Canada bound, eh

We're planning a quick weekend trip to BC to see the Korolls. They are only 4 hours away, but this will be the first time we've made it up to see them. We love being back on the western side where we have so many friends and family within driving distance, although it has been keeping us busy!

So, since last time I checked in with you we've.....

Gone to Seattle to visit Kerry who was visiting from Chicago. A lot of visiting going on there. but it was a blast and we can't wait to do it again.

Headed to Vegas for an overdue anniversary trip.

Came home to more snow that Branson knew what to do with. A very very white Christmas.

Had a three week christmas break from school. 

 Got a new sewing machine and made a few projects to pass the time..

No. That wall is not orange

Took a quick trip to Mazama with the Grillos for a little R&R/cross country skiing...I wouldn't consider myself to the point where cross country skiing = R&R, but it was a good time and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Dakota was content as could be all weekend. She had her milk/blanky/binky combo and a helicopter to fly. What more could a 2 year old possibly want?

So that catches us up to now. We'll see if I can get it together enough to update again before April.

Winter Weather

I've never considered myself to be a clever columnist. More of a factual writer.  I'm not entirely convinced that people are interested in the writings of factual writers, which is my excuse for the 5 week absence in blog updates. So I will spare you my attempts at humor and skip to the facts. 

It's cold in Wenatchee. really cold. I don't want to know what January is going to be like.  I'm dreaming about thawing my toes in Vegas. 

We spent a spectacular Thanksgiving in Montana eating. Then eating again. and again. Then we played more games of Rook than one could imagine and spent three more days doing absolutely nothing. 

well...I guess there was football...

 and food prep,

 and tummy prep,

and food comas.

The adorable newlyweds

 The dolls were thankful Hannah was around to play. Life gets lonely in a box under the stairs.

 working hard for the big buck

 Ben turned the big 4-0.

We made a quick trip to Montana last weekend. So fun to see everybody and get a little bit of that fresh mountain air.  

Mom and Dad celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary last week!

Fall is definitely in the air! We took a short hike up the ridge behind the house. 

Caleb decided that riding was a bit more fun than hiking, and no one could convince him otherwise :)

Whisper was a good sport as usual, and was patient enough for us all to take turns

Cowboy Codes is a serious man. And just too cute! Cowgirls beware...

Such a fun weekend, so glad the Sandersons could join us!

We've been keeping pretty busy the last couple weeks, but managing to  have a lot of fun as well. This summer has been so busy, it hardly seems like we're "settling down." Wenatchee is beginning to feel like home, and it's such a good feeling! 

A few weeks ago a bunch of country bands came to the gorge, so all us Barnes kids got together and spent the day. We saw 6 bands total. 

Watching Steel Magnolia, Josh Thompson and  Easton Corbin on the "small stage." And yes, I promise, Joel did actually have a good time.

 Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley were the main acts later on in the evening.

The next weekend we headed up to Chelan to hang out with our good friends the Sandersons and check out the Music festival. Leah was in town, which was an extra bonus!

 Jason looks a little unsure about how he should handle more than one child at a time

 It actually turned out to be quite the good time. It started to rain around dusk, so they started one of the largest bonfires I've seen. 

 It was fun to relax, enjoy the lake and listen to some good music. There was a little dancing to be done as well :) If you go to Sarah's blog she has some great pictures of that. Wade is quite the crack up, I can't say what exactly he was doing in this picture, but something to get me laughing.

 Tristan wanted to take our picture. He did end up actually getting our faces in 1 or 2 of the 30 he took.  I think he might make a fine photographer someday.

Harvest

Harvest was running a little later than normal this year, so I was able to spend a week driving truck. It was a fun reminder of our dating days, chatting it up over the CB while Jason sat in his luxury air-conditioned combine and I sweated it out in the wheat truck. This year wasn't quite the same, but it was fun nonetheless. A big thanks to the Mittelstaedts for letting me help out!