Father's Day...

I couldn't resist posting a little bit about my favorite guy, especially on Father's Day. Tim adds such a spice to our lives, he makes everything just a little more interesting. The kids all love him and count down the days until "daddy night" each week. He has touched our lives in so many ways. The kids have a great man to look up to and so do I. Here are a few shots of Tim doing what he does best....

reading to the kids...
Here is the bird house they made on a "Daddy night." Although no birds ever actually nested there, he went out and helped the girls check it quite frequently.
Rugby looking up and his idol...
The first moment Tim became a Dad-- he looks pretty happy (and maybe just a little bit scared too-- and for good reason)
Tim carefully looking after our baby Breckyn... Tim in his famous muscles pose he does for the kids daily...
lovin' his girlies...
again... very carefully watching baby Em...
more reading...

a little WWF with Rugs...
more girlie love...
teaching our son the meaning of a good hard days work...

Tim graciously welcoming Jeff into the family....Here is the man I married almost 9 years ago. He captured my heart with his genuine goodness. He has been an example to me of the perfect spouse-- always helping, always willing to adapt to our ever changing lives, always the first to say "I'm sorry," always supporting me in everything I do, and always willing to help me clean (that's a big one to me). Thank you for being a wonderful father and husband. You are my sunshine. Happy Father's Day Timmy!

A Great Father's Day...

This morning Tim and I woke up to the kids giggling about 2 inches from Tim's face and Emerson was yelling, "happy Mother's day Daddy!" (good thought-- wrong parent) They were all so excited because they had a surprise for him. They started singing him the Daddy song from Primary and presented him with breakfast in bed that they had made all by themselves. They gave him about three seconds to eat and then Rugby started asking him, "are you going to eat that?-- cause I will if you don't want it!" Then they quickly rushed him downstairs to open presents. It was great....

This was the breakfast. They kept telling us how great it was that they didn't even spill the milk... well almost...
Tim and the gang who very graciously opened each package for him--- you know, so he wouldn't have to strain himself on his big day... thanks guys!
Of course, every dad needs a tacky t-shirt that says, "Worlds Best Dad." It's like the rules...
Here is my Dad testing out the new ladder we chipped in to get him. (we've gotta keep him busy with projects when he retires)

boys and their toys...

This is Dad's new go-cart!!! Tim and he were working to put it together and they finished it tonight. Sadly enough, Dad had to go to a stake meeting so Tim volunteered to take it for a test drive. Thanks for letting him play Dad!
This is a trained professional-- DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE STUNTS AT HOME!
He is playin' it cool in this picture... it has mud flaps, blinkers, a tow hitch, and some pretty cushy seats-- it ROCKS!!
Tim got a little excited... he was smiling so big while he was driving--the dirt got stuck in his teeth!! Now that's excitement!
Here is my littlest man just up from his nap.
Another little guy playing with his new pet lizard named Froggy (because he really wanted a frog) (don't panic it's only plastic) (I know-- lame-- but it's as far as I can go in the pet department)
Em on his little tricycle. (he is so tiny and it's so big-- he looks like Kermit da Frog on his bike)

Super Emmy...

Super Em is trying to keep his secret identity secret.... it's not going so well...He had to remove his mask for a chocolate milk break-- even super heroes need a little refreshment too...
He's back and looking for crime... it could be anywhere...
Time for a little more refreshment...oh well, the secret identity is still a work in progress but, he makes it look pretty cute...

a very professional photo shoot..

I was doing some blogging the other day outside by the pool after some hard work and Rugby really wanted my attention. I had my camera and he is always begging to take some pictures so I finally caved and let him. I went first to show him how to do it. He made some pretty funny faces for me...

super cheese...
trying to be serious...
his go to silly face...
scary guy...
"I'm melting....."
Rugs was a great photographer, he told me how to make my face for every shot. He is already quite a little professional... here is my silly face.
he likes when I stick my tongue out....
this is his "please.... oh please mom" face that he makes for me.
he wanted me to do his angry face...
he really liked the angry pose... thanks for making me feel like a model shooting on location at an exotic resort Rugs! It's nice to be treated like a star.

Emerson the singer

Updates...

Here are a few random pictures to update you on all the Elkhorn news. (about us that is)
Rugs and Zo on the new, new go-cart. Notice it looks a lot the same-- only yellower.Breckyn has been put on "fire duty" at the job site. We girls all remember what that feels like. Dad's theory is "anything can burn if you get it hot enough." Breckyn is clutching her water bottle for safety. If this fire goes "wild" Breckyn will finally get to use all of the skills she learned from fire safety week in school. I can't tell you how many times I've heard and seen "stop, drop, and roll."

The walls are all poured and Dad is making some final tweeks to the bracing. It's coming along rather quickly for a guy who is still tied to the office. Only 17 days left until he is a crazy free man. Get that Hawaii shirt out and maybe one of those drinks in a coconut with a little umbrella in it-- he's ready for a little R & R!

just a little bit of outdoor fun...

Here are the girlies after a nice dip in the pool.... I can't help myself with the matching suits still.
Emerson ready to ride...
Mad Rugby...
Happy Rugby...

time to fill the canteen...

Tim is yelling for me to come downstairs and I find this... He said he figures if I took my shirt off for ants-- he was going for something a little bigger. (plastic bugs don't count-- but he gets some major points for good effort) (note the dinosaur-- what the?!?!) I love you Timmy....

first day of summer vacation...

