growing up I always looked forward to the times I got to spend with my cousins. We really are so close and it makes me sad sometimes how spread out we are now. They are all such incredible people.
I still remember that breakfast at Lost Maples- those pancakes were ginormous!
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At the Astros game...
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Eating crawfish while the rest of my cousins were most likely having crawfish races on the levee! hahaha! Do ya'll remember that? I do. By the way I just have to mention that that shirt I'm wearing I pretty much wore at least two times a week. I loved that thing.
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More baseball... what can I say? This family loves baseball.
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This picture cracks me up! I so remember this! Look at all those crazy boys and their IBC root beer! 
This is the good stuff. I'm pretty sure our childhood couldn't have gotten any better...
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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Denver Zoo

   Our Colorado trip was chalk full of full adventures. We were always on the GO GO GO! Let me tell ya we stayed busy! We even hit up the zoo right before our flight to San Diego. Seriously who takes on the zoo before taking on a flight with two small children? 
Yeah, that would be us. All day I kept thinking to myself, what in the world are you doing to yourself Jessica? Despite these thoughts, it turned out great and was the perfect ending to our Colorado trip. I couldn't be more grateful for the time we were able to spend there.

Elephants are so cool. I did a big ole' report on Elephant communication and behavior in college and every time I see them at the zoo my heart and mind go straight back to South Africa where I saw so many in the wild. I hope I get to go back one day with Tyler.
The Denver Zoo had a great Elephant show and the kids loved it!
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Maggie picking her nose... haha!
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So, as you're probably noticing I'm actually in these pictures. I totally forgot my camera probably due to all the packing and getting ready for the airport. I'll admit I was quite releived to have a break from the camera for a day! Thanks Sarah!
 If we're at the zoo, Rachel MUST find the Nemo and Dori fish... haha...  
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Pretty pretty Miss Kristen... It was so fun for all the girls to get to play together! Rachel still talks about going back to Kristen's house. 
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And this is the end of our Colorado journey. I hope it's not too long before we find ourselves back there. My heart hurts just thinking about those mountains. Ahhhh, they keep calling my name! We will definitely be back one day.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Cow Appreciation Day

Did you know that every July there is a Cow Appreciation Day? And did you know Chick-fil-a offers a free meal to whoever dresses up as a cow on this very day?
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We love Chick-fil-a. The girls and I eat there way too often. It has become a deployment splurge, but let's face it, we were hooked long before this deployment started.  
She is just too darn cute! 
MOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
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This has been a tradition of Scott and Sarah's family for a few years now and I think it's brillant! 
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Look at them little cows!
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I told them to smile and this was the result... yikes!
 hahaha! Crazy kids...
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How about ya'll mooooo instead? 
Yeah, just like that...
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Sarah knew just what to do and even made this adorable signs! 
We cut out ears, spots for shirts, and Rachel got to borrow Kristen's cow dress! That morning we told Rachel that we were going to go to Chick-fil-a and that we were going to dress up as cows. That was a mistake. We should have told her BEFORE naptime. She was so excited that it took forever to get her to go down! haha...
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Mags and Kristen
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Maggie refused to wear her ears, spots, and sign so she turned out to be our little albino cow... Who needs to dress up as a cow when everyone calls you Maggie Moo anyway? ;)
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As soon as we got there Maggie walked through the door and gave me this look like, "Mom, what's going on here? These people are nuts."
That picture on the right kills me.
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Our group!  
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Oh. My. Word. Maggie loved the cow!!! She giggled and giggled and giggled! She followed him around, kissed, and tackled him. I didn't know what to do... is that behavior acceptable? Should I get her off the cow? Is the cow super annoyed? I tried to distract her but she kept yelling, "COW! COW! COW!". I'm not exaggerating folks, she really loved that cow. 
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Rachel was a bit more timid and giggled by just getting up close. She eventually gave the cow a hug.
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I think we pull off the cow look pretty good. ;)
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Crazy Maggie Moo... Grabbing the cows and making her rounds waving at everyone... 
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This way cow, I know were I'm going! Everyone got a kick out of watching Maggie with that cow. It was stinkin funny. 
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Cow Appreciation Day was a hit! Needless to say, I think this has become a new family tradition of ours too! 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Our Bowling Adventure

This was a first for both Rachel and Maggie! We have gone bowling before, but they never had this cool bowling doobadaber that you see here. That thing rocks. As you can see by Rachel's face, bowling means serious business.  
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She was hiliarious to watch! She had to carry the bowling ball by herself, and we had to constantly stop her from going during someone else's turn.  I had a difficult time trying to catch a good shot... she didn't waste any time!
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hahahaha!
So excited for her ball to come out! Where the heck is that thing?
And yes, instead of saving my child from being smacked in the face by a bowling ball, I took a picture first. Don't worry, there were no injuries. 
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oops, dropped it!
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such determination... I love that about her.
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Sending it off...
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Maggie enjoyed some popcorn while "waiting" for her turn. Thank goodness for that popcorn.
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Maggie's turn!
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Look at those cute, little bowling shoes...
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I love those little expressions. You know how they say that it's like experiencing everything for the first time when you do it again with your children? It's true.
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Guess who won? 
Maggie! She was the only one with a strike too! Her Daddy would be proud.
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Cute little shoes
The three of them had a grand time.
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Of course there was an arcade as you walk out of the bowling alley. It was too enticing not to indulge for a few minutes.
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The best part about arcades is that my little ones can play without any tokens. I'm sure that will won't last too much longer, but I can savor it while I still got it!
We had so much fun playing with Sarah and Kristen in Colorado. I don't think it could have gotten any better!
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Friday, July 20, 2012

Pixie Skating

Pixie Skating! The best thing sliced bread!
Seriously though- best four bucks I've ever spent.
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I was so proud of Rachel. She fell so many times, but she was undeterred. She just kept getting up and going some more. That's my girl!
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Now you're probably wondering how these little kids actually skate- there's a secret. They lock each wheel in place so in reality it's more like roller skate marching. It's so cute to watch.
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hahahaha... this picture cracks me up! 
Do you think she's a little tired?
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And she's up! And doing the limbo...
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Snack time! 
I told you this was the best four bucks I've ever spent, they even have snacks.
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After snack time I decided to let Maggie have a go at skate marching. The smallest size was two sizes too big, but I figured we'd just strap them on tight and see what happens.
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Easy does it...
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Gotta watch it, those feet can slip out from right under you!
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She was definitely a beginner, and just as reckless on skates as her sister. Except she had a much harder time getting up. Good thing she's cute and someone was always there to help...
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After pixie skating we headed to the park for lunch. After that we went to the petting zoo and rode the train around the park! The girls loved the train!
CHOO-CHOO!!!!
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Can't you just tell how much Rachel loved being in the conductors spot?
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I have no idea what Maggie is saying here but it sure is hilarious!
Oh I know what it was! See that little pinky toe sticking out of her jellies? Poor pinky toe- it does that sometimes. Darn jellies. That explains it, haha! 
I don't think it could have been a better day!
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