10 Year Anniversary

August 14, 2009 and here we are ten years later.  These pictures are just a snapshot of what these last 10 years have been like.  This doesn't in the least show the ups and downs we have been through.  This has been the hardest but most rewarding times of our lives.  Just look what all we have accomplished.  Our biggest accomplishment being our 3 healthy, happy, beautiful children.  

"A strong marriage requires two people who choose to love each other even on those days when they struggles to like each other" -davewillis.org

"Love is an unconditional commitment to selflessly serve, truthfully communicate, fearlessly protect, gracefully forgive, compassionately heal, and enduringly remain in relationship with and for the sake of another." -davewillis.org

"Love your family.  Spend time, be kind & serve one another.  Make no room for regrets.  Tomorrow is not promised & today is short."

"The best things in life are the people we love, the places we've been, & the memories we've made along the way." 

"Your marriage will not be defined by the size of your struggles, but by the size of your commitment to overcome the struggles together" - davewillis.org

"Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God." 

"Two are better than one ... for if they fall, one will life up the other." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." 

"Its not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters."

"Life is better and much happier as hearts turn toward family and as families live in the light of the gospel of Christ." - M. Russell Ballard

Marriage isn't "I promise to love you until I stop loving you." It's "I promise to make a conscious decision to continue to love you even when it's hard because I'm aware no one is perfect, but you are worth it. - Brandalin

Relationships need love, but they don't stay alive on love alone.  Choices keep them alive; choosing loyalty, faithfulness, sacrifice, commitment, etc. keeps relationships alive.  Even choosing to love when you don't feel like loving.

God is going to work it all out for the good.  All the pain, frustration, heartbreak.  Somehow, and in some way, he is going to use all of the broken pieces to make a beautiful masterpiece. - Ashley Hetherington

Happy 10 year anniversary Ryan Barker.  Looking back I thought it would start out hard and get easier.  Boy, was I wrong!  It started out easy and has only gotten harder.  But our love for each other has gotten stronger along the way and I think that is what has pulled us through.  Just look at this life we have together and how blessed we really are.  We have a life that others only dream of.  We got this!  Here is to another 50 more years together.  Can you handle that? 

New School Year!!!

I can't believe this is already happening!  August 1st - First day of school.  Technically it was only for an hour but I guess it counts.  This is the best picture they would give me!

Who is the first friend we see???? .... CALEB WHITE!!!

We all went to the gym and picked up Liam's packet and met his teacher.  Next, we made our way to the library to sign up for a testing date for Reid & Kane.  They will go in for testing August 5th and then start phase in the next week after that.

August 2nd - First full day of school and look who we see before we even walk in the door?? Kylie Parker!  We had to capture the moment!  These 2 have been in class every year together!  They have the sweetest little friendship!  Don't you dare call her his girlfriend!  I know from experience ;)

Liam is in 2nd grade this year and has Mrs. Richardson for his teacher!  He is right across the hall from Aunt Leslie's office!

While brother was at school we pulled out some money they had received from their birthday and went to Walmart to pick up a few things.  This is what they picked out.  These two couldn't be more different! 

Phase-In week - August 12 & 13 for Reid and Kane.  We all walked in together, sent Liam on his way to his classroom then went to the gym to see who our teachers were.  Reid got Mrs. White and Kane has Mrs. Nunley.  We chose to split them up so that they could learn to rely on each other less and to become their own people instead of "the twins."  Kane was a little sad and anxious.  There weren't any kids in his class that the recognized so that was a little hard on him.  Especially when he saw that Reid and their friend Caleb White were in the same class together.  

Once we got to the class room Mrs. Nunley told us it was time to go so we snapped a quick picture and off we went!

We dropped in to see Reid before we left too.  He was excited!!!

I can't believe all my boys are in school now.  I dreamed of this when I first had them but I feel like it happened so fast and I lost so much time.  I will have some nice "me time" on the days that I am off and they are in school but I sure am going to miss them being around.  I second guess whether or not I prepared them enough for this time in their life and I pray that God gives me the wisdom to continue to do so.  I know these boys will do big things one day and I put my complete trust in these teachers to lead them in the right direction.  Dream Big little Cougars!