If you are a Magill this might look a little familiar... to explain... Today was the first day of summer vacation. It started out a little rocky. The kids were fighting like animals... "she said..." "I'm older I know more..." "I'm going to tell on you..." "everyone is giving me a headache.." (that one is Breckyn's favorite to use). It wasn't pretty. So, being the savvy Mom that I am, I pulled out a trick that my father use to do to us. When we couldn't get along, he would tie us together. This morning Zoey and Breckyn were the decided "test monkeys." You know what-- it actually worked. They cleaned up the craft room and ate breakfast together and by the end they were best pals working together like the team I'm always trying to talk them into being. OK.... so only about 80 more days to go.... maybe I'll be needing some more string.....

the best husband...

Here is a picture of the best husband ever!!! After the "incident" he came out and took care of the problem for me. What a guy! The issue was under the lifeguard stand-- so it had to come down. He took it apart and sprayed the geebers out of the ground with two different kind of pesticides (per my request). Thank you Timmy.... you're the best.... and ants are still the worst!

Ants...

It's the girls last day of school and as soon as they got home they asked to go swimming. I tell them to go get their suits on and I'll be out to watch them in a second. I get out to the pool and the girls start getting in so I grab the net to fish out a few leaves from on top of the water. I'm netting and talking to the girls about their day when I feel a slight twitch on my arm. I look down and there are about 100 ants crawling all over my arm. Our poll end had fallen off and the ants had crawled in and made it their home... eeewwww. I freak as little as possible so I don't scare the girls. I'm flailing all over the place letting out little bursts of screams here and there. I run inside yelling for Tim and of course he doesn't answer... so I rip off my shirt and run downstairs bursting into his office. He is on the phone with a client and gets that look on his face like, "hubba hubba!" I give him that "drop dead everything isn't always about sex" look. Then he looks at me like "if it's not sex... then what the heck are you doing?" Frustrated I run upstairs and further examine myself to make sure every ant is gone. I examine again... and again... and again... when I'm satisfied I responsibly go back outside and resume watching the girls swim. Although, I'm finding it hard to shake that "enemy invasion" kind of feeling.... eeeeewwwww! I hate ants. I'm training Rugby to squash them every time he sees one. (childish, I know, but it makes me feel better)

who really needs pants anyway?

Em came strolling into the kitchen casually asking for a snack... when I saw this!!! He was pushing his pants and undies around in the shopping cart.... why, I don't know. It's always very interesting to be in a two year old's world. Thanks for the early moon Em!

Sunday Fun...

This past Sunday we had our usual family lunch and I took a few shots of some good old family fun. After lunch everyone got out a few games and we had a good time. I just love having everyone close. The kids get along better than siblings. They easily slip into play mode and we don't see them (unless someone got hurt or has to go potty). It's been such a blessing to have the Barlows back home. Each of our kids have grown in many ways thanks to the things that they have learned from each other. Family Rocks!

Max and I played blocks. He has some serious skills with balance. I'm thinking he might qualify for competitive blocking.... he's totally going to the pros. That grin says, "Bring it on-- I can take you!"
Dad and Tim quietly slipped away to drool over pictures of newer, faster, bigger, go-carts. Nice work men!
The cousins, Mads, Cabee, and Brecky, playing an intense game of connect four... looks like Caleb is about to snatch his victory. Don't worry, they had plenty more rematches.

The Recital

This past Friday was Breckyn's (and Maddie and Caleb) big piano recital. She was thinking BIG, as usual. She invited everyone with a pulse to come and see her perform. Last week she sat me down wanting to discuss her wardrobe. She was thinking something new and fancy for her big show-- we settled for something from her closet. It wasn't exactly what she wanted but hey, we defiantly hit the fancy category. She was the only kid up there dressed to the nines.

Here she is giving that "star" attitude on the way to the program.
She told me that she really wanted to do the recital but right before it was her turn she got really nervous and didn't want to do it... but plowed through her feelings anyway. What a trooper-- or a drama queen... either way. We ended the night with a family gathering at Culver's to reward our little stars. Good job team!

Score!!

This past girls night out we went out to eat, as usual, but didn't get dessert. Afterwards we went to the mall for a little power shopping and I spotted a Mrs. Fields kiosk. They had signs up for a new lemon cream cookie that looked divine. I thought I'd be nice and pick up a few for the girls and I to munch on the way to Target. I get up to the counter and the girl that was working there says, rather frantically, "I'll give you everything left in the case for $10!" I'm thinking-- SCORE! "Yeah, I'll take 'um!" I got away with a few dozen cookies including a half dozen of the lemon ones I wanted. I'm totally gloating over my fabulous deal and rival in my new glory all evening long. I scored the deal of the night! (Mom, Jodi, and I were super happy all the way home) The next morning I'm telling the kids at the breakfast table about my super deal and they aren't all that impressed. Breckyn says to me, "Mom don't you think that you should give those cookies to the poor people?" I'm at a loss for words here... I'm thinking-- "NO-- I bargained those cookies fair and square!!!" She chastised me further by giving me a lecture about how we have plenty and the "poor people" could really use something great like cookies to cheer them up. Where does she come up with this stuff?!?! I talked her off her soap box by promising to give most of them to the missionaries who were coming over for lunch that day. (apparently we convinced her that they are poor enough to qualify for the cookies) She settled for it and bartered one into her lunch box and left for school. Nothing like a good old helping of guilt before 8am...

down on the farm...

Yesterday Zoey's class went to a petting farm. She has been counting down the days for weeks now. It was necessary for her to wear overalls so that she could fit the "farm" mold. She asked me, "Do you think the farmer and I will match?" "Do you think they will like my farm outfit?" I figure if you have to plan what you are wearing to the farm-- you're past blending in. She is a fashion queen-- but hey, she was the best looking kid on the field trip! She wanted "piggies" so her hair wouldn't get in her way. I told her no farmer hat-- she was very disappointed and had to take it out of her bag. Maybe next time...