MERRY CHRISTMAS 2007

Merry Christmas from The Five Barrs.

We have enjoyed a wonderful and blessed 2007 and hope you have, too. Here is what happened this past year:

January: Susanna turned seven and we all enjoyed Disney’s High School Musical at the Fox Theater.

February: Scott and Jennifer cruised to Cozumel for some fun in the sun and a little snorkeling. We rented a moped and explored the island. Upon return, we sadly had to say goodbye to one of our Shelties named Georgia. She had been a wonderful pet for 12 years.

March: Kate started tumbling. This really boosted her physical confidence as she learned to do a back handspring. Susanna played her second year of softball, again anchoring the infield of second base. Scott nicknamed her “the vacuum” because she sucked up every thing that came her way. Thomas enjoyed his first year of baseball. By the second game he did not need the tee anymore and even hit a home run off of a pitched ball http://picasaweb.google.com/the5barrs/Videos/photo#5146557023049702530

April: We had a great time on an early beach vacation during spring break to Perdido Key, Fl. Grandmommy and Pepaw met us for the week. It was a little cool but much fun, nonetheless. At school, Susanna broke her nose when she fell flat on her face from the monkey bars. She was lucky…it could have been much worse!

May: Jennifer celebrated her 40th birthday as we all took in a Braves game. For Mother’s day, Scott, Kate, Susanna, and Thomas brought home a kitten we named “Lucky”.

June: We spent weekends at the lake. Kate and Susanna enjoyed water-skiing and Thomas stays in the boat to tell them how to do it better (of course he will not try it himself). http://picasaweb.google.com/the5barrs/Videos/photo#5146558723856751762 Tubing is enjoyed by all, as is jumping off “the big rock” at Lake Oconee. http://picasaweb.google.com/the5barrs/Videos/photo#5146559149058514082 We even spotted a bald eagle on one of our excursions on the lake.

July: We took our annual trip to Round Lake, Mi for a week. Later in the month, Bethany and Zachariah visited. The kids really had fun with their “boy” cousin while Jennifer taught swim lessons for the 26th year. Kate cut off all of her hair to donate to “locks for love” for cancer patients http://locksoflove.org/

August: School started August 1st (unbelievable!). We can’t believe that little Thomas is starting school, Susanna is in the 2nd grade and Kate is in her last year before middle school in the 5th grade. All three actually LIKE going to school! On the weekends, we enjoy late night trips to the pool.

September: This year, since all three kids are in the same school, Jennifer volunteered to be the PTO co-president and is at school about three days a week for one reason or another. She also enrolled in classes to become re-certified to teach so that, hopefully, she can be at the kids’ school everyday next school year actually teaching.

October: Kate and Susanna both cheer for the West Walton Steelers and Jennifer is their coach. The tumbling lessons have really improved Kate’s performance. Byron and Laura visited for a long weekend as Thomas turned six. Over fall break, Scott and Kate joined a group from our church on a mission trip to Honduras http://www.goodsamaritan.ms/ It was eye opening for both. Jennifer, Susanna, and Thomas spent the time in Michigan.

November: Thomas started his first year of basketball with Scott as the coach. He loves showing off after makes a goal. We spent Thanksgiving at Myrtle Beach, SC with Gam and Mickey-pa and the Sandhagen family (Scott’s sister). Scott and the kids enjoyed riding our new tandem bike all over the place while at the beach. Kate enjoyed a trip the American Girl Bistro in Alpharetta for her 11th birthday.

December: We celebrated (from afar) the birth of Nathaniel, (Zachariah’s brother) and anxiously await the birth of Mattie Bea (Byron and Laura’s) in Michigan. Lucky turned out to be not so lucky; our family was heartbroken. And, 17-year-old Tex still barks at the mailman!

http://picasaweb.google.com/the5barrs/Videos/photo#5146565711768542386

We hope your Christmas Season is filled with Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope as we celebrate again the birth of Christ the Messiah!