Sunshine Girls

London and Maddie got these cute snuggly blankets from Grandma Barlow. Ryan calls them the canary blankets, but I prefer to use the term 'sunshine.' We always enjoy a little bundle of sunshine. Here is our lovely model Maddie to demonstrate the many uses.


A hiding spot! Where's Maddie......?



Peek-a-boo! Here I am!



Wings! Maybe these are canary blankets after all.



I can even peek out without anyone noticing.



I am Mommy's little sunshine angel.

Girls' Night Out+ Ryan

Who would have known there is a bird sanctuary just 5 minutes from our house? We spent Family Night here with the Leckingtons from across the street. Ultimately, it turned into a glamourized girls' night out with eight of us plus Ryan. Ryan took advantage of all the lovely models to capture the scenery. However, we did not end up seeing a whole lot of birds.


This was one of the lookout stations.



London and Madelyn chose these pajamas to protect themselves from mosquitos.



It's a bird! It's a plane! It's London!



Stop! I think I see something!



Maddie was an expert with the telescope.



View from the treehouse. Any bird yet?



The whole Barlow bunch, including our new friend, Polly Pocket.



Now, if we just follow these dots, it should take us to the ducks.



This place was gorgeous at sunset and we brought home a lot of good shots. Unfortunately, at this point, we had to run because we were attacked by mosquitos! Everyone except L & M, of course. They know to always be prepared!

Adventures of L & M

Look, mom, no hands! This little one (Maddie) has been standing by herself all week! As you can see, it takes a lot of concentration.


Maddie has also been practicing her fish face.


Here she is again, this time covered with pudding. How did she get it in her hair?




Even more baffling was how London got it in her eye.



Bath time! I like to hold both sponges and help wash myself!


I always try to sing in the bathtub, especially since it echoes. Mom says it sounds like I am yodeling!



Little London prefers to splash.


Here is London, all dried off and ready for bed. What a day!

'Round and round she goes

If any of you know the layout of our house, you may remember the wall between the kitchen and the living room. This is the wall London has decided to circle upwards of a hundred times a day, all on foot. She does recruit the help of anyone else she notices who has their own feet, as she and Maddie have not managed to steer the lawnmower at will. My favorite part of this trek is picking up little surprises along the way: sometimes tupperware, sometimes the light-up Pirates skull we got from the cereal box. Here she is with her dad; apparently having stopped to switch out her tupperware! What a trooper! Oh, and dad, too.

Tupperware Days

These days, L & M rank emptying the tupperware cupboard very high on their agenda. Right below eating breakfast, in fact. They like to carry tupperware all over the house with them; just ask the person that stepped on it twice today (me). This may seem baffling to some, when they have an entire room full of toys, but perfectly logical when you are in need of a very cute accessory.

Hell's Angels

So teenage rebellion came a little early for this household, say, 12 years before I had expected. What started out as an innocent spa day took a turn for the worse!
L & M's hair had so much gel in it that it lost its usual bounce; however, I have not laughed so hard since, well, the Pirate's incident!




What is a mother to do? Here is my look of utter surprise!





The culprits! L-R Hailee, Misty, Katie. Sure, they look all innocent, but give them your kids and a little gel and you get spa day turned House of Bling (okay, has anyone seen that movie?)! What will they think of next?

Turtle Power

The infamous turtle outfits from Grandma are one of the only identical outfits L & M have. Otherwise, how could we tell them apart? I thought the girls looked so much alike this day with their matching outfits and hair. Is it any wonder we get so many comments?


London gets a hold of Maddie's hair for a change (much to Maddie's surprise)!




Which is which?



Maddie always uses London to practice standing. The only problem is, London can't stand yet either! So sometimes they end up tangled on the ground! Thank heavens for appliances, like the oven, pictured above.

So Long, Farewell

This week we said goodbye and good luck to Elder Davis! I decided to spend Wednesday morning at the dentist, as opposed to the final goodbye ritual at the MTC. Less painful. Either way, there were still a lot of tears shed.
Here I am, obviously the runt of the family, one last time with Elder Davis.





At dinner with the Davis family, Maddie tried out her new tooth (singular) on a crouton. Just as she tried out a glass of lemonade on her front! And London tried (and hated) broccoli for the first time. Definitely a Barlow!

Our Four Year Anniversary

Early Saturday morning Ryan kidnapped me! He had arranged for the girls to go to Grandma's house so we could enjoy a fun-filled day of fruit and flowers (according to wedding tradition of course!)
We started off eating lunch at Applebees, then went to the gardens at Thanksgiving Point, then to the new aquarium, then went shopping and to dinner and a movie! Wow! What a fabulous way to celebrate 'August and Everything After.'









The 'Monet Garden' was my favorite. We even saw a cute little frog!






At the aquarium, I had a second round with my arch nemesis, the jelly fish. Sure, they look harmless, but wait until you encounter them in shallow waters!


These are Lion Fish. Have you ever seen anything cooler?