Jonah Turned 8

Last Saturday was Jonah's eighth birthday.  The lucky boy got to have two parties that day!  He had a party with his friends in the morning and then we had a family party that evening.  Jonah had requested an ocean themed party.  We decorated the living room with lots of blue and green streamers, fish pictures, and balloons.  We played hide the shell, pin the tentacle on the squid, and a fishing game.  The kids also got to decorate their own cupcakes with Swedish fish and gummy sharks.  I never realized that the top of a cupcake could hold so much candy!  

Jonah and his cupcake

Then, that evening, Jonah requested shrimp for dinner.  The poor kid is our lone seafood eater in the family, so it was a really exciting thing for him to have shrimp at home.  We had other food too, for the rest of us.  

It was a very busy, very fun day.  I think Jonah summed it up well that night when he said to me, "Mom, this day rocks!"  

Jonah and his cake.  He helped me decorate it.  The sharks are circling the school of fish because they're getting ready to attack and eat them. 

The girls were very helpful when it came to the presents.  They're getting much better, though at waiting their turn and letting Jonah open his own gifts. 

I love seeing my Jonah grow and become more independent.  He loves school, reading non-fiction books, collecting rocks and pine cones, riding his bike, painting, drawing, building or making anything, and is a wonderful helper and big brother.  Happy Birthday Jonah!  We're so grateful that you are part of our family. 

Henry

Today was a momentous day in the history of the Barnum household, one that requires a little bit of back story to be fully appreciated.  I have never considered myself a pet type of person.  We had cats, dogs, cows, chickens, sheep, horses, and birds growing up and I never really felt any sort of real attachment to any of them.  None of them were actually "mine" in the sense that I had sole responsibility for them or even that I wanted them in the first place.  I'm just not an animal lover.  I don't hate animals.  I just never liked being licked by them or the smell of them or the idea of having one in my house.  I prefer to enjoy animals from a distance.

So when I married someone who is very very very allergic to all types of animals, I thought I was pretty much off the hook.  I'd dodged the bullet!  I'd won the lottery!  When my kids would someday ask for a puppy or a kitten I could put on my empathetic face and say, "I'm so sorry sweetie, but we can't have any pets because Daddy is allergic."  Little did I know......it wouldn't just be the kids begging for a pet, but my husband too.  
It was only a year or so after we were married when Nate started talking dogs.  He likes dogs and apparently has always wanted to have one.  When I bring up his allergies, my supposed golden ticket out of pet ownership, he simply says he'll have an outside dog and that will solve the problem.  Well, like a good little wife, I totally resist and we manage to put off the discussion for a while.  

Fast forward to about 5 years into our marriage.  Jonah is 3, Lilly is just a baby, and Nate tells me he's bought two beagles that were posted in online classifieds from someone in Kanosh and do I want to go with him to pick them up?  WHAT?!!!  I was not a fan, but the beagles came home anyway.  We had them for less than a year.  They were always digging under fences and getting out of the yard.  Nate was hardly ever home because of work and school and I was still very much anti-pets and didn't have the time or resources to take them on walks every day.  I would have had to wrangle the two dogs and manage the double stroller and that just was not something I wanted to attempt.  So we found the beagles a new home and the dog talk quieted for a while. 

Then, in the last year or so, it slowly starts to sneak back into conversations.  I catch Nate checking all of the dog adoption listings and classifieds and researching different breeds.  Every time he brings it up, I reiterate my position, "I do not want a dog.  Period.  End of story."  Then, a few months I go I finally faced the facts.  Getting a dog was inevitable.  It was going to happen and if I didn't do something soon, we would have a repeat of the beagle story with some bull mastiff coming home from work with Nate one day and me having absolutely no say in the matter.  So I started to do some research on different breeds so we could find one that would be a good fit for our family, and since I knew that I would be the one taking care of the majority of the dog care responsibilities, one that would be a good fit for me. 

The rest is history, as they say.  This morning we picked up the newest member of our family.   He is a 3 month old miniature schnauzer.  Nate gave me the honor of choosing his name.  So, meet Henry.

Henry a little timid and very mellow for a puppy.  We've had him for about 5 hours now and I have yet to hear him bark at all.  He likes to follow the kids around the house and is exploring his new surroundings. 
We're working on house training and crate training and all that good stuff, so if any of you more experienced dog owners have tips or suggestions, feel free to pass on your wisdom.  This is an entirely new adventure for all of us! 

Remembering 2011

It's that time again when we look back over the past year and try to remember the good and the bad, the growth and the challenges, and then decide how to make the next year even better. 
2011 was a good year for the Barnum family.  Some of the highlights included:

• Nate working his first full year for Verizon.  We're so grateful for a job that's keeping him indoors.  It has translated into fewer episodes of illness.  I think in 2011 we only had one bout with bronchitis and no pneumonia!  
• Jonah starting 2nd grade and Lilly starting Kindergarten.  They both love to learn and do so well in school.  They sure know how to make their Mama proud.  
• Ashley (me) taking up running and running in the Las Vegas Ragnar Relay.  Something I never in a million years thought I would do, but I really loved it.  I'm not doing so well keeping up with it so far this winter, but we're working on remedying that. 
• Jayne turned 3 and became fully potty trained.  Bye-bye diapers!
• Our Oregon vacation in August.  It was such a fun-filled, memory making adventure.  We can't wait to plan another one!
• Nate turned the big 3-0!  He says he feels like an old man.  
• We visited Zion's National Park.  It was the first time ever for me and the kids and it was breathtaking.  We didn't get to see as much as we would have liked, so we'll just have to go back.  
• We also did a family camping trip with my mom, sister, and brother at Payson Lakes.  It was beautiful and we had a great time.
• Lilly and Jonah took swimming lessons
• We visited Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary

I think that's about it for now.  I'm sure many more magical and eventful things happened in 2011, but my poor brain just isn't what it used to be.
So now we look forward to 2012.  It's going to be a fabulous year!  I can feel it in my bones.  I'll be graduating with my bachelor's degree in August.  It will feel so good to finally get that done!  Jonah will be turning 8 and getting baptized.  We're working on another family vacation or two.  And who knows what else?!  We'll take whatever life chooses to dish out!  Happy New Year!