Christmas 2016

This Christmas seemed more hectic and less organized that any in the past. Between the pressure of Dan's new position at work, the massive outbreak of sickness (at church and schools) and then my trip to Utah my Christmas plans didn't go as I'd planned. But we made the most of it.

We did gingerbread houses on our own this year.

We went for a very quick trip to see the D.C. Temple lights. We didn't stay for a performance and man was it crowded! Aubree cried most of the way there and the entire way home.

Tess and I had a lot of fun baking together all day on their first official day off. Taking our plates around was a bust though.

We miss Aimee. The kids all helped wrap presents so there were very few left to wrap by Christmas Eve. After getting the kids off to bed Tess and Jake snuck downstairs to help us and watch a movie! It made the night more fun having them be a part. Unfortunately I forgot to buy or check our yarn supply. So, at 840pm I was searching for an opened store. What's Christmas without yarn all over the house! Luckily I found one spool and we made it last for all the kids. We missed Aimee.

Christmas morning Aubree woke me at 615 so I enjoyed the Christmas lights and reviewed my speaking part for church until I heard feet upstairs. We drank our OJ and let the kids open gifts until 830 when it was time to get ready for church. Dan took Jake and Tess early to help set up the refreshments in the gym for after sacrament meeting. I hate to admit it but I was relieved when church was over. Dan was conducting and had the majority of the entire Christmas Sacrament program planning/carrying out on his shoulders. I was the narrator and sang in the choir. So, I tried not to speak to fast from nerves, enunciate, speak fast enough so that we could all get home, and not mess up. Dan did a great job conducting and then standing in the back with Aubree who did well until the closing song...she wailed through Joy To the World. Then cried while I tried to visit with a few people and then sped home with a screaming baby and an Abby trying to cope. Dan got home an hour late with Jake and Tess after cleaning everything up. Then we had our Christmas breakfast and did treasure hunts and more gifts. The last gift was opened at 7pm by Dan. I missed having my sister here. She is the life of the party here!

The best part of Christmas for me was watching the kids open the gifts they got for eacho ther. Tess helped Clara do the cutest treasure hunt that led to a tool kit for her to help Daddy with all his projects. Jake did a great job responding to his 4 year old sisters gift. Clara wanted a magical carriage for Christmas that would turn her into a princess and Jake into her prince. So, she picked out a kings crown and septar for Jake and a crown for her. Very cute, I hope she always things of him as a prince! Jake got Abby an easy bake oven!! And Aubree bought Tess some "grown up" earrings. I sent Tess on a treasure hunt that involved her doing things Aubree did. For example, eating baby food, drinking from a bottle, changing a diaper...

Jacob: SPHERO, books, clothes, a Makey-Makey (to share with Tess), glider, and some games.
Tess: POLAROID camera, books, cloths, jewelry, and boots.
Abby: American Girl baby doll, cloths, books, jewelry, shoes.
Clara: American Girl baby doll, cloths, jewelry,

I got a hot pink vacuum and Dan got a telescope.

I'm so grateful for Dan's job that allows us to spoil our kids for Christmas.

Ward Christmas Party

 Mall Shopping

 Lunch with Tess

 Jakes Band Concert

 Christmas Eve Elves watching a movie

 Tess's treasure hunt led her to change Aubree's diaper with earrings inside

 Over the break Dan surprised me by doing this:

 and this:

New hair cuts

Tangled locks made easy.

Dan's Poem

My Wish for Your Birthday

I wish I could give you the gifts you deserve;
ones somehow that equal just what you are worth.   
 I’d search out and give to you diamonds and gems;                                                                                 the things that are valued as treasures on earth.

Though these gifts may be precious they’d pale next to you,                                                                                      
even if they were numbered as sands of the sea.                                                                                                                
So what could I give you to show you my love                                                                                      
that’d somehow compare to the gifts given me?

You’ve blended your future and dreams now with mine.                                                                                               
You’ve traded career to establish a home.                                                                                                                                
You’ve given your health and your comfort and time                                                                                for gifts symbolized by these four little stones.

The topaz for Jacob, the ruby for Tess;                                                                                                      my first little gifts you brought into this world.                                                                                        Peridot is for Abby, alexandrite for Clara;                                                                                     
as sparkling and bright as these two precious girls!

I hope that this gift is a constant reminder of how much your sacrifice means to us too.                                                                                                                          
That each day you live is a gift to your family;                                                                                                                       
Happy Birthday, dear Becky, we’re grateful for you!

                                                Dan Barnhurst                  

Dan wrote this for me a couple years ago when he gave me my mothers bracelet.                                                                           

Aubree at 6 months

Yay for Aubree:  
              She's finally showing more personality and interacting with us which is so FUN!
              She is so close to rolling, but not quite.
              She is close to sitting up, but not quite.
              She loves rice/oatmeal, bananas, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
              She takes 3 naps (morning, afternoon, and quickie at night) but has to be so very flexible                     since we are always on the go!
              She loves her jumper.
              She puts everything in her mouth!
              She smiles and even laughs when tickled. Finally!
              She says MaMaMaMa (not really connecting the sound to me but I'll take it!)
              She is adored by all!

Not a Yay:
             She is on her 3rd double ear infection in 2 months. (She hates Ogmentin!)
             She wakes every 2-3 hours at night! Insert very tired sigh! I have ulcers again because of the                Motrin I take to cope!

"Pray and keep ploughing!"

