The Bartee Bunch

30th Week!

This is the reason for my few posts this month! It has been more than 3 weeks since my last post... it is just plain uncomfortable (as you can see) to sit at this computer desk and type. I can sit here for about 5 minutes but then I have to get up and walk around for a bit. We have been busy preparing for baby around here. Cleaning out closets and getting rid of old clothes and just getting organized. Mark has been feverishly planting our front yard with beautiful flowers and doing lots of dish washing. I feel so guilty not being able to do the usual stuff, but he's such a great husband to help me out. I brag to all of my friends what a wonderful guy he is that nobody believes me! Ha!

Shayna has been in the garden, as well, picking through the dirt to find earthworms and various critters (can't you tell from the dirty fingernails).

Here she is, yesterday, all cleaned up and at a "Princess" birthday party!

Happy 5th Birthday, Shayna!

Happy 5th Birthday, my sweet love! I can't believe that it has been 5 years since you came into our lives. I can't remember what life was like before that! I love you!

November 1, 2005

November 1, 2009

Halloween - 2009

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
SHAYNA BETH MARIE BARTEE

This is the costume that Shayna picked out on one of our numerous outings to Toys R' Us this past month. Tis the season for birthday parties AND Halloween! We have been to no less than 10 birthday parties in the last month and a half! We have Joey's birthday party this Sunday, one next Saturday, and one the following Saturday. After that, if your name isn't Mark, Lorie, or Shayna, we cannot come to your birthday party. I'm done... cooked!

Here is a cute picture of Shayna and our neighbor, Larissa, aka WordGirl!

Here's a great shot of the girls with our next door neighbors, Joan, Sal, and Jeeves!

Mark and Shayna taking a break from trick or treating!

Here's Shayna with her Grammie & Granddad!

We had a great time scouring the neighborhood for lots of treats with family and friends! Next year, I'll be pushing another trick or treater in a stroller! Holy cow!

A Walk Around the Neighborhood

Last week, Shayna and I took a stroll around our neighborhood because I haven't really been exercising too much. I was doing my aqua-aerobics class with the "much older" ladies... but because baby is sitting right on top of my bladder... and there's

a ton of jumping around... well, you get the picture...

Walking is probably my best bet... so we headed out to, what Shayna likes to call the, "faces." Every year, an elderly man trims his front hedges into these cool hair and beards for the "faces." Shayna absolutely LOVES when we drive by and check them out. Ever since she was a wee tiny one, she screams out, "FACES" every time we drive past!

We get so excited because we know that come October 1st, they go up... but on November 1st, they come down. This year, however, I might have to knock on that man's door and ask him to hold off one more day, in honor of Shayna's birthday!

Haircut, Finally!

Shayna has been complaining to whoever will listen, about her hair getting in her face and how annoying it is... so I finally got up the nerve to go and get it cut. The gal took about 4 inches off the back and gave her some bangs. It's a really cute cut and Shayna LOVES it! I think it makes her look like she's 10 and I guess I'm not ready for that. Oh and BTW, today was Face-painting at school (this week's letter is "F").

Almost Halloween...

Today, Shayna and I spent some time after school at Pa's Pumpkin Patch in Seal Beach. I guess it's a tradition for us to go there every October to check out rides and, of course, the petting zoo. It's also a time where I take a picture of Shayna with the ginormous pumpkins (see pictures at the end of this post).

We met our friends there today and had loads of fun!

First, we went on the slide.

Then, the train!

The Pink Elephants were next... (that's Shayna with her buddy, Camille)

The spinning Tub O' Fun, with her friend, Mason... where they spun around and around for what seemed like 45 minutes...

Here's Shayna, post Tub O' Fun! No, she didn't puke! What a trooper!

Then we were off to the "fun" picture taking area. Here's a funny one with Shayna and Mason!

This has to be my favorite shot of the day!

Here are the pictures from 2005 to 2009:

October, 2005

October, 2006

October, 2007

October, 2008

October, 2009

...and YES, I cried while posting these last photos... it must be the preggo hormones...

Hawaiian Vacation - Part I

We got back last Wednesday night after spending an awesome week in Oahu with the family. Mark's parent's, Art and Lynn, graciously hosted us in gorgeous setting and I am forever in your debt! Thanks again!

We boarded our plane from LAX on the Wed. the 16th. Mark and I have not been to Hawaii since 1997 and I haven't been to Oahu since 1989... so, it's been a while. I've always said this is my favorite place in the world and once

again I was not disappointed. Our flight was perfect. Art and Lynn's plane arrived 15 minutes afterward and we headed to the Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club. What a beautiful resort! All I could think about was selling my belongings and moving here. The grounds of this resort are simply beautiful… Peaceful... Relaxing. This placed was designed perfectly... for kids and adults alike... We had an ocean view and enjoyed the sunset every night.

It was wonderful to wake up every morning and have absolutely nothing planned. The toughest choice deciding... beach or pool... I wish that I had that decision to make every day of my life!

We went to a Luau on one of the nights and Shayna had a blast! Mark and Shayna actually got up on stage and learned how to perform the hula. It was very cute and they both were very good at it! Here's a cute picture that Shayna took of her Grammie and Grandad at the Luau.