November 10, 2010, 4:10 PM

October, 10 2006, 10 am:

Dear Bethany,

I think you should have a baby.

Love,

Nathan

Later that day... a positive pregnancy test.

June 23, 2006. Chandler Nathan Barnette is born.

Some people like kids, but Nathan really seems to enjoy them. Well, at least my kids. He obviously thinks they're pretty neat.

Nathan and I are the closest in age in the family at a whopping 2 years one month. Mom tells me that Nathan used to get up the morning and ask me, "What are we going to do today?" Due to hearing problems, Nathan didn't talk till later. When he did it was in full sentences. Nathan's first words were, "Stop that, bad girl!" I remember taking him with me to my friend's houses. Which I hated, but he came along anyways.

As a kid Jared was the "funny" one.. remember when the chicken crossing the road jokes were funny. Today, Nathan does a little stand up comedy at BYU. I really think it's a gift at writing that makes him so talented. I maybe a little biased, but I thought he was the funnies at his show we went to (like 3.5 years ago).

Since Nathan returned from his mission he is one of the kindest people I know. He'll even give up his seat on the couch for you (or Miranda). That is practically unheard of. Adam doesn't even have to kick at him until he leaves. He's always talking about doing something respectable with his career and doesn't seem to care about getting rich. Which makes Mom think he'll be filthy rich.

Lastly.. Nathan has had the same hair cut since he was..... three? Except a few summers when Mom would shave the boys' heads bald. Once Nathan and I were watching Seinfeld, and Jerry got a bad haircut have you seen that one? Nathan and I looked at each other astonished.....

Nathan looks like Jerry Seinfeld with a "bad haircut". I can't believe he thought that was bad considering his usual 90's style fro/mullet. That pretty much qualifies him for awesomeness.

Everyone else is doing it

I'll post about our Halloween.

Sterling was born on Friday the 13th, so we saw it fitting to bless him on Halloween. It was also fast Sunday and my parents were able to come.

He was so handsome in his little sweater. He even matched grandma.



Julie suggested that we did a cool picture like theirs.. here. But, boys wouldn't do it. I still like it tho.

These are the faces my children make while we are trying to take their pictures...





Make sure to continue reading to see our trunk or treating post...

Trunk or Treat..

We have an insane amount of candy in our home.

Earlier on Saturday (before trunk or treating) we went to a very wet, very muddy pumpkin patch..











Okay, then trunk or treating...

Brandon and my costumes only made sense when Chandler was around..

It's quiet now. What do you say?

Brandon and & Chandler went to buy me a birthday present (yay) and Sterling is napping. Aren't newborns funny, napping @ 6:45? Silly boy.

Do you ever take a moment to look around at your life? So much of my life is chaos, there aren't many moments to actually look at it. Most moments are filled with other important things. Let me tell you about my life, as today is the last day of life at age 23.

Today Chandler asked me, "I'm not a baby. Not yet?" I had to try to explain that he would never again be a baby, and I will never again be in my early twenties. 24 is definitely mid-twenties.

I love my home. It has a red wall, a brown wall, a blue wall and 3 green walls, and is filled to the brim with diapers and toys, and love.

Tuesday-Friday I take Chandler to preschool. He is a preschool genius, and loves his teacher: "Teacher Debbie."

Last year, October, I bought a romper with a skeleton on it, size 3 months. My thought was, if we get pregnant this month, it'll fit our baby next year. We got pregnant in November.

I got a new vacuum last week. Very, very exciting.

Today, I drove down Halsey and it was bright and sunny, and the perfect temperature, and I thought maybe southern California would be a nice place to live.

Brandon came home with contact information of a Doctor in New Mexico.

It's pitch black @ 6:57 currently on Halsey street.

Chelsea asked me if I her to watch my kids tomorrow, so I could take a break. I said, "No, I don't have anything going on on Thursday, why would I need you to watch my kids?" I keep forgetting it's my birthday.

We like to "play on the grass".

My husband is amazing, so patient and kind. Always giving 100%. I love him.

My children are not so patient. I still don't like saying "children" or "kids".. "Put the kids to bed" sounds old, like someone in their 30's would say. Brandon has resorted to calling them "the midgets."

Laundry is never ending... never.

More than one person told me our primary program was the best one they've ever seen. If it was, it's because of the children, my teachers, my chorister and the Holy Ghost. Nothing to do with me; I'm just lucky.

I organized Sterling's baby clothes. This brought me immense joy.

I'm 24 tomorrow, and in the throws of full time motherhood. Perhaps, more seasoned mothers would disagree, but that's what it feels like to me. I like it this way, it may not be interesting to talk about me, but I like it. It's comfortable, like this is what I am supposed to be doing.

Happy birthday, big borther!

"What if you get married and your wife doesn't like me?"

"I don't think that will happen. We're too much alike."

Adam is my big brother. His room used to smell like a cave, and he has enough clothes that he doesn't have to do laundry all summer. ...wait, those are not reasons we're alike, just to clarify. He was the typical big brother when I was little. He used to dunk me under water at the pool repeatedly, he thought it was funny to pull me off the couch, and if you sat next to him in the van he would kick you until you were so fed up with him you'd move, giving him the whole row to himself. I distinctly remember once he burped in his hand and then put his hand in my face. I was infuriated.

I love all of my siblings, but I think I am the closest to Adam. Not because he burped in his hand. I hope my kids are able to have friendships with each other; I hope my kids are as kind to each other as Adam is to me. We're friends, close friends (or at least I think so). Adam has a talent of making his friends feel like they're special to him. I think that's why he has so many friends, friends that last years and years and years. He helps me waste time. We chat, and share internet links full of nonsense.. example? Last week Adam shared this with me..

Life enriching? I don't think so.

In my fantasy life, Adam has a fabulous wife, who loves me so we're best friends, and our kids find immense joy in each others company. In reality, Adam and I haven't lived in the same state since 2006. Sad face. Maybe in years to come, maybe not. Either way, Adam will always be one of my best friends.

Happy birthday big brother!

Have you smiled today?

We have...

October, October

Is this the busiest month ever, for everyone else too?

October 4-Brandon returns to school

October 8-School BBQ Horray for not having to make dinner!

October 9-Clean the church assignment AND make a cake McKenna's birthday party

October 11-14 OSCIs... I have no idea how to spell that Some important tests for Brandon

October 12-Dentist appointment

October 13-Sterling's 2 month well check

October 14-Baby shower

October 15-Date night, finally

October 16-Primary activity AND Relief Society activity

October 17-Primary program AND Adam's birthday yay Adam

October 21-My birthday yay me

October 23-Birthday party for Chandler's little friend

October 28-Brandon's mom is having surgery AND girls night

October 30-Ward activity

October 31-Sterling's baby blessing

These are all wonderful things. I'm not so sure that Brandon's dentist visit will be. We're happy to be busy, but occasionally overwhelmed, and exhausted. Thank you Sterling for deciding October would be the month you started sleeping eight hours!

I'm also trying to squeeze in a few days each week @ the gym... which is hard because I can't take Sterling till the first week of November, so I have to go at night when Brandon's home. Bonus, however, I have already lost 5 pounds this month! I also, so badly want to go to a pumpkin patch, and I need to make the boy's Halloween costumes.

Sorry, there's no flow to this and I had nothing clever to say. Maybe in November. Happy Columbus day!