Panama City 2019

We left Saturday, July 13,  for Panama City Beach.  It took about 8 hours with all the stops we made. Once we got there we made a Walmart list for groceries and took care of that.  

For dinner we ate at Mike's and had our first crab claws of the year!

Sunday, July 14, we chose to go to Shipwreck Island Water Park for the day.   For dinner we ate at

Sharky’s.  The boys each got a stuff animal.  Kane picked Fuzzy the rainbow emu, Reid picked an ostrich named Ollie (which he has recently changed to Master Woo) and Liam picked an alligator named Pollo.  He is blind in one eye as his eye fell off 10 minutes after he got it.

It was also Dad's birthday! 

Racing down the water slides!

Meet Fuzzy

On Monday, July 15, we booked a charter boat to go deep sea fishing.  It was a 4 hour touring boat called Reel Commocean.  I didn't really know what to expect since I had never been before.  The boat was bigger than I imagined and had plenty of room for everyone.

Not long into the ride Liam passed out.  He slept for at least 3 hours of the 4 hour tour. 

It seems like we drove around for a long time.  Unfortunately the places that the captain had planned to go didn't have much fish hanging out there.  We would stop at a place, throw out our line and then .... nothing.   

Actually the first time Ryan threw out his line he caught a king mackerel.  It happened so fast and I was inside so I didn't get a picture of it.  But this fish I was there for.  Unfortunately it was a small grouper.  Too small to keep.  And unfortunately those were the only 2 fish that were caught the whole trip.  It was a bummer.

The view was amazing.

The boys checking out the bait.

We were done just in time for dinner.  We decided to go to Angelo's Steakhouse.  Ryan had never been there so we had to let him check it out.

Tuesday, July 16 and the water was beautiful!  

The boys begged us to go to the pool so we finally let them.  

Off to Dusty's Oyster Bar for dinner.

Very small oyster bar with a down home feel.  The wait is always long because it is so small.  Dollar bills are EVERYWHERE!

Mom eating oysters- we had to document it.

Our waitress was super sweet and cool. She gave the boys some color sheets to pass the time then stapled them on the wall when they were done!

Documenting the oyster I ate as well.  Im not a fan of them raw but I like the chargrilled. 

Getting ready to go crabbing. 

Our catch

Wednesday, July 17 and we are back on the beach again.  Avery Whitsett has watched the boys all summer long so when we found out she and her family were going to be staying close to us we knew we needed to get together one day. 

Owen teaching the boys how to catch a football.

Bubba was literally out in the sun for 10 minutes and got BURNT!

Owen and Avery were fighting and Avery landed in the sand - Kane is checking on Avery to make sure she is okay!

Ryan & Dad

Avery and the boys jumping waves

Liam and Owen digging holes and building castles

The beach sure can were some boys out!

Off to dinner at Bayou on the Beach

This crew! We had such a good time with them!

Thursday, July 18 and I was up at the crack of dawn.  Something I ate at Bayou on the Beach didn't settle well with me, if you get my drift, but I ended up seeing the most beautiful view at 5:30 in the morning.  It was quiet and there were dolphins.  The beach is definitely my happy place.  

We played in the pool today!

Dinner was at Bayou Bills.  Then we stopped for some Dippin Dots!!! They are my favorite!

Back to the beach on Friday, July 19.  Last year the Avans' came down to visit us while we were in Florida.  Since then they have moved and live a little closer to Florida.  It was a no brainer for them when mom sent Holli a message to come on down!  

We met up with the Whitsett's again for dinner at Triple J's.  Ryan got the bone in ribeye.  IT WAS HUGE!

Loving or bugging Avery.  With these two there is no telling!

Saturday, July 20 and it's time to go home :(. We drove around forever trying to find a breakfast place to eat and there was a crazy wait for everywhere we went.  We eventually went back to the first place we went to which was The Pancakery.

Stopped at Priester's Pecans on our way home to pick up some snacks!

For dinner we stopped at Brixx Pizzeria.  Who says no to pizza??? Not my kids!!!!

It rained the rest of the way home and it felt like we were never going to get there.  I feel like our vacation went by way too fast!  Im already ready to go back!  We are already planning a trip next year with our Memphis family!!!