Tristan Barber is FIVE

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Happy Belated Mother's Day Bebah!!

These two loved making this for you!!

Sorry we were late!!

Happy Father's Day to two great men in Tristan's life!

Tristan and I started working on Father's Day gifts weeks ago...

I found this little online fill in the blank deal... and he was so excited to put in his own words

I think Daddy liked it too!

Then we made Daddy a Popsicle stick puzzle

and there were silly gifts of nuts, photos, shrinky dink key chain and a terrarium

Lastly Tristan saw this book and remembered that Daddy watches this on TV.

He sure does T-Man, great observation!!

Later that afternoon we were off to bring Grandpa his gift and

give Bebah her belated Mother's Day present

She loved it, something special that T made

(pretty much all by himself)

for her garden/back yard

and after Grandpa did his Popsicle stick puzzle it was time for his gift

a new golf towel with some of his favorite people on it

we stole Bebah, headed to church and then Holt decided

Benihana was on the menu for dinner!

To our surprise - the Carrekers were there.

I cannot express Tristan's level of PURE joy

Thanks for dinner Bebah, we were so thankful you came and

spoiled Holt with us.

Happy Father's Day to one of T's best buddies! DADDY!!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Beautiful things... and hard questions

I picked Tristan up at camp the other day... and he gave me this awesome sun catcher.

I don't know where, but for whatever reason, this thing was REALLY special to me. I guess, I love it because it reflects light and it's pretty but... I love it because Tristan made it. And, he made it for ME.

While driving home.. he asked "Is today our special day for Daddy!?" and I immediately knew - he was asking if it was Father's Day. I explained that it wasn't but this coming weekend it would be. We would do whatever Daddy wanted to do, and we would be extra sweet to him and try and do nice things without him even asking.

Then it came. "Mommy, where is your Daddy?" *UGH*
I replied: "Tristan, you know my Daddy, he's your Grandpa."
Then... double Ugh... "Oh that's right, you don't talk, I guess he doesn't like you"

*heart shatters*

I proceeded to take the next 10 minutes to tell him my Dad DOES love me, we just have a hard time talking. Family stuff is HARD. It just is. We can fake that it's not, but in general, it just is. So instead of crying (I was close) I chose to tell him all the great things about his Grandpa.

Grandpa has been to every single game I had ever played in. Even the ones in the snow and rain.
Grandpa is very silly and loves to play games - he even played a scary game and I would hide. He would find me and would tickle me when he found me. I loved it.
Grandpa loved to take me hiking and out into nature
Grandpa played soccer with me and encouraged me CONSTANTLY
Grandpa caught a million softballs that I tried to pitch to him
Grandpa bought me a ton of gerbils, hamsters and a bunch of cats
Grandpa and I used to catch "our snake" almost every weekend and he always came to find me when he almost mowed a frog
Grandpa will forever regret telling me to "paddle out to the lighthouse"... Joanne and I did it (very late and scared Grandpa badly)
Grandpa taught me about planes and coins and guns
Grandpa gave me a love for working out, and martial arts
Grandpa made a thousand cardboard houses and stores and drank warm root beer with Twizzlers with me
And... we pulled into the house... so I had to stop ... quite frankly he was just done listening, I mean, he's 5!

And lastly I unbuckled him and said...

Just like when you make me things (like my sun catcher) - I treasure them... just as he always did MY stuff.

He said, "I have a great Grandpa!"

I said "You do, and he loves you"

Hard............. but still good. Memories are good.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

ESD - Camp Create!

I totally forgot to post about Camp Create! Tristan's first camp this year was awesome! In ONE WEEK... they had the kids create the set,

sing and dance and man, they did a great job!!

Watch him in action here

So glad we chose these camps!!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Pre-school Graduation card

Who knew a card existed for that!?

Aunt Jeanne did!!

This won't make it in the mail... but he chose one of his artwork pieces to send a thank you. I'll bring it home to you. :)

and the priceless video...

He's nuts

Hate sharks... not funny

Cute... just not funny :)

Monday, June 9, 2014

Being sick can't stop me (well it can, but I can still have fun!)

T was sick last week and (of course) - I caught it. Holt was traveling for a week so (of course) I was run down and exhausted... then T got sick and (of course) I had to kiss it all away (apparently, I stole it).

Poor little dude had to run errands with me and tolerate my to-do list so I try and treat him.

First we had T-Ball

Cutie Cohen

Little baseballs I gave to each of the boys

and then grocery shopping - first stop a ride!!

then I had to make 50 graduation candy caps for Lauren and Mackenzie's graduation party

(that I was too sick to attend)

Yes.... I washed my hands at least 50 times

Sunday morning I tried to get up and go to church.... yeah, that didn't happen. BUT we bought food for "Stuff The Truck" battling hunger in DFW and packed our bags to drop off during the day.

I drove the candy caps to Lewisville, then Lindsay called and SAVED THE DAY. T could come for a play date and I COULD SLEEP!

I dropped him off, sped home and pass out for an hour and a half Best.Sleep.EVER!

Picked T up and Cohen made me a Get Well card!!!