Growing Up...

My babies are really growing up...Matthew had his first soccer practice yesterday and Anna is now in her big girl bed :-)

Random Family Pictures

Matthew was so excited to see Lily, who he hadn't seen since we moved home. He just loves her and is always very gentle.

Me and Owen

Getting so big!

Anna just couldn't understand why Matthew wasn't getting up when she called him...she was missing playing with her brother while he was on the "sick bed".

Day two of being sick improved considerably after lunch when Aunt Lauren was making cookies!

Owen and Nana

The three Barker cousins :-)

The entire Barker family!

Kelso - Another Old Favorite Stop

Kelso was one of our favorite Conservation Areas when we lived in Ontario and I have been back twice since we moved back home. This was the first time though that we really got to enjoy the beach :-)

Owen seemed to love the water and was looking super cute in his suit!

My supermodel wearing Grampy's shades.

Safari...With a Sick Matthew

The safari trip was another highlight, but on the way there my poor boy got sick. We kept going as we weren't sure if it was a bug or he was car sick. As it turned out he was sick and didn't get to enjoy much of the day, but Anna had a great time - especially at the splash pad!

Anna was a big Aunt Lauren's girl during our trip and quickly started calling her "Neny" - not to be confused with "Nany (Matthew)" or "Nana" - like Matthew used to call her.

Anna on the slide

Anna got braver the more time she spent in the water - she had a blast!

Sissy and Bampi

My poor sick boy slept on Chad while everyone else enjoyed the splash pad...he even fell asleep in Chad's arms on the tour bus for the last two "habitats" of the safari.

Matthew briefly perked up enough to go on an elephant ride just before we left the safari - he was beaming the entire time! Unfortunately it didn't last long and he was sick again...

Springridge Farm

We have a picture of Matthew at 1, 2, and 4 with his face in the cut-out - it's amazing how the time has flown by! Springridge is a favorite stopping place from our days living in Ontario. It's a great spot to spend some family time and eat good food!

Make room for Anna!

Matthew loved the hay maze - he must have run through about 15 times!

Sissy liked being silly :-)

Grampy and Matthew at the top of the hay tower!

I climbed to the top too!

Smith family on the farm :-)

Matthew had his first pony ride here just after Anna was born in 2008 - he still loves pony rides!

It started to rain a little bit so Owen put on his fireman raincoat...it used to be Matthew's :-)

We all headed out to pick a basket of strawberries in the berry patch. Matthew and Anna were in charge of making sure Grampy didn't put any rotten ones in the basket!

Grampy and Owen

Everyone Loves Marine Land...Except Sissy :-(

We had a lovely trip to TO to visit Paul, Lauren, and Owen last week. Mom and Dad came too, so it was an official Barker Family Vacation! First stop - Marine Land. Since it was sunny and hot the entire time we were there, we had to put lots of sunscreen on the kids...which Sissy got in her eyes as soon as we arrived to the dolphin show. She spent the better part of the day with red eyes and was pretty grumpy - poor little thing didn't really get to enjoy the day. Matthew on the other hand loved it all - here are he and Nana watching the dolphin show.

Next stop rides...

...and more rides...

...Owen wasn't so sure about the rides :-)

My boys :-)

A highlight was watching Matthew feed and pat Sierra - the beluga whale - he is such a natural with animals! He also got to throw food to bears and feed lots of fish.

The deer practically mobbed Matthew, but he held his own!