Grandpa Harm passed away one week before Thanksgiving. I was shocked. He took a turn for the worst when he broke his hip 2 weeks before passing.  I couldn't be there for the funeral. I was heart broken and worried about Grandma. In talking to mom and dad about how Grandma was doing I decided to make a trip sooner rather than later to spend some time with her.

Dan's new and crazy busy position at work isn't official until December 12th so when he found a great price on a direct flight we booked it immediately giving me 3 days out in Utah (Dec.7-11). Unfortunately sickness and the flu have been all around us! Multiple families at church are sick and the kids have come home telling about who threw up in school for days. Dan and I have been praying so fervently that we don't get sick with a trip to Utah planned and his demands at work! Of course the night before I flew out Abby was up vomiting. Dan had to take the time off work since we didn't want to spread the germs to friends lined up to babysit. I prayed and washed my hands until they were sore. I made it out and back from Utah without getting sick. Tender mercy!

Time flew by, like it always does. I enjoyed a girls day out shopping with mom and Emily. We ate out, shopped, and they spoiled me. I got my hair colored, would have spent 3x the amount in good ol Maryland. Emily and Ben have worked hard on the addition to their home, it was nice to actually see it in person. I was able to see Aimee, Emily and Ben, and Steve and kids and Mark. I met Hannah who is only 3 months younger than Aubree. It will be fun to let those two become cousin buddies.

I was able to visit with Grandma a couple of times. I sure love her. Emily and Aimee came with me and we enjoyed just listening to Grandma reminisce about her childhood and parents. I learned that Grandma's aunt fed her lots of strawberries one Summer, so much so that she got so sick of them. I love that her dad called her Jim-boy. I didn't know how her father died but learned about the tragic circumstances. He was out at Church Rock when he fell from his horse and I think broke his back. Unfortunately he was left by some people, who could have helped him, for hours before help finally came.

I wish and will pray that she will feel companionship from loved ones who have passed but hopefully can be near. She is an amazing women who deserves peace. Since grandpa's passing she said she wakes in the morning and thinks "It's a beautiful world and I'm a part of it. What part am I going to be?" I love that. Even when life is so hard we can see the beauty around us (Grandpa would be proud!) and realize that we have a choice to add to it.

I really wish I could be closer. It was a great trip and one I"ll always cherish. I am grateful I've got the example of Grandma.

Aubree's new hat.

Jacob and the Priesthood

It happened! Jake is now a Deacon and has the priesthood. We specifically went down to South Carolina over Thanksgiving to have family around and help ordain Jake. Even though I will always remember what felt like torture on my mama ears to hear Aubree's constant crying,  it was a sweet memory I'll always cherish. So grateful and proud to sit on that front porch of Grandma Greats mobile home watching as Cris, Uncle Lee, Uncle Wayne and Uncle Herald joined Dan to ordain Jacob.

The Wednesday before his first Sunday passing the sacrament the deacon president took him into the chapel and explained what they do. That one on one instruction really helped calm nerves and I sure appreciated it! Jake looked great in his suit (though when he passed the sacrament he wanted to blend in with the other boys and didn't wear his suit coat).  I watched him, being a little nervous myself but mostly proud. I saw Dan tear up on the stand as he looked out at Jacob. And then Jake gave me a huge grin when he came to sit down with us after. Phew!

On our way home from church I asked Jake how it went? He said the Bastian girls kept waving to him as he passed off the tray, he just smiled back. He teared up as he told me that he felt Heavenly Father had answered his prayer. He was so nervous that he said a prayer for help. Though his hands shook a bit with nerves he did a great job and felt the spirit. I think he had a great time in young mens today too. He came home and immediately went to work on preparing the lesson he was asked to teach in two weeks.

Funny side not- Dan has talked to Jacob about his new sacred responsibility quite  a bit. One of the things he told Jake was that he should hand off the tray and then turn, looking the other direction. He explained that taking the sacrament is a personal matter between that person and the Lord and so if he ever notices that someone doesn't take the sacrament he is to keep it to himself. Well, Dan said he watched as Jacob robotically handed off the tray and then turned away each time. I think he's got it!

Thanksgiving and Jake's Ordination

 Aubree HATES the car, and we don't use the word hate in our house! The thought of 20 hours in the car with a screaming child was almost enough to make us cancel our trip south. But we love our family and wanted to take this chance to see them. So, we left on Thanksgiving Day and drove to Hollie and Cris's to break up the trip. They are always so welcoming and I love their home! The drive down was a little bit better than the drive home. We left to drive home at about 1pm after Jake was ordained on Sunday. Aubree cried constantly. Really, I'm not exaggerating. I spent most of the time in the middle seat holding her which was so not safe but our sanity was on the line. As Aubree screamed louder Dan drove faster. We made it, had a great trip, and won't be driving more than the 15 minutes to church for months now! I took Aubree to the doctor on Monday morning and she had a double ear infection-- no wonder she cried for everyone but me, didn't sleep well at all, and hated the car. This is her 3rd ear infection and she's only 5 months old.

Highlights of the trip:
                     1. "Thanksgiving" lunch with all the family thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Larry.
                     2.  Spending time with Rhonda and Lee who are always so loving and supportive.
                     3.  Dan and Bonnie took the kids on a walk through the woods with a fun stop to see
                          Bill and Lindle.
                     4.  Hollie put together a fun Bingo game with prizes for the kids.
                     5.  Rootbeer Floats with Grandma Riley.
                     6.  Lots of golf cart driving/riding.
                     7. Beautiful weather.
                     8. Yummy food. Always.
                     9. Jake getting the priesthood with family all around!
                    10. Time with family we love!

 Lee holding Aubree and Rhonda holding Amelia