On May 21st at 1:55 p.m. Orla Kathleen Barnes was born. She weighed 6 lbs 14 oz. Mom and baby are doing great and big sister Ruby is very proud.

This made me smile. I'm not sure when she did but I'm sure glad she did.

We were so happy to have Shannon, Sarah and Josie come down for a visit on Easter Sunday. They were able to stay all day so of course we had to give the two cuties a bath. Josie wasn't used to having company in her bath.

They had a ball!

Sarah and Josie enjoying the nice weather. Shannon and Parker were enjoying the cool water (I can't believe that I don't have pictures of it).
Josie & Lulu having fun playing with a box....why do we even bother investing in toys?!

The day before Easter was beautiful and the Country Club had their annual Easter Egg hunt. Unfortunately for the Club there weren't a lot of hunters but fortunately for us there were too many eggs to gather! Below Parker looks happy and beautiful as can be!

Lulu made the front page of the paper Easter Sunday in full color with a picture that was very similar to this one. I think everyone liked that she kept trying to gather the eggs under her neck and not use her basket. Very adorable in my opinion!

Don't' you wish you could were a bubble too!?
Bennett got the 1st prize egg and won a huge Easter basket gift set with a large Easter Bunny. He was very excited and carried that bunny around for the entire week.

And here is our child who just doesn't like to NOT win! In all fairness she won last year but she didn't get the big basket and bunny but she did get $5. In a child's eyes that just isn't the same.

Easter morning was really fun this year. Everyone was really excited to see if the Easter Bunny visited us...and he did! Bennett woke up first and he waited around with me until the girls woke up. We were in the kitchen and he happened to see some eggs out of the window and he went crazy! He started screaming Parker! Parker! I see eggs! I see eggs! and he barrelled down the hallway to Parker's room and by the time I got there they were both standing looking out her window. It was great! Below is Parker enjoying her Easter basket.

Lulu enjoying her Easter basket.

Bennett enjoying his Easter basket.
Now we are ready to hunt some eggs.

Good times after the egg hunt!

A few pictures from the play equipment at Michael and Crissie's.

Once she got up there she loved it and wouldn't take the slide down so I had to go up and get her!

Bennett smiling as usual and Lulu on his side.

We have a new "do"! I just thought it was time to cut of those beautiful locks! Not sure why the pictures won't load right but I will try and fix it later....way later....after Fiji!!

Sheila cuts all of our hair and is great with the children. Bennett was a little nervous about the haircut but it looks like he was enjoying it.

What a handsome boy! We LOVE the new "do"!

LLB meets her siblings.mpg

I've been trying to get the blog up to date and in doing so I've come across a lot of videos that were never transferred from the video camera to the computer such as this one. I love it!

Parker had her first gymnastics recital last week. It was run like a gymnastic meet so there were lots activities going on but it was a lot of fun to watch and Parker did great. She got a trophy after it was over and really enjoyed that. Yes, she looks too old in this picture but I think it has to do with the mascara, blush and lip gloss she has on!

These are pictures that the kids have taken. They grab the camera and start shooting. They love taking pictures! Below is Parker and Ann Gerard swimming as usual.

Friday, April 29th was the wedding of the royal couple William & Kate and the Royal Celebration at St. John's. So Bennett went dressed as a Prince.
More kid pictures taken by kids -- Strike a pose!

Sort of ready for the pool but we are going to have to give up the blanket.

Once again we are camped out watching the Fresh Beat Band.

We love a picnic!

I'm ready to swim!!

We had a wonderful time at Taylor's 4th birthday party at Pump it Up! in Brandon. I was really nervous because it was in the middle of Lulu's nap time but she had a fabulous time! She had so much fun playing it was painful to have to pull her out of the blowups. She was kicking and screaming until I fed her cake and then she was asleep as we were pulling out of the parking lot.

Sorry that I wasn't able to get many other pictures....I don't have any of my other children!!!! I think that Crissie and Michael might have gotten a couple but there were a lot of rowdy little boys running around and I wasn't quite sure how Lulu would react.

I'm not sure why I was worried about Lulu because she loved running around and falling down and running around and falling down again! Cannon had a great time too but at least he got a nap on the way up to Jackson.
I think this one of my favorite pictures! She would fall and pop right back up again!

Crissie -- Please post some pictures of my other children!

Please pray for all those affected by the horrific storms that hit Alabama. Here are some stories to see and read.


http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/04/29/whitmire.alabama.tornado/index.html

http://youtu.be/3JeF5LZHg_0

Also, don't forget those who are being affected by the flooding waters.

Look how red her hair is! During Bennett's first T Ball game I chase Lulu around most of the time and she would lay down and giggle...hence the picture.

It's April 10th...perfect weather to start swimming in MS.....Bennett loves the clothes but won't get in the water until the 4th of July BUT

It looks like Lulu is ready to go
Not sure she can see where she is ready to go though! She loves walking or riding around the pool this way...what a sense of adventure!

The one true swimmer in the family no matter the weather -- Parker! She has been swimming every weekend since April 10th. That has to be a record! It is so early the pool is still green!

We were able to make it to Jackson April 9th for Nena's 100th birthday party! Of course we were an hour late for numerous reasons but we all had a grand time! This first picture is of Lulu really having a great time on their enclosed porch. We had to take this picture because she is such an adorable girl in such an UGLY chair!!

Having a ball on the Spivey porch

Lulu and Josie at Nena's 100th birthday party
Bennett and Parker REALLY enjoyed the indoor swings on the patio since there weren't any mosquitos!

Yes these pictures are in the wrong order but blogspot doesn't let me switch them around (if anyone knows the answer to this problem please let me know).
From left to right: Crissie, Josie, Carol Ann, Parker, Jessica (lovely face I'm making!)

Have a wonderful time at Nena's 100th birthday!

It's T-ball season! and we love it!

It started off great when we fielded the first ball but after that we didn't get them all and the tears rolled.....but I think he has figured out that there is "no crying in baseball!!!"

Even though there isn't any "buddy" ball this year you still have a buddy on the field with the newbies. Can you spot the newbie?
Just a cute picture!

Easter came late this year but the PA Easter program was right on time. Parker was part of the "Peace on Earth" song.

These are a little out of order. Below is Lulu the afternoon after her surgery....sweet Lulu!

This was Lulu right when we got home from the surgery. She loves to play hide and seek even if no one is seeking!
We love bathtime even if it doesn't happen but once a week (we have bad skin).
Fun times on Nicholson Avenue!

This little guy was living in our poolside tree for a couple of days. The kids were amazed!