Fathers Day

We had a really nice father's day with Orrin this year. My sister Emily also got to spend it with us too.
We have lived in the Rose City now for 3 years and have never gone to the Portland Rose Test Garden so we really wanted to go and decided to go on Father's Day.















The garden is so beautiful. It was a beautiful Day (no rain). The boy had so much fun running up and down the rows of roses and rolling down the hills.

We loved it so much we have been back 4 more times.

This rose hill reminds me of my Grandpa's Garden.

It was a blast and smelled so sweet.




I have such a wonderful husband/father to my children. He is such a great example to them and always makes time to spend with them. He is so wonderful that he made his own Father's Day dessert, strawberry pie. Perfect ending to a perfect day.

Sisters

My sister came to stay with us to help me a few weeks after Kyson was born. It was such a blessing. The boys had so much fun having her here. She was a great help to me. I had so much fun with her here.

We were able to go fishing at Hornings Hideout. We love fishing here with the boys because you can catch a fish in just seconds. We got 4 fish in about 15 mins. They also have wild peacocks and salamanders that are always fun to find and play with. This was the first fishing trip for both Kyson and Emily. They did pretty good. Emily caught a fish and was so excited, but check this video to find out what happened.

Those of you who know Emily check this picture out... She is holding the fish!

Kyson in his fishing hat.

We also went to try out one of the millions of food carts they have in Portland. The food carts are pretty famous in Portland and this one looked fun for the kids. It was the grilled cheese grill. You grab your food from the cart/trailer and eat it in a double decker bus. It was really fun. We had grilled cheese, Capri Suns, and a pickle.

We also got to go pick strawberries with Emily. We went a little early in the season so we had to look really hard but we found some good ones. Strawberries are so good farm fresh!

We loved having Emily here and miss her a lot. Thanks Emily for all your help with the boys!

We also received this beautiful Quilt, made by my sister in law Mandy, for Kyson.
Thanks Mandy! Its getting some good use from all the boys.

T ball

Wes played T ball for the Yankees this year. He was on the team with his best friend Matt. He had a blast. We are hooked. Wes loved playing and we loved watching. Brad was so into it that he learned to throw better just by watching Wes and the coaches. I'm sure we have quite a few more years of this with all our boys. We had some practices and games in the pouring rain and it got really cold but we had so much fun and can't wait until next year.

The trophy and snack on Wes's face after the last game.

Kyson's First Bath

We decided to give Kyson his first bath after the boys went to bed because we knew that we would have a little too much help if they were awake. But as soon as we started the boys ran out of their rooms and had to come and help. The boys had so much fun helping with Kyson's bath. Kyson loved it too.

Preschool Gradutation!!

Wesley Graduated from Preschool this year only 2 weeks after Kyson was born. It was my first real outing with the boys by my self and they did great. I did have a hard time trying to balance everything an take pictures so some are a little funny.

He got to cross over the bridge to receive his diploma.

His two teachers, Mrs. Susan & Mrs. Judi

The whole class sang some songs to us with Pasteur Ben. Bradley loved this part. He even started singing along.

Mrs. Taundra who is the principle of the school. We love her a lot.

Wes and his best friend at school, Tucker. They always had to sit together and walk by each other in the hall.

Wes and Teacher Judi. She was so sweet to Wes. She told me, Wes told her, that he loved her but not as much as he loves his mom. Too cute.

Wes sharing his cake with Brad.

The Diploma, the proof he passed preschool.

My Grandpa Barker

Picture at Our last year summer visit

About a month before I was due with Kyson, my Grandpa was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor. It had already progressed so much the doctors said that there was really no treatment that would help and he was sent home. This news was very unexpected because he had always been in amazing health. My family had already planned an 80th birthday party for my grandma but it ended up being a time for the family to see him one last time here on earth. I was not able to make it to the gathering because I was due in a few weeks and didn’t think it was wise to travel. Then a week after Kyson was born my sweet grandpa passed away. I also was not able to make it to the funeral because Kyson was so young, but my mom brought her phone in, called me, and left it on so I could listen. It was extremely hard for me not to be there but, it was nice to be able to feel apart by listening on the phone.
I have such sweet memories of my grandpa throughout all the stages of my life. He has truly been a great example to me of service and how to show love for your family. As a really little girl I remember sitting with him at his desk in his home office and coloring or reading books with him while he worked. My cousins and I also loved to play in the beautiful yard that he had created. He always had an amazing garden. In one home he had a beautiful rose garden on a hill. He would go and cut flowers from it for grandma each day and sometimes for me too. As kids we would build forts in the bushes in the yard and grandpa would come in and play his saxophone or another instrument for us in the fort. We loved it. We also took trips to the beach each year. Grandpa never got in the water and would always wear long pants and long sleeves to the beach but he would always help us build some amazing sand castles. When I was in high school after my grandparents served 2 missions they came and stayed with us for a few months. I loved having them so close and loved learning a little about gardening from grandpa as we planted a tomato garden together for my young women project. My grandpa loved to play games. Whenever the Barkers gather there is always a game of some kind going on. I think we all got our love of games from grandpa. He was always willing to play. I have many memories of grandpa making his famous BBQ chicken. I think almost every time we got together grandpa made his chicken. It’s so amazing. My most favorite memory I have is when I had the job of cleaning my father’s office at night my grandpa volunteered every time he was in town to go and clean with me. I had that job for 15 years, and he ended up coming with me many times. I’m sure he would have preferred to stay and play games than empty a million garbage bags, but I knew that he was only going to spend time with me and to help me out. I cherish those one on one times we had together and I learned a lot from him. As I have gotten older it always touched my heart when he would tell me how he thought I was a good mother and tell me how proud he was of me and the woman I have become. He would never let me forget by reminding me every time he came to visit. I think the greatest lesson I learned from him is service and selflessness. He was always looking for opportunities to serve and was always first to volunteer for a job he knew no one wanted to do. He was truly a selfless man.
I am so blessed to be a part of his eternal family. I love that peace the gospel gives to me that I will be able to be with him again someday. I love you Grandpa!