Thanksgiving Break: Before, During & After!

We absolutely LOVE this time of year. To say that it is our favorite time of the year is an understatement! We enjoyed a much needed break at thanksgiving (way too much food, nice long naps and even some Black Friday shopping for this mama) and are really looking forward to all the fun activities of Christmas, including a trip to Kansas City!! The Christmas decorations are up and we are ready--bring on the lights, the hot chocolate, the Christmas music, the living nativity, the candy canes, the Christmas PJ's, the presents......all of it!!! The Barrett Family cannot wait! 

Charlie snatched my phone while we were building the grain elevator

Johnny hanging with the big boys at church....just shooting the breeze...

Sunday morning Starbucks run, missing our main man! 

"But I'm not tired mom".... :)

Mellany attended a cheer clinic at our Middle School one Saturday and then got to perform in-between basketball games that next week. She did such a great job and had so much fun! Charlotte participated too which made it even better!!

THANKSGIVING!!! 

Coloring, cooking, games and spending time with loved ones!!! 

Mellany attended a birthday party for a friend at our local pottery painting place. She wasn't finished by the time everyone else was, so I came to let her finish. She painted a franken-princess. This girl loves to paint some pottery! 

Dinner at John's office after ballet/before small group at church 

Mellany: #7!

It's been a really fast year and our sweet girl is now 7. We are so proud of Mellany and who she has become. We couldn't ask for a better little lady....she is kind and helpful and one of the most caring people I know! We can't wait to see where this next year takes her! 

Here's a little bit about our Mellany:

• Mellany's favorite subject is art! She is always drawing, coloring, cutting, gluing...and she is really good at it. Her creativity amazes me on a daily basis. 
• She loves to leave notes around the house for the rest of us.....she also likes to get notes from us....
• Occasionally we still get a snuggle from her
• Her love language is quality time and gifts. 
• She is always willing to help, always! 
• Mellany loves her brothers and has a special bond with each of them. One of her most favorite things to do is play teacher with them....
• She is doing great in school: Spelling and math are her favorite things besides recess, lunch and specials. She is really good at spelling and is awesome at math facts! She is really enjoying her 1st grade year and being at a new school; although I will admit, if I don't ask specific questions, I don't get the details.
• She still loves routine and would have the same 3 meals every day. She loves to use the calendar I create to know what is coming up.
• When it comes to food she definitely likes what she likes but is also willing to at least take a bite of something new and try it. 
• Her favorite sports are ballet and swimming
• She is always singing a song, either one that she has made up or one from the radio
• No matter what the temperature is outside, she wants to be outside playing. Swinging and riding her bike are her favorite.
• She has become extremely independent and is wanting to take on more responsibility around the house, which we love. 
• Her favorite things to play with are her barbies, American Girl dolls, hatchimals, legos and puzzles
• She does not know a stranger. No matter where we are, she finds someone she knows and wants to go talk with them and say hello. If she doesn't know anyone in the place we are at, she usually finds a new friend. Her heart is the most genuine heart I've ever seen and she just loves people! 
• She follows directions pretty well for the most part. There are times she does get distracted, but for the most part she does a really good job with this. She also wants to ensure that others are following directions too. 
• Mellany is very specific about the clothes that she wears. Dresses are preferred and are way better if they twirl, shoes can't make her feet sweaty, and pants must be pull-on with no buttons. 
• She loves one-on-one time
• She is about 50% homebody and 50% extrovert and loves to get out....She loves to go shopping, go to the movies, paint at our local pottery place, eat out....
• She really enjoys reading and can actually read books all by herself now!! 
• Occasionally, Miss Mellany will show us a little attitude. It quickly dissipates, but it is there. 
• It's sad to say but now that she's a big 1st grader, she doesn't really have the time to watch many shows and she isn't all that interested in cartoons much anyway. If she's going to sit down to watch something, she would prefer to watch a movie. 
• Her favorite movies are: Descendants, Beauty & The Beast (the human version), Cinderella (the human version) & Maleficient

7 Year Wellness Exam

Weight: 50lb 9.6oz

Height: 4' 3"

Blood Pressure: 96/62

Mellany's exam was fantastic (minus the chaos of 3 kiddos in the doctors office at 4:30 in the afternoon). Dr. Fahler, Mellany and I discussed her eating habits, how she was liking her new school, what she liked to do for fun, her bloody noses and of course the upcoming holidays. After going over her growth charts and her actual physical exam, we were out the door and ready to head home. I can't say enough, how thankful we are to have such a healthy kiddo (actually, THREE healthy kiddos!)!

On her actual birthday.....

She took cookies to school to share and the cafeteria ladies even had her stand in front so they could sing happy birthday. Her classmates also sang to her. 

At home we celebrated with cupcakes and presents. 

Birthday Celebration with Friends

The weekend after her birthday she invited over 3 friends for her very first sleepover party. (This was actually all of the girls' first sleepover!) She mailed out the invitations (totally written by herself) a month ago and all the girls had been discussing it ever since. (Charlotte packed up her stuff the day she got it and it sat in a pile in her room for weeks!)

Mellany decided she wanted a doll party. So the girls brought their dolls, strollers and PJ's for the night. I provided the pizza, cake and sleeping masks. 

We ate dinner, went for a walk with the dolls, opened presents, had cake, then got in PJ's for a movie with popcorn and a book (a very special slumber party glow in the dark book provided by Charlotte). 

Everybody made it through the night and in the morning we had breakfast before the girls got picked up to go home! 

I'm not sure if I had more fun or the girls....it was such a great time with lots of memories made! 

November News!

Thanksgiving is a week away and we are counting down the days for a break! Anyone who knows me, knows that while I love to get out and do things, I am my happiest at home, with everyone else home; so to say I am excited for John to be off work and the kids to be out of school is an understatement! I cannot wait!!!!! Here's what we've been up to....

Stickers in the mail from Gammy. Mellany is teaching Charlie how to use them.

Barrett face :)

I took this coming back home one afternoon....it is just so pretty out here! 

Phone thief!

Hanging out in mamas chair from when she was a little girl

Another phone thief taking selfies while getting her hair done

Soup Swap!  7 of us friends from church get together every fall and have our annual soup swap. Everybody picks a different soup, makes it at home and divides it into 12 servings (2 per person) then we trade them and we enjoy soup all winter long. We have lunch and get to chat all together on this day; its one of my favorite days of the year! Everyone was able to make it this year which was a Christmas miracle in itself! These ladies have been one of the best parts about our move to Indiana and I am so thankful for them.

Simon wanted to borrow Johnny's MIZZOU hat. Of course I let him borrow it AND taught him the M-I-Z cheer so he could share it with his mama..... His mama is a Clemson Alum... :) Gotta spread the MIZZOU love to all! 

Johnny swiped my phone this time to take a picture of his tractor and trailer

Morning photo ops....Mellany ready for her Veterans Day program in the only Red, White and Blue she had....Johnny with his Turkey Disguise project for school. He chose to disguise him as a Ghost. ......Charlie with his dump truck

We went to get Mellany from the bus one day and saw a deer in the bean field across from us. When we came back, he was still there! We sat and watched him for a good 10 minutes; the kids were in heaven! 

Phone thief again....I just love when you can see their toes in the pictures :) 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!